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P.C.T
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Q: What are the latest versions of OS X (and OS X 10.4) that I can install on my iMac Power PC G4 (17-inch Flat Panel)?

Hey guys,

 

I was just wondering as to what the latest versions of OS X (and OS X 10.4) that I can install on my iMac Power PC G4 (17-inch Flat Panel) are?

 

Any information would be much-appreciated, as ANYthing that would make this baby run a bit quicker (withOUT burning a massive hole in my pocket) would be a GREAT help!!! (;-D)

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), RSVP ASAP (Thanks)!

Posted on May 11, 2012 4:21 PM

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P.C.T

Q: What are the latest versions of OS X (and OS X 10.4) that I can install on my iMac Power PC G4 (17-inch Flat Panel)?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones May 11, 2012 5:22 PM in response to P.C.T
    Level 8 (35,316 points)
    iPad
    May 11, 2012 5:22 PM in response to P.C.T

    The highest version of the Mac OS that runs on PowerPC Macs is 10.5.8. The last iteration of OS 10.4 was 10.4.11.

     

    As 10.5 has more overhead than 10.5, I doubt it will make any speed differences and may knock speed down a notch or two. It did on a G4 tower I have with specs similar to the last of the G4 iMacs.

     

    Things that help:

     

    1) Max out the RAM. If you post more details about your iMac from Apple menu > About this Mac > More Info... we can see how much more RAM you model can accomodate (different G4 iMacs have different RAM specs; with modern modules, some can double the max amount of RAM the outdated Appel Specs call out).

    2) See if the hard drive is getting too full. Although it varies with hard drive sides, for legacy Macs you want no less thant about 15 percent of the hard drive space free.

    3) In OS 10.4, run the periodic maintenance scripts manually. Link :Running the Mac OS X maintenance scripts

     

    If it's web video that's slow, you can't fix that. Most web developers use modern video technology that has abandoned any efforts to be optimized for pre-Intel mac processors.

  • by P.C.T,

    P.C.T P.C.T May 12, 2012 9:43 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2012 9:43 AM in response to Allan Jones

    Hey Allan/ Thanks for the info + the HD is fine & there is a 512MB and also a 256MB RAM installed (speaking of which, do you know how much RAM an iMac G4 Power PC 17-inch flat panel can take?).

     

    Best regards,

     

    Patrick

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel May 12, 2012 9:47 AM in response to P.C.T
    Level 10 (314,412 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 12, 2012 9:47 AM in response to P.C.T

    1GB if it's an 800MHz model and 2GB otherwise.

     

    (66376)

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody May 16, 2012 10:32 AM in response to P.C.T
    Level 9 (66,889 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    May 16, 2012 10:32 AM in response to P.C.T

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2541 - Tiger requirements and pitfalls

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2275 - Leopard requirements and pitfalls