Ars Technica testar Dual 2,5 GHz G5

Eric Bangeman, Ars Technicas macskribent, har testat en PowerMacintosh G5 Dual 2.5GHz. Som vanligt är det välskrivet, utförligt och tekniskt:

Ars Technica Review: Power Mac G5 Dual 2.5GHz

För den som inte har tid att läsa hela artikeln (även om jag verkligen rekommenderar det för den som är intresserad av PowerMac G5) kan jag sammanfatta den lite kort:

PowerMac Dual 2,5 GHz är en bra och snabb maskin som är värd sitt pris för de som behöver bra prestanda, även om den kostar väldigt mycket. Prestandamässigt ger den toppresultat och den upplevs väldigt kvick. Nackdelar som Apple borde åtgärda (i nästa version av PMG5) är att det bara går att stoppa in 2 hårddiskar och en optisk enhet. Att det endast finns 3 PCI-platser är också en brist samt att det medföljande grafikkortet är för klent. Däremot var Apples nya funktion för att kopiera inställningar, program och andra filer från en tidigare mac en positiv upplevelse som fungerade bra. Fungerande bra gjorde också vätskekylningen som verkligen gör nya G5 till en tystare dator.

Ja, det kanske man kan tolka det som, även om det inte står så uttryckligen. Här är partiet där Bangeman skriver om ljudet och han är onekligen väldigt positiv (min markering):

With nine fans and a liquid cooling system, one might venture to guess that the Power Mac G5 is loud. Guess again.

The loudest Mac of recent memory is the Mirrored Drive Door G4 towers. When operating at full blast, the fans sounded something like a blow dryer. A power supply replacement program cut down on the noise somewhat, but they were still very loud machines. The first version of the G5 was much quieter for the most part, but there were reports of "chirping" and other odd noises related to the power supply.

The Apple support forums were full of threads on the G5 noise problems, and Apple actually went so far as to issue an advisory regarding the noise problems, saying that they would replace the power supply for those with the issue, but even then, the beeps and hisses would be reduced, but not eliminated. It was even suggested that the noise problem was one of the reasons the Rev. B G5 was such a long time coming.

The Rev. B G5 seems to have solved the problems. This machine is quieter than both my old Dual G4 and my Shuttle PC (not that Shuttles are known for running quietly). I have heard no beeps and hisses, and the chirping noise seems to be gone as well. I have heard that if you put your ear up against the bottom front of the case, you can faintly hear the chirping. I tried, and heard nothing other than the fans whirring.

Normal operating noise is fairly minimal, with the exception of when you are performing a task that increases the CPU load. Then the fans will quickly cycle up and back down. A temperature sensor controls the fans, which means that they run loudest when cooling is most needed, and quietly otherwise. To be honest, I was very surprised at how quiet the G5 is. I was suspecting a much louder machine, and I have been pleasantly surprised to be wrong about that. Even the fan oscillations are bearable, as they don't last very long and at their very loudest are much quieter than the infamous MDD G4s.