Forums | MacLife
You are not logged in.
#1 2009-01-14 10:29 am
- x_acebabe_x
- Member
- Registered: 2009-01-14
- Posts: 2
iMac G3 hard drive
Hi all. new on here and looking for advice (btw sorry if this is posted in the wrong place)
Ok here's the problem
Just been given an iMac G3 and i've never used one before as im an XP and Linux user. Had a go on it but found it pretty basic if im honest but dont want to get rid as it looks good.
My question - Does the G3 take a standard sized hard drive or does it have its own designed hard drive?
My question - If the hard drive is of a standard size is it possible to run another OS (eg Linux) on the G3 by replacing the mac hard drive with one that has an OS pre-installed?
grateful for any answers
ACE
Offline
#2 2009-01-14 10:41 am
- mrreet2001
- Member

- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4322
- Website
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
it takes a standard IDE (PATA) drive but it will only take up to 128G (no large drive support)
You can install PPC versions of linux on it ... but it will not work with a drive pre-installed with and x86 version.
do a search for linux g3 in google or yahoo... I found
http://ubuntu-releases.cs.umn.edu/6.06/
not sure what linux distro you like but there are PPC versions for a lot of them.
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
Offline
#3 2009-01-14 11:13 am
- x_acebabe_x
- Member
- Registered: 2009-01-14
- Posts: 2
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
Thank you for your reply, very helpful.
Offline
#4 2009-01-17 11:34 pm
- iBrandon
- Apple
- Registered: 2007-03-19
- Posts: 20
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
Also be careful! I have an iMac G3 as well and I had to undergo a hard drive transplant as well. when you get the hard drive, you want to try and get a 5400RPM drive, and absolutely no higher than 7200. This is because the harddrive is in a pretty bad place in the mac and already generates a large amount of heat. The higher the RPM, the more cooling your going to need, or else that hard drive you have is gonna die... fast.
Offline
#5 2009-01-18 2:23 pm
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
Also when looking at installing a PPC distro of linux on there you would probably prefer an less bloated distro. Check out distro watch and depending on your level of expertise you should find what your looking for.
Powerbook G3 Kanga
Macbook 2.4 C2D 2GB Leopard
Powerbook G4 Pismo 550
Online
#6 2009-02-24 12:57 pm
- repetitiveness
- Member
- Registered: 2009-02-24
- Posts: 1
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
i am looking for any recommendations on where to find a HD replacement for an iMac G3. Also wondering if I will have to install the OS for it since i am replacing a bad HD? Any help will be appreciated:lol:
Offline
#7 2009-02-24 1:51 pm
- mrreet2001
- Member

- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4322
- Website
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
Offline
#8 2009-02-24 1:51 pm
- mrreet2001
- Member

- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4322
- Website
Re: iMac G3 hard drive
repetitiveness wrote:
i Also wondering if I will have to install the OS for it since i am replacing a bad HD?
Yes you will.
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
Offline

