iMac 266 MHz

Ferdinand · #1 January 15th, 2007, 01:28 AM

I have 9.2.2 loaded on it, like it says in my signature, but I want OS X. I have 94 MB of RAM inside it now which is _just_ enough for running the Finder, Internet and iTunes in OS 9. I could get 10.1 for 19 $, or 10.2.8 for 60 something dollars. I dont know what to do now. Since it's only a 6 GB HD, the OS cant take too much space, and since its 94 MB of RAM we're taking about, the OS cant take up much space. I hear somewhere 10.2 needs at least 128 MB of RAM. Is this true? If yes, does 10.1 also need that much?

eric2006 · #2 January 15th, 2007, 01:49 AM

If you want to do low end OS X computing, i'd recommend picking up an old G3 or G4 tower. The parts are easier to get at (have you tried changing the hard drive on that iMac?), and cheaper. You don't want to go below 10.2 - which requires 128 MB of RAM. RAM for the old iMacs is very expensive, and it would be much cheaper to get a tower, but if you must, you can find what kind of RAM you can get at Crucial, then look for generic RAM that's cheaper than them, but the same type.

**Cheryl** · #3 January 15th, 2007, 07:34 AM

You are not going to be able to install OS X due to the RAM requirements - 128 MB (Mac OS X 10.3 or earlier)
Space: At least 1.5 GB free hard disk space
Note: For Mac OS X 10.2 or later, 3.0 GB is the recommended minimum.

You could try moving your files (OS 9 documents, pictures, music) to an external drive to make room for OS X. But you still need to get more memory.

You also need to install a firmware update before installing OS X.

That iMac can run 10.3.9 (max) and you can run 512 MB ram in it.

Ferdinand · #4 January 15th, 2007, 11:24 AM

Thanks - So summed up I'll definately need more RAM (which I suspected, but I hoped to be wrong). The files are not a problem, since I use only about a GB, but at least I dont have to do partioning and all of that work before I can install it. That partioning thing is only for HDs above 10, 13 or 15 GBs?

andychrist · #5 January 15th, 2007, 11:38 AM

On that iMac you would need to install OS X within the first 8 GB of the HD. So with an HD of only 6 GB, no partition needed. But you probably will not have enough room left after installing Panther to do much with it. (Although I did manage to get Tiger up and running on my original 4 GB HD, must say it wasn't pretty.)

eric2006 · #6 January 15th, 2007, 03:03 PM

You'd have enough space to do web browsing and email. If you start installing apps, adding music or photos, etc - you'll run out of space, fast. You should have a few gigs free for the RAM to swap out.

Ferdinand · #7 January 16th, 2007, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andychrist

On that iMac you would need to install OS X within the first 8 GB of the HD. So with an HD of only 6 GB, no partition needed. But you probably will not have enough room left after installing Panther to do much with it. (Although I did manage to get Tiger up and running on my original 4 GB HD, must say it wasn't pretty.)

Thats what I thought, that I'll run out of space with panther on a 6GB HD.

Ferdinand · #8 January 16th, 2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andychrist

On that iMac you would need to install OS X within the first 8 GB of the HD. So with an HD of only 6 GB, no partition needed. But you probably will not have enough room left after installing Panther to do much with it. (Although I did manage to get Tiger up and running on my original 4 GB HD, must say it wasn't pretty.)

I thought that I'll run out of space with panther on a 6 GB HD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric2006

You'd have enough space to do web browsing and email. If you start installing apps, adding music or photos, etc - you'll run out of space, fast. You should have a few gigs free for the RAM to swap out.

I know, I mean I have trouble on a 20 GB HD computer, so 6 GB? But I won't load any photos or videos on it, only music, where I already have quite a bit on it now.