Embracing Early Intel

[r34per]

Eh, to me I'm really only interested in the PPC macs. My main interest in collecting old macs is the fact they are PPC, i just find them more interesting than the intel ones as their history is fascinating to me. I like messing around with old classic mac games and programs while there also being something endearing to me about running a non-intel computer and trying to carve a use out for it. I'm not knocking the intels and feel free to disagree with me on what i've said, historically I've been a pretty big hater of apple and only recently took an interest in their old computers, so that may skew my opinions a bit.

 

[eyoungren]

These are all good suggestions. Might want to add them to @Wowfunhappy 's thread in the feedback section so they get some eyes on them: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ombined-section-for-early-intel-os-x.2252129/

For the record, @arn tends to read our forums (and post) and @maflynn has posted here more than once. I'm not saying this isn't a good idea, just wanting to point out they are probably aware.

 

[sanfrancisofont1984]

I mean, using anything later than 2011 (and even some 2011 models) precludes you from using Snow Leopard, which is an important OS to have access to for some people's use cases. A usefulness of a computer isn't defined by how fast a computer is but rather what purpose it can serve the user. I have multiple old Macs that are integral to how I work.

I agree with what you said. I don’t see why you are responding to my comment though. If the early MacBooks were a minefield of quality issues then it makes sense to avoid them. This doesn’t preclude other machines like all the desktop models.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I agree with what you said. I don’t see why you are responding to my comment though. If the early MacBooks were a minefield of quality issues then it makes sense to avoid them. This doesn’t preclude other machines like all the desktop models.

But the thing is, they weren't. The A1181 body style basically had no hardware issues and you can find plenty still fully functional in the wild today. I actually have two. The Mid/Late 2007 and Early 2008 MacBook Pros did have some GPU issues, but by now it's only the non-repaired boards that have issues. Same with 2011 MBPs. I don't know much about the 2010 graphics issues however. But my point in saying this is that there were really very few, if any, issues that didn't have a repair program assigned to them.

Going back to @Macbookprodude and his assertion that 16GB is the absolute minimum usable amount of memory, there are machines that have 8GB that are being sold and are perfectly usable and I myself mostly own machines with a 4GB or 6GB RAM ceiling (if that) and they are all functioning perfectly fine for what I need them for.

 

[retta283]

Going back to @Macbookprodude and his assertion that 16GB is the absolute minimum usable amount of memory, there are machines that have 8GB that are being sold and are perfectly usable and I myself mostly own machines with a 4GB or 6GB RAM ceiling (if that) and they are all functioning perfectly fine for what I need them for.

Considering that @Macbookprodude is also using PPC machines? the assertion that 16GB is minimum would instantly make all PPC Macs irrelevant as none of them come even close to that. 4GB is acceptable to most average people (with tweaking it can be made decent) and 8GB is plenty for average uses.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

Considering that @Macbookprodude is also using PPC machines? the assertion that 16GB is minimum would instantly make all PPC Macs irrelevant as none of them come even close to that. 4GB is acceptable to most average people (with tweaking it can be made decent) and 8GB is plenty for average uses.

I used my 2009 MacBook for two years as my daily (from early 2018 until June of this year). It has 4GB of RAM and I used it for things ranging from word processing to music production and gaming. I can agree with your statement with certainty.

 

[Amethyst1]

@retta283 - The Late 2005 G5s can actually hold 16 GB RAM.

 

[z970]

@RogerWilco6502 @retta283 To be fair, he didn't assert it as the "absolute minimum". More-so as an otherwise expected ceiling given that 16 GB is mostly the standard for modern MacBook Pros. Plus it was his opinion (which should be the assumed default anyway), so under that pretext you can assert anything.

Case in point, I assert that all i965+ Intel hardware is garbage because it disrespects your freedom. Windows 10 is garbage because it also disrespects your freedom. Everything Apple has made after 2015 is absolute garbage because it blatantly hates your freedom and is designed and engineered badly.

Regardless still, he should ask @AphoticD how his Clamshell is serving under Tiger with only 640 MB RAM. Surely, Snow Leopard or its successive versions doesn't eat hoards more than that.

#640MBMasterRace

 

[Wowfunhappy]

the assertion that 16GB is minimum would instantly make all PPC Macs irrelevant as none of them come even close to that.

...this might not be what you meant, but is it not possible to upgrade any PPC Macs to 16 GB of RAM? Not even high-end G5's?

