I'm almost embarrassed to ask this, but...

[FMiguelez]

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Hey, guys!

I usually read most topics here, but some of that reading doesn't really "register", especially when it doesn't apply to me, or when I don't need to know about it. So...

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

- The highest OS I can use with my current G5 (Mac G5 dual 2GHz/4 GB RAM)
is Tiger, up to its latest upgrade, correct? So that would be what, OSX 4._____

- Or could I use Leopard?

- If I could use either of those 2, WHICH one is, in your experience, better for my current computer?

- And I WILL be able to run DP 7.1 in there, correct?

I will just buy a new HD and reinstall everything from scratch into it, and keep its current system HD as is just in case...

Thank you!

[Radiogal]

Leopard is the highest for PPC
Last Tiger version is 10.4.11
Yes you can use DP 7.1 from the info I read here.
I run Tiger and DP 7.02 without any problems. The system is rocking.

IMO: Buy a fast HD with 32 mb cache or even higher for your OSX and audio HD.
This will speed up your entire system.

[carrythebanner]

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

- The highest OS I can use with my current G5 (Mac G5 dual 2GHz/4 GB RAM)
is Tiger, up to its latest upgrade, correct? So that would be what, OSX 4._____

All G5s should be able to run the latest versions of 10.4 or 10.5.

- If I could use either of those 2, WHICH one is, in your experience, better for my current computer?

If you have a working 10.4 system, I don't see much reason to upgrade to 10.5. It has some decent "average user" improvements, but for a DAW I'd say sticking with 10.4.11 on a G5 is reasonable.

- And I WILL be able to run DP 7.1 in there, correct?

DP 7.1 has the same system requirements as DP 7.0–7.02, as far as I understand, which means that you could run DP 7.1 on a G5 with 10.4 or 10.5.

[hammerman]

I am running Dp7.02 on my G5 running Leopard 10.5.8 and very stable over here. No problems at all.

[FMiguelez]

Leopard is the highest for PPC
Last Tiger version is 10.4.11
Yes you can use DP 7.1 from the info I read here.
I run Tiger and DP 7.02 without any problems. The system is rocking.

IMO: Buy a fast HD with 32 mb cache or even higher for your OSX and audio HD.
This will speed up your entire system.

Nice!
Thank you for the HD recommendations, RadioGal. I'll make sure I get one of those drives.
Is there another desirable spec for them? Such as any particular seek time?
Does anybody know what's the maximum amount of data that a 7200 RPM HD can transmit? (as in how many stereo channels these disks can run at 24/44.1).

Thank you everyone!

[Radiogal]

Some of the Barracudas have 32 MB cache.
There are other brands too, ofcourse!
But I´ve always used the Seagate Barracuda discs with good results.
I never had a HD failure/crash in about 10 yrs time (knock on wood).
Seektime < 10ms is needed for audio.

FWIW: My DP projects are 50+ tracks audio 48KHz/24bit, with 40 tracks out to my mixingdesk. It´s running without any problems.

[HCMarkus]

Hey FM, I'll pile on with the recommendation that you continue to use Tiger 10.4.11 with DP until you get your new Intel. Leopard provides no audio advantages of which I am aware, although as was mentioned, Leo has some nice UI elements. I dual-boot my G5 Quad: Tiger for DP, Leo for everything else. DO upgrade your browser in Tiger to the newest version of Safari. Fixed a lot of issues for me. Also, the newer iTunes versions have some better file conversion abilities that occasionally come in handy in audio work, like converting AIFC to AIFF.

Have you decided to hold off on the upgrade until the new Mac Pros are announced?

[FMiguelez]

Have you decided to hold off on the upgrade until the new Mac Pros are announced?

Thanks for the recommendations.
I like your idea. Perhaps I should partition the system disk, one Tiger and one Leopard... that way I can see which cat purrs nicer

About my new Mac:
It all depends on THIS FRIDAY. I have an appointment with a producer who wants to hire me to write the music for his upcoming new TV show. He isn't sure himself when he will get the green light to start filming and producing it.
So, if he starts filming right away, that means I will have to start composing right away as well (I'd have to write around 30-40 orchestral pieces), and I wouldn't be able to wait for the new Mac Pros. I'd have to RUN and get either, a current Quad-core or a current 8-Core this monday.

But if he starts filming later in the year, THEN I will wait for the new Macs.

