Update/upgrade Power Mac G5

L

lina666

Registered
Hello.
I am looking for advice about how to upgrade this wonderful machine and the OS. Really love it - have it since forever - 2006, I think - and hope I can still upgrade the OS to the Snow Leopard ...eventually (?).

Do I need to buy CD box set from Apple? (My support with Apple ended longest time ago.)
Do I need to change something in the computer /hardware?
Like is it a big problem that it does not have an Intel processor (sorry if this is a silly question and if I actually have such)?

Thank you!

The 'About this Mac' details:

Mac OS X
version: 10.4.11
processor: Dual 2 GHz Power PC G5
memory: 1.5 GB DDR SDRAM
machine name: Power Mac g5
machine model: Power Mac 7,3
CPU type: Power PC G5 (2.2)
number of CPUs: 2
CPU speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
memory: 1.5 BG
bus speed: 1 GHz
boot ROM version: 5.1.8f7
 
First off the newest version of OSX you can run is 10.5.8 due to your machine being a PPC,not intel and never can be. As far as upgrading, I would definitely upgrade the ram. Yours is a early 2005 model and will support up to 4 GB. of ram.You can upgrade the HD and video card as well. The big question is do want to spend money on a machine that is heading fast down the road to obsolescence ? PPC support is waning fast and in a couple of years it will most likely gone.Even my first gen. MBP will not run Snow Leopard!
You might want to think about replacing it if you plan to do some heavy work with it.
 
Leopard (10.5.8) is as far up the chain as you can go on your lovely PPC Mac. Snow Leopard (10.6.xx)= Intel only.
You'll need to source a retail Install disk such as this or this, just remember any of the machine specific grey colored install disks will not work, unless you can score one for the exact same model computer as yours.
It would also be wise to up the ram (max preferred), it is pretty cheap these days and will go a long way to improving you computing enjoyment.
 
oldmanmac said:
The big question is do want to spend money on a machine that is heading fast down the road to obsolescence ? PPC support is waning fast and in a couple of years it will most likely gone.Even my first gen. MBP will not run Snow Leopard!
You might want to think about replacing it if you plan to do some heavy work with it.
Click to expand...
"Likely be gone" not necessarily, my G4 cube is 11 years old and still going strong. Upgrade the hardware so it's the best it can be, and the software will still do tomorrow what it is doing for you today.
 
Thank you Oldmanmac - think it's the sentimental value - will try to have it little longer.

Dear JBarey, apreciate your advice very much. I guess the best thing will be to buy all components and the retail Leopard (thank you for the links) and call my tech to fix the machine. I just do not think I dare install ram and etc by myself.

Just one more question, Jbarley, please, what does it mean: "just remember any of the machine specific grey colored install disks will not work, unless you can score one for the exact same model computer as yours."?
There is a specific Leopard 10.5.8 for Power Mac g5?
Or do you mean, the original Power Mac gray discs?

Thank you again!
 
sorry if I confused you, what I was referring to was that the original install disks for other models (grey colored) will not work.
These are found on places like EBay and are usually cheaper then the Retail install disks. For this reason a lot of folks get sucked into buying them only to find out they will not install.
Stick to the retail disks (black colored) like the links I posted and you'll be OK.
 
There's no grey disks for your PowerMac with OS X 10.5 anything - so the retail Leopard is your goal, I think.
Also, your PowerMac seems to be a 2004 model, and not the 2005 that oldmanmac suggested. That's a good thing, I think, as that means you can upgrade to as much as 8GB total RAM. It's easy to see - the older ones have 8 memory slots, and the newer model has only 4 slots.
 
Yes, I will shop the retail Leopard - thank you, Jbarley. Will remember they are black.

DeltaMac, the computer does have 8 slots.
Guess, I buy the memory from Apple directly?

It's such a great machine - I never had to do anything to it. Only just recently the Safari started quitting unexpectedly - sometimes. But I suspect if I manage this upgrade and the additional RAM, all will go smooth again...I hope so.

Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers
 
lina666 said:
Yes, I will shop the retail Leopard - thank you, Jbarley. Will remember they are black.

DeltaMac, the computer does have 8 slots.
Guess, I buy the memory from Apple directly
Click to expand...

I would suggest you shop around, NewEgg etc. for the best price.
I've always been happy dealing with OWC.
 
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