What have you done with an early Intel recently?

[eyoungren]

Exactly. I was surprised at how much I could actually run on it. Sometimes at the bottom of Interwebs, you can see all the content that needs to load, and some websites are totally swamped with content that you never knew you'd "need" for certain web pages. (Which is unrelated, like you said).

I wonder if I can block things on my iBook G4, and get that running on the internet. It is running very slowly at the moment. It does work, but the lag is extreme. Imagine what it would be like on it if all that "content" was blocked...

For Mozilla based browsers there are plugins, mainly uBlock Origin or uMatrix (I prefer and use uMatrix) and/or NoScript. These block third party analytics and external servers by default. Webkit based browsers have some old plugins as well, not sure any work anymore.

There is a System Preference that will block websites system wide. Forgot what it was called at the moment, but that's also pretty old. However, it works across all browsers and anything that connects to the internet. It might only be for PowerPC though.

Lastly, there is your hosts file. You could painstakingly place each and every one of these sites you want to block inside your hosts file. That'd take knowing the sites and a lot of time and effort - but it could be done.

As to your iBook's lag, well honestly this is why. Unlike, more modern Macs, every webpage gets translated by your CPU. It is not handed off to a GPU or some other secondary processor. And until your CPU is done processing it, system resources are limited. The trick in web browsing on old Macs is to limit the amount of time the CPU spends processing a webpage. The faster you can get it processed, the faster the CPU returns to idle and the 'quicker' the Mac appears to be.

With Mozilla based browsers there are tricks we can do. Addons and about:config mods that will speed things up. I used to maintain a thread in the PowerPC section about all that - but it got superceded by this project: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...xpep-for-a-faster-firefox-tenfourfox.2209108/

There are other tricks, such as putting your cache, profile and the browser itself directly in ram by creating a RAM disk. You're never going to get something as fast as the newer Macs but it's better than stock.

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

For Mozilla based browsers there are plugins, mainly uBlock Origin or uMatrix (I prefer and use uMatrix) and/or NoScript. These block third party analytics and external servers by default. Webkit based browsers have some old plugins as well, not sure any work anymore.

There is a System Preference that will block websites system wide. Forgot what it was called at the moment, but that's also pretty old. However, it works across all browsers and anything that connects to the internet. It might only be for PowerPC though.

Lastly, there is your hosts file. You could painstakingly place each and every one of these sites you want to block inside your hosts file. That'd take knowing the sites and a lot of time and effort - but it could be done.

I think that I will check these methods out, thank you very much. I will report back on the PPC thread at some point when I get it to work.

As to your iBook's lag, well honestly this is why. Unlike, more modern Macs, every webpage gets translated by your CPU. It is not handed off to a GPU or some other secondary processor. And until your CPU is done processing it, system resources are limited. The trick in web browsing on old Macs is to limit the amount of time the CPU spends processing a webpage. The faster you can get it processed, the faster the CPU returns to idle and the 'quicker' the Mac appears to be.

With Mozilla based browsers there are tricks we can do. Addons and about:config mods that will speed things up. I used to maintain a thread in the PowerPC section about all that - but it got superceded by this project: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...xpep-for-a-faster-firefox-tenfourfox.2209108/

There are other tricks, such as putting your cache, profile and the browser itself directly in ram by creating a RAM disk. You're never going to get something as fast as the newer Macs but it's better than stock.

Yeah, the RAM also isn't very much. I'm planning on putting in a 1GB stick to bring it up to the max. I like the iBook so far, but it needs a few things done to it. And also, thanks for all the advice. I will also check out the mods/RAM disk if I need to as well. I wasn't aware that older Macs' CPUs translated everything.

 

[Amethyst1]

This just demonstrates how much of the content on the web is unrelated to the content the end user is actually seeking. Imagine how fast the web would be if all the unwanted content were eliminated.

This is why I consider NoScript or an equivalent add-on absolutely essential.

I wonder if I can block things on my iBook G4, and get that running on the internet. It is running very slowly at the moment. It does work, but the lag is extreme. Imagine what it would be like on it if all that "content" was blocked...

If you're specifically referring to lags on these forums, turning off the rich text editor makes a huge difference on older machines:

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

This is why I consider NoScript or an equivalent add-on absolutely essential.


