G4 MDD Rebuild / Problems / Parts (Prototypes too)

[bobnugget]

Hi, I'm clearing out the loft as lockdowns continue and finally got around to putting some old boards I have into cases to get them up and running. Sorting a G4 MDD prototype out at the moment and I (unfortunately!?!) managed to acquire a job-lot of G4 MDDs. I've got 4 (!) donor machines to play with and they are all some kind of dead.

Machine 1: 1.25 DP FW800 - this boots, but appears to have trouble addressing RAM in slots 0/1 - if you have DIMMs in there the chime is garbled and usually results in memory errors straight after. If not, the memory isn't recognised (same DIMMs work + boot if in slot 2/3). Turns out all the RAM the machines came with was bad. This runs fine with 4 crucial DIMMs in it. Boots to installer, but I've discovered that both my IDE drives are dead so far . I think the prototype will be going into this one.

Machine 2: 867 Mhz DP - dead NVidia, Combo. Works with RAM + ATI from #3. PCI slot 4 damaged, might be repairable.

Machine 3: 1 Ghz DP - ATI Radeon 9000 64MB, Combo, AirPort - works perfectly. This one will be up for grabs barebones (no drives/RAM).

Machine 4: 867 Mhz DP - doesn't boot, no PSU. Internally case-modded with extra fans, and it had a maxell bomb in it. Scrapping this: Case has been modded, no PSU, CPU + Mobo that don't fully boot, rest has gone in other machines

Prototype Boards: 1.4 GHz FW800 (P58B DVT2 - couple of pics below)

So, my first question is - are the unrecognised memory DIMMs a known issue?

(Had originally asked if they were fussy with RAM, but this thread seems to have some good advice 👍 https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/compatible-ram-for-power-mac-g4-mdd.2280334/ )

I've ordered 4x 512 MB PC3200 Micron DIMMs, which should work on these machines, and a couple of SATA cards.

If you're in the UK and want any G4 MDDs or parts, PM me - I did stick a marketplace post out a month or so ago when I got the machines.

 

[reddrag0n]

sent you a PM

 

[bobnugget]

Think I’ve progressed with the job lot as much as I can before I start testing the prototype parts out (ad updated in marketplace).

next steps - have 8x 512 MB Micron DIMMs arriving on Saturday and then I also have a couple of SiL3112 cards.
unpacked the proto boards and custom (I think) copper heat sink ready to go into the 1.25 case. I will clean the contacts on the 1.25 board to see if it will address 4 known spec DIMMs before taking it out!

The 3112s need a PC to flash them, wiebetech flasher didn’t like the ROM type, so will sort that too.

 

[jeffmr4]

Not sure where you are getting your SiL3112 cards from but there are some on eBay that I've bought that didn't require flashing (I thought they were Mac card?).

4 Port SATA PCI Card for Apple Macintosh Mac OS PowerMac G4 SSD | eBay

This is for a new 4 port SATA card for a PowerMac G4. It adds 4 SATA ports to most PowerMac G4 models. Supported models include all versions of the "Mirror Drive Doors", "Gigabit", "AGP", and "PCI" models.It should also work in a blue & white G3, and the first generation G5 with PCI.

www.ebay.com

 

[bobnugget]

Not sure where you are getting your SiL3112 cards from but there are some on eBay that I've bought that didn't require flashing (I thought they were Mac card?).

4 Port SATA PCI Card for Apple Macintosh Mac OS PowerMac G4 SSD | eBay

This is for a new 4 port SATA card for a PowerMac G4. It adds 4 SATA ports to most PowerMac G4 models. Supported models include all versions of the "Mirror Drive Doors", "Gigabit", "AGP", and "PCI" models.It should also work in a blue & white G3, and the first generation G5 with PCI.

www.ebay.com

I cheaped out and got these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Channe...-/333655152264?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

They arrive in a PCI Express SATA box but are the real deal. Will flash them at work either tomorrow or Monday as I need to go to the office. I have a super old dell P2 system in a cupboard there

 

[bobnugget]

SIL3112 cards appeared to flash well yesterday; and also received 9 512 MB Micron DIMMs to test/use in the systems.
SSD will hopefully be arriving tomorrow.

 

[bobnugget]

SSDs took a while longer to arrive. I've managed to test half the bits today. Good news is that the 1.25 DP machine is fine; the RAM was bad. Just got it running with 2 GB RAM, a Radeon 9000 and an Intel 320 SSD. I forgot how "snappy" these machines were (even before the SSD was in it!)

 

[ervus]

Thanks for posting your progress. What is the story with the prototype parts? They came separated from an enclosure? I'm not very knowledgeable about the MDD. Is the prototype older than the working machines you have and you want to see if it fits/works? What heat sink(s) do you have? I've seen threads on here where people talk about different versions of the heat sink too.

 

[bobnugget]

Thanks for posting your progress. What is the story with the prototype parts? They came separated from an enclosure? I'm not very knowledgeable about the MDD. Is the prototype older than the working machines you have and you want to see if it fits/works? What heat sink(s) do you have? I've seen threads on here where people talk about different versions of the heat sink too.

Hiya, I picked them up from a recycler a long time ago and what with being locked down for most of a year have only just got around to putting them to use.

I asked the recycler at the time and he said they came in a smashed MDD case with a custom copper heat sink. I'll be rebuilding it after work today; took the decent 1.25 DP board and CPU out at lunch time.

Pretty sure it's a prototype of the 1.42 DP copper heat sink; it has no markings.

 

[bobnugget]

Here's some better pics of the fun stuff

 

[bobnugget]

Ah these are a joy to work on

 

[ervus]

That's neat; thanks for the pictures! It looks like the parts survived being smashed.

 

[bobnugget]

So, yes, got it running earlier (screenshot is from Tiger that I installed using the 1.25 boards at lunch running on the DVT boards).

is Revision 3.3 standard for a 7455? Also, is that a pre release bootrom? I couldn’t find a reference for FW800 bootroms after a quick search.