Apple Makes the Switch: iMac G5 vs. iMac Core Duo
by Anand Lal Shimpi on January 30, 2006 11:26 PM EST- Posted in
- Mac
Intel Macs use More Memory
One thing I encountered when running some of the benchmarks for this article was that the Intel based iMac used more memory than the PowerPC based iMac G5. Each application ends up taking up another 1 or 2MB on average on the Intel side, but it does add up.
For example, just after boot while sitting at the desktop, there was a difference of 15MB between how much memory the iMac G5 and the Intel based iMac had in use. If you do end up with an Intel Nac, it is yet another reason to opt for more memory than the default 512MB.
One thing I encountered when running some of the benchmarks for this article was that the Intel based iMac used more memory than the PowerPC based iMac G5. Each application ends up taking up another 1 or 2MB on average on the Intel side, but it does add up.
For example, just after boot while sitting at the desktop, there was a difference of 15MB between how much memory the iMac G5 and the Intel based iMac had in use. If you do end up with an Intel Nac, it is yet another reason to opt for more memory than the default 512MB.
Memory Usage on the iMac G5 - 336.39MB Free
Memory Usage on the Intel based iMac - 314.57MB Free
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ohnnyj - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - link
I have already preorded one (did so on the day they were announced), but now I am having serious doubts about keeping the order (does not ship until the 15th). The only thing that really worries me is if Apple will release new MacBooks when Intel releases the Conroe processor. I would think by that time (fall?) they would have most of the programs ported (i.e. Photoshop) and then an even better processor to run it with. I have been waiting so long for a laptop,...decisions, decisions.Furen - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - link
I would say you should tough it out for a bit. Like Anand said, this is basically a Public Beta test. Kind of sucks that Apple brought out a 32bit version of the OS considering that it could've been x86-64 native if Apple had waited for a couple of quarters. Then again, it makes no difference if the OS is not 64 bits yet, since a 64 bit version would be able to run 32 bit apps anyway.IntelUser2000 - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - link
I wonder if Rosetta itself doesn't take advantage of multi-thread...IntelUser2000 - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - link
Wait, doesn't X1600 use H.264 decoding on hardware??smitty3268 - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - link
It does if the drivers are set up to use it properly. Given that Windows users only got this about a month ago I'd say it probably isn't doing that yet on Macs. Could be, though.