If you're specifically referring to lags on these forums, turning off the rich text editor makes a huge difference on older machines:

View attachment 2138323

Thanks, I didn't know you could do that either. I will try that out and see how it runs.

 

[eyoungren]

Thanks, I didn't know you could do that either. I will try that out and see how it runs.

You can still do text formatting with the code off. It's just learning BB code, which is contained between brackets. Bold for instance would be a 'b' between brackets with a '/b' in brackets at the end. 'I' for italics and so one. Even with the code off the system also picks up emojis. So there's a way to still get around with the code off.

 

[Amethyst1]

Even with the code off the system also picks up emojis.

Sometimes it’s too intelligent, picking up emojis where it shouldn’t.

 

[wicknix]

So curiosity killed the cat as they say....
Installed the latest macports on my mac mini 2,1 that got the recent SSD upgrade running Snow Leopard. Installed surf browser and epiphany browser. Both work quite well. Some hiccups here and there, but i can now access Discord (via surf) and github works and displays properly (via epiphany). This is pretty slick as i dont have to fire up a Linux VM any longer just to use those sites.

I even created launchers for them if anybody wants to use them. They require snow leopard, macports, and those 2 apps installed obviously. You can see them in the dock in the screen shot. I'll attach them below.

Cheers

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

You can still do text formatting with the code off. It's just learning BB code, which is contained between brackets. Bold for instance would be a 'b' between brackets with a '/b' in brackets at the end. 'I' for italics and so one. Even with the code off the system also picks up emojis. So there's a way to still get around with the code off.

I got the RAM upgraded on the Macbook, as well as the SSD and it's helping a lot.

 

[B S Magnet]

So curiosity killed the cat as they say....
Installed the latest macports on my mac mini 2,1 that got the recent SSD upgrade running Snow Leopard. Installed surf browser and epiphany browser. Both work quite well. Some hiccups here and there, but i can now access Discord (via surf) and github works and displays properly (via epiphany). This is pretty slick as i dont have to fire up a Linux VM any longer just to use those sites.

View attachment 2139118

I even created launchers for them if anybody wants to use them. They require snow leopard, macports, and those 2 apps installed obviously. You can see them in the dock in the screen shot. I'll attach them below.

Cheers

This is really cool, wicknix. Thanks for uncovering these and sharing them with us.

I have kind of an interesting question which I can’t exactly test at the moment, and you might not have the setup at the moment, either. If running Macports on a Leopard Intel box, might the +universal variant flag for epiphany build a universal binary of, at the very least, i386,ppc or even i386,x86_64,ppc?

My thinking is thus: if such a build is possible, it might then be possible to pkg it up for others to use on Leopard PowerPC and Intel setups.

 

[wicknix]

Good question. I guess in theory it may be possible to cross compile, but in my tests, when trying to install/build surf on 10.4 PPC, it states that none of the required compilers ( i'm assuming they're talking about clang here) are not available and/or are blacklisted for PPC. Same notice appears when trying to build qt5webkit, and it fails. However, MorphOS has gotten gtk2webkit to build, so with the right tools we know it is possible on PPC.

Also i'm pretty sure the +universal variant only means i386 + x86_64. That's what i have installed to build both the 32 and 64 bit AF / IW / SW browsers. It doesn't include PPC. I could be wrong though as i never really dug too deep in to available options for macports.

Cheers

 

[eyoungren]

Today is a good day!

My previous solution of getting AirFoil to work between both my Early and Late 09 Minis has had sync issues. Every time I left and came back I had to readjust things. That is probably why I gave up on it the first time.

However, I solved my audio problem.

Here is what I have been trying to do…

1. Use the E:09 Mini for media. This means it controls music and streaming apps (SOMA FM).
2. Have all sound sent to Bass Jump and BT loudspeaker.
3. Still have the L:09 Mini use the Bass Jump and the loudpeaker for IT'S sound.

Problems…

1. Loudspeaker is bluetooth and not syncing up.
2. Bass Jump is connected to L:09 Mini.

It's for the second reason I was trying to use Airfoil.

I also found my old 1997 PC Speakers and hooked them up to the L:09 Mini.

