Upgrading memory on Bondi Blue iMac G3

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Level 1

5 points

Upgrading memory on Bondi Blue iMac G3

I hope this is the correct forum for this question. I have one of those "bondi blue" iMac G3's that I am wanting to upgrade the memory on. The outer case is a mix between the green and silver clear plastic.

Currently, it has 64 MB of RAM installed. It is running Mac OS X 10.1.4. It has a PowerPC G3 processor running at 450 MHz. After upgrading the memory on it, I would like to get Mac OS 10.2 installed on it. Possibly even 10.3. Would be cool if 10.4 could fit on it. Oh, and the hard drive capacity size says 19.07 GB when I get "info" on it.

Now, my questions are this. What is the maximum amount of RAM that it can hold? And what type of RAM do I need for it? When I go into the Apple System Profiler, under "Built-in memory", it says 64 MB and PC100-3225. Under that where it says "Memory Type", it says "SDRAM". So, I would assume the type of RAM I need would be PC100 SDRAM. Am I correct on that?

Also, what would be the best way to max it out? Have two RAM chips that are the same size? Or 1 that's a lower size and 1 that's higher? Someone please help me with this. Thanks.

MacBook (Black model-Late 2007. Bought it in 2008), Mac OS X (10.6.7), 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB of Memory

Posted on Mar 28, 2011 3:07 AM

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Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,866 points

Mar 28, 2011 5:56 AM in response to Brian30

A true "Bondi Blue" iMac has a processor no faster than 333mHz and had a tray-loading optical drive. If yours is a 450mhz (has a slot-loading optical drive) you have a more capable iMac. All slot-loader iMacs can take up to 1G RAM (2 x 512MB). Here are the RAM selections for that computer model from the two online RAM vendors I trust to supply the proper parts:

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple_info/Apple_Slot_Loading_iMac_450MHz_Memory1282.asp

and

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/G3450MHz_500MHz_600MHz700MHz

The slot-loaders all support up to Mac OS 10.4.11 "Tiger." If the computer will not see heavy usage, the original 20GB hard drive will work. if you do a compact install of the OS (use install options to opt out of installing printer drivers and foreign language support), you have enough room.

The problem with TIger is that you need a full retail install set and they are in high demand and selling for more than any iMac G3 costs on the used/pulled market. Extreme example:

http://store.fastmac.com/productinfo.php?productsid=100

Note that most Tiger packages are on DVDs. You may not have a DVD optical drive. The sticker on the back or bottom of the iMac may say what type of optical drive you have.

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Answer 2

Mar 28, 2011 7:40 AM in response to Allan Jones

Just as an add-on Allan, the 350MHz slot loading iMacs like mine do not support Tiger 10.4 but any Firewire iMac G3 does. The above user can install with Firewire from another dvd capable drive Mac via Firewire Target Disk Mode if they purchase retail dvd install
discs. The small amount of available Tiger cd discs if you can find them are extremely in short supply and very expensive.

I agree with your statement that the user might be better off just purchasing another computer with 10.4.x installed already than throwing that much money on a machine that isn't worth the cost of the 10.4 discs (unless they can find some incredible good deal on them which would be highly unlikely). Just a personal judgment call at this point.

Just wanted to fill in a couple of blanks for the above user. I hope that you don't mind me butting in a bit 😉

littleshoulders 😀

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Answer 3

Jeff

Level 6

12,334 points

Mar 28, 2011 9:14 AM in response to Brian30

The specs for your (sage) iMac G3-450 DV+ can be found here. You have a DVD-ROM drive, so a Tiger DVD installer disk won't be a problem. The biggest problem with older, high-mileage CRT iMacs is failure of the PAV board. If/when it goes bad, you're looking at an expensive repair that essentially retires the computer. Four years ago, I upgraded my iMac G3-400 DV with an 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB of SDRAM, and Panther. The total for those purchases exceeded the value of that iMac even then. I'd never invest that much in it today, because a 400 MHz G3 is such a slow computer by today's standards.

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Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,866 points

Mar 28, 2011 2:12 PM in response to littleshoulders

littleshoulders,

Thanks for filling in the blank! I knew about the limitation on the 350s but forgot to include that, probably because I was thinking about his 450.

The PAV board in our 400DV started acting up about a year after I upgraded the HD to a 60GB 7200, added RAM and iinstalled OSX> It still runs OS9 OK but X seems to stress it badly.

Message was edited by: Allan Jones

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Answer 5

Brian30 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 28, 2011 5:04 PM in response to Allan Jones

I am writing this in response to everyone that left a post to my question.

The iMac came from my wife's parents house. My wife's parents no longer needed it. And at the time they bought it, it was probably one of the best computers available for the kind of money they had available to spend. And yes, it has a slot loading DVD-Rom drive.

I myself currently have a MacBook running at 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of RAM installed. It is running Mac OS X 10.6.7 which is the most up to date OS out there right now.

My wife's laptop is a used PowerBook G4 running at 1.5 GHz. Has 1.5 GB of RAM installed and is running Mac OS 10.4.11. It was just recently purchased at a liquidation sales event for $350. Her previous iBook G4 died on her.

And as far as trying to purchase a copy of Mac OS 10.4, I already own a copy of it! So, I have nothing to worry about for trying to find a copy to purchase!

Thanks for all the responses though, people. Do appreciate it.

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