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Operating Systems for PowerPC Macs

Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.

Which OS is Your Main/Favorite One?

  • Total voters
    421
AmazingHenry

AmazingHenry

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 6, 2015
1,285
534
Central Michigan
NOTE: 2021 overhaul updates and remarks supersede the original WikiPost. Several details have changed. Props to @AmazingHenry for setting up this WikiPost.

OVERVIEW

For future reference, I thought it would be a good idea to have a list of all of the operating systems that we can put on our PowerPC Macs. This is a WikiPost, so add what you know of to the list below, along with the URL. Thanks! — @AmazingHenry

With the addition to links to OS builds, please mind how many of these links are maintained externally and are not associated with MacRumors or their forums.


INTERACTIVE TABLE: ALL PowerPC-BASED OSes [external link]
Don’t see a PPC-based OS listed below on this WikiPost?
Have a look through this table for other PPC-based OSes and download links.
[NOTE: above link set to “latest released”, “32- or 64-bit ‘big endian’” (i.e., what all PPC Macs are), and are in some way “supported” and “downloadable”.]



MAC OS

Mac OS 7 (System 7)
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: [7.1.2] PPC601
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS 7.1.2 for Power Macintosh
Mac OS 7.5 [7.5.1] [7.5.2] [7.5.5]
Mac OS 7.6
[note: several machine-specific and localized variations accessible on Macintosh Garden and Archive.org.]

Mac OS 8
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: Mac OS 8.6 findings and ramblings
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: PPC 601, PPC603e, PPC604, G3 (PPC750), or early G4 (PPC7400)
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS 8 (plus 8.1)
Mac OS 8.5 (plus 8.6)
[note: several machine-specific and localized variations accessible on Macintosh Garden and Archive.org.]

Mac OS 9
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The OS 9 Thread
EXTERNAL FORUM DISCUSSION: Mac OS 9 Lives! (booting OS 9 on unsupported, post-OS 9-era PPC Macs)
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: PPC 601/603e/604, PPC G3 or PPC G4 (Classic Mode only for later G4s and G5s running Tiger)
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS 9 [9.1] [9.2.1] [9.2.2] [9.2.2 OS 9 Lives!] [9.0–9.2.2 uploads (alternate)]
[note: several machine-specific and localized variations accessible on Macintosh Garden and Archive.org.]



MAC OS X

Mac OS X SERVER 1.0 RHAPSODY
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Rhapsody Thread
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X Server 1.x [DR1 & DR2]

Mac OS X 10.0b KODIAK (OS X PUBLIC BETA)
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Kodiak Thread
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.0 Public Beta [10.0 DP (pre-public beta)]

Mac OS X 10.0 CHEETAH
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Cheetah Thread
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.0 [10.0 Server]

Mac OS X 10.1 PUMA
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Puma Thread
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.1 [10.1 Server]

Mac OS X 10.2 JAGUAR
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Jaguar Thread
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.2 [10.2 Server]

Mac OS X 10.3 PANTHER
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Panther Thread
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.3 [10.3 Server]

Mac OS X 10.4 TIGER
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Tiger Thread
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: [10.4.0+] PPC G3, 256MB RAM
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.4 [10.4.0 retail] [G3 CD version] [10.4 Server] [10.4 DP beta 8A162]

Mac OS X 10.5 LEOPARD
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The Leopard Thread
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: G4/867MHz, 512MB RAM
BUILDS [external links]
Mac OS X 10.5 retail [single-layer DVD install version] [10.5 Server] [10.5 beta 9A421]

Mac OS X 10.6 SNOW LEOPARD (Unsupported PPC BETA)
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: Snow Leopard on Unsupported PowerPC Machines
BUILDS [external links]
[10A96 Server] [10A96 Client] [10A190] [10A190 (alternate link)]


POSIX

GNU/Linux
MR FORUM GENERAL DISCUSSION: PowerPC Linux in 2020


LUBUNTU REMIX
Lubuntu Remix 16.04 ISO]
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: Lubuntu 16.04 Remix (Updated)


VOID LINUX
PROJECT SITE
MR FORUM DISCUSSIONS: [The Void Linux Wiki] [Void Linux for PPC]


DEBIAN
PROJECT SITE
10.0 PPC32] [10.0 PPC64]
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The PPC Debian Wiki


