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What is the Maximum OS for an Imac G4 800 mhz
The official minimum install for 10.5 is 867 MHz; so your model *JUST* missed it. Although 10.5 generally can be made to install without issue on systems that are just under that spec. I have a G4 Digital Audio, one generation older than the minimum-supported for 10.5, and it installed just fine even with a 450 MHz CPU, using an OpenFirmware trick. It ran just fine when I upgraded to a dual 1.0 GHz, and then to a single 1.5 GHz. It also runs fine on my minimum-spec PowerBook G4 867 MHz.
Here's one way:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20071214143723301
Another is to use another machine and put the iMac into Firewire target mode and install onto it.
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20071214143723301
Another is to use another machine and put the iMac into Firewire target mode and install onto it.
Glad to see my OF hack passed around still
imac600 also made a great little utility called LeopardAssist that you can use if there is already an OS X version running on the Mac.
imac600 also made a great little utility called LeopardAssist that you can use if there is already an OS X version running on the Mac.
In my experience, 10.5 is slower. (At least on 1GB of RAM or less, which for a lot of G4s is the absolute- or practical max.)You can run 10.5 if you want. 10.5 generally takes more memory, but is generally faster. Much new software requires 10.5 as a minimum, plus you get Time Machine.
Also note that you lose Classic.