Feeler/FS: iBook G3 12" w/ Busted LB

[barr08]

Hey guys,

I just want to feel around out there. I have an iBook G3 with a busted logic board, and I wanted to see what people might offer, or what you might have gotten in the past for a machine with similar specs.

G3 800 MHz
12"
30 gig HD
Airport Card
384 ram

Everything is in pretty good condition. It probably works half the time. Comes with a nice case.

I'll entertain trades too. A working laptop may be too much to ask, btu I'll just throw it out there anyway.

Edit: This is now FS, my best current offer is $125 shipped to Canada.

However, I would rather send it to someone to fix it up. I wouild do it myself, but I do not really have the patience or the expertise. There are a few walkthroughs and methods on the interweb. I would prefer not to pay any more than $50 for this service, including shipping. This is explained more thouroughly in post 7.

[shu82]

You would make more money parting it out. I have bought these on ebay for around 100 with an airport card. I would ebay the airport and sell the rest.

Ill offer 100 shipped with the card or 60 shipped without.

You could make 50 on the airport alone after fees/shipping if your lucky and hit on a good day.

Edit: There is one exactly like yours on ebay right now but with a 512 stick instead of your 256 for 150 shipped. Just to show honesty of pricing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/800Mhz-G3-640MB-30GB-AP-Card-LOGICBOARD-PROBLEM_W0QQitemZ280137527962QQihZ018QQcategoryZ80050QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[barr08]

This is now for sale, or up for being repaired. Check the OP.
I'll add pics at request.

[techound1]

I'm a little confused by your repair comment - I'll post what I think you're asking about and you can slap me if I'm totally not understanding. :eek::):)

A logic board for an 800 g3 will run you in the neighborhood of $200 for the board alone. Replacing it is a total tear-down of the machine, which is more than a couple of hours of labor for an experienced tech. I expect you might have a hard time finding someone to do it for $50.

[SuperCompu2]

I'm a little confused by your repair comment - I'll post what I think you're asking about and you can slap me if I'm totally not understanding. :eek::):)

A logic board for an 800 g3 will run you in the neighborhood of $200 for the board alone. Replacing it is a total tear-down of the machine, which is more than a couple of hours of labor for an experienced tech. I expect you might have a hard time finding someone to do it for $50.


I agree with techound, plus any logic board transplant is a risky operation in itself. I've done two on Thinkpads and had the first replacement board turn out to be dead like the original. Getting a guaranteed working one from a reputable business will likely run you above 200.

Not to mention potentially paying someone to steal your iBook in a worst case scenario. I mean, I would do the repair for you, but it'd probably be (especially with shipping included) more along the lines of $100

[MacDann]

If you follow trends on eBay, the AirPort card is worth closer to $75-$90 plus shipping and handling.

I would agree, I can't see the value in paying someone to repair it. It will net you more parted out. In general terms, here is what I can see you getting for parts, based on eBay rates:

AirPort card: $80
Keyboard: $20
Optical drive: $20
LCD: $50?
RAM: $25 (I'm assuming you have a 256M stick in it)

You might even get a few bucks for the case, battery and hard drive, bringing the total to roughly $200 or more, depending on the market.

I'm looking for an optical drive for one of these - if yours is good, I would offer you $25 + shipping.

MacDann

[barr08]

The repair I'm talking about is one of two things:

1) Melt something on the logic board (http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/726/diy-obsolete-ibook-logic-board-repair)
I am not very techical, and I didn't read this, but a little less than a year ago I payed someone here on MR to do this to my computer. It came back and worked for a few months, but it is spotty again. I paid $75, which is reasonable. I am wondering if someone knows how to do this, and is willing to do this for less than $75.

2)Wedge something up in there (http://coreyarnold.org/ibook/?p=20)
This is the same idea, but no fire. Again, I am not technical enough to do this, but would pay someone to give it a shot.

Both of these fixes require no new logic board. As you so kindly noted, they are very expensive, and not really worth it to me. $50, however, is well worth it to me.

I have no need for this computer, but I wouldn't mind shelling out a reasonable price to see it up and running again. This is the computer that sparked my obsession with everything apple. It means a lot. Plus, it wouldn't hurt having a walk around computer again. That being said, there is little risk to me, as it is just collecting dust where it is.

As for parting it out. I don't have the time or patience. I would rather just sell it outright, or get it fixed. I might sell the airport card seperately, but only because it is easy to remove, and they tend to sell quickly.

I think what I am doing here is just throwing it out there, giving everyone a number of options for a mutually beneficial deal, and just seeing what nibbles on the line.

[California]

I'll do 135. Let me know Ann in Los Angeles

[shu82]

I would try the shims again. These fixes are not permanent. I have one I have to throw an extra shim every now and then and tighten the case back up. I did that about 3 months ago and it still works ok. It doesn't mean I wont have to fix it again.

Its not that hard to take off the back case, throw a cig box folded once onto the graphics chip, and tighten it back down again. Takes 20 minutes. Thats what I do.

[barr08]

I would try the shims again. These fixes are not permanent. I have one I have to throw an extra shim every now and then and tighten the case back up. I did that about 3 months ago and it still works ok. It doesn't mean I wont have to fix it again.

Its not that hard to take off the back case, throw a cig box folded once onto the graphics chip, and tighten it back down again. Takes 20 minutes. Thats what I do.

I would love to do this, I just can't find a really good idiot-proof walkthrough. Again, my technical knowledge of what goes on inside a computer is limited.

[shu82]

ifixit.com is how I learned how to take it apart. Just Google ibook g3 graphics chip fix. Something will come up to show you what chip it is. Just from memory its on the right hand side when you have it upside down. I think it should say Nvidea on it.

[aquajet]

I would love to do this, I just can't find a really good idiot-proof walkthrough. Again, my technical knowledge of what goes on inside a computer is limited.

As mentioned, ifixit.com has useful guides you could use. Why not give it a shot? It's broken anyways, so you've nothing to lose.

I've done business with First Phase Tech (link (http://cgi.ebay.com/APPLE-IBOOK-VIDEO-REPAIR-RE-SOLDER-ATI-Video-Chip_W0QQitemZ260129421241QQihZ016QQcategoryZ193QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem)) to fix the faulty video chip. They've got specialized equipment to properly reflow the solder and their $50 fee to fix the logicboard is pretty reasonable. If you're feeling adventurous, you could take it apart yourself and send the logicboard away to have it repaired, and then reasseble it yourself. It wouldn't cost much, and the repair would be done properly.