Edit: Oh, Amethyst1, I missed your earlier post. Well, thank you for replying a second time.

 

[Amethyst1]

is it not possible to upgrade any PPC Macs to 16 GB of RAM? Not even high end G5's?

The Late 2005 G5s can actually hold 16 GB RAM.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

@RogerWilco6502 @retta283 To be fair, he didn't assert it as the "absolute minimum". More-so as an otherwise expected ceiling given that 16 GB is mostly the standard for modern MacBook Pros. Plus it was his opinion (which should be the assumed default anyway), so under that pretext you can assert anything.

Good point and thanks for putting this into perspective. To be fair his tone is more troubling to me than anything in this case, as (at least how I read it) it sounds like he's stating these as facts, not an opinion.

 

[z970]

@RogerWilco6502 But do people really lack the discretion between deciphering objective fact and subjective opinion to truly necessitate the constant obligatory "IMO" prefix? Otherwise, how do you voice an opinionated tone instead of a factual one while being limited by a text-only medium of communication, besides using less objectively-suited adjectives and sentence structuring?

People ought to state anything however they see fit to. It is the responsibility of the reader to decide how to interpret it into a comprehensible input that they may agree or disagree with, not the writer. There might not be one truly free land on the planet, but that does not at all mean that the same standards of reality must ever translate over to the information superhighway in any way, shape, or form thereof.

 

[bobesch]

It's like treatment with steroids: most people are happy with the lowest dose that make you cope, that does't cause side effects (in terms of legacy hardware: the "dose", that doesn't harm your budget and the environment).
But often more is required, very often but only in a special situation ...

 

[Raging Dufus]

The Late 2005 G5s can actually hold 16 GB RAM.

Yeah but they suck because they don't have L3 cache. Come on man, get with the program.

 

[Amethyst1]

Yeah but they suck because they don't have L3 cache.

Of course, how dare I forget that! Thinking about it, my brain doesn't have L3 cache either so I gotta get a new one that does ASAP!!!

 

[z970]

@Raging Dufus They also blow because they have four thermal zones home to nine computer-controlled fans.

 

[Raging Dufus]

Of course, how dare I forget that! Thinking about it, my brain doesn't have L3 cache either so I gotta get a new one that does ASAP!!!

That's ok, you can just start using your cousin's brain 😂

 

[timidpimpin]

The Late 2005 G5s can actually hold 16 GB RAM.

I think a few ignorant people actually put 32GB in them, then realized that only 16GB was usable. But they had to be shown this by adding the used and free totals together. One was convined that it supported 32GB simply because it showed 32GB in ATM.

 

[Raging Dufus]

I think a few ignorant people actually put 32GB in them, then realized that only 16GB was usable. But they had to be shown this by adding the used and free totals together. One was convined that it supported 32GB simply because it showed 32GB in ATM.

Interesting. I don't have a G5 of that vintage to play around with, so I'm curious whether that's a limit of the hardware, or of the OS? IIRC G4's won't even show >2GB in OS X, or >1.5GB in OS 9, regardless of what's actually installed.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

One was convined that it supported 32GB simply because it showed 32GB in ATM.

In their defense, I would probably fall for that too.

Actually, it's also interesting that Activity Monitor gets it wrong.

 

[timidpimpin]

Interesting. I don't have a G5 of that vintage to play around with, so I'm curious whether that's a limit of the hardware, or of the OS? IIRC G4's won't even show >2GB in OS X, or >1.5GB in OS 9, regardless of what's actually installed.

I'm pretty sure it was a board limitation. I've never had much experience with G5's though.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

@RogerWilco6502 But do people really lack the discretion between deciphering objective fact and subjective opinion to truly necessitate the constant obligatory "IMO" prefix? Otherwise, how do you voice an opinionated tone instead of a factual one while being limited by a text-only medium of communication, besides using less objectively-suited adjectives and sentence structuring?

People ought to state anything however they see fit to. It is the responsibility of the reader to decide how to interpret it into a comprehensible input that they may agree or disagree with, not the writer. There might not be one truly free land on the planet, but that does not at all mean that the same standards of reality must ever translate over to the information superhighway in any way, shape, or form thereof.

You're correct, and that was my mistake of misinterpreting the post in question

 

[timidpimpin]

When it comes to G5's...

Sorry... I couldn't resist.

 

[z970]

I am a very huge fan.

 

[Amethyst1]

When it comes to G5's...

Sorry... I couldn't resist.

So you did take apart one of the DTK Mac minis?