PowerMAC G4 Hard Drive Question

[pinetec]

I have an old PowerMac G4 7400 (450 Mhz) and I'd like to use it to replace an old Micron PC I'm using as a file server. My question is, what is the largest size HD I can install in it? I checked Mactracker and it said it only supported up to 128 GB per drive. But I didn't know if this was related to the OS at the time or whether it was a hardward limitation. If I'm running Tiger on it would it support a larger 500GB drive?

If it is a hardware limitation I guess I could always add a couple external firewire drives.

Let me know if this should have been posted in the "collectible forum".

Thanks
Michael

 

[Eidorian]

It's a hardware limitation. You don't get LBA 48-bit access until the Quicksilver 2002 Power Mac G4.

 

[bartelby]

Nope, it's hardware limitations if you're using the existing hardware. Add a sata card, for example, and you can chuck in what you like IIRC.

 

[pinetec]

Wow. Thanks for the quick response. I'll look at adding a SATA card.

Thanks!

 

[Bastich]

Actually, there is a software solution for this:
http://www.speedtools.com/ATA6.html

I'm running nearly 1TB in my G4 with no issues. Be sure to read their documentation on partitioning strategies though.

😎