Mac OS X on x86 Hardware 2008–2024 Technical Archive
InfiniteMac OSx86 › Hardware, Systems & Dev › iMac G4 Questions...
5,570 reads · 2009-04-26 – 2009-05-04

iMac G4 Questions...

Ok so I might be set up to buy an old iMac G4(the one like the pro, with the display and the accual computer) and I was just wondering what the default specs were, also if I could run 10.5.6 on one without any problems(i.e. RAM issues,…

Primary Author
@xXrkidXx Published 2009-04-26
Collection
Hardware, Systems & Dev
Archival Footprint
5,570 historical reads · 5 curated field notes (from 8 dispatches) · 2009-04-26 – 2009-05-04
Credited Voices (5)
@xXrkidXx (3)@R0GUE (2)@milanca@MoC@andyvand

Ok so I might be set up to buy an old iMac G4(the one like the pro, with the display and the accual computer) and I was just wondering what the default specs were, also if I could run 10.5.6 on one without any problems(i.e. RAM issues, video card problems, ect...) any help?

Author Updates & Technical Revisions

Follow-up dispatches by @xXrkidXx

Author Update #1 @xXrkidXx 2009-04-26

its not a G4 my bad... i dont know the name of it though... its like a 2006 Mac Pro, except the comp isn't aluminum its plastic

Author Update #2 @xXrkidXx 2009-04-26

No it's a power mac g4, how much ram would u need to make Leo stable?

Synthesized Community Field Notes

5 technical responses curated from 8 original dispatches

Field Note #1 @R0GUE 2009-04-26

Perhaps it is a G5 iMac? If so, then yes, it will run Leopard just fine no matter the specs. Just ensure that it has enough ram to run smoothly. However, the G5 iMac was replaced by the Intel version in January 2006 which of course would be a far better deal for you

Field Note #2 @R0GUE 2009-04-27

What speed is the G4? Leopard 'officially' runs on 867Mhz or faster processor. Although Leopard can run on 512Mb ram I would advise an absolute minimum of 1Gb. Learn more about the various G4 Powermac models here (lowend mac.com/ppc/index.shtml) and here ↗.

Field Note #3 @milanca 2009-04-27

Here is also one option for consideration. I have a friend who recently wanted to build iMac like hack; didn't want desktop or laptop computer so we came with this.

msi .com/index.php?func=prodpage2&maincat_no=654&cat2_no=655

Nice little machine, low to mid-range. Intel Atom is capable of running vanilla kernel, ICH7-M, ALC888, Realtek Lan and Realtek WLan, GMA950 on 18.5" 16:9 WXGA display. Looks fully compatible for all vanilla. Graphics is a little weak but it depends on one's needs. Not for high demanding graphical applications or high demanding games though, but for everyday work, and even a little bit more than that, could work just great. G5 iMacs, non Intel, come with fx5200 or ati 9600, so gma950 is still good comparing to them.

Field Note #4 @MoC 2009-04-30 ↳ Re: @R0GUE
@R0GUEWhat speed is the G4? Leopard 'officially' runs on 867Mhz or faster processor. Although Leopard can run on 512Mb ram I would advise an absolute minimum of 1Gb. Learn more about the various G4 Powermac models here (lowend mac.com/ppc/index.shtml) and here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Mac_G4 ↗).

I wouldn't put extra money in a PowerMac G4, if you could find a PowerMac G5 or an Intel iMac it would do you a world better in speed. But then again, I'm the crazy one who still has a PowerMac G3 (Spec. Ed.) that dual boots 10.5 and OS 9 so I might be a bit crazy as well.

Field Note #5 @andyvand 2009-05-04 ↳ Re: @MoC
@MoCI wouldn't put extra money in a PowerMac G4, if you could find a PowerMac G5 or an Intel iMac it would do you a world better in speed. But then again, I'm the crazy one who still has a PowerMac G3 (Spec. Ed.) that dual boots 10.5 and OS 9 so I might be a bit crazy as well.

I would say Intel iMac...
A friend of mine has one of those latest PPC iMacs (G5) and even with G5 CPU it is rather slow in booting and operation...
If possible a model with Core2 Duo rather than Core Duo (like iMac4,1) for 64-bit support...

Sources & Contributor Provenance (5 credited usernames · Thread #2695)
UsernameDossier ContributionDispatchesActive Window
@xXrkidXxPrimary Author32009-04-26
@R0GUEContributor22009-04-26 → 2009-04-27
@milancaContributor12009-04-27
@MoCContributor12009-04-30
@andyvandContributor12009-05-04