My Free Power Macintosh G5

[barracuda156]

almost no software available for the G5. Maybe buy a used copy of Logic Pro Studio 9 or Final Cut Pro 7 but trust me everything will be super super slow. Even with the top of the line Quad Core Machine. Browser performance really sucks.

I use to own one.

Are you joking? There are at least some 10k ports confirmed to build on PowerPC, and while a few may build yet not work, most on those are perfectly usable.

The single area where options are indeed constrained is the web, but even there it is still far from “no software exist”. No Facebook and Signal, but Discord, Jabber, Tox work, possibly Twitter, e-Mail, ftp, privacy tools are there (tor, i2p). And I do not imply some relics from 2002, mostly everything is there in the current versions. This is just on macOS, but if you add in BSD and Linux, mostly everything is available aside of proprietary software like Adobe. BSD and Linux have acceptably modern browsers. (MacOS is in the process.)

I don’t really get complaints about G5 being slow. Yes, compared to M1 it is slow in most cases, but it is always the case that your hardware is not the fastest and some other thing is better. Quad is fast enough for most non-professional tasks. It is fast enough for some professional tasks. It is okay for development and testing. Yeah, it won’t handle 8K video from MacOS, because no drivers for modern GPUs. Maybe from Linux it will.

 

[barracuda156]

Well, they're probably meaning MODERN software capable of running on a G5.

* Modern commercial software.

Nothing catastrophic happened to open-source. In most cases you can have the latest versions of everything.
If Qt5+ and Rust are a hard requirement, there are NetBSD and Linux after all.

It may feel like a lot of stuff is broken because people often think in terms of a few familiar web-centric apps with GUI. If one evaluates what software works and what does not without a heavy bias to the web, the picture gonna be radically different.
Say, what open source math software in their latest versions does not run on PowerPC? I can’t name a single “big” software package from memory. I can name one (1) R package which uses Rust and therefore won’t work.

 

[barracuda156]

Fortunately, the Mactintosh Garden exists, so there is a ton of software that will run on the G5. Nothing new, of course, apart from a few ported bits and pieces but at least those include browsers.

God, where does everyone get this impression from? Yes, there are no modern web-browsers for old macOS, there are no latest versions of proprietary software and most popular messengers are not supported (no Signal, Line, Telegram, WhatsApp, Skype). There is a lot of stuff which runs in its latest versions though.

 

[TheShortTimer]

I really miss the days of when you went and bought software (and hardware) and it was actually fully, 100%, unequivocally, yours forever. You didn't have to be tied to a subscription service, you don't have to have internet and be logged in 24/7 to use your apps, etc etc.

There are no programs within my daily usage that require this imposition and I refuse to use any that do.

Quad is fast enough for most non-professional tasks. It is fast enough for some professional tasks. It is okay for development and testing.

I'd argue that a DP is fast enough for many professional tasks, from my experience of putting my machine through its paces - and I push my computers to their absolute limits.

...and most popular messengers are not supported (no Signal, Line, Telegram, WhatsApp, Skype).

Arguably that actually might be a good thing to be liberated from having to use those programs.

 

[dataharvested]

Congrats. Can you get a pic of the model specs label? I’m so curious what model it is

Power Macintosh G5 Dual Core (2.0) Specs (Late 2005, M9590LL/A, PowerMac11,2, A1117/A1177*, 2023): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the Power Macintosh G5 Dual Core (2.0). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

That's the exact build based upon the serial number.

 

[dataharvested]

It's in dozens of pieces now. Had to order the torx tool to remove the CPU heatsink, it'll be here today. Then the REAL cleaning begins.

 

[barracuda156]

Arguably that actually might be a good thing to be liberated from having to use those programs.

Well, sorta, but it would be nice to have a reasonably secure and acceptably convenient messenger. This is a problem on PowerPC, not even just MacOS.
Singal needs NodeJS, Telegram is broken on BE platforms (and Qt4 implementation, AFAIK, is dead), i2p and tor-based ones are secure but far from convenient, Tox I didn’t try yet in practice, but I think both ppl need to be online for a connection to work.
This is perhaps the only problem without a solution even in plans: not quite clear what we can do. Fix tblib, maybe.

 

[dataharvested]

I love the conversation that is going on here.

A little about me:

I've owned one of these Power Macintosh computers before, roughly ten years ago. I don't recall the exact model however. It worked from the get-go and didn't require any maintenance or repairs. I picked it up for some small amount from a local seller, like $50 or something at the time. I played around with it for a couple of months before passing it on to a new owner. I remember that it came loaded with software, and exploring through the old software titles was pretty fun. I even used some of the Adobe software to create artwork on it.

