What's the bottom line?

[WaHoo]

Out of curiosity, what are the minimum CPU requirements to run OS-X along with the most common applications? On a PC we're talking like 1.5 Ghz to do just about everything other than gaming at reasonable speeds, so what would be the Apple equivalent?

[Vygramul]

The G4 400MHz runs with little issue, it might be considered a little slow by your advanced user (not quite computer-geek types). Maybe a touch slow on loading apps. The slowest iMac at the Apple store is a G4 1GHz, and it should be just fine (boost the RAM to 512.) The G5's are phenominal. You can get the lowest end G5 and be happy with the speed, even as a gamer.

I have not tested gaming on these machines. I need to install the UT2004 on my work machine (dual-processor G4 1GHz 1.12 Gigs of RAM) and I can give you an answer for that. But I do run an incredibly resource-intensive desktop (I have a Matrix screensaver and there's a Unix command to run it as my desktop background) and it has no noticeable effect on my day-to-day work.

[TedHershey]

I have an 867MHz G4 with a gig and a half of RAM. I often run Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, and After Effects, along with the always on browser, mail, and iChat and never really notice a slow down. I have a DIGI 001 and can record all eight tracks in simultaneously, with RTAS plugins on each track. It only balks when I get up near 16 or 18 tracks with several RTAS plugins on each track-- even then it's an issue of PCI bus and HD speed not processor.

The only time that I find myself waiting for the machine is when Rendering Video or 3D. After Effects still takes for ever to render, as does gtkRadiant.

I get mid 40's FPS on RTCW at the game set medium settings (on FPS conscience maps). I never mind much because I cap at 43 anyway to get the high jump.