Rebuild of iMac G5

[S.B.G]

I put the matching part number Crucial RAM module in and it's acting up like it did with the OWC RAM.

The very first time I booted after installation, I reset the PRAM/NVRAM and then it booted to the desktop. I verified the RAM modules in System Profiler and they matched and were "good". I launched Activity Monitor and the 2GB registered there as well and I have 1.69GB free.

I launched SimCity 4 to see how much better the gameplay would be and the computer locked up at the Maxis screen.

I've had to use the power button to restart it every time now and the farthest it's gotten is the desktop with no mouse or keyboard functions - locked up. That happend twice, and about three times now it only gets to the gray Apple screen and the spinning wheel either goes continuously or freezes.

I've reset the PRAM a second time and that had no affect. MacTracker verifies that this model can accept 2GB of RAM. While it has 1GB in it, it runs fine and hasn't locked up once.

Does anyone have any ideas of what else to try?

 

[iDutchman]

I put the matching part number Crucial RAM module in and it's acting up like it did with the OWC RAM.

The very first time I booted after installation, I reset the PRAM/NVRAM and then it booted to the desktop. I verified the RAM modules in System Profiler and they matched and were "good". I launched Activity Monitor and the 2GB registered there as well and I have 1.69GB free.

I launched SimCity 4 to see how much better the gameplay would be and the computer locked up at the Maxis screen.

I've had to use the power button to restart it every time now and the farthest it's gotten is the desktop with no mouse or keyboard functions - locked up. That happend twice, and about three times now it only gets to the gray Apple screen and the spinning wheel either goes continuously or freezes.

I've reset the PRAM a second time and that had no affect. MacTracker verifies that this model can accept 2GB of RAM. While it has 1GB in it, it runs fine and hasn't locked up once.

Does anyone have any ideas of what else to try?

Makes me think the second RAM slot is faulty? Or wasn't it empty before?

You might want to run "Rember" which is a great software to benchmark/stesstest the RAM Modules. If the RAM slot is faulty, it will fail the test.

 

[S.B.G]

Makes me think the second RAM slot is faulty? Or wasn't it empty before?

You might want to run "Rember" which is a great software to benchmark/stesstest the RAM Modules. If the RAM slot is faulty, it will fail the test.

That's my fear. The second slot was empty prior to adding the second module. I want to run the memory test, but haven't been able to get back to a working environment to do it.

Later when I get home, I will swap the modules in the slot and try again, plus take the old one out and use only the new one to see what happens.

 

[iDutchman]

That's my fear. The second slot was empty prior to adding the second module. I want to run the memory test, but haven't been able to get back to a working environment to do it.

Later when I get home, I will swap the modules in the slot and try again, plus take the old one out and use only the new one to see what happens.

That's a bummer. Also not while booting in safe mode (hold shift at bootup)? This usually works while regular booting is a problem.

my iMac G5 iSight model won't boot anymore and kernel panics at everything. It's officially over for this machine. I fear for leaking capacitors on the logic board. I checked the Power Supply, no issues. I won't take the whole board out just yet since this is , in contrast to non-isight models, kind of a hassle. I also can't just pop of the back and check for capacitors.

Unfortunate, it's such a gorgeous machine (scratchless, had it for years <- though retired for a long time)

edit: I did find myself an old Apple Care Protection Plan CD with TechTool Deluxe on it, so I can now try to run a diagnostics test on the iMac.

 

[S.B.G]

RAM Testing

Today I tested both DIMM slots and both RAM modules. It has two 1GB Crucial RAM modules; an old one - not OEM, and a new one I bought last week.

I used the RAM tester memtest.