My solution…

1. Install Soundflower.
2. Find a copy of Soundflowerbed (the app).
3. Connect to loudspeaker on L:09 Mini, disconnect on E:09 Mini.
4. Create an Aggregate Device on the L:09 Mini, include Basic Output, Base Jump, BT loudspeaker and Soundflower 64(ch).
4. Set Sound Output in System Preferences to Soundflower (64ch).
6. Set Soundflower in the menubar to use the Aggregate Device.
7. Tell the E:09 Mini to use the L:09 Mac as it's Sound Output.

End result…Early 09 Mini is streaming music to the Late 09 Mini, which is redirecting that audio to computer speakers, Bass Jump AND the Bluetooth connected loudspeaker perfectly synced!

This means too that I still get the L:09 Mini's sound ALSO sent three places at one in sync.

Finally…you may know that when you use an Aggregate Device you lose the ability to use the keyboard keys to increase/decrease/mute sound. But because all sound is being directed to Soundflower that problem is solved! Further, you can adjust individual volume inside the MIDI app for the individual speakers (to balance sound) and Soundflower will simply adjust sound on all items in the Aggregate Device with the same ratio - rather than making them all the same sound level!

It only took a couple of years to get this nailed down!

 

[TheShortTimer]

It only took a couple of years to get this nailed down!

(Congrats Eyoungren!)

 

[Alexis Trinquet]

Just resurrected a A1225 iMac8,1 (24in), I've only dropped in a old SSD on which I had loaded up Linux (from the host name it was in a NEC PowerMate VL270 SFF PC that I tried to repair), it just booted (much to my surprise) without any fuss.

I'm actually typing this from this very machine, it's not fully reassembled yet.

EDIT: Here's the image of the machine itself, you can just faintly see the original power supply, now I need to find a QX9300 and a few DDR2 SODIMM modules to max this iMac8,1 out...

 

[eyoungren]

(Congrats Eyoungren!)

Yeah…just don't try to adjust the buffer size when the app is running and audio is streaming!

You end up spending a few hours of reinstalling, trying to add sound sources and other headaches until you end up back where you began, only using a different sound source!

All because I want to actually adjust volume from the dang keyboard and not from an app!

 

[bobesch]

Yeah…just don't try to adjust the buffer size when the app is running and audio is streaming!

You end up spending a few hours of reinstalling, trying to add sound sources and other headaches until you end up back where you began, only using a different sound source!

All because I want to actually adjust volume from the dang keyboard and not from an app!

Oh, sorry about that! - It appeared to be a unique solution, cause sync always ends up to cause problems ...
A couple of old AirportExpress & attached speakers for streaming via AirTunes might cause less headache (but unfortunately similar impact on energy consumption).
I've retired all my ambitions of "daily music everywhere" through my "poor man's Sonos" and went back to iPhone speakers (that are honestly better, than the outdated bunch of >10y mini-speakers).
Big party is ahead - maybe them are about to become revived soon ...
Cheers, Bob

 

[eyoungren]

Oh, sorry about that! - It appeared to be a unique solution, cause sync always ends up to cause problems ...
A couple of old AirportExpress & attached speakers for streaming via AirTunes might cause less headache (but unfortunately similar impact on energy consumption).
I've retired all my ambitions of "daily music everywhere" through my "poor man's Sonos" and went back to iPhone speakers (that are honestly better, than the outdated bunch of >10y mini-speakers).
Big party is ahead - maybe them are about to become revived soon ...
Cheers, Bob

Well these two Minis are for a specific use case (writing) in the garage. One for the writing, one for the music, both to have all audio go to the same place.

I've already got it set up so that I can use one mouse and one keyboard between both (a software KVM called Barrier). It was just getting the music to sync. Reverb is great only if it's intentional.

 

[bobesch]

Reverb is great only if it's intentional.

😄 ... but it would make You feel the garage the true Room of Requirements!

