use for an aluminum g5?

[davemchine]

I was given an aluminum g5 today and I am considering if it could be useful. So far my ideas are:
1) sent it to my bro in AZ for his 10yr old son. I would think it could do email and web surfing just fine. I have the original box but I'm not sure what it would cost to ship.
2) Hackintosh it. I would use it primarily for handbrake but a brief web search seems to indicate this would be a large undertaking though.
3) Backup file server. It can hold 4 drives right? I could locate it in a remote spot (in the house or garage) from my primary setup and have timed backups run to it.
4) Can it run OS9? I wouldn't mind having an OS9 computer around.

Any thoughts?

[GGD]

davemchine wrote:
4) Can it run OS9? I wouldn't mind having an OS9 computer around.

It can't boot directly into OS9, but it can run OS9 apps in the Classic environment under OSX (up through 10.4, 10.5 dropped Classic).

[haikuman]

Racer X has my G5 he may have some ideas *(:>*

[Mr645]

Depends on which model. They all have software limitations due to pre Intel, but the later models are still rather powerful. I have a pair of dual 1.8 G5's running as servers, Highpoint RAID cards and 5 hard drives each and until recently I was using a dual 2.5 g5 daily and it was a solid Photoshop machine. It would match early Mac Pro's and Core 2 Duo iMacs. But the problem was lack of software so it has been replaced with an i7 Mini, which is a good bit faster at most things

[Filliam H. Muffman]

[clay]

2 internal drive bays, but there are 3rd party options to add more drives.

quite honestly, even though it was free, I'd avoid using it. Draws tons of power compared to ANY intel, expensive RAM, few options for internal expansion as-is, and even a several year old intel mini will outperform it on most tasks.

[haikuman]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:

Thats just wrong ~!~!~!~ :devil:

[Forrest]

LOL - great G5 grillmiley-laughing001:

[john-o]

What about Hackintosh/Frankenmac options? I have three of these things I'd love to find a use for, but they all have the classic bad RAM slot/motherboard issue...

[davemchine]

What do you think it would cost to ship the g5 in it's original box from Washington State to Arizona?