Thread

Running OS X on a 233mhz iMac

68kMLA Hardware 14 posts Dec 15, 2007 to Dec 18, 2007

#1 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 - 17:13 68kMLA

So from what I have read, it is possible to get OS X to run on a 233mhz tray load iMac. What would I have to do to get to be able to run it? Or would it be better to just pay the extra $20 and get a newer slot loader?

Thanks!

#2 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 - 17:16 68kMLA

It's worth the extra $20. The 233 is hard to get OS X running on it, since it is actually a Beige G3 board concept. Which means, XPostFacto. And that will take some work. It's better to get the Slotload. better video, Native OS X support. Better all around. However, make sure you get one that doesn't have any signs of PAV problems

#3 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 - 17:44 68kMLA

10.0 through 10.3 install on the tray-load iMac just fine. 10.1.3 or higher is needed for proper video drivers, though.

With XPostFacto, 10.4 can be installed, and it is usable, but I prefer 10.3 on mine. (233 MHz, 160 MB RAM, stock 4 GB hard drive.)

#4 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 - 18:50 68kMLA

So if I wanted to run say, 10.0, would it need any upgrades?

#5 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 - 23:16 68kMLA

So if I wanted to run say, 10.0, would it need any upgrades?

Maybe RAM, depending on how much the machine has already. 128MB should suffice for running OS X up to version 10.3 "Panther".

I would recommend going for at least 10.2 as that was the first, fully stable release of OS X, (I've heard that earlier versions can be slow and buggy). For running later versions like 10.4 I would strongly recommend a 400MHz slot loader as they are incredibly good machines for the job. With 256MB RAM, 10.4 chugs along nicely on a 400MHz iMac, and with more RAM it is pretty speedy. Also, the slot loaders use PC100 (and possibly PC133) memory which is very easy to get hold of cheaply these days.

#6 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 01:18 68kMLA

I have an original Rev. A Bondi Blue that I installed OS X 10.3 Panther onto.

- Required: Must get more RAM. If you actually want to use the iMac, you must have at least 256 MB. 128 MB will boot but as soon as you load any program at all it will start disk thrashing and it becomes basically useless. 256 MB will let you run one (maybe two) with minimal disk thrashing.

- Strongly recommended: 4 MB VRAM upgrade chip. Lets you run Millions of colors.

#7 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 01:56 68kMLA

How much would we be talking for memory?

#8 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 06:55 68kMLA

how much money or how much ram ?

the tray loaders take pc-100 so-dimms and they cna take 2 256 mb ones maxing them out to 512 mb ignore apple's specification of 160 max they can take 512

however the trayloaders have a little quirk in that some of them wil see the whole 512 and others only 384 you wont know which one does what until you try even 384 works fine for X

go with jaguar it wil run just fine on that imac its supported to run on that imac and you dont need to perform any drive voodoo because the hd is just 4 gig

#9 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 17:45 68kMLA

Well, yeah I guess how much money and how much ram.

#10 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 17:48 68kMLA

i awnser the how much ram question how much a pc100 so-dimm woudl cost i would not know they tend to be come rarer and more expensive here

#11 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 21:50 68kMLA

So at this point I am trying to decide if it would be cheaper to buy the memory or iMac slot load.

#12 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 - 23:32 68kMLA

So at this point I am trying to decide if it would be cheaper to buy the memory or iMac slot load.

It would probably end up being cheaper and easier just to buy yourself a slot loader. It'll end up being a far better performer anyway

#13 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 - 00:20 68kMLA

I could buy a slot load from here:

http://www.smalldog.com/garage.php

Has anybody used small dog before?

Do you think the iMac will work?

$57.00 after shipping is a bit much though.

I might have better luck from places like eBay.

#14 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 - 17:27 68kMLA

shipping is always expensive its a crt machine and they are heavy