[GRAHAMUK]

Running OS X on my 500MHz iBook (white) was OK, but definitely required a little patience. I've since overclocked it, so it's great now - but my Mum has a 333MHz iMac (bondi), wondering whether it's worth upgrading her to X. Anyone tried it? Good idea or not?

[slider]

Well, there is a problem with your post. There was no 333 Bondi iMac, it is one of the fruit colors, probably blueberry. If it is the 333 this yes it is feasable, my dad is running it on his with 512MB of ram. You would definately want to have at least that. He wanted to run iPhoto so he had a reason. He is running M$ office 98 in classic and seems to be OK with it. It is slower in X than in classic. I would ask why does she want to run OSX or why do you want her to. My dad had a reason, my sister also has the same machine, for her I recommend she stay with OS 9, I just did a clean reinstall and and made sure she was up to date. She will be upgrading to a new machine next year. But if your mom wants to use some of the iApps go for it, just warn her it's a little slow but it runs OK all and all. Good luck with it.

[croz]

I recently sold my 333Mhz, 288 ram (blueberry) to a friend and have found osx works fine, although a tad slow at times. I did a clean reinstall , classic isn,t required. She is running micro office X and photoshop 7 but multi tasking
could be a problem! can I ask what overclocking is and hows it done?....

[GRAHAMUK]

Originally posted by slider:
Well, there is a problem with your post. There was no 333 Bondi iMac, it is one of the fruit colors, probably blueberry.[]

I would ask why does she want to run OSX or why do you want her to.

Okaaay... Well, it's definitely Bondi, so I guess that means it must be 233 MHz - hmmm, even slower!

I want her to because I'm her de facto tech support, but I'm emigrating, and OS X will be more reliable overall. However in fact reliability is not an issue as such - most of her questions are of the "how do I...?" variety. Since I posted that I discussed it with her and we decided that perhaps it would be best if we just left it alone. It does mean that she will be rapidly behind the state of the art, but then again, she only moved on from an original black and white LC three years ago!

[GRAHAMUK]

Originally posted by croz:
can I ask what overclocking is and hows it done?....

Overclocking is modifying the hardware to drive the CPU and/or bus at a higher speed. AFAIK, there are no published overclocks for the original iMac, but the 500MHz iBook (white 2 USB ports model) is a good candidate because it is the same motherboard as the 600MHz model, just detuned for marketing reasons. It is also a trivial matter to boost the bus speed from the stock 66MHz to a much more useful 100MHz which makes all the difference for OS X. A good site with full details is here:

http://norum.homeunix.net/%7Ecarl/mo...ock/index.html

[slider]

Originally posted by GRAHAMUK:
Okaaay... Well, it's definitely Bondi, so I guess that means it must be 233 MHz - hmmm, even slower!

I want her to because I'm her de facto tech support, but I'm emigrating, and OS X will be more reliable overall. However in fact reliability is not an issue as such - most of her questions are of the "how do I...?" variety. Since I posted that I discussed it with her and we decided that perhaps it would be best if we just left it alone. It does mean that she will be rapidly behind the state of the art, but then again, she only moved on from an original black and white LC three years ago!

Ouch, yeah I really wouldn't bother. I know it will run, but you're also dealing with 2MB less of video ram on top of the slower clock speed. I'd let it go.

[imaxxedout]

I'd avoid it. I have the fastest 1st generation iMac on earth and it's not exactly 'fast' in OSX. It's alright, but...meh... why bother. Classic is better anyway.

- Ca$h

[austeros]

with 256 megs of ram and atleast a 400mhz g3 upgrade jag is nice on a bondi imac. sure somethings are slow, but it is far better then using 9, especially if your multitasking. but remember 400 mhz g3 is still soo 1997, perhaps its best just to invest in an emac


an yes you can overclock the rev b. its been a long time since ive seen the how to though, and it isnt really a good idea since most shipped with a big fat hot moto processor. find out how hot your cpu is running before you even consider it.

[imaxxedout]

Well, the temp doesn't much matter. Use the CPU finder that xlr8yourmac makes.. it shoudl tell you if your G3 is aluminum or copper. If it's copper, you can probably overclock it if you wanted to, but it'd be smarter just to purchase a new CPU upgrade from Sonnet or something.

- Ca$h

[Headshot]

I have a 333 from '99.
I think you may be confusing Bondi with Blueberry! I got the BBerry.

I tried it on a whim , because I had the discs for my G4, and Panther runs great!
Yeah, it's not the fastest knive on the table, BUT, I am delighted to not have seen a single crash yet.

I ignored the warning that said (upon installation), "you need at least 128 RAM to install", and did so with 32 + 64 on top (96).

Took about an hour vs. 25 minutes on my G4 Dual 867, not much worse. I do plan on upgrading, and am looking at the RAM specs on Apple's site, says you can only do 128 + 128.
Yet I hear people saying that you can do 512???

I think I'll post another thread to specify opinions on that subject.

VERY STABLE, a little beachball action, but nothing it doesn't recover from.
Just make sure you get the Firmware Update 1.2.

