iMac G3/333 Mhz

andrew_m_519

I have aquired an old iMac G3 for free(the one with the CD tray, not the slot), and am looking to upgrade it, but I have a couple of questions before sinking $$$ into it.



please note: I am a Windows user, and therefore don't really know much about Apple's yet. (I want to switch badly though)



1. Can it upgrade to OS X panther?(running 9.2 right now)

2. Can I upgrade the processor, and RAM, without replacing the main board?

3. Is it even worth doing anything to it, or would it be cheaper to just buy something new?



Thanks, Andrew

voxapps

1. Yes, it can run Panther, but it will probably need a free firmware upgrade (check at Apple's Web site). Don't try to install Panther without upgrading the firmware or Seriously Bad Things (tm) will happen.



2. RAM can be upgraded without changing anything else, although getting to the guts of older iMacs is a challenge. Panther needs at bare minimum 256MB, and 512MB is much more desirable. There are some 3rd party CPU upgrades (the CPU is on a daughter card), but they'll only give you a relative increase in performance, not the performance of a new machine.



3. If you just want to learn about Macs, add some RAM (even 256MB would be OK for basic surfing and e-mail) and enjoy your nearly-free Mac. If you want to do more, you might consider selling it and getting an eMac (US $799 new) which is light years ahead performance-wise.

kingofsomewherehot

Quote:

Originally posted by Voxapps

... Panther needs at bare minimum 256MB, and 512MB is much more desirable.

That is such a crock of stuff. I am sitting here using an iMac266 with only 192 MB of ram. It is doing just fine with Panther ... as well as it would do with OS9. No, it doesn't scream, but it is DEFINITELY useable.



Yes ... more ram will make OSX better/faster/smoother, but it WILL RUN with less than 256 and still be useable.

vox barbara

Quote:

Originally posted by KingOfSomewhereHot

That is such a crock of stuff. I am sitting here using an iMac266 with only 192 MB of ram. It is doing just fine with Panther ... as well as it would do with OS9. No, it doesn't scream, but it is DEFINITELY useable.



Yes ... more ram will make OSX better/faster/smoother, but it WILL RUN with less than 256 and still be useable.

Well, more than that but seriously, 256mb is a minimum, otherwise disapointment especially by a windows user is likely the case...

danmacman

I too have an original Rev D iMac. Mine has 320 MB Ram, runs Panther relatively smoothly. I have never installed any type of firmware updates, and nothing has ever happened to my computer. Processor upgrades, you've got upgrades from PowerLogix (although their iForce is discontinued, you may find one on eBay) and from Sonnet, their Harmoni is still available in a 600 Mhz G3, and that also gives you a firewire slot.

xool

While we've moved past our old blueberry iMac, we used it with 10.3.x for a while. Not a speed demon, but it will run most of things you'd want it to.



Once you think about upgrading just buy a new mac. An eMac or better yet, one of the new iMacs. A G4 iMac is good too. Endless upgrades (Ram, CPU, HardDrive, and still no FireWire!) will only suck the money out of you. A new machines delivers everything and more.



We're giving the imac to a non mac using relative. Once she switches she earns a better machine. For now, the blueberry will do nicely. All she needs is AOL, Safari, Mail, and Quicken. Word, iTunes, and iPhoto are bonus!