Quadra 700 vs Quadra 605 (w. FPU)

[Opardalis]

I'm debating getting a Quadra 700 in my collection as my main 040 machine, but I already have a Quadra 605 with the upgraded CPU with FPU. Given that, isn't it fair to say that two are about equal in performance? The only difference I can think of is the Quadra 700 can use a Nubus video, where as the 605 uses onboard video. Just curious....

-John

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Performance wise it's likely a wash in the real world, though LEM says the 700 is faster. Don't forget the PDS if you ever want to play with a PPC upgrade card. The 700's video is better, topping out at 2MB VRAM as opposed to 1MB for the 605. I love the 605, but I'm a NuBus card/24bit TPD fanatic. I say play with both.

 

[Themk]

The Quadra 700 is the Quadra 700, AKA JurassicMac [)] ]'>

The two NuBus slots in the 700 are nice to have, if you have NuBus cards that is.

The benefits of 2MB of VRAM in the 700 are also apparent too.

The Q605 is surely a nice little pizza box though. With full 040 the 605 and 700 will have nearly identical performance. Really, it's all about how much money you want to spend [] ]'>

 

[Juror22]

I have a q605 w/ full 040 and a q700 and I like the q605 better, just because I like where the (mac) monitor sits, when placed on top of the q605.  Keep ergonomics in mind as well as functionality and performance.

 

[Themk]

I like the q605 better, just because I like where the (mac) monitor sits, when placed on top of the q605.

I have always liked pizza boxes. The design just appeals to me for some reason. For a few years I had my desktop placed on the side, so the PCIe slots were vertical rather than horizontal, I kinda liked that. A true pizza box case would be low profile though.

 

[Gorgonops]

The 2MB of VRAM (if fully populated) on the Quadra 700 is probably its most "killer" feature. (It's unfortunate that they dumbed down the Wombat board in the 650/800 to only take 1MB.) That and it runs A/UX. If you don't care about either of those things or expanding it with PDS/Nubus cards there probably isn't a good performance-related reason to buy one.

 

[Themk]

You can't argue with 24-bit onboard video. A/UX is a plus, but, I find that NetBSD is better, and if you want to run your mac programs, please just run them in SSW.