iMac G3 400MHz - OSX????

Scobius90 · 04-04-2008 04:03PM #1

I know this might be a big negative but is it possible to load a early version of OSX onto an old PowerPC G3 400Mhz iMac that is currently running OS9.1.1.

If so would it be stable and what would the minimum requirements for RAM etc. Indeed what are the max RAM those iMacs can take?

as always, any and all help appreciated!

scobius

WUSBDesign · 04-04-2008 05:07PM

Have a go at www.everymac.com . The answers will come faster than the questions you ask

.

Type 17 · 04-04-2008 05:09PM

This will work, but you do need at least 512 MB of RAM, and preferably the max possible (two slots, total possible 1GB fitted as 2 x 512 MB).

I have put 10.4.11 on to these machines with 640 MB RAM fitted - it's not a fast experience, but it does work, and is stable.

I presume that you are only looking at using the machine for email, surfing, and basic office functions such as word-processing and spreadsheets - trying to run processor-intensive apps like Photoshop or Garageband will not be a nice experience

I would recommend doing a clean install though - I firstly did an upgrade of whatever version of OS X was one the machines (10.1.x, I think), so I could leave Mac 9.2 in place, but it didn't work very well. When I re-installed using the "Clean Install" option, it was noticeably quicker.

whiterebel · 04-04-2008 05:28PM

I had 10.3.9 working fine on two G3 300MHz Towers, a blue & white and a beige.
Slow but stable.

nialler · 04-04-2008 09:01PM

As rebel said, I've had 10.1, 10.2 running on an old 233mhz iMac, sloooooowwwww but useable, I wouldn't go any higher than 10.2 as 10.3/10.4 and 10.5 are just to ram hungry.

Sad Professor · 04-04-2008 10:46PM

Yeah a G3 400 is plenty for 10.2 at least. Just max out the RAM as already said.

ZENER · 04-04-2008 11:32PM

I've just last week installed Tiger on a 500MHz G3 - 640MB - 20GB - Flower iMac and it was usable - even ran ARD fine. The experience is like Windows XP on a 500MHz Pentium III with 512MB.

It's being used as a receptionists machine in an art gallery running Apple Works 05 and Adobe CS.

ZEN

nialler · 05-04-2008 02:58AM

ZENER wrote: »

I've just last week installed Tiger on a 500MHz G3 - 640MB - 20GB - Flower iMac and it was usable - even ran ARD fine. The experience is like Windows XP on a 500MHz Pentium III with 512MB.

It's being used as a receptionists machine in an art gallery running Apple Works 05 and Adobe CS.

ZEN

Poor receptionist!

Chardee MacDennis · 05-04-2008 02:48PM

i have a g4 450 powermac running osx tiger with only 512mb ram, not the fastests but works perfectly as a media server.

Scobius90 · 07-04-2008 01:59PM

hey everyone,

thanks a lot everyone for your answers.

I presume that you are only looking at using the machine for email, surfing, and basic office functions such as word-processing and spreadsheets - trying to run processor-intensive apps like Photoshop or Garageband will not be a nice experience

yeah exactly TYPE 17, i just want to give my wife the experience of using the newer Apple OS's as we are thinking of moving from Windows to Apple. And as I have an old imac sitting behind me at work from my post-grad days I thought it could be a cheap and easy way to do this

before we outlay a load of yoyos.

now to get my hands on some RAM ........

thanks again everyone

Type 17 · 07-04-2008 05:15PM

Scobius90 wrote: »

...i just want to give my wife the experience of using the newer Apple OS's as we are thinking of moving from Windows to Apple. And as I have an old imac sitting behind me at work from my post-grad days I thought it could be a cheap and easy way to do this...

now to get my hands on some RAM

From previous experience

, I can say to you: remember to emphasise that the machine is a little old and slow, and that it is the interface that she should be deciding whether or not she likes - basically you need to remind her not to associate this machine's speed with the Mac OS in general.

For RAM, I recommend www.crucial.com after using them on the recommendation of others here - easy-to-check configuration on their site, best price, and really fast delivery.

According to them, your iMac G3 400 MHz can take up to two of these:

512MB, 168-pin DIMM, SDRAM, PC133 memory module
Item No. CT223785

each: €58.74 inc vat, plus shipping

iMac G3 400MHz - OSX????

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