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G4 (dual 1.42) versus G5 (dual 2.5) results with large image files using Photoshop CS.
I replaced my dual 1.42 G4 with a new dual 2.5 GHz G5. I did it because I was frustrated (to say the least) with the response speed of the G4 when editing images from my Kodak 16 megapixel back and my Hasselblad 555ELD.
I make 30X30 prints at 360 dpi and print them onto an Epson 9600 printer.
The images are 16-bit depth, and I edit in 16 bits to take advantage of 65,000 shades of gray versus 256 in 8 bit. At the final step I convert the images to 8 bit for printing.
But, in 16-bit mode my TIFF files (20X30 inches at 360 dpi) are 667MB each.
Simple editing, especially with the healing brush, was painfully slow.
The new G5 has 3.5 GB of RAM, the old G4 had 2 GB of RAM.
I have a 160GB hard drive (drive 1) in the stock G5, and a second 74GB Raptor drive that I use as the scratch drive for PS. I have over 1 TB of external storage, using LaCie firewire 800 (320GB each) drives. It is not a RAID setup, just straight firewire 800.
Here are some timed results for similar editing steps on a 667MB image: (Note, these are the results of several trials with several image. They are subject to many caveats, but represent real results in my studio)
Editing step G4 (dual 1.42 GHz) G5(dual 2.5GHz)
Open file G4: 32s, G5: 20s
Rotate 90 degrees CW G4: 67s, G5: 7s
Gaussian blur (radius 1 pix) G4: 30s, G5: 13s
Layer-levels (build histogram) G4: 17s , G5: 7s
Healing brush at 100%- (brush size=19, darken) G4: 15s, G5: 4s Rename and save as TIFF G4: 29s. G5: 21s
These are great results. I cant tell you how many times I have been driven close to the edge while waiting 15 seconds or more for each application of the healing brush to take effect. The 4-second response on these huge images (at 100% image size) is still slower than I would like, but I can live with it.
My only disappointment is that the time to save files is not much improved. In fact, burning a 466 MB file onto a CD takes longer on the G5 than it did on the G4 (7m 19 s to save and burn on the G4 and 9m 30s to save and burn on the G5). There may be a problem with my CD/DVD drive. I may be glad that I purchased Apple Care.
One note: although my G5 has 3.5GB of RAM, Photoshop preferences only finds 1.7GB to use. I cant wait for Apple and Adobe to get their act together and give us real 64 bit processing that will take advantage of all the power of the dual G5 CPUs and more than 2GB of RAM.
Both computers were cleaned up prior to the tests, using the terminal: sudu sh /etc/daily (or weekly or monthly) commands followed by repair of privileges.
Dick Sjolund
Wilderness Studio
I replaced my dual 1.42 G4 with a new dual 2.5 GHz G5. I did it because I was frustrated (to say the least) with the response speed of the G4 when editing images from my Kodak 16 megapixel back and my Hasselblad 555ELD.
I make 30X30 prints at 360 dpi and print them onto an Epson 9600 printer.
The images are 16-bit depth, and I edit in 16 bits to take advantage of 65,000 shades of gray versus 256 in 8 bit. At the final step I convert the images to 8 bit for printing.
But, in 16-bit mode my TIFF files (20X30 inches at 360 dpi) are 667MB each.
Simple editing, especially with the healing brush, was painfully slow.
The new G5 has 3.5 GB of RAM, the old G4 had 2 GB of RAM.
I have a 160GB hard drive (drive 1) in the stock G5, and a second 74GB Raptor drive that I use as the scratch drive for PS. I have over 1 TB of external storage, using LaCie firewire 800 (320GB each) drives. It is not a RAID setup, just straight firewire 800.
Here are some timed results for similar editing steps on a 667MB image: (Note, these are the results of several trials with several image. They are subject to many caveats, but represent real results in my studio)
Editing step G4 (dual 1.42 GHz) G5(dual 2.5GHz)
Open file G4: 32s, G5: 20s
Rotate 90 degrees CW G4: 67s, G5: 7s
Gaussian blur (radius 1 pix) G4: 30s, G5: 13s
Layer-levels (build histogram) G4: 17s , G5: 7s
Healing brush at 100%- (brush size=19, darken) G4: 15s, G5: 4s Rename and save as TIFF G4: 29s. G5: 21s
These are great results. I cant tell you how many times I have been driven close to the edge while waiting 15 seconds or more for each application of the healing brush to take effect. The 4-second response on these huge images (at 100% image size) is still slower than I would like, but I can live with it.
My only disappointment is that the time to save files is not much improved. In fact, burning a 466 MB file onto a CD takes longer on the G5 than it did on the G4 (7m 19 s to save and burn on the G4 and 9m 30s to save and burn on the G5). There may be a problem with my CD/DVD drive. I may be glad that I purchased Apple Care.
One note: although my G5 has 3.5GB of RAM, Photoshop preferences only finds 1.7GB to use. I cant wait for Apple and Adobe to get their act together and give us real 64 bit processing that will take advantage of all the power of the dual G5 CPUs and more than 2GB of RAM.
Both computers were cleaned up prior to the tests, using the terminal: sudu sh /etc/daily (or weekly or monthly) commands followed by repair of privileges.
Dick Sjolund
Wilderness Studio
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