While waiting for project NAOMO to complete, I have seen a 90e MacMini G4
For those who dont get Serbian well its a Mac Mini A1103

OS-X 10.4 Tiger in German (needs to be replaced, how much is?)
CPU G4 1.25GHz L2 Cache 512KB (is this enough for MacOS X and Linux)
RAM 1GB (is this enough for MacOS X and Linux)
GFX ATI9200 32MB (gives 3D under MOS, is this enough for MacOS X and Linux)

What expansions would you recommend?

I would buy it if it can run triple boot of e.g. Fedora 20 PPC,
MorphOS 3.x and some usable MacOS X in English.

How will it perform under these?

Is it possible to expand GFX, RAM and HDD?


to test MOS while I wait.

How suitable is this for current MorphOS and how can I triple boot MOS, PPC Linux and MacOS X?

http://www.kupindo.com/Desktop-racunari/14168325_Apple-Mac-Mini-G4-Model-A1103-sa-monitorom

Mac Mini prve generacije. 100% ispravan, ocuvan. Jos uvek je pogodan za svakodnevnu/kancelarijsku upotrebu.

Also, I will sadly get 10.4 in German, how can I replace it with English version and is it last PPC version?

Apple Mac Mini G4 Model: A1103 sa monitorom
OS-X 10.4 Tiger (na nemackom jeziku)
CPU G4 1.25GHz L2 Cache 512KB
RAM 1GB
Grafika ATI9200 32MB
HDD 40GB
CD/DVD kombo
I/O: DVI, Ethernet, FireWire, 2XUSB, Audio Out
Dimenzije: 170mm X 170mm X 51mm

@vox:

Also, I will sadly get 10.4 in German, how can I replace it with English version and is it last PPC version?

You just install English version over. And no, it is not the last, the last PPC OS X version is Leopard 10.5.8.

1 GB is Max. This machine can be easily overclocked to 1.42 GHz.

You probably could erase OS X. I dont think you are going to need it much often if you have Linux or MorphOS.

Well, I don't think that you will need either Linux if you have MorphOS, except if you need some serious office suite.

Btw, the 32MB VRAM will be a huge bottleneck. On high/higher resolutions at 24Bit depth you will need to turn off 3D enhance for sure. I have used a machine like that and many times I ended up without any free VRAM values on 1024x768@24bit with 3D enhance ON even while using only OWB (with multiple tabs though).

edit: I would go hunting a PMAC if I was in your position at around 150Euros. It offers much more expandability imho and you will enjoy it more!

[ Edited by Cool_amigaN 24.01.2014 - 09:44 ]

I think that on Mac OSX the System language can be changed without re installing the system. See the first part on this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TA23425?viewlocale=en_US

> Is it possible to expand GFX, RAM and HDD?

No, no (as zukow said) and yes.

> how can I triple boot MOS, PPC Linux and MacOS X?

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7319&forum=9
https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7421&forum=3
https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=8272&forum=16

32MB VideoRAM isn't very much, but enough for MOS if you don't use too high resolutions. 1280x1024x16 (use 4:3-Monitor...) is running very pritty, can hold about 3-4 screens simultaniously and is quite enough for most applicaions (Ambient-Screen, OWB, Pagestream, FW a.s.o......). You won't see the difference between 24Bit and 16Bit in daily use .....

If you plan more OS on that Mini, notice that internal HD normaly has only 80GB (on stock) and bigger ones are not easy to get (end if, they are expensive). The better way is to use external Firewire HD for 2nd or 3rd OS. Mini is capable to boot from external Firewire, but normaly not from USB (needs some tricks in Open Firmware).

> many times I ended up without any free VRAM values on 1024x768@24bit with 3D enhance ON
> even while using only OWB

With only 32 MiB VRAM it could be better to run OWB on a second screen with Enhanced Display off, while Ambient is left running on a screen with Enhanced Display on (and preferably in 16-bit depth).

> with multiple tabs though

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7983&forum=3&start=18

@Amigaharry2

This Mini only has 40GB so it's real bad on the HD-front.
But than it would be sufficient for just 2 or even there OS, if vox keeps his data on an external USB or FireWire-HD.
Replacing it with something in the 100-200GB range should still be considered even if just for the added speed of these newer drives.
On my iBook I run 1024x768 in 32Bit with enhanced display and the 32MB VRAM aren't really much of an issue, wouldn't even bother with 32Bit if the iBook supported higher resolutions.

> notice that internal HD normaly has only 80GB (on stock)

As he wrote, the HDD in the machine he talks about has even just 40 GB.


Edit: Kronos was faster.

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf 24.01.2014 - 09:42 ]

i used a macmini with only 32MB Vram. Just turn enchanced gfx off. Also keep in mind that G4 macmini is about on the level of 2004 standards. So use only with 1024x768 or 1280x1024. You can even run RTCW in a good speed on 1024x768.
I replace the hard drive with a faster one. In default these drives are 4200rpm, so if you pick up a new pata drives it will be lot faster. (5400rpm, much more cache, newer architecture.) Or get a Pata SSD...
Anyway if you want to overclock:

http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/macmini/

Also keep in mind that if OF cannot handle the new clock, your mini will say that cpu clock is 750MHz. (while it is 1,5GHz), then you have to edit the clock table in OF.

edit: Yeah Kronos is Lighting faster....


[ Edited by Derringer 24.01.2014 - 09:44 ]

32 Mb of video memory is more than enough for almost everything.(without enh. display)
I use my sistem without enhanced dispaly (and I don't like to waste resorces for just transparent screens) on 1680x1050x16 resolution with big wallpaper. With this setup I lost about 8Mb of video memory after boot. Most of my programs work on Ambinet screen and gfx memory is below 15Mb in use all the time (with many programs/windows opened in Ambinet)
Only few games need more gfx memory, but again I can play this games just fine with 32Mb and lower resolution.
Better games/software needs bigger/better video card, and we have just luck to have few or none of them. ;)