I currently own this Power Macintosh and four Mac Pro's, a 2009 and three 2010 models. I daily drive a 2010 running Ventura via OpenCore Legacy Patcher (typing from there now), and use the another 2010 as a home server with 40 TB of storage. The third 2010 is a parts machine as the case is damaged. The 2009 doesn't serve a purpose at the moment and I may part ways with it. All three of the working machines have Ventura via OCLP by the way and work excellent for any modern task I need them for.

The first computers that I owned were a Tandy PC and a Apple IIe side-by-side that I picked up from a garage sale in 1993. I was only a teen at the time. Since that time I've owned dozens of computers, many of which were macs, and went from being a hobbyist to making it my profession and back to a hobbysist once again.

I love old macs.

 

[eyoungren]

The first computers that I owned were a Tandy PC and a Apple IIe side-by-side that I picked up from a garage sale in 1993. I was only a teen at the time. Since that time I've owned dozens of computers, many of which were macs, and went from being a hobbyist to making it my profession and back to a hobbysist once again.

I love old macs.

<chuckle>

The first computer that I 'owned' was a TRS-80, bought new at Radio Shack by my dad and brought home for my sister and I in 1980. Mainly I used it. Since that was the summer of 1980, I would have been 9. 10yrs old by the end of the year.

I was using a Commodore 64 from the summer of 1984 (13) and the Commodore 128 from 1988 (18). I ran a BBS with both computers. A PC came along in 1990 (19) and I didn't convert fully to Mac until 2003 (32).

You're probably only just a bit younger than I am.

 

[dataharvested]

<chuckle>

The first computer that I 'owned' was a TRS-80, bought new at Radio Shack by my dad and brought home for my sister and I in 1980. Mainly I used it. Since that was the summer of 1980, I would have been 9. 10yrs old by the end of the year.

I was using a Commodore 64 from the summer of 1984 (13) and the Commodore 128 from 1988 (18). I ran a BBS with both computers. A PC came along in 1990 (19) and I didn't convert fully to Mac until 2003 (32).

You're probably only just a bit younger than I am.

Yeah, born in 78' here.

 

[eyoungren]

Yeah, born in 78' here.

1970 here. My birthday is in two weeks.

 

[TheShortTimer]

1970 here. My birthday is in two weeks.

Literally in two weeks?

 

[m1maverick]

There are no programs within my daily usage that require this imposition and I refuse to use any that do.

Same here. Subscriptions are for magazines and newspapers.

I'd argue that a DP is fast enough for many professional tasks, from my experience of putting my machine through its paces - and I push my computers to their absolute limits.

Not trying to change anyone's minds on what they use to do their work but if you're pushing such old systems (assumption on my part) to their absolute limits wouldn't you improve productivity by using a later model system (all else being equal)?

 

[eyoungren]

Literally in two weeks?

Quite literally. Today is the 5th. Two weeks. Not stating the exact date since MR comes up in Google searches and my name/username isn't exactly secret. But if you do the math…

 

[eyoungren]

Same here. Subscriptions are for magazines and newspapers.

Unfortunately, if this were so - or if subscribers hadn't adopted the aversion to subscribing to software attitude on this, I'd still be working at my old job. OTOH, lack of subscribers caused that newspaper to be sold, which got me a better job so there's that.

 

[SnooChickens6278]

A guy on FB Marketplace was giving away a free 2005 Power Macintosh G5. They had one horribly taken picture if it to go off of, but I said I'd take it. They even delivered it to my workplace and dropped it off. A nice older couple showed up in a mini-van and the man told me it used to belong to his sister and he didn't want to just throw it out. No hard drive included. I got it home and cleaned it up. It has a lot of damage to the aluminum and even some rust here and there on the inside. It DID power on however. Going to have to dig up an extra HDD to throw into it to see if it actually works.


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You should sound a little more thankful rather. It was given to you for FREE! They even dropped it off to you. And you had the audacity to say “photographed horribly.” They would have been better not giving into you

 

[TheShortTimer]

Same here. Subscriptions are for magazines and newspapers.

Yes and sometimes TV channels.

Not trying to change anyone's minds on what they use to do their work but if you're pushing such old systems (assumption on my part) to their absolute limits wouldn't you improve productivity by using a later model system (all else being equal)?

Pushing them to their absolute limits is to gauge their often untapped capabilities and continued viability up against later/more recent machines. Which I think provides important information for owners of these models and also ammunition for rebuttals against the apologists who defend Apple needlessly abandoning Macs that could actually run new OS versions or the seeming trolls who enter threads and post dismissive comments about older hardware and then vanish.

Quite literally. Today is the 5th. Two weeks. Not stating the exact date since MR comes up in Google searches and my name/username isn't exactly secret. But if you do the math…

Gotcha.

