How to / Can I Upgrade my iMac G4 10.3 800MHz????

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How to / Can I Upgrade my iMac G4 10.3 800MHz????

Hardware Overview:

Machine Model: iMac
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 800 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.4.5f3

I just bought this used iMac off eBay. I would like to tweak it a bit. Can anyone let me know what is possible, easy and inexpensive?

WANT:
- upgrade to OSX LEOPARD 10.5. I tried to do this using my disc however is said the computer doesn't meet specs. I have seen the same spec'd iMac running Leopard 10.5. Why can't I?
- upgrade RAM? what's max and is it easy?
- upgrade HDD? (I have a 350GB 3.5" kicking around) Is it easy?

iMac G4 Flat Panel, Mac OS X (10.3.x), 800 MHz

Posted on Jul 31, 2010 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 31, 2010 7:33 PM in response to NoShow

Hi! I have iMac G4 with 10.5 installed.

First you must know that Leopard installer refuses to let you install it on any Mac slower than 867 MHz.
The easiest way is to use a software called LeopardAssist which will trick the Open Firmware into
believing the system has an 867mhz CPU. ( http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/26562/leopardassist)
Then use your Leopard disk to install.

About the hardware upgrade, it is quite hard to do especially the HDD since the components inside
the 'dome' are compact and the HDD is located at the top. You need to dissemble many component
to get the HDD. But if you really want to do it, there are many step-by-step tutorials on youtube & google to guide you.
One of them ( http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imacg4/imacg4takeapart.html)

Hope this will help.

Message was edited by: Kamil Studios

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Answer 2

NoShow Author

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Jul 31, 2010 8:17 PM in response to Kamil Studios

Kamil Studios,

Thanks for taking time to think about and reply to my post. Great info.

My next question is, will it be worth it to "trick" my iMac and install 10.5. Will performance improve or deteriorate? I know there will be more features.

Thanks!

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Answer 3

NoShow Author

Level 1

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Jul 31, 2010 9:05 PM in response to Kamil Studios

I tried to go ahead with the 10.5 using the Leopard Assist. No luck. Leopard Assist did not work. Darn. It looked so easy...

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Answer 4

Jul 31, 2010 11:11 PM in response to NoShow

hmm, which one is not working?
LeopardAssist or when you start to install it still tell your system not meet the requirement?

I have installed Leopard on my iMac G4 a few month ago.
To use it you need to run LeopardAssist, insert Leopard disk, restart & boot from the disk
and continue the installation like normal.

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Answer 5

Jul 31, 2010 11:17 PM in response to NoShow

About the performance, some people say Leopard is better in performance when install in iMac G4.
But from what I experienced from my iMac, the boot time is a lot longer than previous version.
But once in the desktop, performance is not very much difference.

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Answer 6

Allan Jones

Level 9

77,822 points

Aug 1, 2010 6:28 AM in response to NoShow

Can you describe your Leopard install disk? It must be a full retail disk (dark background). A grey system restore disk from another Mac won't work as all Macs that shipped with Leopard pre-installed have Intel processors. A PowerPC processor like yours cannot read system code written for an Intel processor--no way to get around that.

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Answer 7

NoShow Author

Level 1

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Aug 1, 2010 7:54 AM in response to Kamil Studios

Kamil Studios... the LeopardAssist starts fine, asks me to reboot with my install disc inserted. When I reboot, I get to pick my language, then it tells me my system does not meet the requirement.

I have tried it a couple times with no luck:
-run leapordassist
- reboot with the install disc of full retail family pack in fact of osx leapord
- lanugage
- system does not meet...

😟

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Answer 8

NoShow Author

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Aug 1, 2010 7:56 AM in response to Allan Jones

Allan Jones... thanks for your suggestion. It is indeed a full Leopard retail version. Family Pack in fact. Hmmmmmm......

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Answer 9

Aug 1, 2010 8:23 AM in response to NoShow

Hmm, strange. It should let you install.
The different between your iMac G4 and mine is RAM. My iMac is 1gb RAM.
Maybe the minimum RAM for Leopard is 1gb, but I'm not sure.

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