Configurations:

DIMM slot #0, Old RAM Module: Passed
DIMM slot #1, Empty

DIMM slot #0, Empty
DIMM slot #1, Old RAM module: Passed

DIMM slot #0, New RAM module: Passed
DIMM slot #1, Empty

DIMM slot #0, Empty
DIMM slot #1, New RAM module: Passed

DIMM slot #0, Old RAM module: Kernel Panic
DIMM slot #1, New RAM module: Kernel Panic

DIMM slot #0, New RAM module: Kernel Panic
DIMM slot #1, Old RAM module: Kernel Panic

It appears that both DIMM slots are good and both RAM modules are good. However when both RAM modules are together, the computer locks up every time. When only one is installed, regardless of old, new or DIMM slot, the computer runs just fine.

I ordered the same part number from Crucial as what was on the label of the old module, but it was ever so slightly different when it arrived.

Old RAM module: CT12864Z40B.E16TY

New RAM module: CT12864Z40B.M16TFY

Does anyone know what the difference between these two modules are? What doe the 'E' on the old one mean and what does the 'M' on the new one mean?

I'm thinking I will order another module that matches the new one I bought a week ago.

 

[666sheep]

Does anyone know what the difference between these two modules are? What doe the 'E' on the old one mean and what does the 'M' on the new one mean?

Difference is revision. Specs-wise they're exactly that same: 16 chips (low density) 128x64 DDR400 1GB CL3 dual rank.

Why does it KP IMO with both installed: iMac tries to enable dual channel (128bit data path – yes, it supports it) because sticks are that same. But they're not matched pair what is a must for dual channel functioning. Crucial staff on their forum should confirm that. You may try to ask them.

 

[S.B.G]

Would my pressing reorder in my Crucial order page, purchasing the same thing I did last week work for getting matched modules? Because I just did that.

Or do I have to place an order for two modules at the same time?

 

[ickystay]

I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties. I have the same computer. I bought it off craigslist with 1 stick of 1GB of ram. I bought another 1GB stick off ebay. The second stick was way different looking. It has a big metal heat sink attached. Fortunately, it fit in the slot and the computer sees it and works fine.

I have no idea why yours is acting so persnickety.

 

[iDutchman]

I might be off here, but those are mobile DIMMs? The iMac G5 uses 184-pin larger DIMMS, right?

To make sure you have the absolute correct RAM, just buy from OWC. Here, you select your iMac model and the required RAM follows accordingly.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/G5_1.6GHz_1.8GHz_2.0GHz

Anyways, good luck.

 

[S.B.G]

I might be off here, but those are mobile DIMMs? The iMac G5 uses 184-pin larger DIMMS, right?

To make sure you have the absolute correct RAM, just buy from OWC. Here, you select your iMac model and the required RAM follows accordingly.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/G5_1.6GHz_1.8GHz_2.0GHz

Anyways, good luck.

They're not mobile DIMM's. if they were, they wouldn't fit and I wouldn't have been able start the computer, let alone do RAM testing. I only took a photo of half the module, with the sticker on it.

Somewhere earlier in this thread I had bought the second module from OWC, and had the same problems I'm having now. I returned it to them and ordered the Crucial module since it already had one.

I have another Crucial module on its way now, hopefully it'll be matched and things will work properly.

 

[iDutchman]

They're not mobile DIMM's. if they were, they wouldn't fit and I wouldn't have been able start the computer, let alone do RAM testing. I only took a photo of half the module, with the sticker on it.

Somewhere earlier in this thread I had bought the second module from OWC, and had the same problems I'm having now. I returned it to them and ordered the Crucial module since it already had one.

I have another Crucial module on its way now, hopefully it'll be matched and things will work properly.

Ah right, it was too early in the morning, eh? 7.15 AM GMT +1 time.

Now I see those are only the half of the modules..

good luck.

 

[S.B.G]

The second RAM module arrived today and I've installed it along with the other module that I recently ordered of the same part number. I've started it up and began the RAM testing and it's about finished with it's second round of testing and so far it's passed and not locked up once.

I think - I hope - this solves the RAM issues. I'll use it for a while, play SimCity on it and see how it goes. If it runs as I expect it to, I'll continue on with the rebuild.

The next items to replace are the fans because I'm tired of listening to the high-pitched whirr they're making.