 

[bobesch]

Tonight I've been tormenting another (the last one) mid2012 MacbookPro (or rather me) with another Windows10pro install ...
"Requirements of the service" - last step of an unavoidable last-minute transition 😢 of my office network from Win2008TerminalServer with early-early-intel Macs as thin clients to a Win10ProWorkstation-FileServer with mainly late-early-intel mid2012 15" MBP9,1 as full clients.
Each MBP-Workstation came at an average of about 300 bucks including the Macbook, a new 250GB SSD, 16GB RAM-Upgrade (and because I had a bunch of existing Win7/8Pro-licences at hands, that were already upgraded to Win10pro).
Since there is a significant evolution of hardware on the way, I hope to hold out with that configuration until support of Win10pro ends in 2025 (hopefully 2026).
I'm quite happy, that tinkering with old stuff is more relaxing and a challenge than a burden.
Good gracious - saved me a lot of money.😅

 

[swamprock]

Picked up a 2010 MBP, sold as parts only, as a project for almost nothing. I fixed its minor issues (no RAM, hard drive or bottom plate) and installed Monterey via OCP on its shiny new SSD. Very usable, considering. I plan on adding 12 more GB of RAM soon.

 

[Alexis Trinquet]

Just ressurected this iMac 2008 24in that I got from a relative, now to extract the files from the original HDD that I set aside (it still works, but the former owner of that iMac wants to recover some pictures off the hard drive). I just threw in a spare SSD that I had preinstalled Linux on.

All it took is a refurbished power supply (with the old one slightly out of frame) to repair this lil' fellow, that's one less off the list of Macs that I need to fix now. Next up, I'm going to beef it up a little bit (maxed out RAM, QX9300...) I really want to push it as far as I can.

EDIT: D'oh! Didn't realize I double-posted, my bad! (...that's what happens when I post very late into the night...)

 

[theMarble]

QX9300...

I had no idea that there was an C2E that worked in a 2008! The 2007 had the X7900, though About this Mac reported it as a Core 2 Duo.

 

[Amethyst1]

Next up, I'm going to beef it up a little bit (maxed out RAM, QX9300...)

I had no idea that there was an C2E that worked in a 2008!

Are Core 2 Quads confirmed to work in a 2008 iMac?

The 2007 had the X7900, though About this Mac reported it as a Core 2 Duo.

Correct, it's just a Core 2 Duo with an unlocked multiplier, higher TDP and "extreme" price tag ($851)

 

[theMarble]

Are Core 2 Quads confirmed to work in a 2008 iMac?

Did a bit more reading later. Lots of people have reported that no quad works in a 2008 or 2009 iMac. Apparently not even the dual-core extremes work. E8435 is the best you can do.

Strange since everything spec-wise (apart from double the cores and more cache) is the same as the E8435.

 

[Alexis Trinquet]

I guess there's only one way to find out... All I get is conflicting information about the QX9300 working in a iMac8,1, that's one of the big interrogations I have about this machine, next month hopefully, I'll be able to prove if it's possible or not. If it proves not to work, I think I got a laptop somewhere that takes socket P chips and could use a QX9300... Not a big deal.

GPU-wise I think it has a Radeon 2600XT, I would like to replace it down the line with either a 8800GS or a GT130 from a 2009 iMac, assuming it's possible in the first place? Slot-wise I'm sure it'd be a 1:1 fit, but what I'm worried is that Apple may probably have put some software locks in place to prevent that... Knowing myself, once I get that "curiosity itch" it's hard for me to resist the urge to test things out and find out.

EDIT: Regardless, here's the thread that I saw and briefly mentioned the QX9300: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/can-you-upgrade-the-cpu-in-an-aluminum-imac-early-2008.885917/

...I guess I'll try and document my efforts on a thread to fill in the blanks... But at the same time, given how expensive QX9300s are (I found a seller in Germany asking ~119€ shipping included for one of these), I'm having second thoughts, but at the same time, as I stated previously, I may have a laptop that supports QX9300s so it wouldn't be bought in vain.

 

[Amethyst1]

All I get is conflicting information about the QX9300 working in a iMac8,1,

Isn't teh internet just great, providing definite answers to any question out there?

But at the same time, given how expensive QX9300s are (I found a seller in Germany asking ~119€ shipping included for one of these), I'm having second thoughts, but at the same time, as I stated previously, I may have a laptop that supports QX9300s so it wouldn't be bought in vain.

119 Euros WTF?! 19 Euros would be more like it for a 15-year-old CPU. There are two offers on eBay Kleinanzeigen, cheaper but still vastly overpriced IMHO.