Updating my mac

[BennettHound]

Hi,

I've just got myself a mac, and so am not really familiar with how they work as I've always used a pc in the past so I'm looking for some advice.

I need to update it - it's an imac G4 and has os x 10.2 on it - but I haven't a clue how! Do I need to buy the software or can I download it from somewhere? What is the most up to date os I can run on a G4?

I'm going to be using my mac for designing, and, say, if I got os x 10.3 what's the most up to date version of the adobe suite I can run on it (eg CS, CS2, CS3, etc)?

Also I'm assuming I need some new ram, so does anyone know the best place to go for this, pricewise?

Lots of questions, but thanks for your time

 

[ADKhikerVW]

Well we need a bit more information. What are the specs of your iMac, specifically the processor speed? This will determine how high you can update the OS on it. How much RAM does it have right now?

 

[BennettHound]

The processor speed is 400 mhz. The memory is 448 mb.

 

[D3v1L80Y]

it's an imac G4 and has os x 10.2 on it -

The processor speed is 400 mhz. The memory is 448 mb.

There was no iMac G4 with a processor speed that low.
You probably have an iMac G3... the one with the CRT display, not the G4 that had LCD panel on the the swivel arm.

I'm also not sure how you came to have 448MB of RAM in an iMac G3.
There are only 2 slots and it can take either a 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB or 512 MB stick in either slot (depending on model).
There is no combination of those three that will add up to 448 MB.

 

[BennettHound]

Hmm.. it says G4 on the back of it. It's a power mac, sorry, as I say I haven't had to figure out the details on a mac before so bear with me.

I'm looking at About This Mac and it says:
Memory: 448 MB.
Processor: 400 MHz PowerPC G4.

Sorry if I'm causing confusion.

 

[pigoo3]

Hmm.. it says G4 on the back of it. It's a power mac, sorry, as I say I haven't had to figure out the details on a mac before so bear with me.

I'm looking at About This Mac and it says:
Memory: 448 MB.
Processor: 400 MHz PowerPC G4.

Sorry if I'm causing confusion.

Then it's probably not an iMac as you mentioned in your initial post...it's probably a G4 tower model.

All iMac's have a display as part of their design.

If this computer has a 400mhz CPU...then OS 10.4.11 is probably the latesy OS you can upgrade to.

As far as ram...I would recommend these guys:

Find the latest Performance Upgrades, Firewire and USB Hard Drives, SATA, Memory, Laptop Battery, and more at OWC

- Nick

 

[BennettHound]

If this computer has a 400mhz CPU...then OS 10.4.11 is probably the latesy OS you can upgrade to.

Ah I see, ok thanks as I say I'm a complete beginner. I've worked on other people's mac before but never had to look after my own.

I don't have a DVD drive, so will I still be able to get 10.4? Will I need to buy more ram to upgrade to 10.4?

Thanks for your patience and advice

 

[pigoo3]

I don't have a DVD drive, so will I still be able to get 10.4? Will I need to buy more ram to upgrade to 10.4?

Thanks for your patience and advice

Are you positive you don't have an optical drive capable of reading DVD's?

400mhz Powermac G4 Tower computers are supposed to have an optical drive capable of reading DVD's.

If you want to upgrade to OS 10.4...and currently have "448 meg of ram"...or somewhere in that neighborhood...it would probably be a good idea to upgrade the ram.

By the way...I should also mention that the cost of purchasing Mac OS 10.4 will probably be around $100 dollars....greater than the value of your computer...which is about $50 bucks.

Ram will also cost you at least around $25 bucks.

- Nick

 

[BennettHound]

No, I'm actually not certain I don't have a DVD reader, I was just assuming. I probably do then, I haven't checked.

I realised I would have to spend some money on the upgrades, but won't that give me a better machine in the long run?

 

[D3v1L80Y]

No, I'm actually not certain I don't have a DVD reader, I was just assuming. I probably do then, I haven't checked.

I realised I would have to spend some money on the upgrades, but won't that give me a better machine in the long run?

You likely don't have a DVD reader with that machine.

For your purposes, I wouldn't recommend putting too much money into that machine.
It's a great computer, but for design work it is a bit long in the tooth.
Even if you did drop the cash to upgrade the living daylights out of it, it would still lag behind.

You would be better off getting a newer model.
It doesn't need to be brand new, but even a dual 1Ghz G4 Power Mac would be a huge improvement over the machine you have now.
You could purchase such a machine and probably spend less than what it would take to max out the upgrades on the machine you have now.

 

[pigoo3]

No, I'm actually not certain I don't have a DVD reader, I was just assuming. I probably do then, I haven't checked.

Speaking only for myself...it would probably make a lot more sense if you did your homework & knew exactly what you have in terms of hardware.

This would really make this conversation more purposeful, rather than a bunch of speculation.

Once you know exactly what hardware you have...then it would be a much easier process helping you out!

Yes the upgrades would give you a better machine in the long run...but if you took the money you originally paid for the computer, then add to that the cost of the upgrades you want to make...you could have purchased a MUCH better computer to start off with that may not have needed any upgrades.

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

You likely don't have a DVD reader with that machine.

For your purposes, I wouldn't recommend putting too much money into that machine.
It's a great computer, but for design work it is a bit long in the tooth.
Even if you did drop the cash to upgrade the living daylights out of it, it would still lag behind.

You would be better off getting a newer model.

I checked Everymac...and there were 3 different models of the 400mhz Powermac G4...one model does not have a optical drive capable of reading DVD's...and two of the models should have a DVD drive.

I think technically we don't even know for sure what sort of computer the "OP" has. It started out as a 400mhz G3 iMac (which doesn't exist)...so now we are guessing it's a 400mhz Powermac G4.

So the OP needs to let us know what they have.

I definitely agree that upgrading this computer is probably not the best financial thing to do.

- Nick

 

[BennettHound]

Yes the upgrades would give you a better machine in the long run...but if you took the money you originally paid for the computer, then add to that the cost of the upgrades you want to make...you could have purchased a MUCH better computer to start off with that may not have needed any upgrades.

I do realise this, but the computer was given to me by a kindly relative for no money, I don't mind putting a bit of cash into it to make it a bit faster.

Thanks for everyone's contributions.

 

[pigoo3]

I do realise this, but the computer was given to me by a kindly relative for no money, I don't mind putting a bit of cash into it to make it a bit faster.

Thanks for everyone's contributions.

Getting the computer for free always helps offset upgrade costs. If you really want to use this computer, I would recommend a ram upgrade to at least 1gig, and get OS 10.4. Unfortunately, OS 10.4 will not come cheap.

Good luck,

- Nick