11-23-2011, 11:33 PM

Hey everyone. I am new to this forum! And I'm kind of going to start with a heavy hitter. I just acquired a Power Mac G4 and I love the style of it but I want the functionality of a new Mac. I.E. I'd like to upgrade her or gut her and start from scratch. if I can reuse anything I'd like to at least put 4gb of RAM, Decent graphic card, and at least an i5 processor in her. I am not new to computers but have never built one before. I know all the basics to it but I need the tiniest bit of guidance. My goal is to have her look like she does but inside to be just a fast as a newer computer. I won't be gaming on it, I will mostly be using it for programming, Illustrator, Photoshop, things like that if that helps at all.

Here is some info on it:
CPU type: PowerPC G4 (2.9)
bus speed: 133MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.1.8f5
RAM: SDRAM PC133-333 256 MB (X4 slots)
ATY,Rage128Pro:
Bus: AGP
Display Type: CRT
VRAM: 16mb
Vender: ATI(0x1002)
DISPLAY
Res: 1024x768 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color

I'm hoping I'll be able to make her new again! I love the look of it and hope she can get there. Any help would be great! Thanks for your time.

11-24-2011, 12:01 AM

Sorry...but you're not going to be anything you mentioned:

- no i5 cpu
- no 4 gig of ram
- no decent graphics card

This computer is just too old...the computer just isn't capable of these upgrades...and the upgrades you would like to do just aren't available.

Macintosh computers just aren't upgradable or "buildable"...the way Windows computers are.

Sorry,

- Nick

11-24-2011, 10:23 AM

Ok Thanks a bunch Nick. Looks like I'll just gut it and start from scratch.

Is there any where in this forum that could lead someone to a good place to build a mac? or a website? I really haven't explored this forum a lot yet so it could be right under my nose. Any suggestions would be awesome!

Thanks!

11-24-2011, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by radio4095

Ok Thanks a bunch Nick. Looks like I'll just gut it and start from scratch.

Is there any where in this forum that could lead someone to a good place to build a mac? or a website? I really haven't explored this forum a lot yet so it could be right under my nose. Any suggestions would be awesome!

You're missing my point...you don't "build" Mac's. There really is no "gutting" it and starting from scratch.

Macintosh computer's are what they are. You can:

- upgrade the ram (to a point)
- you can upgrade the hard drive (to a point)
- you sort of can upgrade the video card (very limited options)
- you could upgrade the cpu...but with ONLY Macintosh upgrade cards...and these are very expensive

What you have is probably a 10-12 year-old computer...and it's probably worth about $25-$35 bucks. Just upgrading the ram to 512meg-1gig will cost you more than the computer is worth.

AGAIN...you don't just "gut the computer" and start from scratch like you might a Windows computer...it just doesn't work that way. And even if you could finds parts at a reasonable price. Even with all the upgrading...you'll still end up with a slow obsolete computer.

- Nick

11-24-2011, 10:58 AM

Dang that does suck. I did miss your point completely.

Well with that I have another question for you or for anyone really.

What about putting OS X on a PC? like: How to Install Mac OS X on a PC (Without Using a Mac)?

Has anyone done this on here before? and or what are the opinions about it? Pretty much I'm a college student on a budget and I don't want to spend $2k+ on a Pro. I'd like to build one if at all possible. And I don't want to go to PC. That just gives me goose bumps.

I'm sure something like this has been asked before and sorry for asking again. It just seems easier to me to ask someone that knows rather then search the web and find someone that promises that it will work and then go and find out it doesn't.

Thanks for your time with helping me with this. It is really helpful!

-Peter

11-24-2011, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by radio4095

What about putting OS X on a PC? like:

Installing Mac OS X on a Windows computer is not allowed (against Apples EULA)!

At Mac-Forums we are very strict about this. Please do not mention it again...or the doors on this thread will slam shut.

Thanks,

- Nick

11-24-2011, 04:16 PM

Dang. So sorry. Didn't mean to offend anyone. My bad. But I think you answered all my questions! thanks for your time.