Running Mac Os 9 (Classics) Apps in Snow Leopard

mrt209 · Dec 29, 2010, 05:52 AM

Hi,

my parents are researchers and have been using Macs for many years now. They are dependent on a couple of Mac OS 9 programs and are therefore using G5s with Tiger.

The problem with using the G5s is that whenever they have classics programs open in tiger (all day), the CPU runs at 99% and the computers get extremely hot. My dad, who uses classics the most, is on his 4th or 5th G5 now in the last 4 years. It doesn't help that he always has 10 million windows open and never restarts his mac... I barely got him to start putting his mac to sleep

I know that my parents would benefit a lot from using Snow Leopard and getting the 2010 Mac Pros, so my question is if there's a reliable/stable way of emulating Mac Os 9 in Snow Leopard. I looked into this a couple of years ago, and although there were a couple of emulators, none of them seemed very stable.

If there are stable emulators, does anyone know if the CPU will still run at 99% when using classics programs? Are there any other options for running Classics apps that I might have missed?

Thanks for your help

r.j.s · Dec 29, 2010, 06:01 AM

The only way is to use SheepShaver ... but it is going to be slow and the apps may not run well.

If they NEED classic, they NEED to stick with PPC.

MacDawg · Dec 29, 2010, 06:40 AM

What programs are they using that are dependent on Classic?
Perhaps there are some alternatives they haven't considered

maflynn · Dec 29, 2010, 07:47 AM

I never got sheepshaver working well.

velocityg4 · Dec 29, 2010, 08:04 AM

None of the emulators I have ever used were particularly stable.

jzuena · Dec 29, 2010, 08:15 AM

SheepShaver has been pretty stable for me, but it is a pain in the a** to get set up.

velocityg4 · 08:40 AM

Come to think of it they would probably be better off getting the top dual CPU G4 that can natively boot into OS 9 for the classic apps, if I recall correctly that would be the Dual 1.25Ghz Mirror Drive Door not the FW800 G4. Then use an Intel Mac for modern apps.

Edit: Since you say they are researchers I would not fiddle around with those emulators. I assume they are doing critical research for their work and can't afford to have the computer crash in the middle of a workload. Those emulators are also slow.

maflynn · Dec 29, 2010, 08:26 AM

I have a G4 cube, that I used for that reason. Its now collecting dust. I think its time for me to unload that baby :/

mrt209 · Dec 31, 2010, 03:31 AM

Thanks for the help, I tried Sheepshaver before and had a lot of issues with it so I guess its best to just stick with the G5s.

Dec 29, 2010, 05:52 AM	#1
mrt209 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA/Germany	Running Mac Os 9 (Classics) Apps in Snow Leopard Hi, my parents are researchers and have been using Macs for many years now. They are dependent on a couple of Mac OS 9 programs and are therefore using G5s with Tiger. The problem with using the G5s is that whenever they have classics programs open in tiger (all day), the CPU runs at 99% and the computers get extremely hot. My dad, who uses classics the most, is on his 4th or 5th G5 now in the last 4 years. It doesn't help that he always has 10 million windows open and never restarts his mac... I barely got him to start putting his mac to sleep I know that my parents would benefit a lot from using Snow Leopard and getting the 2010 Mac Pros, so my question is if there's a reliable/stable way of emulating Mac Os 9 in Snow Leopard. I looked into this a couple of years ago, and although there were a couple of emulators, none of them seemed very stable. If there are stable emulators, does anyone know if the CPU will still run at 99% when using classics programs? Are there any other options for running Classics apps that I might have missed? Thanks for your help __________________ Mac Pro 2010 3.33Ghz Hexacore, ATI Radeon HD 5780, 120gb SSD + 1TB HDD, 12gb RAM + 27" ACD; iMac 7,1; Macbook Pro (2008); Apple iPod 20 GB White (4th Generation). Proud Mac User Since 1992
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 06:01 AM	#2
r.j.s Demi-God (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fort Knox	The only way is to use SheepShaver ... but it is going to be slow and the apps may not run well. If they NEED classic, they NEED to stick with PPC. __________________ After the Army: no one can stay forever
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 07:47 AM	#4
maflynn Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston	I never got sheepshaver working well. __________________ ~Mike Flynn
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 08:04 AM	#5
velocityg4 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Georgia	None of the emulators I have ever used were particularly stable. __________________ Quadra 650 040 33MHz 72MB RAM, 2GB HD, 2x CD Macbook C2D 2.0Ghz; 3GB RAM, 500GB HD Home Made i5 4.0Ghz, GeForce 560 Ti, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD RAID 0, 3TB HD RAID 0 in a G5 Case.
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 08:15 AM	#6
jzuena macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Burlington, MA, USA	SheepShaver has been pretty stable for me, but it is a pain in the a** to get set up. __________________ Pilot, greyhound walker, retired bartender extraordinaire.
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 06:40 AM	#3
MacDawg Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: "Between the Hedges"	What programs are they using that are dependent on Classic? Perhaps there are some alternatives they haven't considered
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 08:24 AM	#7
velocityg4 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Georgia	Come to think of it they would probably be better off getting the top dual CPU G4 that can natively boot into OS 9 for the classic apps, if I recall correctly that would be the Dual 1.25Ghz Mirror Drive Door not the FW800 G4. Then use an Intel Mac for modern apps. Edit: Since you say they are researchers I would not fiddle around with those emulators. I assume they are doing critical research for their work and can't afford to have the computer crash in the middle of a workload. Those emulators are also slow. __________________ Quadra 650 040 33MHz 72MB RAM, 2GB HD, 2x CD Macbook C2D 2.0Ghz; 3GB RAM, 500GB HD Home Made i5 4.0Ghz, GeForce 560 Ti, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD RAID 0, 3TB HD RAID 0 in a G5 Case. Last edited by velocityg4; Dec 29, 2010 at 08:40 AM. Reason: other thoughts
	0

Dec 29, 2010, 08:26 AM	#8
maflynn Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston	I have a G4 cube, that I used for that reason. Its now collecting dust. I think its time for me to unload that baby :/ __________________ ~Mike Flynn
	0

Dec 31, 2010, 03:31 AM	#9
mrt209 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA/Germany	Thanks for the help, I tried Sheepshaver before and had a lot of issues with it so I guess its best to just stick with the G5s. __________________ Mac Pro 2010 3.33Ghz Hexacore, ATI Radeon HD 5780, 120gb SSD + 1TB HDD, 12gb RAM + 27" ACD; iMac 7,1; Macbook Pro (2008); Apple iPod 20 GB White (4th Generation). Proud Mac User Since 1992
	0

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