Hi everyone, I just recently parted ways with my Pegasos 2 system, and I'm wanting to find out what the community believes is the best hardware system configuration that will run MorphOS? as this could be the next system I acquire.

That hugely depends .....

a) PowerMac MDD/FW800 with 1.8GHz aftermarket CPU and Radeon 9000pro 128MB
+ fastest GFX-card
+ fastest RAM
- noisy
- big
- good luck finding those parts at reasonable prices (if at all)

b) PowerMac Quicksilver with 2.0GHz aftermarket CPU and Radeon 9000pro 128MB
+ fastest GFX-card
+ fastest CPU
- slower RAM
- noisy (not as bad at the MDDs)
- big
- again good luck finding those parts at reasonable prices (if at all)

c) MacMini at 1.5GHz (aka silent upgrade)
+ fastest RAM (same speed as MDD)
+ probraly the best supported HW
+ small
+ silent
- noisy (if that fan kicks in)
- only 64MB VMEM
- very limited expansion possibilties

d) PowerBook 5.8/5.9
+ fast CPU
+ fast RAM
+ portable
- very limited expansion possibilties
- 2 more weeks

Thanks for the reply....

So is option a) not likely to come configured with the after market CPU?

MDDs/FW800 came with up to dual 1.42GHz G4s stock and were soon after replaced with the G5s so there never was much of a market for CPU-upgrades.
Also AGP/GigaBit/SawTooth/Quicksilver/Quicksilver2002 share the same socket for CPUs so will have much more luck finding anything >1.5GHZ there. 128MB video-cards are also kind of rare unless your capable of flashing a PC-card yourself.

My best system atm is a QuickSilver with 2x1.8GHz (2nd G4 only adds one more fan offcourse), Radeon9000(non-Pro) with 128MB, Sil3112 SATA, NEC USB2 and SBLive!. Doubt that a MDD or a 2.0GHz CPU would really make that much of a difference as this system was able to hold it's water against the X1000 allready (under Linux).

Okay thanks, sound like a stock MDD would be a nice machine as MorphOS was fast even on my Pegasos 2 at 1ghz.

> I'm wanting to find out what the community believes is the
> best hardware system configuration that will run MorphOS?

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7902&forum=11

Between June 2011 and now, nothing has changed with respect to the hardware supported by MorphOS.

@Kronos

Radeon8500 is faster than Radeon9000Pro

@Crumb

How many Mac-compatible 8500s have you seen ?
And how many of them had 128MB ?

Fairdinkem,
Quote:

Even at the same frequency ANY(!!) Apple system will be faster than any Pegasos. MorphOS lives on RAM speed and the Pegasos 1 and 2 are not that good in this discipline.

Thats the reason even the 400Mhz Efika looks so slow on paper, but compared to the Pegasos 2, the gap is not as big as the 600Mhz frequency difference sounds. I think it even beats the 600 Mhz G3. Of course when it comes to G$ Altivec, the Efika is out of the race.

The 1.42Ghz Apple Mac mini is around twice as fast as the Pegasos2 1Ghz.

Geit

[ Edited by geit 21.05.2012 - 11:00 ]

PB 5,9, defo :)

Quote:

No, it doesn't. As seen here and here.

> I think it even beats the 600 Mhz G3.

I don't think so. In terms of memory performance, the Efika 5200B seems faster at writing but slower at reading compared to G3 Peg.

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?forum=11&topic_id=7474&start=53

> How many Mac-compatible 8500s have you seen ?
> And how many of them had 128MB ?

I'm not Crumb, but I think I can guess his answers:
Numerous. None.
...which makes him right technically ;-)

I've had accelerated Quicksilvers in the past and prefer my current 1.42 GHz FW800.
And, as I'm thinking forward, I got rid of my Radeon 9100 in favor of a Radeon 9800XT (and I don't really miss hardware 3D acceleration).

And I don't know about elsewhere, but in the US these machines are common and cheap.
Make sure you buy an NEC based USB 2.0 card and a Sound Blaster Li9ve audio card.

Powerbooks may turn out to be a disappointment as they won't have 3D acceleration and may not have wireless connectivity at first.

