PowerMac G4 Dual CPU upgrades and OS 9.

[Tilmitt]

Hey guys I'm thinking about buying a PowerMac G4 and running OS 9 on it. The reason for this is that I have very specific views about what I like and dislike in the computer world, and a friend of mine is convinced beyond all doubt that I would love this setup. Just a few issues that seem to be coming up.

OS 9 doesn't seem to recognise the extra CPU when you buy dual CPU upgrades for PowerMac G4's. Here's a site that sells them and they say that. So my question is, does OS 9 just not recognise the second CPU of third party upgrades, or does it not recognise and use any extra CPU's, even if they came with the PowerMac G4? Also does anyone know that if this is the case, is it possible to get OS 9 to use the extra CPU?

Thanks.

 

[Tilmitt]

Come on guys one of you must've tried this? Or could one of you with a Dual G4 try it? I would very much appreciate it...this important to me!

 

[Sun Baked]

If OS 9 had SMP, Virtual Memory, etc. there would have no reason to switch to OS X.

While OS 9 doesn't not see the 2nd processor, there may be some portions that do.

Much of what is multi-CPU capable are the Photoshop plug-ins and such that were specifically written to take advantage of the 2nd CPU.

For OS 9, unless you spend your entire day with these applications, buying a faster single CPU upgrade card is a better all-round performance boost.

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But, when you load OS X on the machine a slower dual CPU card tends to shine.

 

[Tilmitt]

Thanks alot!

I'm fairly gutted by that news! Since this is going to be an OS 9 machine I suppose I shouldn't bother with dual CPU's...but then again it just feels kinda weird not going for two....oh everything would've been just perfect in my little plan if OS 9 was smp capable...! Hmmm ok I'll ponder this more...I could get one of those single 1.3Ghz 512KB L2 2MB L3 G4's I saw for sale....or a 2.0Ghz 512Kb L2 no L3 G4....ah the choices! Any more advice in general guys...?

 

[Tilmitt]

Or this one.

That's 1.47Ghz but only 256KB L2 and 2MB L3.....hmmm....

Edit: Also would a 20" Cinema display work ok with OS 9? As in would it be able to go up to that res?

 

[MacsRgr8]

Or this one.

That's 1.47Ghz but only 256KB L2 and 2MB L3.....hmmm....

Edit: Also would a 20" Cinema display work ok with OS 9? As in would it be able to go up to that res?

In short:
For Mac OS 9 >> fastest single CPU is best.

The 20" Cinema Display will work fine. As long as the grfx card used in the G4 has Mac OS 9 drivers, even a 23" would do fine.