my old emac

KenM · KenM #1 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 03:48 PM

Hello,

i inherrited a friend's emac. I'm afraid it's an old machine.
These are it's spec's:

emac version 3.3
1Ghz powerpc G4
with 128MB RAM

it's running OSX 10.2.8

As you can probably imagine, this beautiful machine runs very slowly. Also,
most new software doesn't run on it of course.
I would like to update it to a higher OS and turn it into a machine that is more or less usable in the year 2010...

Is this at all possible? Can I update my eMac into a more or less
workable computer?

any insights or advice would be enormously appreciated!

Thank a lot, KenM

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #2 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 04:34 PM

You can upgrade the OS to 10.4.11 or 10.5.8...but in either case it's going to cost you some money.

- Nick

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #3 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 04:42 PM

And max out the memory to 1GB and suggest Tiger OS X.4 as the peak operating system:-

http://www.everymac.com/systems/appl.../emac_1.0.html

KenM · KenM #4 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryb2448

And max out the memory to 1GB and suggest Tiger OS X.4 as the peak operating system:-

eMac G4/1.0 (ATI) Specs (eMac ATI, M8950LL/A*, PowerMac4,4, A1002, 1903) @ EveryMac.com

Ok....

Maxing out the memory means opening up the machine?
And OSX4 for this type of emac is still available in stores?

Thanks!

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #5 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenM

Ok....

Maxing out the memory means opening up the machine?

There's an access panel for ram upgrades.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenM

And OSX4 for this type of emac is still available in stores?

No longer available in stores. You can either call Apple via their "800" number (cheaper route)...or e-Bay (more expensive).

- Nick

hughvane · hughvane #6 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 08:39 PM

Bump that eMac up to 1 Gb RAM. It's well worth it, you'll see a significant lift in performance. I agree with Harry - OS 10.4 is as far as you should go. The RAM sticks are not difficult to replace through the hatch. I'd recommend buying RAM from OWC Performance Upgrades; FireWire USB SATA Storage; Memory, more at OWC.

Good advice from Nick about phoning Apple. It was still selling Tiger directly a few months ago, and the figure I noted was US$56 (or 65, can't quite remember).

50voltphantom · 50voltphantom #7 (**permalink**)

11-17-2010, 08:48 PM

My parents have a 1GHz eMac and are running Leopard on it with no problems. The RAM will be well worth the $$. Great old machines.

KenM · KenM #8 (**permalink**)

11-18-2010, 12:02 PM

First of all, thanks to everybody for helping. I'm very happy that I will be able to get my eMac back on track.

One more question though: will this operation (upping the ram to 1GB and installing 10.4) be possible without the original cd's? They didn't come with
the inherritance!

Anyhow, thanks a lot,

Ken

hughvane · hughvane #9 (**permalink**)

11-18-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenM

will this operation (upping the ram to 1GB and installing 10.4) be possible without the original cd's?

Short answer - no. You will need a retail version of 10.4. Check the Buy/Sell/Trade section of Mac-Forums for possibilities, or phone Apple, as advised.

The RAM is not OS-related. Upgrading will enhance performance of whatever OS (up to Leopard) you put on the eMac.

KenM · KenM #10 (**permalink**)

11-18-2010, 12:15 PM

Oh that's great. I was intending to buy the retail cd's anyway. I just meant I
didn't own the previous disks that came with the original purchase...

so thanks a lot I really appreciate the help.

pigoo3 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 25,683 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.5	11-17-2010, 04:34 PM You can upgrade the OS to 10.4.11 or 10.5.8...but in either case it's going to cost you some money. - Nick - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

hughvane #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 18, 2008 Location: Banks Peninsula, New Zealand Posts: 3,259 Mac Specs: MacMini 2.4, 4 Gb, OS 10.8 and 10.6; MacBook 2.4, 2 Gb, OS 10.5.8; G4 eMac 1.25, 2 Gb, OS 10.4.11	11-17-2010, 08:39 PM Bump that eMac up to 1 Gb RAM. It's well worth it, you'll see a significant lift in performance. I agree with Harry - OS 10.4 is as far as you should go. The RAM sticks are not difficult to replace through the hatch. I'd recommend buying RAM from OWC Performance Upgrades; FireWire USB SATA Storage; Memory, more at OWC. Good advice from Nick about phoning Apple. It was still selling Tiger directly a few months ago, and the figure I noted was US$56 (or 65, can't quite remember). ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Please post your Mac (or other) specs and MacOS version in your post, your profile or your signature. It helps us to help you better. I'm leaving now to go and find myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait.
	QUOTE Thanks

50voltphantom #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 08, 2010 Posts: 164 Mac Specs: 20" iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo - eMac 1.42 GHz (RIP) - iMac G3 400 MHz - iPad 2 16GB	11-17-2010, 08:48 PM My parents have a 1GHz eMac and are running Leopard on it with no problems. The RAM will be well worth the $$. Great old machines. Mac Specs: 20" iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 4 GB RAM 500 GB HD OS 10.6.8 Magic Trackpad- eMac 1.42 GHz (RIP) - iMac G3 Grape 400 MHz 1GB RAM 40GB HD OS 10.4.11 iSub - iPad 2 16GB - iPod Classic 120 GB - iPod Shuffle 2nd Gen 1GB - Apple TV 2
	QUOTE Thanks

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KenM #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 17, 2010 Posts: 5	11-17-2010, 03:48 PM Hello, i inherrited a friend's emac. I'm afraid it's an old machine. These are it's spec's: emac version 3.3 1Ghz powerpc G4 with 128MB RAM it's running OSX 10.2.8 As you can probably imagine, this beautiful machine runs very slowly. Also, most new software doesn't run on it of course. I would like to update it to a higher OS and turn it into a machine that is more or less usable in the year 2010... Is this at all possible? Can I update my eMac into a more or less workable computer? any insights or advice would be enormously appreciated! Thank a lot, KenM
	QUOTE Thanks

KenM #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 17, 2010 Posts: 5	11-18-2010, 12:02 PM First of all, thanks to everybody for helping. I'm very happy that I will be able to get my eMac back on track. One more question though: will this operation (upping the ram to 1GB and installing 10.4) be possible without the original cd's? They didn't come with the inherritance! Anyhow, thanks a lot, Ken
	QUOTE Thanks

KenM #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 17, 2010 Posts: 5	11-18-2010, 12:15 PM Oh that's great. I was intending to buy the retail cd's anyway. I just meant I didn't own the previous disks that came with the original purchase... so thanks a lot I really appreciate the help.
	QUOTE Thanks

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