Unfortunately, if this were so - or if subscribers hadn't adopted the aversion to subscribing to software attitude on this, I'd still be working at my old job.

On a side note, as a journo school grad, I'm acutely aware of just how much communities are affected when local newspapers are shuttered or absorbed by the corporate giants. Season 5 of The Wire covers this theme and the consequences really well. It takes on greater relevance with rewatches.

OTOH, lack of subscribers caused that newspaper to be sold, which got me a better job so there's that.

Just earlier today I was reflecting that when my contract wasn't renewed at a place where I'd spent several years, I initially felt lost but ultimately it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because many areas of my life - and career wouldn't have progressed otherwise. Sometimes mishaps can be a blessing in disguise.

 

[eyoungren]

On a side note, as a journo school grad, I'm acutely aware of just how much communities are affected when local newspapers are shuttered or absorbed by the corporate giants. Season 5 of The Wire covers this theme and the consequences really well. It takes on greater relevance with rewatches.

Just earlier today I was reflecting that when my contract wasn't renewed at a place where I'd spent several years, I initially felt lost but ultimately it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because many areas of my life - and career wouldn't have progressed otherwise. Sometimes mishaps can be a blessing in disguise.

There's a bit of history to it.

In August 2003 I got a job at a small Scottsdale newspaper as the 'Graphic Designer'. In settling in it quickly became apparent to me that my new boss wasn't entirely a nice guy. It seemed that the previous person had just up and left at some point. You can do that in Arizona as this is a right to work state. Politically, that's decried as meaning that employers can fire you or let you go for any reason at all (or no reason) as long as they aren't violating federal discrimination laws (which is on you to prove). But the door swings both ways here and employers don't like to talk about THAT part - which is YOU (the employee) can up and leave with zero notice at any time for any reason (or again, no reason at all).

And given the hassle I started getting (full page, full color ads dropped one me that I had to build on a publishing day), I went to lunch and went home. I had to get my final paycheck through the AZ Labor Board.

In May 2004 I got the job at another newspaper (Glendale, AZ) and I was there for 14.5 years. This boss was a coward and caved to just about everyone. But he didn't care what I was doing in the back as long as I got the paper out. And I only had a few incidents of ads being dropped on me on publishing day. Most of the time the schedule was adhered to. I also clarified things and spoke up more.

Anyway, the business got sold (and that's another story) and who bought it? The guy I worked for in 2003, who by this point had gobbled up other small community weeklies in both Arizona and California. He'd long worked out a system for publishing.

Needless to say, I was not retained.

But the job I have now pays more than the job I had then and I work from home 100 percent. So, I'm good with how it worked out.

 

[Slix]

It's in dozens of pieces now. Had to order the torx tool to remove the CPU heatsink, it'll be here today. Then the REAL cleaning begins.

View attachment 2412995

Time to break out the toothbrush and give it a dentist cleaning!

Enjoy your new G5!

 

[dataharvested]

You should sound a little more thankful rather. It was given to you for FREE! They even dropped it off to you. And you had the audacity to say “photographed horribly.” They would have been better not giving into you

It wasn't to take a jab at them, rather to mention that I didn't have much to go on before acquiring it.

 

[weckart]

It's in dozens of pieces now. Had to order the torx tool to remove the CPU heatsink, it'll be here today. Then the REAL cleaning begins.

Make sure you have the ASD ready because as soon as the the CPU is lifted, that G5 will need recalibrating and the fans will scream until you do. You'll want version 2.6.3 for that G5. They are all up on Macintoshgarden if you don't already have one.

 

[dataharvested]

Who's good at putting puzzles together?

 

[weckart]

Is that rust around the optical guard? Not a welcome sign. Hope the PSU holds up when you're done.

 

[dataharvested]

Is that rust around the optical guard? Not a welcome sign. Hope the PSU holds up when you're done.

Yes it is. There is quite a bit of rust and corrosion. Debating on even moving forward with any type of restoration. I may just part it out.

 

[kwikdeth]

I did a refurb on one of these about two years ago. You'll want to replace the PRAM battery and possibly let it sit plugged in overnight before it will play nice. You'll want to do a PRAM reset as well, there should be a button on the motherboard somewhere that will do it.

Of note, you can upgrade a dual core 2.0 or 2.3ghz with a single physical (dual core obviously) processor from a 2.5ghz unit. You need to run AHT on it afterward to recalibrate its thermals but they work just fine as a dual-core 2.5ghz.
Video cards upgrades are very limited for this model, and even fewer choices if you want dual DVI. I think radeon x1900 and nvidia quadro fx4500 are only options there.
I found a really obscure IBM SATA-II card with a socketed ROM which I was able to flash with a firmware from a Seritek SATA-II card, to my knowledge that is the only bootable SATA-II card for those machines.