IMac 350 OS upgrade
Greetings:
A member of our Mac club has a iMac G3 350 500+Mhz ram, I forget HD size, and would like to upgrade to Panther. Is it possible and feasible? Pros and Cons if available.
John
Hi John,
Upgrading the machine to Panther is possible, though perhaps not ideal as Kappy has pointed out...but....I have had a relatively good experience running Panther on the same machine.
My only thought that might help additionally is that Panther retail install disks can be purchase rather inexpensively, perhaps $30-$50 for a retail boxed set on ebay, so it certainly might be worth the upgrade if the user cannot afford to purchase a new computer.
Our installed RAM is somewhat similar though mine is 640MB I would assume it would run similar with those amounts though they could upgrade that too for probably not much more but I am not sure it would be necessary unless they intend to use the machine for very cpu intensive applications.
The machine's HD size is 7GB which is the bare minimum for installing Panther.
Most important, if the machine is running OS9 at the moment they will need to update to at least 9.1 or preferably 9.2 and then apply the iMac (Slot Loading) iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9 before upgrading to OSX 10.3. Once you have the retail 10.3 installation completed and you are connected to the internet you can use Software Updater to apply the Mac OS X Combined Update 10.3.9.
One thing I have had to do of late to use 10.3.9 is to update the browser to Camino 1.6.1 which is still being supported by its developer Mozilla. Safari, 1.3.2 still functions fairly well on 10.3.9 but is not supported by sites such as Google Maps and a few others which is why you might wish to use Camino. Camino can be customized to feel and look very similar to Safari.
Post back if you have any further questions or comments,
littleshoulders
edit: I just realized that you only stated that it is a 350Mhz iMac so there are a couple of considerations that you would have to take into account. There is a 350Mhz Blueberry model that is only a 6Gb HD as opposed to the iMac indigo model that came with a 7Gb HD. My post above relates to the 350 indigo model. Checking everymac.com may prove very helpful in detemining specs for your model.
Message was edited by: littleshoulders
Message was edited by: littleshoulders
Similar Messages
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Hi,
I recently decided to attempt to upgrade my iMac 350 and would like to check a few things before i get started.
First of all, i am primarily wanting to put OS X on my iMac and then wanting to fit it with an airport card.
I have read on many different iMac upgrade websites that in order to run OS X i would need to increase the RAM. Am I correct in thinking that the i would be able to add just one PC100 SDRAM of 512MB or would i need to pair it up with another PC100 of 512Mb? Also, i have read that PC133 is the RAM i need to use. Are both PC100 and PC133 compatible with my iMac and is the PC133 RAM the more recent version?
I know that a lot of people have asked which is the best version of OS X to use when upgrading an iMac which is currently running OS 9.1 please would you be able to recomend which is the best version to use if i am planning to upgrade the RAM with the 512MB.
An issue that also has arisen is that i would need a little bit more hard drive than the original 7GB which came with my mac! i wondered if it would be possible to increase the hard drive space, or whether i could just use an external hard drive.
Finally i would just like to confirm that in order to make my iMac wireless internet compatible i need to get hold of the original airport card which was released when my iMac caame out (around 2001) and also an iMac airport card adaptor. Please could you confirm where this is the case or whether i am able to buy a more recent version of the airport card.
Sorry for the long windedness of my question!
Thanks
Ian
Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.8)
Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.8)You'd be able to run OS X with 512 MBs of memory, although many Forum regulars would recommend adding more. You don't need to match the memory DIMMs in both slots, so you could (as an example) use a 512 in one and a 256 in the other. Your iMac requires PC-100, but PC-133 that is backward-compatible can be used. My iMac DV 400 has one 512 MB PC-100 DIMM and another 512 MB PC-133 DIMM, and they coexist without any problems. I'd recommend OS 10.3.x (Panther) for your iMac 350, because it's less demanding of older computers than the current version OS 10.4.x (Tiger) - which requires onboard FireWire. Panther is discontinued, but you can find it available online, so get a universal installer/retail version of the installer disks, and not another model Mac's Restore CD or DVD. Lacking onboard FireWire ports, an external hard drive connected via USB 1.1 is not a viable option. Your internal hard drive can be replaced with any 3.5" (IDE/EIDE) ATA-100 or ATA-133 drive (not a SATA drive). A 120 GB drive is the largest capacity that can be installed and be fully-recognized. The next size and larger (160 GBs —>) will only be recognized as 128 GBs. Here's a Macworld article, with very detailed instructions for hard drive replacement in the slot-loading iMacs. In lieu of the original AirPort card w/adapter that you'd need, you could also use a wireless ethernet transceiver, like the Linksys WET-54G. The device requires no drivers and plugs into the ethernet port, converting it to a wireless signal.
As is often pointed out, by the time that you invest your money in additional memory, a larger hard drive, the OS installer media, and the wireless card, you will have spent enough to consider purchasing a newer Mac having the capabilities that you want. After buying/installing all of the hardware listed, you'll never be able to recover the total costs for doing so, if you attempted to sell the upgraded iMac 350 a week later. -
Hi, lads!
I bought just for fun iMac 3G (350Mhz, 128 RAM, 8 MB Video, CDROM slot loading). MacOS 9.2
First day I unscrewed it and tried to examine inside. I didn't understand, if it was possible to upgrade anithing expext HDD and RAM. This Mac will be used in our gym for internet surfing, listening to the music (mp3, Audio-CD) and viewing video and foto for a very long period.
