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How to figure out what CPU your Power Mac has
Updated Jul 25, 2011 by classi...@floodgap.com

TenFourFox comes in tuned builds for specific processor families. Choosing the wrong one could make the application crash, or run poorly. While the G3 version is generic and will run on any supported Macintosh, it is also the poorest performer on later Power Macs; similarly, you cannot run the G4 or G5 versions on a G3 as the application will behave incorrectly.

Here's how to select which one you need:

  • G3 and G5 owners, just download the G3 and/or G5 build, respectively. These versions run on any G3 or G5 Power Macintosh.
  • G4 owners, you need to determine if your G4 is a 7450-series CPU ("G4e"), such as the 744x or 745x series, or a 7400-series CPU, such as the 7400 and 7410. Typically the "G4e" series of CPU are in most G4s at and over 733MHz.
The wrong version will work on your machine, but will not run as well. The easiest way to find out which version you should use is to open Terminal.app and type machine. Your output will probably look like this:
[old-sawtooth]$ machine
ppc7400

[new-ibook]$ machine
ppc7450
Then grab either the 7400 or 7450 build based on the result.
Comment by zzip...@hotmail.com, Dec 21, 2010

Where do I open Terminal.app?

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Dec 21, 2010

Look in /Applications/Utilities for it.

Comment by s1p...@verizon.net, Mar 22, 2011

tried that - typed in "machine" pressed enter (return key) - response "no plist found" or something like, so still don't know which G4 I have

Comment by firefly5...@gmail.com, Mar 23, 2011

type terminal in finder search

Comment by gevangas...@gmail.com, Mar 26, 2011

Quicksilvers and newer are all 7450. The break is in the DigitalAudio? line: 7410 in the ones with CPU speeds 466/533 MHz, 7450 in the ones with 667/733 MHz.

To check which model you have, look here: http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/index.shtml

Comment by youtu...@ntlworld.com, Apr 21, 2011

I'm not using my G4 FW800 model at the moment but I bought it as a heavily upgraded machine anyway, so it doesn't have the original processor but a Sonnet Encore/MDX 1.6 Ghz Dual instead. I'm guessing it would still be 7455 machine in all its essentials and that a G4e would be the right download. Could someone confirm or otherwise please? Many thanks.

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Apr 21, 2011

Yes, the Encore MDX is a 7450-series G4 (I have a dual 1.8 MDX in my OS 9 MDD, which are 7447A CPUs, actually). However, all MDDs are 7450 also at baseline.

Comment by ryandesi...@gmail.com, Apr 27, 2011

I want to install TenFourFox? on a 700MHz eMac which, according to everymac, has a PowerPC 7441. Which build do I use? It might help if you listed all the PowerPC models applicable to each of your G4 builds.

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Apr 27, 2011

Assuming that machine in Terminal.app doesn't say anything different, the 7441 is a 7450-series CPU.

Comment by nidwann...@gmail.com, Apr 28, 2011

You can use Everymac.com to determine the series# for your G3/G4 Mac.

Comment by DavidCha...@gmail.com, May 2, 2011

According to MacTracker, the following kinds of G4s were used by Apple in various Macs: 7400, 7410, 7447, 7450, 7455.

According to Wikipedia:

  • The 7400 and 7410 are 7400-series
  • The 7447, 7450 and 7550 are 7500-series

There are a few other 7450-series chips that Apple never used in Macs, but were used by some third-party processor upgrade cards.

Comment by hanlonet...@yahoo.com, May 23, 2011

Go to apple menu>about this Mac>It will say whether you have Intel or ppc.If you have ppc, you will also see what your version of ppc is. (ex: PowerPC G5)

Comment by hiraja...@hotmail.com, Jun 16, 2011

I have a PowerBook? G4 . Will it work? thanks.

Comment by eastvill...@gmail.com, Jul 22, 2011

My machine model says, Power Mac G4, CPU Type PPC G4 (2.9), CPU speed 467 MHz, Bus speed 133 MHz Which TenFourFox? should I install, the 7400? "Davidof"<eastvillagelive@gmail.com>

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Jul 25, 2011

Yes, the 7400 should be the correct one for your system. You can verify this with the Terminal.app steps above.

Comment by bcunni...@gmail.com, Aug 21, 2011

What about people who have a Intel processer but are still running Tiger? Are we just lost in the middle?

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Aug 24, 2011

Intel Macs aren't supported, but you can probably get the G3 version to run in Rosetta (the G3 version does run under Rosetta in 10.5.8 and people use it in that configuration for reasons unknown to me, so I don't see why it wouldn't work in 10.4 or 10.6). However, the configuration is officially unsupported and there will not be an Intel-specific build.

Comment by carrolls...@gmail.com, Oct 15, 2011

Now I'm totally lost. Terminal doesn't seem to be alot of help - I get this:

Last login: Sat Oct 15 11:03:00 on console Welcome to Darwin! [cpe-76-188-7-255:~]

Running a 800 MHz PowerPC (it says here on the "About This Mac" window)

So which version do I need?

Thanks!

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Oct 15, 2011

That's the prompt you type machine at. Judging from the speed, you probably want the 7450 version, but you should try to make sure if possible.

Comment by carrolls...@gmail.com, Oct 17, 2011

Got it -- typing in "machine" got me "pcc 7450" -- thanks!

Comment by Salaxn...@gmail.com, Nov 6, 2011

entering machine got me ppc970. Now what? I have a dual 1.8 powerPC G5

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Nov 6, 2011

All G5s use the G5 version (as do all G3s use the G3 version).

Comment by ecann...@gmail.com, Jan 31, 2012

i got i486 will this work for me?

Comment by project member classi...@floodgap.com, Jan 31, 2012

i486 indicates you are using an Intel or other x86 processor. You can run the browser under Rosetta, but it will be slower, and Intel Macintoshes are not supported (though it will work). If you are able to upgrade to 10.6 and use the regular Firefox, you would be better served.

Comment by Flyer.Ry...@gmail.com, Mar 17, 2012

Did the terminal thing... magic when things work

Comment by dor.le...@gmail.com, May 16, 2012
I have an eMac OS X version10.4.11 processor 1.25 GHz powerPC 4G Memory 768 MB DDR SDRAM

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