DEBIAN Sid
MR FORUM DISCUSSIONS: [Debian Sid Remix (ppc32/ppc64)] [Debian Sid Installation Guide (PowerPC)]


MINT PPC
PROJECT SITE
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: Mint PPC project


OpenSUSE
PROJECT SITE
[Tumbleweed PPC64]
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: OpenSUSE Tumbleweed


BSD

OPENBSD
PROJECT SITE
[OpenBSD 6.8 Install]
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The OpenBSD Wiki


FREEBSD
PROJECT SITE
[NetBSD 10.4 PPC32] [NetBSD 10.4 PPC64]


NETBSD
PROJECT SITE
[NetBSD 8.2 PPC]



MorphOS

PROJECT SITE
[MorphOS 3.15 (trial version)]
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: The MorphOS Thread
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Selected high-end PPC G4 and non-PCIe G5 models



BeOS/HAIKU

PROJECT SITE
[Preview Release 2] [4.5]
MR FORUM DISCUSSION: Haiku OS for PowerPC
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Select PPC603e and PPC604 Macs




NOTE: This is a WikiPost. If you can think of any OS info for PowerPC Macs, please add them.
 
Last edited:
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bunnspecial

bunnspecial

macrumors G3
May 3, 2014
8,352
6,495
Kentucky
FluffyBunnyFeet said:
OS/2 Warp PowerPC edition (only ran on certain IBM systems and thunkpad laptops)
Click to expand...

Windows NT 3.5 is the same way-it will only run on the PPC IBM desktops and Thinkpads

NT 3.5 supported a LOT of architectures, but seemingly didn't support the most common/popular computers made in those architectures. It will run on a MIPS processor, for example, but not Silicon Graphics.
 
0

0248294

Cancelled
Jan 10, 2016
713
869
Maybe a moderator could make this thread a sticky? It contains some fairly useful information for PowerPC Mac users and I'm willing to keep it up to date.
 
1042686

1042686

Cancelled
Sep 3, 2016
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So out of those (aside from OSX) which builds are your favorite and why?

Speed?
Features?
Ease of setup/use?
 
Bug-Creator

Bug-Creator

macrumors 68000
May 30, 2011
1,783
4,717
Germany
Mine are all running MorphOS as default, OSX is installed on some (but never gets used) Mint/Debian had a short live on the PMacG4 when it still had the 2x1.8 Sonnet installed (only to benchmark it against a P6T).
 
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AmazingHenry

AmazingHenry

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 6, 2015
1,285
534
Central Michigan
Bug-Creator said:
Mine are all running MorphOS as default, OSX is installed on some (but never gets used) Mint/Debian had a short live on the PMacG4 when it still had the 2x1.8 Sonnet installed (only to benchmark it against a P6T).
Click to expand...
I liked MorphOS but I couldn't find a web browser for it. If I could find one I would consider using it on some of my Macs. Did you find a web browser? Thanks.
 
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1042686

1042686

Cancelled
Sep 3, 2016
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Bug-Creator said:
Mine are all running MorphOS as default, OSX is installed on some (but never gets used) Mint/Debian had a short live on the PMacG4 when it still had the 2x1.8 Sonnet installed (only to benchmark it against a P6T).
Click to expand...

How much does a MorphOS license cost?
 
AmazingHenry

AmazingHenry

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 6, 2015
1,285
534
Central Michigan
I'm about to add a poll asking which one you use. It'll have to be a bit shortened because there's a limit on how many responses you can have on a poll.
[doublepost=1480638743][/doublepost]Also, I'll let you select either 1 or 2 different operating systems, as you may use 2 of them.
 
redheeler

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
8,583
9,180
Colorado, USA
Voted for Mac OS, because as of now I haven't tried any alternative operating systems on PowerPC Macs. After getting through the hassle of trying Linux on my 2006 iMac, I'd like to make Tiger and Leopard as usable as possible. But a Linux installation is still in the long-term plan for my G5 Quad.
 
crewkid89

crewkid89

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2011
242
24
United States
ctmpkmlec4 said:
Totally worth it IMO. I doubt MorphOS will ever make it into the mainstream, but it's a great operating system for Power PC Macs.
Click to expand...
In what ways is it worth it? I didn't get a lot of info from the website. What does it do that Mac OS X or *NIX type operating systems don't do.
 
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