1) Processor
I think there is no way, it is better to get rid of this one and buy a new one (up to 750 Mhz)
2) RAM
Apple's site writes that i can increase only up to 512 Mb PC100, 3.3V, 168-pin DIMM. But forums write up to 1 Gb. Is it true? And it is very difficult to find this RAM.
3) Video
The video is integrated, I see no way.
4) HDD
No problems with any IDE HDD
5) CD-ROM
I want to change to DVD-ROM at least (better RW), but see no way to find slot DVD with 50pin SCSI connector cheaper that 400$. Used iMac costs 50$ :))
May I use USB Apple SuperDrive (bought for my MacBook Air) to read DVD (f.e. cinema or new MacOS installation)?
6) MacOS
I want to try X, I have install DVD 10.5.2 from my MacBook Air. Is it possible to install it? What is the system requirements for it, or it is better to download elder version?Hey Pete and Welcome to Apple Discussions,
First day I unscrewed it and tried to examine inside.
Do you know this site?:
http://www.baconeggs.co.uk/manuals/index.htm
I think there is no way, it is better to get rid of this one and buy a new one (up to 750 Mhz)
Actually 700 in the ones here in the States. The logic board swap is pretty easy and the only thing that needs to move 600-700 is the heat sink. Search that in this forum, we've talked about it a lot. I have done the 400 - 700 swap into 350s about 6 times now. (have 6 350 logic boards in my basement is how I know)
2) RAM
Apple's site writes that i can increase only up to 512 Mb PC100, 3.3V, 168-pin DIMM. But forums write up to 1 Gb. Is it true? And it is very difficult to find this RAM.
Well this is according to low end Mac:
http://www.lowendmac.com/imacs/350-mhz-imac-g3-blueberry.html
"RAM: 64 MB, expandable to 1 GB using two PC100 SDRAM (3.3 V, 64-bit, 168-pin, 100 MHz)"
Around here PC100 is easy to find. I salvage it from old PCs. 512 sticks are a little harder to find naturally.
The video is integrated, I see no way.
Right, but improved with the logic board swap.
5) CD-ROM
I want to change to DVD-ROM at least (better RW), but see no way to find slot DVD with 50pin SCSI connector cheaper that 400$.
Actually it's a special IDE connector that integrates power into the cable.
These are hard to come by but if you do the logic board swap you can use any external in a Firewire case.
Used iMac costs 50$ :))
Around Chicago I've gotten non working 400-500s for free. It's almost always the PAV so the logic boards are fine.
May I use USB Apple SuperDrive (bought for my MacBook Air) to read DVD (f.e. cinema or new MacOS installation)?
Dunno about that. Is it USB 2?
6) MacOS
I want to try X, I have install DVD 10.5.2 from my MacBook Air. Is it possible to install it? What is the system requirements for it, or it is better to download elder version?
Officially the CPU needs to be G4 running at 867MHz but I'm sure someone's hacked it by now. Tiger will run just fine in these machines. That's what I use.
Richard -
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Need Help with iMac 350 - Won't boot - keyboard or mouse not working!
Hello,
I've scoured the web looking for answers, and can't find any, so maybe someone here would be kind enough to help. I'm working on an imac 350 blueberry for my sister and I'm having all sorts of trouble.
She bought it last week, it started up (8.6 os) no problem. Powered up and down a few times, then all of a sudden, it won't boot. I'm currently getting blinking folder/happymac/question mark when trying to start up.
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How do you know the mouse isn't working? Won't you have to wait until later in the boot to tell?
The poweron key is a special case. I think that it works by lowering/changing the voltage on one of the usb cables. I read about this somewhere. Anyway, this function was eliminated from later usb keyboards and macs. Maybe a working power button doesn't mean what you think.
I would love to boot into open firmware
Could you try powering up from the machine? Is there a power button on the lower right of the machine?
Have you tried this key combo?
commandoption+of
The letters are in lower case. Hold all down then poweron the machine. I'd poweron from the machine as apposed to the keyboard.
You could try another usb keyboard.
We actually did boot up the computer several times with it upside down. Not for any reason, except it's become a real PIA to flip it over every two minutes to start it, then take it apart and boot again. When booting either upside down or right side up it shows the same thing - blinking folder w/finder icon and question mark.
Yes, I agree. You could try removing the clear plastic around the bottom of the machine. At least you will not have to slide in the carriage. Note. The tv portion will still be surrounded by plastic! Don't remove the plastic around the tv!
Hope I am not interfering with Richard and his comments.
Richard: Is this the orginal keyboard? When did Apple get rid of the poweron key from the keyboard? My iMac 600 didn't have the key and my iMac 233 does.
Robert
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No.
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I have an iMac (Mid 2007) upgraded to Lion OS. My fan runs at high speed all the time. I reset the SMT without results. I had no way to do the hardware test.
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god this must have been my 5th time posting the exact same thing. my dell takes forever to load this page!
im getting an imac 20" fully upgraded and i was wundering if its high-def compatible.. or does the sound that comes out of the imac good? or is it bad. and i need to know some tips and tricks on working an imac, to understand it a bit more, because if i do stuff like that i can connect to other apps probably, i dont know im not psychicThe iMac can display hi-def video, and can handle 96kHz audio @ 24-bit, and has an optical-out capable of outputting 5.1 surround (in fact, I think it might even be capable of outputting 7.1, but don't quote me). I believe it uses the Intel High Definition Audio chipset.
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