Upgrading a Powermac G5

Hi - I am upgrading from a Powermac G4 Gigabit Ethernet to a Dual 2.0 Ghz Powermac G5. It is the late 2005 model, meaning it has PCI Express slots and a PCI Express 16x video card slot. What is the best video card I can get for this machine? If I am correct, my machine can support up to 16 GB of RAM (2 GB x 8 slots). Is that right? I am going to add two 500GB 7200 RPM SATA drives to it immediately, so no upgrading needed there. What are some good expansion cards I can get for it? I am thinking of adding some USB/Firewire ports. Concerning wireless internet, the Airport card and external antenna look really expensive. There are much cheaper PCI cards that offer Airport connectivity; will those give similar performance?
Any suggestions you guys can give me concerning upgrading/expanding would really help. Speak from experience if you can, too. Thanks in advance!

Hi,
If I am correct, my machine can support up to 16 GB of RAM (2 GB x 8 slots). Is that right?
Yes...
http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=234&type=Memory&TI=4 244&shoupgrds=Show+Upgrades
I am thinking of adding some USB/Firewire ports.
http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=234&type=HardDrive+Controller&TI=4244&shoupgrds=ShowUpgrades
There are much cheaper PCI cards that offer Airport connectivity; will those give similar performance?
Actually these are better than Airport cards...
http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_XLR8YourMac.cfm?ID=11491&Item=NWTMXP802GU2
http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_XLR8YourMac.cfm?ID=10303&Item=NWTMXP802NU2C
Also, here's the specs on your G5...
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermacg5/stats/powermac_g5_dual2.0.html

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