Oooookay! I'm back!
After trying many more distros to see what the most modern and functional Linux OS I could install on my Cheesegrater G5, I've come back to MintPPC64. I am currently installing the system.
My biggest problem with other distros is(was), software installs and updates. I found that older distros' repoes were inaccessible. So, knowing Deb 12/Mintppc worked before, I decided to come back. My next job after the install is completed per the instructions, will be to see how to either access software and/or update the sources.list to reflect the
current locations of Deb 12 software. I also need to go back and read the previous 31 pages to refresh my memory on some of the things that have gone on since I've been distro-hopping.
Honestly, if there is anyone out there looking to breathe the freshest of life into an old finicky G5, this is where you want to be.
Also, I discovered as part of my distro hopping that trying to drive two monitors from a Radeon 9600XT is limited by the maximum screen size of 2560x2560 so trying to drive a 1920x1024 and a 1280x1024 monitor won't work. What I haven't figured out is why the Linux distros I tried won't run on an Apple Cinema or Studio display alone. I tried all of the boot parameters ever discovered for the Radeon GFX card and could never get past the black screen. No worries, I'm driving a DVI 1920x1024 flatscreen which provides all the real estate I need.
Good to be back!
MacMav855