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Sparks
User

Posts: 1

Gutting a iMac g4 to upgrade a Power Mac G3 - 2008/08/16 13:48 I am currently working with a iMac G4 with a bad Logic board(Motherboard), so I am currently gutting it to upgrade a Desktop G3, it would cost to much for the owner to replace the logic board. I've already added the Hard disk and the Ram, I tried switching the dvd-r(the G3 only has a dvd/cd-rw), but the G3 will not recognize the drive, I am assuming the drive is bad as well, but I didn't know if there was something i need to do to the G3 to make it work?

Also wanted to know if it was possible to switch the processors? the G3 is only a 400 Mhz and the iMac G4 is a 800Mhz. I rarely work with apples so i'm not sure if the sockets are the same, and not even sure if they are compatible.

I also realize that this next question is a not really possible, but I have to ask just to make sure. Is there any way to take the LCD screen of the iMac and use it as a second monitor. I realize i would propable need the logic board to do this but want to know if anyone knows of any mods.

Is there anything else that I would be able to gut out of the iMac and use for the G3?

Thanks Sparks.

Post edited by: Sparks, at: 2008/08/16 13:50

Post edited by: Sparks, at: 2008/08/16 13:56

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Michael B. in Cincinnati
User

Posts: 10

Re:Gutting a iMac g4 to upgrade a Power Mac G3 - 2008/08/17 08:32 Unfortunately, the mother boards and sockets are different. There are faster aftermarket ZIF (zero insertion force) processors that have been sold for G3 towers, and they occasionally come up for sale on the low end mac swap group on Googlegroups (http://groups.google.com/group/lemswap?hl=en). The other option is of course eBay.

I don't know what to tell you about the dvd-r. Operator Headgap (I have no financial relationship with, yada, yada, yada...) has working pulls of superdrives for $30, which would fit into the G3 chassis, but they only note support for G4's. And if you're running OS9, you will need a 3rd party package like Toast 5 to burn DVD's; there is no facility to do so from within OS9 like there is in OS 10. You might call Operator Headgap and see what they tell you; $30 is a pretty good price.
- Michael B. in Cincinnati

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krowmagnum
User

Posts: 793

Re:Gutting a iMac g4 to upgrade a Power Mac G3 - 2008/08/17 19:29 if the optical drive is not recognized and it's installed correctly it's dead.

You can buy new DVD-R's at OWC (ad on this page) for $30

The G3 ZIF CPU upgrades are still available new on OWC also. 1GHz G3 for $100 last time I looked and some G4 upgrades too The G4 iMac has a completely different CPU, won't work.

The LCD cannot be used without the G4 iMac board. It's still worth a few bucks, sell it on eBay.

I wouldn't spend much on a G3. You can find nice used G4's for less than $100 and will have much better upgrade paths. Upgrading Macs is an expensive solution and usually best to buy a later Mac. If you can find the parts used and cheap it may be worth upgrading, otherwise not.

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stem
User

Posts: 32

Re:Gutting a iMac g4 to upgrade a Power Mac G3 - 2008/08/18 09:46 Agreed on the upgrade path.

I just picked up 2 G4's for $100 each including monitors. 733 MHz, and 1/2 Gig RAM. DVD-R in one, CD-R in the other.

I went with the Lite-on DVD-RW. Depending on the OS, you may need Patchburn.

Stem

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