Product Reviews

Apple's new Power Mac G5 range was announced a few weeks ago and we tested the low end of the set, the Dual 1.8GHz model, last issue. However, it is only now that the Power Mac Dual 2GHz can be bought. We went to Apple dealer Micro Anvika to put one through our battery of tests, and we liked what we found.

The stylish metallic tower is the same across the Power Mac G5 line. All the differences lie inside, and the newly available model has a pair of 2GHz CPUs with 512KB of Level 2 cache and a 1GHz frontside bus for each. The PCI slots are the next-generation PCI-X variety; all 64-bit, with one at 133MHz and the other two at 100MHz. This model also has double the disk and RAM found in the 1.8GHz Mac.

There are things that are the same across the whole range, some of which are good and some less so. The 8x SuperDrive, for example, is a high-performance device that also serves as a 10x 24x 32x CD/RW and a 8x 10x DVD-R drive. One less pleasing point is the way support for Bluetooth and AirPort has been implemented. As we pointed out in previous Power Mac G5 reviews, neither wireless technology is built in as standard. In particular, as Bluetooth can't be fitted internally after delivery, consider adding this to the order right from the start. One day these things will be a standard part of the Power Mac line, but for now you have to remember it yourself.

As standard, there are two FireWire 400 ports, one FireWire 800 port and three USB 2 ports, with one of the USB 2 and the FireWire 400 ports located on the front of the Mac for easy access. Internal expansion is good, with two 3.5in hard drive bays, each with its own Serial ATA controller for the best possible performance.

The graphics card built into this Mac is the same Nvidia GeForce FX

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5200 Ultra as is found in the Dual 1.8GHz Power Mac. However, our real-world redraw test puts this to work in conjunction with the processor, so the 2GHz Mac did manage an even better score - 3.80 seconds versus 4.02. If top-notch graphics performance is wanted, then an ATI Radeon 9600 XT or 9800 XT or an Nvidia GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL can be selected as a built-to-order option. As we've noted before, the standard card will be more than adequate for general creative work, but if you like pushing limits consider the options.

This Power Mac proved to be an excellent choice for graphics. Our Photoshop test, which involves applying a selection of intensive operations and effects to specific images, demonstrates a Mac's real-world performance. The Dual 1.8GHz model managed an impressive 27 seconds, but this Dual 2GHz Power Mac romped home in 19.5 seconds. This is due in part to the larger amount of RAM installed by default - 512MB rather than 256MB - but it is also a testament to the faster pair of processors.

On the subject of RAM, it is worth remembering that, unlike the 1.8GHz G5's 4GB RAM limit, this model can accept up to 8GB of memory. This won't be something that everyone will need, but if you do, this is a big benefit. The RAM these Macs require is PC3200 DDR SDRAM, a higher specification than with previous Macs, a point to note if you plan to add memory later rather than have it fitted when you buy your new Mac.

The Dual 2.5GHz Power Mac is noticeably absent from dealers' shelves, so this Dual 2GHz model is the fastest Mac you can buy today. It costs £400 more than the 1.8GHz model, but for that you get double the disk space (160GB versus 80GB) and double the RAM (512MB rather than 256MB), in addition to the faster pair of processors. If you waited around and put another £350 together you could get the water-cooled Dual 2.5GHz Power Mac G5 instead, with its slightly better graphics card and, of course, the twin water-cooled 2.5GHz CPUs. Right now, we don't know when those will arrive. This 2GHz Mac is the fastest you can get and, unlike the top-end model, it doesn't cross the £2000 mark. We're still highly impressed with the performance of the 1.8GHz G5, and the price is excellent. But if the extra £400 isn't a problem, and certainly if you want the ability to fit more than 4GB of RAM, go for the 2GHz. You won't regret it.