 

[iDutchman]

So, I inserted the hardware test CD into the iMac G5 20" iSight. A no go..

BUT, I managed to get an OSX Tiger working and managed to install Tiger onto the newly partioned HD!

However, a kernel panic at the following boot up (during the initial start up video)..

 

[S.B.G]

I ordered the 17" iMac G5 (2) Upper Fan Kit for the G5 iMac I have been slowly rebuilding.

One or both of the current fans bearings are going and making a high-pitched squeal and its bothersome. This website claims these fans are original Apple parts and unopened, so I hope that solves the noise issue.

Next up after this will be a new display. I found a place that sells replacement displays for $40! I hope its for real but still need to vet the site and part. The display on this G5 works, but due to its age, it's quite dim.

 

[macgeek88]

Nice rebuild (so far)....

I have a first gen iMac G5. New logic board, 2GB Ram maxed out, 750GB HD, 10.5.8. Not exactly the fastest computer but it works well for file server. This is the longest I've had a Mac ever last. Granted, I put new guts in it but honestly haven't dreamed of using a 2005 computer in 2013.

 

[S.B.G]

Nice rebuild (so far)....

I have a first gen iMac G5. New logic board, 2GB Ram maxed out, 750GB HD, 10.5.8. Not exactly the fastest computer but it works well for file server. This is the longest I've had a Mac ever last. Granted, I put new guts in it but honestly haven't dreamed of using a 2005 computer in 2013.

Thanks. Though when I'm done with it, I have no idea what I'm going to do with it!

 

[macgeek88]

Thanks. Though when I'm done with it, I have no idea what I'm going to do with it!

Haha. I personally don't feel G5s are useless yet. I still see plenty of good uses. Mine is a file and iTunes server.

 

[ickystay]

I thought these iMacs had fan whine right out of the box. It will be interesting to see how quiet your new fans will be.

 

[S.B.G]

I thought these iMacs had fan whine right out of the box. It will be interesting to see how quiet your new fans will be.

Is that right? I sure hope not! Maybe these replacement fans won't do that.

 

[Dambuster43]

Power PC Mac G5

I have a Power Pc G5. 2005/2006 its had little use and is pristine condition. I advertised it in Gumtree ( Australia) - the only interest was a guy offering to dispose of it for free!

 

[S.B.G]

I just received an email from the company I ordered the fans from, telling me that they're really sorry, but they don't have these parts 'as new' as advertised online when I purchased them.

Originally, I paid them $67 (including shipping) which was way too much in my opinion but I did it anyway. With the email today they offered me a used set of fans for $49.95. I politely responded by thanking them for the email notice but that for a used product and the fact of being notified two full business days after the order was placed, that $49.95 was too much. I counter-offered with a price of $25 instead. They countered with $29.95 which I gladly accepted.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I have a Power Pc G5. 2005/2006 its had little use and is pristine condition. I advertised it in Gumtree ( Australia) - the only interest was a guy offering to dispose of it for free!

He wasn't going to dispose it. He was going to rip you off and try selling it himself.

Nice going on those fans! I wouldn't have paid that price either. I even got away with just one in my MacBook Pro for a year, heh.

 

[S.B.G]

He wasn't going to dispose it. He was going to rip you off and try selling it himself.

Nice going on those fans! I wouldn't have paid that price either. I even got away with just one in my MacBook Pro for a year, heh.

I certainly wasn't going to pay full price for used equipment. I thought the price of it as advertised as 'new' was too high.

UPS tracking advises that they should arrive on Tuesday.

 

[S.B.G]

The fans just arrived. They're certainly used alright. I used a can of compressed air to blow out the dust from the larger fan. It was a significant amount too for the size of it.

I hope these are better than what's in there. I'll find out in a few hours when I'm home.

 

[S.B.G]

If I recall correctly, there is a spot for a WiFi card inside my G5. Can I buy one to put in there and enable WiFi on it? If so, where is a good place to get one?