I figure either option is ok, though. Worst case scenario is I go ahead and buy a Quad-Core next week, and pick up one of the yet-to-be-released new Mac Pros around the summer. In that case, I'd have the option to slave either one to either one.
In my case it wouldn't hurt to have them both

So this Friday will be my big decision day!
I'll update my post in the OT Section to let you guys know what happened.

But I'm kindda hopping I have to go for the first option, though... I could certainly use a new good gig ASAP!
I LOVE royalties!

Either way, I've been in touch with a Germay company that makes GREAT PCs. They are VSL-Certified. They could ship me one of those babies, and they are ready-to-go... no messing with Windoze or anything.
They are really nice and have first-class customer support. Check them out (it's in German, though):
http://www.xi-machines.com/xi_de/xi_home_de.html

Of course I prefer a Mac, but these ain't the bad PC's I'm used to seeing eihter...

[BobK]

Couple of things to consider:

Apple has announced a 'media event' for next Wednesday:

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/18/app ... dia-event/

Maybe they'll announce Mac Pro updates...

If you MUST get a Mac Pro before the new ones are available, consider a refurb, either from Apple or a reliable reseller like PowerMax.com. I know someone who picked up a refurbished Quad Core from the Apple Store that had minor cosmetic flaws (scratches in the case, I think), and saved $1,000 US off the regular price - he paid around $1,600.

[FMiguelez]

.

Man, I'll keep my fingers crossed! If they announce the new MacPros, that would take care of all my problems and anguish!

But if that rumor is true, where could I watch it? Is it like a Key note I can watch at Apple's site?

Thanks for the info, my friend!

[MIDI Life Crisis]

But if you don't get a new Mac, some things to consider (among the many improvements from Tiger to Leopard) are Time Machine and Spaces. Time Machine has saved my butt so many times I've lost count. Right down to last week when I restored my entire boot drive from a TM archive. Spaces is great when your screen real estate gets crowded with stuff. For example, you could have Plogue Bidule in one space feeding DP in an another space and Finale or Sibelius in a third space with Safari in a 4th, Quicken in a 5th, the Finder in a 6th, etc.

If you are about to change computers, dealing with a new OS is probably overkill, but if you're staying on your G5, I'd definitely go with Leopard.

[FMiguelez]

But if you don't get a new Mac, some things to consider (among the many improvements from Tiger to Leopard)...

You mean from Panther to Leopard
Yup. I don't remember what the reason was I had to downgrade my G5 to Panther... a few (a lot) of years ago

If you are about to change computers, dealing with a new OS is probably overkill, but if you're staying on your G5, I'd definitely go with Leopard.

Thankfully I'm FULLY familiar with Leopard, since that's the one I use in my MacBook Pro. And I LOVE it!

Time Machine, as you mentioned, can be a life saver.
Whatever I do, weather I buy a new Mac Pro now or later, I'll definitely upgrade my G5's system. I will keep its current HD as a backup, and will just pop a new system HD in there. Since EVERYTHING will be installed from scratch, what the hell, I'll go as "up" as I can: with Leopard, as you suggest.
I mean, if things don't work as expected, then I'd just downgrade to Tiger, but I have a lot of reasons to believe Leo will be just fine.
Also, I suppose Tiger support for many apps will end sooner rather than later, and I don't want to go through this too soon again...

Then, when I get a new Mac, the G5 will become a slave of the new one, along with the extremely old PCs I've been using all these years (will upgrade them to have 4 GB of RAM each).

This whole month will be update and upgrade time in my studio. Imagine how many apps I will have to upgrade! Not much fun...
Then I will have to learn the Vienna Instruments interface, VE PRO, DP7.1, Omnisphere, the new Trilogy, the new Stylus... deal with my Waves' WUP...

So it's just a matter of WHEN I will get the new Mac. HOPEFULLY Apple announces them next Wednesday!

MLC, we have the same G5, correct? And you use Leopard without trouble, yes?

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Same machine and relatively trouble free. The only issue I've had was access or permissions. FInale and Acrobat with plists in a "Safe Preferences" folder located in user>library>safe preferences. Deleting the plist in the Pref folder had no effect on correcting problems. In the end, I had to restore the HD (unneceearily) but I'm glad I did. I feel much safer now thaat the ^448t e598 yebhfkjb fdOKJB (J/K)

[HCMarkus]

MIDI, I feel m%8y y%$2@2 too. LOL!