Need to upgrade my OS X

[David]

Can someone tell me what is the most recent version of OS X that I can run on my G4?


  Machine Name:   Power Mac G4 (AGP graphics)
  Machine Model:   PowerMac3,1
  CPU Type:   PowerPC G4  (2.
  Number Of CPUs:   1
  CPU Speed:   400 MHz
  L2 Cache (per CPU):   1 MB
  Memory:   768 MB
  Bus Speed:   100 MHz
  Boot ROM Version:   4.2.8f1

The existing 10.4.11 is incompatible with the software for a USB Turntable I bought without checking first and I've a library of vinyls I need to put on my iPod.

Ta everso

D.

[chriskleeman]

Hi David,

Sorry to hear about the state of your health over on the Community side! I can only hope you get better soon!

Conflicting information regarding your Mac... from what I can find it's a "Sawtooth" and it may be that Leopard is unsupported on that machine. If you go to this link: Low End Mac you will find a wealth of information about your specific machine, and how you might be able to install Leopard on it. This link, for example Unsupported Leopard Information sheds some light on the ssue. According to other information I found, the latest version of X that is officially supported on that machine is the the one you've got, 10.4.11. And that's because with a processor speed of less than 867 Mhz, Leopard won't install unless you use one of the "tricks" you'll read in that link.

But if you do try to install Leopard on it, you might want to at least double your RAM, and I'd recommend upgrading your processor, because it's going to be dog-slow to run Leopard on that machine with the original 400 Mhz G4 processor. And that only if what I saw on the Low End Mac site will actually work for your machine. That being said, there is a report of a specific user in that last link who is successfully using Leopard on your same machine with only 512 MB of RAM.

Hopefully Krissel will be along, as she is the reigning Upgrade Queen, and may have more light to shed on this.

HTH,

Chris K

[David]

Many thanks for prompt reply Chris. I'll certainly check lowendmac.com later today.

However; the postman should be arriving any moment now with a Sonnet Encore/ST G4 Upgrade Card which should (I am assured by many sources) whack my processor speed up to 1GHz

QUOTE(chriskleeman @ May 5 2009, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

.... because with a processor speed of less than 867 Mhz, Leopard won't install unless you use one of the "tricks" you'll read in that link.

That should prove interesting to say the least !!!
I'll let you know how I get on.

D

[krissel]

Hi David,

Chris has given you good information. With the new processor you should be able to run Leopard OK. If you max out the RAM to 2G it will help immensely. RAM is equally important as the processor speed, maybe even more since Leopard is memory hungry.

Apparently you have upgraded the video card if you are running the monitors you list in the side panel. The original 16MB card would not be very responsive in Leopard. And I see you have a 160GB hard drive. Did you install a new controller or are you using a software solution to the 120GB limitation? Or is it external?

I upgraded virtually all aspects of my DA over two years ago and have been running Leopard with very respectable speed. In common activities it almost rivals that of my new MBP which has a much faster processor and 4G of RAM.  

Anyway, fill it with 2G of memory and with that new processor it will feel like a new machine.