Mac Musings
Older Macs in the Age of Leopard
The Future of G4 iMacs in the Age of Leopard
Dan Knight - 2007.10.18, updated - Tip Jar
Popularity: 
Apple has announced the system requirements for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: a drive that can read the DVD install disc, at least 512 MB of memory, and an 867 MHz G4 or better.
Several G4 iMacs aren't officially supported, but we have lots of tips on installing Mac OS X 10.5 on unsupported Macs in our article on Unsupported Leopard Installation.
First Generation
Those who subscribed to Time magazine were the first to learn about the flat panel, G4-based iMac, as it appeared on the cover of the magazine before Macworld Expo opened. Still, few would have conceived of the design Apple came up with for this one - it looks like half a volleyball with a flat screen attached to a stick. It's even more distinctive than the G3 iMac, which saw a handful of lookalikes.
The first
generation G4 iMac had a 700 MHz or 800 MHz G4 processor, a 1024 x 768
15" display that almost seemed to float above the hemisphere base, and
Nvidia GeForce2 MX with AGP 2x support and 32 MB of VRAM. Standard
memory was 128 MB or 256 MB, expandable to 1 GB. There are two
FireWire 400 ports and three USB 1.1 ports, and it supports the
original AirPort card for wireless networking.
Although not officially supported under Leopard, these should handle it reasonably well with 1 GB of PC133 RAM installed (from $120 for two 512 MB modules these days) and a faster (and probably larger) hard drive. The drive bus in G4 iMacs supports drives over 128 GB in size, a limitation found in many older Macs.
The 15" iMac was joined by an 800 MHz 17" iMac in July. It has a 1440 x 900 display and weighed 1-1/2 pounds more.
Second Generation
The iMac was updated just over a year later in Feb. 2003. The newer 15" model runs at 800 MHz, includes a Combo drive and 256 MB of RAM, and had the same graphics chipset as the first generation. It also uses the same PC133 memory. The 17" iMac G4 runs at 1 GHz, uses PC2100 memory (as low as $25 per 512 MB module), and supports AirPort Extreme (the 15" model still used the original AirPort). Memory remains limited to 1 GB.
Apple made a 7200 rpm hard drive standard on the top-end iMac, which makes it well suited for Leopard and other flavors of Mac OS X. The 17" 1 GHz iMac G4 is the oldest iMac officially supported by Leopard.
Third Generation
The next revision came to market in Sept. 2003 - the first iMacs to support USB 2.0. The 15" model had pretty much the same specs as earlier 17" model, but with USB 2.0 added. The 17" iMac G4 bumped clock speed to 1.25 GHz, and these were joined by a 20" 1.25 GHz model in November 2003. These iMacs all use PC2700 memory, and you can pick up a pair of 512 MB modules for under $30 nowadays. Although not supported by Apple, you can use 1 GB memory modules in these iMacs, but at a cost of $48 or more per module, it may make more sense to stick with a pair of 512 MB sticks.
The entire third generation of G4 iMacs is officially supported by
Leopard, and to get the most out of the next version of OS X, you
will want to bring memory to at least 1 GB. The 17" and 20" iMacs
came with 7200 rpm drives, but the 15" may have a slower drive. If so,
replacing it with a 7200 rpm drive will boost overall performance.1
Further Reading
- Low End Mac's best used iMac G4 deals, updated biweekly.
Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent articles by Dan Knight
- Kill Caps Lock, but Leave the Rest of My Keyboard Alone (Mostly), 2012.02.03. It's too easy to hit Caps Lock by accident, but why change a keyboard layout that billions of users are comfortable with?
- Is This RIM's Macintosh Moment?, 2012.01.25. In 1996, Apple was in dire straits, but Steve Jobs redefined the company. Now it's do or die time for RIM.
- Saying Good-bye to Inkjet Printers, 2012.01.18. Apple has discontinued its $100 printer rebates, but even a free inkjet printer is false economy.
- More in the Mac Musings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
- February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Fix Home Button Delay, Tablet the Ultimate Mobile PC, iPad Notebook a Possibility, and More, iOS News Review, 2012.02.10. Also using your iPad at work, two photo editors, a new iPad text editor, Macally's magnetic iPad 2 stand, and more.
- White MacBook Goes End-of-Life, Logitech Touch Mouse Supports Gestures, Firmware Updates, and More, The 'Book Review, 2012.02.10. Also MacBook Air better than any Ultrabook, docks for MacBook Pro models, Intel offers improved SSDs, and more.
- Mac and iOS Browsers: Options Galore, Freeware Forum, 2012.02.10. Safari is adequate on Mac and great on iOS, but the range of good alternatives is stunning. LEM writers share their favorites.
- Apple's Support Lead Shipping, Smartphones Outsell PCs, OS X Ported to ARM by Intern, and More, Mac News Review, 2012.02.10. Also the power of Tex-Edit Plus, Google and Twitter are already censoring the Web, Snow Leopard Security Update, and more.
- LogMeIn: Remote Screen Sharing for the Rest of Us, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2012.02.09. Configuring the Mac's built-in screen sharing to work over the Internet can be difficult or impossible. LogMeIn makes it easy.
- 15 Years Ago Motorola Unveiled the PowerPC G3, Low End Mac Round Table, 2012.02.06. The G3 processor was optimized for real world Mac software and made a big leap forward in efficiency.
- Don't Kill Caps Lock, Learning to Love the iOS Keyboard, and an Adaptive iPad Keyboard, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2012.02.06. The Caps Lock key has a useful function, the iPad's keyboard really is useful, and checking out an adaptive keyboard for the iPad.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals
- Best iPod classic Deals
- Best eMac Deals
- Best MacBook Air Deals
- Best iBook G4 Deals
- Best iPad Deals
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals
- Best Apple TV Deals
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact
Follow
Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac
on Facebook
Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct
from Strider Software.
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac Museum
DealMac
Deal Brothers
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ
Affiliates
Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay
