Powermac g5 without all that liquid cooling mess

[Old Man McGuggins]

Ok, I will cut to the chase. I kinda want to find a Power G5

Do any Power G5 models have air cooling? Can I tell which do without disassembly? I imagine sellers will find it odd if I gut the computer before buying it.

If I can only find a liquid G5, what liquid does it use? How dangerous (to people) is it? What can I also use inside one? I heard it's partially propylene glycol and the rest water, and RV antifreeze (that pink stuff for your RV ) is also partially propylene glycol and the rest water. Let's say I pour some of that in that sucker, what happens? What if I use just water?

I ask because I would get one if I could be certain it doesn't have that time bomb in it. Sick computer. Not so sick thermal system.

 

[Doq]

Only the Dual 2.5, Dual 2.7, and Quad came with liquid coolers. If you don't want to foray into modifying your system, a Dual 2.3 is the highest end G5 that came stock with an air cooler; everything below that also came with air coolers.

 

[Old Man McGuggins]

Only the Dual 2.5, Dual 2.7, and Quad came with liquid coolers. If you don't want to foray into modifying your system, a Dual 2.3 is the highest end G5 that came stock with an air cooler; everything below that also came with air coolers.

How do I tell from the outside? Is it like you look through the door and one has a fan and another has green tubes? Can you see it without poking around for it?

 

[Doq]

How do I tell from the outside? Is it like you look through the door and one has a fan and another has green tubes? Can you see it without poking around for it?

You can check the specs of a G5 by opening the side panel and looking over the sticker at the bottom.

I believe there is also a difference in the cooler shroud between the liquid and air coolers, but I can't remember specifically what.

 

[ifrit05]

I have both a older DP 2.0 system and a newer DC 2.3 system, both fan cooled. The 2.3 system runs extremely cooler than the older DP model (which I assume is due to a smaller/shrunk die size). It's really not worth it to get the 2xDP/water cooled systems as yes, the water cooling system has/will fail at some point due to age.

 

[Old Man McGuggins]

You can check the specs of a G5 by opening the side panel and looking over the sticker at the bottom.
View attachment 2224899

I believe there is also a difference in the cooler shroud between the liquid and air coolers, but I can't remember specifically what.

Pfft. Wasn't thinking. I'm dumb.

It's really not worth it to get the 2xDP/water cooled systems as yes, the water cooling system has/will fail at some point due to age.

I'd assume it'd collapse now, my radiator in my car blows its lines every once in a while as it is and that's a car, but maybe I just need a new car that isn't from 2003.

 

[bkmoore773]

Any G5 that's 2.5 GHz or faster is liquid cooled in stock configuration. It is possible to mod some to air cooling, with various degrees of success. It's also possible to upgrade some air-cooled G5s with the higher-performance CPU out of a liquid cooled model, provided the motherboard has the same revision. I'm writing this on my DualCore 2.5, originally a 2.3 Dual Core. CPU swap was plug and play.

I also have a liquid-cooled G5 Quad and applied the "New-Blood Mod". It boots, but one of the CPUs overheats after a few minutes of normal use. Initially I thought one of the pumps had failed, but after some trouble shooting, determined both pumps are working. The problem seems to be the radiator isn't doing a good job cooling the fluid, so the fluid just gets hotter and hotter as it runs. I think cleaning the radiator in an ultrasonic cleaner would fix it, but am short on cash to buy an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[Mackeyfound]

How do I tell from the outside? Is it like you look through the door and one has a fan and another has green tubes? Can you see it without poking around for it?

Yes and no. You can't see it from the outside (besides that there are some changes over time with several models on the back). Just ask if they open up the G5 and let them make a picture of the sticker at the bottom. There is the config information of the G5. See picture.

 

[Mackeyfound]

Any G5 that's 2.5 GHz or faster is liquid cooled in stock configuration. It is possible to mod some to air cooling, with various degrees of success. It's also possible to upgrade some air-cooled G5s with the higher-performance CPU out of a liquid cooled model, provided the motherboard has the same revision. I'm writing this on my DualCore 2.5, originally a 2.3 Dual Core. CPU swap was plug and play.

I also have a liquid-cooled G5 Quad and applied the "New-Blood Mod". It boots, but one of the CPUs overheats after a few minutes of normal use. Initially I thought one of the pumps had failed, but after some trouble shooting, determined both pumps are working. The problem seems to be the radiator isn't doing a good job cooling the fluid, so the fluid just gets hotter and hotter as it runs. I think cleaning the radiator in an ultrasonic cleaner would fix it, but am short on cash to buy an ultrasonic cleaner.

I also own a Quad G5 with the same problem. I think the thermal paste is EOL and I will make it a winter project to clean and fix my Quad G5. Then looking for the ultimate videocard and some RAM to max out. If people like it I can make notes of the progress. I am using Sorbet Leopard.

 

[originaldotexe]

I have both a older DP 2.0 system and a newer DC 2.3 system, both fan cooled. The 2.3 system runs extremely cooler than the older DP model (which I assume is due to a smaller/shrunk die size). It's really not worth it to get the 2xDP/water cooled systems as yes, the water cooling system has/will fail at some point due to age.

i have the quad, mine is quite beat up, literally crooked from being bashed around in shipping but the liquid cooler is still going strong. i do plan to rebuild it eventually

 

[micahgartman]

The best way to tell if it's a liquid cooled model is to open the door and see this:

 

[micahgartman]

↑↑↑ It's yours if you want it. It's currently being used as a shelf in my garage. It's a Dual 2.5—serial no. G85157B1QPS