Basic 8500 questions |
April, 18, 2003 1:18 PM |
szavo_ii |
I'm running OS 8.5 on my 8500 that has been upgraded with Sonnet's G4/700. I have two questions about upgrading to OS X (bear with me, I'm a novice at this): 1) What is the minimum OS I need to install OS X? I know I need at least 9.0 to run XPostFacto, but I was told that OS X classic requires at least 9.2. 2) My OS X documentation says I need a built-in display or a display connected to an Apple-supplied video card. I am assuming there is an Apple- supplied video card in my 8500 (here is where my ignorance reveals itself). If so, is it sufficient, or do I need to buy a video card--if so, what do you recommend? Thanks... |
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RE: Basic 8500 questions |
April, 21, 2003 11:22 PM |
tempest |
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You can run OS X classic via OS 9.1. That's the last supported OS 9 configuration. OS X will run using your built-in monitor, one of the connectors on the back of your machine along with your ethernet, ADB, and SCSI connectors. I would recommend you install OS X using your built-in monitor. |
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RE: Basic 8500 questions |
April, 21, 2003 10:35 PM |
cjsconfections |
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Sounds like you are not sure if you have a video card. If you plug your monitor into the plug built into the 8500, that is on board video. If you plug the monitor into a card in one of the PCI slots, you need to know if it is a card that X accepts (check it in the system profiler ). You can install on the built in video with no problems, and even avoid some problems, using the onboard or built in video. Rj is right about it being minimal for X. An inexpensive aftermarket ATI card would be great for a beginning (try eBay or a friend with old ATI cards he is not using). Used they can be had cheap. A Radeon is nice but not necessary to get your feet wet. I have had good luck installing with no PCI cards in the computer. Add them after the installation of X. That way if you do have problems installing X you know that it is not PCI expansion cards. X seems to be touchy about hardware. You didn't mention how much ram you have. 128 megs is a minimum and more is better. OWC has cheap 128 meg dimms. Run a ram checking utility overnight in 9 to make sure the ram is up to par. X doesn't like flaky ram and will give you fits if the ram isn't good. E mail me if you don't have a utility for doing this. |
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RE: Basic 8500 questions |
April, 19, 2003 12:11 PM |
rjenness |
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I'm running an 8500 with Sonnet G3/450. Before upgrading to Jaguar I was running 9.2.2 thanks to os9helper. I use a stripped down version of 9.2.2 to run classic and I have my original 9.2.2 on a second drive. Holding option at startup allows you to boot into 9.2.2 off the second drive for any apps that run better on native OS 9. XPF will then allow you to boot back into X. I am now running 10.2.5 and I can say that it runs very well. I have an ATI Rage 128 card for my primary display (21") and a second display (17") connected to the onboard video port. From my experience I would say that OS X would be frustrating using only the built in video hardware. Without acceleration the graphics would be pretty choppy. Make sure you have lots of RAM and space on your HD as well. |
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RE: Basic 8500 questions |
April, 18, 2003 2:00 PM |
marcush |
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You only need OS 9.04 to run classic in OSX. I don't think OSX has any dependency on OS9 itself, except in our case where we need it to use XpostFacto. I think the 8500's built-in video works but it is unaccelerated. I would get either a cheap ATI Rage 128 Orion card, or a possibly cheaper PC Radeon 7000 card and flash it with Mac firmware. Look back in the forum for flashing instructions. Either should run you about $45. |
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