Upgrade to intel - will plugins still work?

Question

Okay, this may sound stupid...
I'm using Logic 7.2 on a dual 1ghz G4 MDD and thinking of upgrading to an intel mac.I understand Logic 7.2 works on intels, but I've heard it runs rather slow. Is that true? I'm okay to buy Logic 8 if that's the best route.
My REAL question is, will my many many plugins (many free ones) still work on an intel? Do plugins (au and some vst wrapped by FXpansion's vst to au converter) generally work on intels? Does Logic 8 work okay with old plug ins?
I think I have over 120 of them so checking every single one will be a major time-consuming pain. I'm not sure how the intel architecture works and how easy it is to crossover to intel with an audio "studio" built up over the years on PPC.
I wonder if I should just get a second hand G5 dual or the last incarnation of the G5 iMac (for the quietness) and have an easier, if slower, mac life.
Apologies if I sound like an idiot - I often am.

Answer 1

peterdc60 wrote:
Okay, this may sound stupid...
It's not.
I'm using Logic 7.2 on a dual 1ghz G4 MDD and thinking of upgrading to an intel mac.I understand Logic 7.2 works on intels, but I've heard it runs rather slow. Is that true?
No. Actually, it runs faster, because it's running on a much faster machine. But you can't just copy it over, it has to be installed fresh.
I'm okay to buy Logic 8 if that's the best route.
Well, maybe, but that's your preference. Logic 8 has some nice features, but Logic 7 will work fine.
My REAL question is, will my many many plugins (many free ones) still work on an intel?
Most of them - but you HAVE to install them again, with the latest universal binary version (UB) When a plug-in is installed, it installs different code depending on which platform you're running on. The installer (usually) decides what components need to be installed.
Do plugins (au and some vst wrapped by FXpansion's vst to au converter) generally work on intels? >Does Logic 8 work okay with old plug ins?
You can't mix and match. When you go to an Intel machine, ALL plug-ins and Logic itself need to be installed again, with the latest UB version.
I think I have over 120 of them so checking every single one will be a major time-consuming pain.
Maybe so, but that's the price of upgrading. Maybe now is a good time to abandon some of those plug-ins which you really don't use
I'm not sure how the intel architecture works and how easy it is to crossover to intel with an audio "studio" built up over the years on PPC.
It's a day or two of pain, but then you'll be much happier. Kinda like going to the dentist.
I wonder if I should just get a second hand G5 dual or the last incarnation of the G5 iMac (for the quietness) and have an easier, if slower, mac life.
I don't think it's wise to buy old technology. You're going to regret it, as we're already seeing that new applications are being released which require an Intel machine and/or Leopard. Snow Leopard, the next OS, will only run on an Intel machine, for example.
Apologies if I sound like an idiot - I often am.
You don't. Perfectly sensible questions. Hope my answers help.