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swordbreaker55
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Posts: 102

Re:How to optimize 1Ghz PowerPC g4? - 2008/02/21 16:27 Actually, the 1 GHz model changed from the original models with respect to RAM.

Your particular model requires Double Data Rate (DDR) memory of PC2700 or greater clock speed.

Both slots are accessible, but the one holding the standard 184-pin DIMM is intended to be unsealed by a tech.

If you're going to try to max that machine out, you'll need a good Torx screwdriver as well as a Philips screwdriver, not to mention some quality thermal grease.

The process involves removing the entire lower base by removing the screws that secure it to the rest of the machine, and then unlocking the cleverly hidden tabs around the base frame. Some take-apart guides (most notably MacWorld's) would have you unplugging internal cables, thereby completely detaching the base. With sufficient skill, this may not be necessary; simply remove the DIMM from the socket as you would normally. Upgrade the module as desired.

When reseating the base, you will need to apply a thin ring of thermal grease to effectively replace the broken thermal seal. With this done, close the iMac

Nate

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krowmagnum
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Posts: 794

Re:How to optimize 1Ghz PowerPC g4? - 2008/02/21 17:18 That sounds like a pain to for an additional 256MB of RAM.

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swordbreaker55
User

Posts: 102

Re:How to optimize 1Ghz PowerPC g4? - 2008/02/21 18:42 Sounds painful, yes. Looks painful, certainly. It's not for the uninitiated.

This guy may need the full gig if he jumps into Leopard. He could get by with 768 MB in Panther or Tiger provided the lower slot was empty. It usually is.

The full three-page dissection guide can be found here .

I had a buddy of mine do this for a client who wanted Tiger on her 800 MHz lampshade. This thing already had 768MB, mind you. He pulled it apart and put it together in 10 minutes. I was thinking he'd have to yank the base off as in the guide, but he wedged the upgrade in without much fuss.

Whether our friend will be as brave, I can't say.

Nate

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krowmagnum
User

Posts: 794

Re:How to optimize 1Ghz PowerPC g4? - 2008/02/21 22:52 If it were mine I would probably upgrade to the full 1GB of RAM but I'm a glutton for punishment and have the urge to squeeze everything I can out of my Macs. Although budget can be a factor too. My G4 has two 512MB and a 256MB stick of RAM and to max it out at 1.5GHz I have to buy a 512MB stick for an additional 256MB of total RAM. To me that's not cost effective and 1.25GB of RAM seems more than sufficient for my needs.

I miss the old Macs that had lots of RAM slots, but RAM was much more expensive then so that wasn't always a blessing either.

The original poster has been running Panther on 256MB of RAM which would be unbearable to me, and has become a problem on the iMac. The bottom slot should be empty (unless someone has been playing with the insides already) so another 512MB stick would be a nice improvement without much trouble at all. Another 256MB would probably solve the problems but 768 give a nice buffer to play with just in case. In my experience 512MB is more than most people need or are even used to having in older computers. I see a lot of Macs and Peecees running fairly current OS's on 256MB of RAM. It's all in what you are used to I guess.

And it's what came in the machine new. With Peecees most people don't keep them long enough to upgrade anyway. By the time an upgrade is needed they just buy a new computer with more power and RAM.

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