It's been a while since I've made any dedicated threads about my machines, as they've been on the backburner ever since my racing hobby started. This year is finally a pretty dead year, so I've had lots of opportunities to finally dig into the meat and bones of my current PPC machines and do what I can for them. My motivation has finally come back now that I have a dedicate file server set up for them on an early intel Mac, that I can VNC into in leopard and control over the wire!
As a quick note, I'm sure most of this is common knowledge already, and for the veterans here, if I messed anything up, please correct me! This was a learning process for sure as I'm fairly familiar with PCs, but this was my first time tearing into a G5. I just wanted to share my journey tearing my specific machine apart.
Now for what I'm here for, my G5. It's an early 05 Dual 2Ghz model I acquired a few years ago from my video tech teacher in HS, with the factory config of 2GB ram 400GB (I think) HDD, and a 6800 Ultra DD. Certainly a unicorn spec IMO for what was a base model G5 in Early 2005. I finally decided it was time for a repaste, while the CPUs themselves weren't burning alive the fans were ramping up very aggressively, and given how little this machine has been touched, I figured it was time. I read through AphoticD's teardown thread to get an idea of what I was going to need to do, and I'm going to include some extra info and pics I learned along the way that I didn't really see mentioned anywhere obvious.
This was all done with a basic smal screwdriver+bit kit from harbor freight, I used a PH1, 2.5MM Hex, and a PH000 bit for the tiny screws on the GPU cover plate
First off was removing the Aluminum "G5" Beauty cover, I chose to push the plastic pin all the way through rather than try and extract is, as that was easiest. I didn't know that you needed to push down on the cover and slide it towards the front with the palm of your hand, ans I couldn't really see into the side of it to figure it out
Great Success!
Next was actually getting into the meat and potatoes. I used a 2.5mm Hex bit to remove the CPUs from their home, and finally got to stare at just how much aluminum Apple really threw at these things.
I took great care to not touch or otherwise handle these anywhere near the CPU connectors
Now here's a something I haven't seen mentioned in AphoticD's thread, is the little aluminum clips holding the smaller heatsink to the larger ones. You get the CPU partially unscrewed from the heatsink, and that gives you enough room to push down on it and unclip it from the fins.
These are the 2 tabs you need to push down.
Finally I have the CPU free from the heatsink and I can really admire the little furnaces Apple graced the world with.
The CPU die all cleaned up
I chose to use Arctic MX-7 thermal paste for my job, as it's what I have on hand from many PC builds and I'm always very satisfied with it.
A little drop of MX-7 goes a long ways
With both CPUs repasted, it was time to give my old 6800 Ultra a little love too. This card has tons of different screws you need to remove to fully disassemble it, but it's worth it
First look with the cover popped off, pretty dusty!
Here's the back of the card. To be able to properly remove everything you need to remove the giant metal bracket, as it covers one of the screws for the plastic shroud
All the screws you need to remove, just for the GPU!
Some pictures with the heat sinks pulled off. Pretty crusty paste.
I cleaned up the die and VRAM chips with some isopropyl alcohol, I learned the best way to get the old gunk off the vram was small circular movements.
My 6800... GT? All cleaned up. I'm not sure the difference between the GT and Ultra, if anyone could point it out I'd really appreciate it
Some Arctic MX-7 and new 1mm thermal pads on the vram and we were off to the races.
Ole beauty all reassembled.
Now, here's where I made a mistake. I was in a position where I could've easily taken out the PSU and cleaned it, yet I chose not to. I'll be needing to go back in there and clean it, as I realized afterwards the case surrounding it is quite hot and nearly burning to the touch. Reassembly went well, I referred to my pictures to make sure the CPUs went back in the same slot I pulled them out of (by referring to the part number sticker on each one to figure out which was CPU A and B). After running some quick tests (360p youtube on PowerFox, which is amazing on this machine, and Minecraft PPC Edition using my iMac as a server). I think I can say it's definitely improved, it still has high idle temps (low 60s), but it manages temperatures much better and doesn't ramp up the fans nearly as aggressively. I'll call that a win for now! I'm currently taking a break and letting the machine cool down so I can go back in really quickly and pull out the PSU to clean it. I'll keep everyone updated on progress, hopefully you enjoyed the thread!
As a quick note, I'm sure most of this is common knowledge already, and for the veterans here, if I messed anything up, please correct me! This was a learning process for sure as I'm fairly familiar with PCs, but this was my first time tearing into a G5. I just wanted to share my journey tearing my specific machine apart.
Now for what I'm here for, my G5. It's an early 05 Dual 2Ghz model I acquired a few years ago from my video tech teacher in HS, with the factory config of 2GB ram 400GB (I think) HDD, and a 6800 Ultra DD. Certainly a unicorn spec IMO for what was a base model G5 in Early 2005. I finally decided it was time for a repaste, while the CPUs themselves weren't burning alive the fans were ramping up very aggressively, and given how little this machine has been touched, I figured it was time. I read through AphoticD's teardown thread to get an idea of what I was going to need to do, and I'm going to include some extra info and pics I learned along the way that I didn't really see mentioned anywhere obvious.
This was all done with a basic smal screwdriver+bit kit from harbor freight, I used a PH1, 2.5MM Hex, and a PH000 bit for the tiny screws on the GPU cover plate
First off was removing the Aluminum "G5" Beauty cover, I chose to push the plastic pin all the way through rather than try and extract is, as that was easiest. I didn't know that you needed to push down on the cover and slide it towards the front with the palm of your hand, ans I couldn't really see into the side of it to figure it out
Next was actually getting into the meat and potatoes. I used a 2.5mm Hex bit to remove the CPUs from their home, and finally got to stare at just how much aluminum Apple really threw at these things.
I took great care to not touch or otherwise handle these anywhere near the CPU connectors
Now here's a something I haven't seen mentioned in AphoticD's thread, is the little aluminum clips holding the smaller heatsink to the larger ones. You get the CPU partially unscrewed from the heatsink, and that gives you enough room to push down on it and unclip it from the fins.
Finally I have the CPU free from the heatsink and I can really admire the little furnaces Apple graced the world with.
I chose to use Arctic MX-7 thermal paste for my job, as it's what I have on hand from many PC builds and I'm always very satisfied with it.
With both CPUs repasted, it was time to give my old 6800 Ultra a little love too. This card has tons of different screws you need to remove to fully disassemble it, but it's worth it
Some pictures with the heat sinks pulled off. Pretty crusty paste.
I cleaned up the die and VRAM chips with some isopropyl alcohol, I learned the best way to get the old gunk off the vram was small circular movements.
Some Arctic MX-7 and new 1mm thermal pads on the vram and we were off to the races.
Now, here's where I made a mistake. I was in a position where I could've easily taken out the PSU and cleaned it, yet I chose not to. I'll be needing to go back in there and clean it, as I realized afterwards the case surrounding it is quite hot and nearly burning to the touch. Reassembly went well, I referred to my pictures to make sure the CPUs went back in the same slot I pulled them out of (by referring to the part number sticker on each one to figure out which was CPU A and B). After running some quick tests (360p youtube on PowerFox, which is amazing on this machine, and Minecraft PPC Edition using my iMac as a server). I think I can say it's definitely improved, it still has high idle temps (low 60s), but it manages temperatures much better and doesn't ramp up the fans nearly as aggressively. I'll call that a win for now! I'm currently taking a break and letting the machine cool down so I can go back in really quickly and pull out the PSU to clean it. I'll keep everyone updated on progress, hopefully you enjoyed the thread!
