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  1. #1


    Member Since
    Nov 09, 2008
    Posts
    9
    Lightbulb Will my PowerBook G4 support OSX 10.5 Leopard?
    I know that Apple has the minimum requirements on the website but it all just confuses me trying to link one stat with another so i'll just post my stats here and would someone be able to tell me if I should go and buy Leopard? Please.

    Hardware Overview:

    Machine Name: PowerBook G4 15"
    Machine Model: PowerBook5,2
    CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
    Number Of CPUs: 1
    CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
    L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
    Memory: 1 GB
    Bus Speed: 167 MHz
    Boot ROM Version: 4.7.1f1

    If there's any additional information you need to know then please tell me and i'll try and find it.

    Many thanks.

  2. #2

    ADKhikerVW's Avatar
    Member Since
    Aug 18, 2007
    Location
    Wilmington, NY
    Posts
    715
    Specs:
    15" Unibody MBP (2009), White MB (2009), iMac G4
    Your machine will run Leopard just fine.

  3. #3

    dtravis7's Avatar
    Member Since
    Jan 04, 2005
    Location
    Modesto, Ca.
    Posts
    28,981
    Specs:
    iMac 2010 27" QuadI7 OSX10.11, iMac 2008 OSX10.11, MBP Late2011OSX10.11 , iPad Air, iPhone 3GS
    Yes, 10.5 Leopard will run fine on that hardware. I might suggest maxing the RAM though if you do a lot of heavy multitasking. Otherwise it will install and run fine.

  4. #4


    Member Since
    Nov 09, 2008
    Posts
    9
    Thanks guys.

    It's just difficult because my dad (who is a longtime mac user) says that it would probably be worse to upgrade because my PowerBook G4 is native to Tiger and upgrading to a system to which it is not native (Leopard) will not make it better.

  5. #5

    ADKhikerVW's Avatar
    Member Since
    Aug 18, 2007
    Location
    Wilmington, NY
    Posts
    715
    Specs:
    15" Unibody MBP (2009), White MB (2009), iMac G4
    Well, it's true that your PowerBook probably came with Tiger, but OS X has a history of running faster with every new version, even on the same hardware. Leopard does have a higher overhead with increased eye candy and features such as Spaces and Time Machine, but these don't add up to a significant decrease in performance. Besides, they can be disabled if you want. Even much of the eye candy can be turned off. The transparent menu bar can be disabled in System Preferences, and the Dock can be made 2D with a simple terminal command. I used to have the same PowerBook as you, and it ran just as fast or faster in Leopard as it did in Tiger.

  6. #6


    Member Since
    Mar 12, 2011
    Posts
    1
    OS 10.5 will not install on my PowerBook G4
    I have these attributes on my machine, too.

    Machine Name: PowerBook G4 15"
    Machine Model: PowerBook5,2
    CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
    Number Of CPUs: 1
    CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
    L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
    Memory: 1 GB
    Bus Speed: 167 MHz
    Boot ROM Version: 4.7.1f1


    When I boot up using the OS 10.5 install disk, it gives me a message that "OS X cannot be installed on this computer." What's up with that? It currently is running 10.4?

  7. #7

    harryb2448's Avatar
    Member Since
    Nov 28, 2007
    Location
    Nambucca Heads Australia
    Posts
    22,397
    Specs:
    Imac 27", 3.3GHz, 512 flash storage, 16GB memory, macOS Sierra.
    G'day and welcome to the forums.

    Better by far to start your own thread instead of activating one three years old.

    If your machines specs are correct, sounds like you are using a system install disc that came with another computer. They are extremely model specific. You need the retail install DVD, worth about $100 bucks or so on eBay etc.
    Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!

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