New GPX 5000 and 4800 views

JP,

It's interesting, If the 4800 and the 5000 have a new circuit board that means they are basically the same machine. The difference between the the two must be software related. Why did they bother making the 4800?

On the Minelab website it says "If you want to find out why Bruce Candy believes that 'these GPX detectors are Minelab's best ever' stay tuned... we have plenty more information and videos to share with you next week. So check back to www.minelab.com to be the first to know"
Where is Bruce Candy's Vid?

Hi again JP,

We have a conflict of information regarding the circuit board. When you asked if the new machines had a new board were you asking the sales dept or technical?
The technical dept told me it has not got a new board, but they told you it has. I think it would be nice if minelab themselves came onto this forum and told us directly, straight from the horses mouth. The thing is, if it turns if your information is wrong, I can't hold Minelab responsible for misleading information.

Regards

Undertaker wrote:Hi again JP,

We have a conflict of information regarding the circuit board. When you asked if the new machines had a new board were you asking the sales dept or technical?
The technical dept told me it has not got a new board, but they told you it has. I think it would be nice if minelab themselves came onto this forum and told us directly, straight from the horses mouth. The thing is, if it turns if your information is wrong, I can't hold Minelab responsible for misleading information.

Regards

Undertaker who in the technical department did you talk to? I know for a fact that the GPX-5000 has a new board and new circuitry, because I spoke with one of the guys who helped develop the thing (Philip Beck) to confirm to be absolutely sure as well as knowing this anyway during development etc. There are more than just software differences between the two with the physical switches on the front end cap being different too, the 5000 has the Custom search mode offering the full range of user configurable search mode options and the 4800 only has Hi-Mineral but generally your right, most of the major differences are software based. The 4800 will most probably not sell well here in Australia due to the price difference based on what it has to offer compared to the 5000 etc, however in Europe the new Coin/Relic mode is probably of more interest to the relic hunting community, so the price difference would have an impact, its a case of different strokes for different folks.

JP

So, now JP admits it is software changes with some switches. So in essence we have a gpx-4500 with some extra switches and weirdo salt timings? As for the fine gold timing i would just use a 6" coil, i was sick of fly poo now we have an ant poo mode. We are being conned out of our hard earned for a different version of a 4500. I cannot wait to see the fall out from the people who purchase this detector after trading in the same thing.

Compare the 3 GPX Detectors


http://www.minelab.com/aus/products/gold-detectors/gpx-5000?view=compare&product1=23149&product2=23171&product3=1645

Regards Johnny

jp, minelab have given us the worlds best detectors for many years, imagine if the sd2000 hadnt come out, gold would have been stuffed years ago.

But is this 5000 a big leap forward in your opinion, i am especially interested in normal mode with a 18 inch mono.

Also, will the Fine mode pick up bits like 5, 10 gram deeper?

paragold wrote:So, now JP admits it is software changes with some switches. So in essence we have a gpx-4500 with some extra switches and weirdo salt timings? As for the fine gold timing i would just use a 6" coil, i was sick of fly poo now we have an ant poo mode. We are being conned out of our hard earned for a different version of a 4500. I cannot wait to see the fall out from the people who purchase this detector after trading in the same thing.

Read what I said again, the differences between the two NEW models (4800 and 5000) are mainly software, the GPX-4800 and GPX-5000 have totally different boards and circuitry compared to the previous models (GPX-4500).

The 5000 is a BIG leap forward over previous models but not if you have the attitude of some posters here, to them I highly recommend they steer clear of anything later than the SD2000. Finegold is much better in highly mineralised areas especially the shallow ground where there are lots of smaller pieces missed by either operators using Enhance and not having the sensitivity or old patches were the mineralisation masked a lot of targets, they are also excellent for prospecting purposes due to having good feedback on what the ground is actually doing whilst still dealing with the bulk of mineralisation and hot rocks but at the same time booming in tiny nuggets whilst detecting along at full tilt.

Overall the 5000 runs much quieter so therefore even the Normal timings will offer an improvement over previous models (I have tested this with the 5000 in Normal on mild ground with the 18" mono's in direct comparison with the 4500 in Normal timings), the Ground Balance is the first thing people will notice as it is so precise and smooth thanks to the new boards and circuitry. Lastly Enhance offers better outright performance over the 4500 Enhance and then you can factor in the overall quiet nature of the detector as well.

JP

ok thanks for that...if its lots quieter it has to be better...here in vic the hot ground kills big monos, and that faint signal could be a 10 ouncer deep....if it goes into that red clay it will pull gold.

JP, There was a posting on another forum that indicated the innards are encased in a block of resin. If this is the case what happens when the new detectors fail out of warranty?

paragold wrote:JP, There was a posting on another forum that indicated the innards are encased in a block of resin. If this is the case what happens when the new detectors fail out of warranty?

Everyone is an expert especially on something they have never seen and know nothing about, incredible!!! Believe what you like.

JP

I think that knowing if this is true or not is of paramount importance! Can you indicate if the innards are serviceable?

paragold wrote:I think that knowing if this is true or not is of paramount importance! Can you indicate if the innards are serviceable?

I seriously doubt if this is true, in fact I would say it is pure derisive BS perpetrated by the bitter and twisted spin merchants, the anti-Minelab brigade.

JP

i heard it is encased in a block of gold...how do we extract said gold...and would it affect the warranty?????

Hi paragold,

If the boards were encased in plastic it would add to the weight.

