Archived - Mac OS X 10.4: iChat system requirements

Summary

In Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, iChat lets you audio conference with up to nine additional people and video conference with up to three additional people.

Here are the system requirements you need to initiate or participate in audio and video chats and conferences in iChat.

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.4, iChat

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.
  • For any audio-only chats, you'll need an iSight or any microphone.
  • For any video conferencing, you'll need a microphone and a camera. What kind of camera? An iSight or any FireWire-based camera, including digital video (DV) camcorders. DV camcorders require a G5 or G4 processor-based Macintosh.

Please note that "any G5" references below mean any G5 processor-based Mac (either single- or dual-processor G5).

Minimum requirements for audio conferencing

To Initiate System required Any G3, G4, G5 or Intel processor 1 GHz G4, dual 800 MHz G4, any G5, any Intel
Bandwidth required 56 Kbps Internet connection (up/down) 128 Kbps Internet connection (up/down)
To Participate System required Any G3, G4, G5 or Intel processor Any G3, G4, G5 or Intel processor
Bandwidth required 56 Kbps dial-up connection 56 Kbps dial-up connection

 

Minimum requirements for 1-to-1 video conferencing

Video resolution (in pixels) 160-by-120 320-by-240 640-by-480
System required 600 MHz G3, any G4, any G5, or any Intel 1.8 GHz G5, 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo 1.83 Intel Core Duo
Bandwidth required 100 Kbps Internet connection (up/down) 500 Kbps Internet connection (up/down) 900 Kbps Internet connection (up/down)

 

Minimum requirements for 4-way video conferencing

Video resolution (in pixels) 80-by-60 160-by-120 320-by-240
To initiate System required Dual 1 GHz G4, any G5, any Intel Dual 1 GHz G4, 1.8 GHz G5, 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo Dual 2 GHz G5, 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo
Bandwidth required 384 Kbps Internet connection (up/down) 600 Kbps Internet connection (up/down) 1500 Kbps Internet connection (up/down)
To participate System required 1 GHz G4, dual 800 MHz G4, any G5, or any Intel 1 GHz G4, dual 800 MHz G4, any G5, 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo Any G5, 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo
Bandwidth required 100 Kbps dial-up connection 200 Kbps dial-up connection 500 Kbps broadband Internet connection

About good, better, and best video modes

Frame rate and video resolution settings are automatically optimized based on your available bandwidth and computer's processing power. There isn't a way to manually jump from one mode to another.

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