PowerMacG5 Early 2005

The Power Macintosh G5/2.7 DP (PCI-X) was equipped with dual 2.7 GHz PowerPC 970fx (G5) processors, each featuring an optimized AltiVec \"Velocity Engine\" vector processing unit and a dedicated 512k level 2 on-chip cache. It shipped from the factory with a standard configuration of 512 MB of 400 MHz PC3200 DDR SDRAM, a 250.0 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM), and a 16X dual-layer \"SuperDrive\" (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). For graphics, it was fitted with a powerful ATI Radeon 9650 (AGP 8X Pro) video card that included 256 MB of DDR SDRAM.\n\nIts connectivity suite was extensive, offering USB 2.0, FireWire \"400\" and \"800\", and optical digital audio in/out. For video output, it uniquely provided one single-link DVI and one dual-link DVI port, while omitting the Apple Display Connector (ADC). The machine also came with built-in support for AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth 1.1. Crucially, this model included support for the high-speed PCI-X expansion standard.\n\nLike its immediate predecessor, the Power Macintosh G5/2.7 DP (PCI-X) used the distinctive \"anodized aluminum alloy\" case. While it maintained the core design principles of easy access via a removable side panel and a four-zone, nine-fan thermal architecture, this high-end model also incorporated a liquid cooling system. This advanced thermal solution replaced a traditional heat sink to manage the processors' substantial heat output. Buyers also had access to a variety of custom configuration options.

The dual 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5, released in early 2005, was the fastest Mac ever produced at the time and the pinnacle of the single-core G5 line. Its performance was exceptional, showing nearly a 100% speed advantage over contemporary high-end Pentium 4 systems in professional benchmarks. This machine, along with its 2.5 GHz predecessor, relied on a liquid cooling system (LCS) to manage the intense heat generated by its top-binned processors. Unfortunately, this decision became the model's Achilles' heel. Like the 2.5 GHz model, the 2.7 GHz version was susceptible to coolant leakage, which often resulted in severe corrosion and catastrophic failure of major components. Reports of entire labs of these machines failing simultaneously highlighted the scale of the problem. While its processing power was formidable and represented the peak of PowerPC performance before the Intel transition, the high risk of LCS failure has since defined its legacy, making it a purchase that is strongly cautioned against unless the cooling system has been verifiably replaced or repaired.