Jim,
Quote:

Jim,
Quote:

If you want pure CPU speed and are willing to drop a few $$$, your best bet would probably be either a Quicksilver or Digital Audio model with an aftermarket 1.8Ghz CPU. I have a Quicksilver with NewerTechnology (single) 1.8Ghz CPU overclocked stable to 2Ghz. I also have a 1.42Ghz MDD. In most benchmarks the Quicksilver handily beats the MDD.

Aftermarket CPUs for MDD are as rare as hens teeth. I mean, seriously. They are almost impossible to get hold of one. Aftermarket CPUs for Quicksilver/Digital Audio is only slightly difficult. With a little patience, you can get one at a half way reasonable price.

[ Edited by redrumloa 21.05.2012 - 21:12 ]

Jim,
Quote:

Some people will be disappointed because some features are not yet done in the initial MorphOS3.0 release, but it is still a huge accomplishment to port MorphOS to these models of the G4 PowerBook, the first PPC laptops to be supported by any Amiga inspired and Amiga compatible operating system.

Some people will complain, as there are always a few that are not satisfied, but I hope that most users will realize what a huge accomplishment this release is and just how much work was involved to make it happen.

I think any complaints regarding features not completed yet are unfair, as none of us can really know how much work has been required to make this release possible, and I know that you are not complaining Jim, or getting ready to complain, just that you are pointing out that there may be some people who are disappointed by these missing features.

Personally, as bad as I want and need wireless networking for my G4 PowerBook's, I would rather get the release of MorphOS3.0 sooner, without some features finished, instead of waiting an unknown amount of time longer for MorphOS3.0 to be released, with 3D drivers and/or wireless networking finished.

[ Edited by amigadave 21.05.2012 - 19:12 ]

Thanks for all the suggestions and thoughts thus far guys..... I am a bit torn as to whether or not to go for the power book or the MDD power mac

Don't you already have OS4 desktop? If so, I would choose PowerBook because it is more mobile (ok, wireless support sucks but still).

OK Stephen, those quotes may seem contradictory, but I really don't miss 3D acceleration as most of the software I use makes no use of it.
For those of you who may use software ports that rely on OpenGL, well an R300 solution might disappoint.

And Kronos, my FW800 is not noisy. My X86 PC is much louder.

Finally, David, I'm not complaining.
Just stating that without wireless support I don't have use for a laptop.


[ Edited by Jim 22.05.2012 - 16:44 ]

I had a Pegasos 2 with OS4 but sold it so I am in the market for a MorphOS system.

Ok. I like PowerBook because of its mobility. When working abroad or going to meetings it is better than anything else.

What I dislike is cramped keyboard and small 17" display. If you want real keyboard and 24" display then your choice is Mini or PowerMac.

Jim,
Quote:

I didn't mean to imply that you were complaining, just that there will be some that do complain, no matter how complete the release is.

Sorry if you took my comment personally, instead of generally, which is how I intended it to be interpreted. We are far too good of friends for me to personally call you a complainer on these forums, specially when I know better.

My mistake.

Fairdinkem:

Since you don't specify further what you mean with "best MorphOS system", I recommend a Powermac G4, any model later than Quicksilver with > 1GHz CPU). It's very expandable and quite cheap. Next in line for desktop usage are IMHO Mac minis. Regarding mobile solutions I hope the MorphOS-Team is going to support the iBook G4 at some point.

I like the idea of the powerbook especially for taking it to my local monthly Amiga meeting, will it be able to play 3D games like quake 2 and return to castle Wolfenstein or will the lack of 3d acceleration be an issue?

I love the idea of a mac mini but the small amount of video memory is an issue for me I want something a bit more powerful.


@ analogkid

When I say best MorphOS system I mean just that, if the laptop is more powerful than the desktop options then that is what I want, if one from the desktop range is better than the laptop then that is what I want

Essentially I want it to be even better than what i experienced on my Pegasos 2 !!! by the way MorphOS 2.7 on the Pegasos 2 was amazing!

[ Edited by Fairdinkem 23.05.2012 - 15:54 ]