What are the "pros and cons" of the Power Mac G5? Is it right for my needs?

Please note that the Power Macintosh G5 was discontinued on August 7, 2006. It was replaced by the Mac Pro series.

Like any other purchase, only you can make the decision whether or not the Power Mac G5 is the right Mac for you, but you can evaluate the pros and cons of the model to see if your needs are met. This "run down" may be helpful in making a decision:

Pros:

• Fast processor(s), excellent graphics performance and RAM capacity.
• Excellent case design makes it quick and easy to upgrade the RAM and hard drives.
• Support for serial ATA hard drives.
• Firewire "800" and optical digital audio in/out support standard.
• PCI-X or PCI Express support onboard (some models).
• Support for MacOS 9/Classic applications.

Cons:

• Only officially supports two 3.5" hard drives.
• Serial ATA is not backwards compatible with less expensive Ultra ATA drives (although adapters are available).
• Expansion somewhat limited by three PCI, PCI-X, or PCI Express slots.
• Relatively expensive.

If you need the newest and most powerful new Apple computer you can buy, you probably would be best served by a Mac Pro.

If you need an expandable Mac with support for MacOS 9/"Classic" applications or have "mission critical" MacOS X applications that are incompatible with Intel-based Macs, then the Power Macintosh G5 remains an excellent choice. If cost is a factor, a Power Macintosh G4 also is worth considering.

Site-sponsor PowerMax sells all of these systems. Site-sponsor Operator Headgap Systems specializes in heavily upgraded systems with an eye on backwards and future compatibility.