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Is an iMac G3 worth upgrading?

K

KevRC4130

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 1, 2004
278
0
Massachusetts
Hey everyone,
So my brother who is a "poor, starving artist" in New York City has inherited an old iMac for free from his girlfriend's work. He is not really computer savvy, and does not know anything about Macs. He gave me a call asking what to do with it, and I wasn't exactly sure what to tell him. We aren't even sure what model it is, but based on the very bland details he gave me over the phone, I think it is either a 350mhz w/ a 7gb harddrive or a 400mhz w/ 10gb. We know it has 64mb of RAM and it is running OS9. The sticker on the back says" 'some year'-2001." Also, it is a blue (indigo?) color. Basically, he wants to use it for some basic graphics work, such as Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, and a couple other similar programs. He is happy to use older versions of these programs. I know that upgrading the RAM is pretty much a must, but I don't think he wants to really spend money on hardware. Is there anything that the computer is really good for set up as is? Would it be worth upgrading the RAM? How much should he put in? I was thinking a 512 stick would be a good balance between cost and performance. What does a 512 stick for a G3 cost anyways? Should he put on OSX? What would be better to put on, Tiger or Panther? How much hard drive space does OSX take up?

Also, where would he find older versions of programs (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc)?

Sorry for so many questions, it just seems like it is going to need quite a bit of money sunk into it to get it semi-modernized, and I'm just wondering if it gets to the point where he'd be better off selling it and getting a used eMac or something. What do you think?

Thanks
 
I'd just do what I'm doing with my mom's iMac:

install new 120 gig Deskstar hardrive, 7200 rpm (This is the maximum gigs for the iMac)

Install one gig of ram

This will max out the computer. You would be surprised what it can do with the faster hd and the ram. You can do this for way less than two hundred bucks if you shop around. Even with the Mac Mini, you need a keyboard and monitor, making the five hundred dollar base price moot.
 
Ask him if the CD-ROM is a tray-loading or slot-loading, it makes a big difference in upgradeability. It sounds like a slot-loading which is good-

http://www.lowendmac.com/macdan/04/0910.html

More RAM would be great for the unit, and worth it. You can actually run OS X pretty well on the old iMacs. It won't have fancy Quartz effects, but the basic OS will run. A 512MB stick should be around $50 or so(?)

The new Dreamweaver and Photoshop will run on it, but it will be slow working with large files.

It doesn't take too much work to stick in a new HD, although it sounds like your bro won't be able to do it. You can install OSX on the internal, and plug in an external HD for files.

EBay is a good source for buying programs, some sellers are not legitimate but many are. Just make sure you read the auctions carefully.

Some RAM and a larger HD will make it a usable machine with Tiger or Panther, and cost no more than $100 total. I would probably avoid CPU upgrades or anything like that. Instead of that, you could sell this iMac and buy a refurbed eMac from Apple.com for $549, and get a better machine for not much more.
 
I have an old iMac at home that my parens and brother and sister use. It was the 400MHz graphite iMac. I love that machine but it needs to be put out of its missery! Something has knackered with the monitor, it keeps flickering pink. The monitor keeps shrinking on the CRT. Applications keep dissappearing so I have to reinstall panther every month or so and applications have tuned into Arabic!

I was looking at putting a Mac mini inside but I dont think that is possible.

When I upgrade my PowerMac monitor I will try and give my current CRT to my parents and make them buy a Mac mini. I will probably try and get it set up as a server with a large HD or something.

Hope you have luck resurecting your iMac. If anyone has any ideas how to help mine, please let me know!
 
Richard Youden said:
I have an old iMac at home that my parens and brother and sister use. It was the 400MHz graphite iMac. I love that machine but it needs to be put out of its missery! Something has knackered with the monitor, it keeps flickering pink. The monitor keeps shrinking on the CRT. Applications keep dissappearing so I have to reinstall panther every month or so and applications have tuned into Arabic!

I was looking at putting a Mac mini inside but I dont think that is possible.

When I upgrade my PowerMac monitor I will try and give my current CRT to my parents and make them buy a Mac mini. I will probably try and get it set up as a server with a large HD or something.

Hope you have luck resurecting your iMac. If anyone has any ideas how to help mine, please let me know!
Click to expand...

You could replace it with an eMac. It will get you a similar footprint, and you can then retire your trusty iMac
 
yeah i could. My G/F has an eMac and i love it. They are great machines, hopefully they will get a good upgrade soon.
 
Ok, I just talked to him. It is a slot-loading drive.

Also, does he need an Airport (regular), or does an Airport Extreme also work?

Thanks for the help so far!
 
He would need Airport, Airport Extreme is not compatible with that model. Airport cards are quite expensive now; he's better off using an ethernet cord (he could get an extension cord if need be).
 
KevRC4130 said:
Also, does he need an Airport (regular), or does an Airport Extreme also work?
Click to expand...

Regular airport & an adapter. The iMac has the antenna built in but needs a circuit board type of adapter for the airport card to plug into & then the combo plugged into the iMac.

My 600mhz G3 iMac is keeping me very happy, BTW.
 
Richard Youden said:
I have an old iMac at home that my parens and brother and sister use. It was the 400MHz graphite iMac. I love that machine but it needs to be put out of its missery! Something has knackered with the monitor, it keeps flickering pink. The monitor keeps shrinking on the CRT. Applications keep dissappearing so I have to reinstall panther every month or so and applications have tuned into Arabic!

I was looking at putting a Mac mini inside but I dont think that is possible.

When I upgrade my PowerMac monitor I will try and give my current CRT to my parents and make them buy a Mac mini. I will probably try and get it set up as a server with a large HD or something.

Hope you have luck resurecting your iMac. If anyone has any ideas how to help mine, please let me know!
Click to expand...

I bet someone has either upgraded, or tried to upgrade, to Jaguar or Panther without sorting the firmware. You're describing the classic symptoms. If it still boots OS 9, go get the right firmware from Apple:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117

Hello iMac, welcome back! You may need to replace the drive as well but they're cheap.
:cool:
 
150hp said:
Regular airport & an adapter. The iMac has the antenna built in but needs a circuit board type of adapter for the airport card to plug into & then the combo plugged into the iMac.

My 600mhz G3 iMac is keeping me very happy, BTW.
Click to expand...

Can you describe the adapter? Does it come with the cards from say Powermax, or the majority of cards on ebay?
 
cal6n said:
I bet someone has either upgraded, or tried to upgrade, to Jaguar or Panther without sorting the firmware. You're describing the classic symptoms. If it still boots OS 9, go get the right firmware from Apple:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117

Hello iMac, welcome back! You may need to replace the drive as well but they're cheap.
:cool:
Click to expand...

I will have a go with the firmware when I get home. Would installing new firmware really stop the problems with the pink monitor. I can live with everything else but sometimes I have to leave the computer and it is normally worse at night.
 
Richard Youden said:
I will have a go with the firmware when I get home. Would installing new firmware really stop the problems with the pink monitor. I can live with everything else but sometimes I have to leave the computer and it is normally worse at night.
Click to expand...


I'm 95% sure. I used to buy them for £50-£75 on ebay, sort the firmware and sell them in the Friday ad for £250-£300. I've done a few! :)
 
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