[powertrippin]

You can do up to 512 megs with the original 1st gen imacs (rev A-D). The only reason Apple had that limitation was that 256 meg strips weren't available yet. Yes, it was that long ago.

[Headshot]

Understood, but do you consider my 333 an original 1st gen? Whta does rev *** mean?
I wonder why Apple didn't ammend their specs sheet after all these years. Guess they been busy!

Thanks

[gumby5647]

Originally Posted by Headshot

Understood, but do you consider my 333 an original 1st gen? Whta does rev *** mean?
I wonder why Apple didn't ammend their specs sheet after all these years. Guess they been busy!

Thanks

a little quick cheat sheet:

First Generation:
Rev A: 233MHz G3 (Bondi) 2MB ATi Rage IIc
Rev B: 233MHz G3 (Bondi) 2MB ATi Rage Pro
Rev C: 266MHz G3 (Fruit Flavors)
Rev D: 333MHz G3 (Fruit Flaors)

Second Generation:
Rev A: 350MHz, 400MHz (iMac, iMac DV, iMac DV SE)
Rev B: 350MHz, 400MHz, 450MHz, 500MHz (iMac, iMac DV, iMac DV+, iMac DV SE)
Rev C: 400MHz, 500MHz, 600MHz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra)
Rev D: 500MHz, 600MHz, 700Mhz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra

)

[P]

Gumby, do you mind if I fix this for you a little bit?

a little quick cheat sheet:

First Generation:
Rev A: 233MHz G3 (Bondi) 2MB ATi Rage IIc
Rev B: 233MHz G3 (Bondi) 6 MB ATi Rage Pro
Rev C: 266MHz G3 (Fruit Flavors) 6MB ATi Rage Pro
Rev D: 333MHz G3 (Fruit Flaors) 6MB ATi Rage Pro

Also, I'm adding some details on the graphics of these:

Second Generation:
Rev A: 350MHz, 400MHz (iMac, iMac DV, iMac DV SE) 8 MB ATi Rage 128
Rev B: 350MHz, 400MHz, 450MHz, 500MHz (iMac, iMac DV, iMac DV+, iMac DV SE) 8MB ATi Rage 128 Pro
Rev C: 400MHz, 500MHz, 600MHz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra)
Rev D: 500MHz, 600MHz, 700Mhz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra)

Back on topic, I'd say that the iMac works fine with OS X provided it has at least 256, and preferably 384, MB RAM.

[gumby5647]

Originally Posted by P

Gumby, do you mind if I fix this for you a little bit?

a little quick cheat sheet:

First Generation:
Rev A: 233MHz G3 (Bondi) 2MB ATi Rage IIc
Rev B: 233MHz G3 (Bondi) 6 MB ATi Rage Pro
Rev C: 266MHz G3 (Fruit Flavors) 6MB ATi Rage Pro
Rev D: 333MHz G3 (Fruit Flaors) 6MB ATi Rage Pro

Also, I'm adding some details on the graphics of these:

Second Generation:
Rev A: 350MHz, 400MHz (iMac, iMac DV, iMac DV SE) 8 MB ATi Rage 128
Rev B: 350MHz, 400MHz, 450MHz, 500MHz (iMac, iMac DV, iMac DV+, iMac DV SE) 8MB ATi Rage 128 Pro
Rev C: 400MHz, 500MHz, 600MHz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra)
Rev D: 500MHz, 600MHz, 700Mhz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra)

Back on topic, I'd say that the iMac works fine with OS X provided it has at least 256, and preferably 384, MB RAM.

Both Bondi models could be expanded to 6MB ...i couldn't remember if the Rev. B already came with the slot filled or not...

[Chimpmaster]

As long as you have enough RAM it should run ok.

My wife has an indigo ibook (366mhz G3, 8mg ATI Rage 128 video card, 320MB Ram) and panthers runs well on it. She runs office, safari, basically office and browsing usage.

Dont expect to use photoshop, imovie etc but for basic use it should run fine - more smoothly than an older os like OS 9 in fact. RAM is the key. And you need at least 8MB video ram. With 4mb, I reckon it would really choke.

[CIA]

At work I set up my old Rev A iMac, 233 with 256MB Ram with 10.3 (now 10.3.9) And it works fine as a light email and web surfing machine. With some iTunes on the side. Not much good for anything else, but for light stuff it's fine. Also 1 of my roomates is running 10.3 on a 300Mhz B&W fine (granted he has 640 MB ram) and another on a 333 iMac with 256MB ram. They are happy.

[mikerally]

Rev C: 400MHz, 500MHz, 600MHz (16MB ATi Rage 128 Ultra)

Let me amend that detail, AFAIK the 400Mhz model still had an 8MB Ati Rage Pro 128, only middle and top configuration had the 16MB ATi Rage Ultra (until the Rev D, where it was standard throughout the line).

[Headshot]

You know, I just placed the new 256 on my 333 BBerry, and the inside case was labeled, "REV - A"!