Motherboards?

[jjohnston]

I have a MacPro from 2004, it has the dual 2 processor (non intel)

I am looking at all the new software and its getting harder and harder to find programs that don't require the intel chip. My question is, if I found a used motherboard/processor on ebay or whatever, will that fit in my 2004 case? Just trying to figure out what my options are for upgrades. I bought OS 10.6.3 a few months ago (ok almost a year) to find out I can't install it. I probably should have made the time to do so sooner. lol

But if anyone can answer my Motherboard question that would be great!

Thanks!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You have a G5 PowerMac, which uses PPC architecture. Mac Pros use x86 architecture (Intel chips).
Anyway, a PowerMac has a different layout than Mac Pros, thus you just cannot buy a new motherboard. You also need to buy a new GPU, CPU, new RAM and a new GPU, which will hardly fit.

You can however look into Hackintoshs, there are many guides on how to build a Hackintosh with a G5 PowerMac case.

You can try the following Hackintosh specific fora and websites:

• tonymacx86 Blog - very good guides and quite good message board
• InsanelyMac Forum
• InsanelyMac Hardware Database
• Hackintosh.com
• OSx86 Project

 

[ashman70]

A newer motherboard would more then likely not fit in your case. I would be likely cheaper and more cost effective for you to look at buying a completely new (used) system. First gen intel Mac Pro's 1,1's are pretty cheap and affordable these days and while they won't run Mountain Lion (there are ways to mod them to run it, unsupported by Apple of course) they can be upgraded with faster more powerful processors, newer GPU's and SSD drives.

 

[jjohnston]

Thanks!

I'm thinking about maybe a Mac Mini... By the looks of the specs, a mac mini is more powerfull that what I'm running now.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thanks!

I'm thinking about maybe a Mac Mini... By the looks of the specs, a mac mini is more powerfull that what I'm running now.

It probably is: Mac Benchmarks by Geekbench

 

[jjohnston]

Nice! Thanks for that link!

Yeah, I have to decide between an iMac and a mac Mini I think. I already have a monitor, which makes me lean toward the mini, but then... the iMac display is actually a really nice display.

 

[CaptainChunk]

Aside from a built-in display, iMacs also have more powerful processors, better GPUs, more memory capacity, larger hard drives, etc.