GPX5000; Weight 2.4kg (5.3lbs) including 11” coil (excluding battery and accessories). Battery weight 780g (1.7lbs).
GPX4500; Weight 2.4kg (5.3lbs) (ex. battery).
GPX4800; Weight 2.4kg (5.3lbs) including 11” coil (excluding battery and accessories). Battery weight 780g (1.7lbs).

As you can see they all weigh the same, I think they still use the white paint.

HOBO'S Gold wrote:Compare the 3 GPX Detectors


http://www.minelab.com/aus/products/gold-detectors/gpx-5000?view=compare&product1=23149&product2=23171&product3=1645

Regards Johnny

There's at least one "error by omission" there: The GPX-4500 LCD display has a backlight yet the page suggests that it doesn't (by omission) for some reason. Other than the variation of the software driven detection modes and an incremental increase on the Gain options, all three machines look absolutely identical on paper.

Some people may have a genuine problem with seeing the differences.

Interesting!

And... Undertaker: Well spotted! Those resin blocks were popular in the 80s and they do add significantly to the weight when applied to circuit boards.

Thank you undertaker,

The weight also could indicate that there is not much more inside compared to a 4500.
Then i may be wrong about the innards.

paragold wrote:I think that knowing if this is true or not is of paramount importance! Can you indicate if the innards are serviceable?

Jp,
I think the modders want to see if they can make it better than a 5500.

I don't know why you bother wasting your valuable time answering some of these obviously provocative questions. Wouldn't it be better to say "Whatever spins your wheels" and get out finding more gold? Cheers.

Qld Sandy wrote:
Jp,
I think the modders want to see if they can make it better than a 5500.

I don't know why you bother wasting your valuable time answering some of these obviously provocative questions. Wouldn't it be better to say "Whatever spins your wheels" and get out finding more gold? Cheers.

Here here!

I,ve Just sold my gpx4500 and am putting in an order Tomorrow , Has anyone one got prices on the Gpx5000? the price I've got so far is $ 6500 cash or $6700 by credit card anyone got better prices than that??

Regards Johnny

Well,

All the excitement seems to be getting to people....

QLD Sandy, JP's valuable time is as valuable as yours or mine...or anyone else's.
Sandy, were you involved with the testing of the new machines? If you were, you could offer a bit of insight as well instead of giving JP a boot.
Your comment sounded aloof as most people are interested in what JP has to say. Do you have any useful info about pricing or availability seeings as you are a MINELAB DEALER?



Cheers.

paragold wrote:JP, There was a posting on another forum that indicated the innards are encased in a block of resin. If this is the case what happens when the new detectors fail out of warranty?

It's not a good idea if the circuit boards are potted , this will make little difference for the people who really want to work out the component values or circuit board layouts, this can be dissolved off or removed anyway.
The problems of buying a electronic device which has been potted is Heat, this is the main cause of electronic component failure and with heat also there are variations of electronic component values.
Even dust build up causes problems in this area so it's obvious potting in resin is going to be much worse.
Look inside any computer and you don't see this and they even have a fan to help keep components cool.
I may be wrong but this practice may be causing the variations that we see between same model detectors and component failures
Mark

It would be good if it ignors charcoal, if anyones out and about tommorow with the new job could you please try it out on a known area of charcoal, it gets very anoying digging holes all day and its just somones old camp fire or from a bush fire.

gollstar wrote:It would be good if it ignors charcoal, if anyones out and about tommorow with the new job could you please try it out on a known area of charcoal, it gets very anoying digging holes all day and its just somones old camp fire or from a bush fire.

agreed charcoal is a real pain in the a***e

Price on the GPX-5000 in Australia is at the RRP (probably set by Minelab) of AUD$6700.

Why all this discussion about boards and resin.
For all I care, Minelab could encase their detectors in cow s**t.
As long as it detects the gold.

With the 8 Soil Timings, would it be useful to cover a patch with one coil but using a range of the preset timings - or is there an optimal coil/timings/conditions combination for one location and other settings would be pointless? Cheers.

ferrousfinder wrote:Well,

All the excitement seems to be getting to people....

QLD Sandy, JP's valuable time is as valuable as yours or mine...or anyone else's.

Cheers.

Ummmm. I thought that was what I was saying.

Hi Johnny, My advise to anyone thinking of a GPX5000 purchase is to ring every dealer and get a verbal quote (don't ask for one via email). Courier delivery is not a big issue so buy where you get the best price, but please consider the advantage of buying from your local dealer that you may wish to buy other items off. I think $6400 is the benchmark this week and it should drop further in a few weeks.
Tributer

goldtimer wrote:Why all this discussion about boards and resin.
For all I care, Minelab could encase their detectors in cow s**t.
As long as it detects the gold.

Hi Goldtimer.
The reason I have said what I said about Resin on the boards is simple .
My detector had to go back to minelab and have several components replaced, why because it stopped finding anything including gold.
If you read through other posts on this forum about other models and even the 4500 you will see people speak of buying a new unit and having it fail soon for no reason , you will also hear talk of variations between same models some better than others, you will also hear of people carrying a spare unit when away on long trips.
These units are expensive and you would expect to get many years of service before any problems and some people travel many thousands of KMs for extended trips away in the bush and the last thing you want is for your unit to stop working.
Our detectors are not mechanical so the internals are not wearing out causing failure and as I said before the main reason for electronic failures is heat.
My two oldest detectors are a whites coinmaster and a garrett scorpian and are not potted nor have resin painted boards and have never missed a beat ,
When I purchase a product I don't just look for how well it works but how well it's made and how long it will last.
Mark

well i just picked mine up.. just have to wait for the battery to charge.

the next few weeks i have off so ill be out as often as possible, cant wait to pop the 5000 cherrie..

see you all out bush