Using a Powermac G5 solely for Windows.

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Level 1

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Using a Powermac G5 solely for Windows.

Amongst my many Apple products, I have a Powermac G5 which was built in 2007 - I got it for Logic Audio. I never mastered the software on that machine (back then), later picking up Logic X on my iMac.

Anyways. I have this barely used machine, and I now need a machine to run Windows at work (for Sage 50 Pro - not available on Max OS).

IIRC this had Bootcamp - it was not something I tried back then.

My question is, if possible... how would be the best way to go about adapting this machine to run Windows... and which version of Windows... 8/9/10?

If it would work... do I update the old Apple OS?... or leave it as is. (I'm not with the machine at present, its either Leopard or Lion OS).

If it would work... Is Bootcamp best, or something like Virtualbox? I don't have any of the old operating system CD's which came with, long lost.

Or is this tank of a machine just too old, despite its lack of use...

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

Mac Pro

Posted on Jan 11, 2020 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

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Niel

Level 10

732,233 points

Jan 11, 2020 10:25 AM in response to al_8888

There isn't a 2007 PowerMac G5.

If you mean a 2006 or earlier PowerMac G5, your only option is to use an emulator, and many of them won't work on it.

If you mean a 2007 Mac Pro, use an emulator, or set Boot Camp up with Windows 7 or earlier.

Running Windows natively will be faster, but requires a restart to switch between it and Mac OS X.

(177826)

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Answer 2

al_8888 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 11, 2020 10:53 AM in response to Niel

Thanks for the reply... testimony to the machines lack of use and my poor memory. Will have to take a look on Monday to properly ID.

I suspect its actually a Mac Pro as after some Googling, apparently the G5 had a single optical bay... it has dual optical bay, Xeon processor... and it was built to order in 2007.

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Answer 3

Jan 13, 2020 9:37 AM in response to al_8888

The Mac Pro's - which yours appears to be one of can either run Windows in a virtual machine or via Boot Camp they can run Windows natively as if it is a real Windows PC. (A PowerMac G5 would have been able to use Connectix Virtual PC which is long discontinued.) https://www.amazon.com/Connectix-Virtual-PC-Mac-Macintosh/dp/B00FW83Y58

A 2007 Mac Pro would not be supported for running Windows 10. I am not saying it would be impossible but you might have to go through extra contortions like first installing an older Windows and upgrading or loosing support for Apple drivers for Windows 10. (Conversely the new Mac Pro 2019 only officially supports Windows 10.)

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Using a Powermac G5 solely for Windows.

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