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G4 MDD 867 dual -- mega upgrade (help!)

jrko said:
Did you get a SATA Card?

I loaded up a dual 867 with 5 drives on SATA etc etc but wifey has vetoed the project as I have to many projects on the go sucking up too much cash

I have a 4 port SATA card on eBay and could ship internationally if you want
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....16768&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_887wt_1141
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I had the same card in my QS 2002. Ran 3 hard drives on the card. Also updated the firmware for that card too to make it work right in Leopard. But since i dismantled my QS, i sold the card.

Nova77 said:
Oh well, I think I'm in trouble, the only PC I have to flash this card doesn't even have an AGP port ... what the hell??
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Well, that is a bummer. Know anyone with a spare PC laying around? Just need a floppy port and an AGP slot to flash the cards.
 
Last edited:
...or you can try Graphiccelerator under Mac OS X (via VNC or with ATI PCI card installed). Few Nvidia cards can be flashed with it, but TBH my attempt with Ti4400 failed :(
You can always buy cheap AGP equipped motherboard w/ CPU (I guess it can be done for few bucks nowadays - PII or PIII one will be enough).
 
Hi guys, I've just got another logic board (167mhz, won't have to fix the bus speed). It's the 3rd version of the FW400 MDD. Memory and thermal grease on its way, should receive it in a few days.

Which bring me to this question: What do I have to do to fit in a dual 1.42 processor in my logic board. Do I have to up the voltage?
 
Nova77 said:
Which bring me to this question: What do I have to do to fit in a dual 1.42 processor in my logic board. Do I have to up the voltage?
Click to expand...

Replace logic board with this 167 MHz one, install 1.42 CPU with copper heatsink and new termal paste, put in new RAM and that's all.

Messing with CPU voltage is needed only if you play with OC'ing (in fact even not always) .
 
666sheep said:
Replace logic board with this 167 MHz one, install 1.42 CPU with copper heatsink and new termal paste, put in new RAM and that's all.

Messing with CPU voltage is needed only if you play with OC'ing (in fact even not always) .
Click to expand...

I'm new to overclocking... Is it possible to overclock//downclock on the fly? It would be cool to be able to get 1.67ghz and get it back to stock speed when temp is too hot (like in summer). I've heard of dip switches but I really don't know much about it.

Also, will overclocking reduce CPU's life IF its cooled proprely? Would it be the same as a non-overclocked CPU if temperature is exacly the same? (Lets pretend there would be some kickass cooling improvement in there...)
 
Nova77 said:
I'm new to overclocking... Is it possible to overclock//downclock on the fly? It would be cool to be able to get 1.67ghz and get it back to stock speed when temp is too hot (like in summer). I've heard of dip switches but I really don't know much about it.

Also, will overclocking reduce CPU's life IF its cooled proprely? Would it be the same as a non-overclocked CPU if temperature is exacly the same? (Lets pretend there would be some kickass cooling improvement in there...)
Click to expand...

You can reach up to 1.58 GHz without extreme cooling solution. 1.67 requires significant voltage bump so heat increases too. Not only CPU die is affected but also L3 cache chips are.

There was software (by PowerLogix) to OC CPUs "on the fly" but it isn't compatible with all of 74xx chips and it's only for OS X up to 10.4.9 IIRC.

Dip switchining is possible but you have to be well skilled in soldering.

OC'ing surely will shorten CPU's lifespan, first from heat, second from bigger voltage. Proper cooling reduces this risk a bit, but it still remains. But this is the price of the game ;)
 
Ok, I got my ram today. Now I have everything I need to swap CPUs. Hope this will work!

---> I noticed something strange... I've seen everywhere that Mac OS 9 will only see up to 1.5gb ram... is it false?? Look at that...

l.jpg
 
The RAM beyond 1.5GB shows as being used by the system. It is actually not available (to the system or otherwise) under OS 9.
 
Dave H said:
The RAM beyond 1.5GB shows as being used by the system. It is actually not available (to the system or otherwise) under OS 9.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks, thats a good explanation. Is there a way to trick the OS into using all the ram? Or a trick to force enable virtual memory? Just wondering...
 
Ok....... tried the new (used) logic board with 1.42 ghz cpu, computer doesn't boot, fans blow air at full speed... any advice??
 
Nova77 said:
Is there a way to trick the OS into using all the ram? Or a trick to force enable virtual memory? Just wondering...
Click to expand...

OS 9 doesn't allow virtual memory if you have 1GB of RAM or more installed.
One possible exception might be using the "RAM Disk" feature in the memory control panel, to use up the "excess" amount.
AFAIK the RAM disk size in OS 9 is limited to 256MB.
 
Nova77 said:
Ok....... tried the new (used) logic board with 1.42 ghz cpu, computer doesn't boot, fans blow air at full speed... any advice??
Click to expand...

It doesn't recognize CPU, so fans are doing "starting jumbo jet" thing ;)

Possibilities: improperly seated CPU, bent pins in CPU/logic board socket, shot CPU, shot logic board.

Reseat CPU, check pins in socket. If it won't help, test CPU with your FSB 133 logic board. It will run @1.133 GHz (if it's OK OFC).

Are you 101% sure if 1.42 CPU and "new" aren't DOA? I presume you've bought them online. Look for physical damages too.
 
666sheep said:
It doesn't recognize CPU, so fans are doing "starting jumbo jet" thing ;)

Possibilities: improperly seated CPU, bent pins in CPU/logic board socket, shot CPU, shot logic board.

Reseat CPU, check pins in socket. If it won't help, test CPU with your FSB 133 logic board. It will run @1.133 GHz (if it's OK OFC).

Are you 101% sure if 1.42 CPU and "new" aren't DOA? I presume you've bought them online. Look for physical damages too.
Click to expand...

I am 101% sure logic board is working, I tried it with other CPU and it works fine. I tried to reseat CPU and everything... If something is DOA, it's gotta be the 1.42 CPU.
 
666sheep said:
I've had in the past, and raysfan81 has one too. It works without problems. I've tested it with modified (133@167) logic board and with real 167 one too, FW400 and FW800 - no difference.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Thats the clear answer I was looking for. Now I need to find another 1.42 card....
 
666sheep said:
I've had in the past, and raysfan81 has one too. It works without problems. I've tested it with modified (133@167) logic board and with real 167 one too, FW400 and FW800 - no difference.
Click to expand...

Do you have any mods to do to make it work? Or just plug it in....
 
666sheep said:
None. Just remove old CPU, put in new + new paste and run.

Try 1.42 with your 133 MHz logic board - if it won't work - DOA.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but now my new setup is 167 mhz logic board with copper heatsink on old 867 dual cpu (because the damn 1.42 didn't work). I can say even though this is supposed to be overclocked to 1ghz, this thing is the coldest G4 I've ever seen.

If you happen to have a spare 1.42 cpu.... I want it...
 
I would say once my G5 is up and running, i have an OC'ed SP 1.25 to 1.42 MDD CPU that would be up for grabs. Since the single processor can't handle what i want to do for software. Everything i have on my MDD is slow. Hence why i got a G5 to begin with.
 
reddrag0n said:
I would say once my G5 is up and running, i have an OC'ed SP 1.25 to 1.42 MDD CPU that would be up for grabs. Since the single processor can't handle what i want to do for software. Everything i have on my MDD is slow. Hence why i got a G5 to begin with.
Click to expand...

Well..thats why I want a dual one for speed! ;) Two 1.0 basically = my powerbook g4 1.67 ghz... Do the math, I bet a dual 1.42 @ 1.67 + a killer AGP card is better than some G5s.
 
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