The magic trick for removing power button from Power Mac G5

[ggalaximm]

One simple trick has eluded and escaped me for years.

I have Power Mac G5 machines which I want to take the logic boards out of, and swap them around.

But one thing prevents me: the little small circuit board right up at the front of the PowerMac G5, which has the power button, the headphone jack, the USB port, and a FireWire port.

It seems permanently attached to the case in a way that is far too clever for me to figure out how to remove it.



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At exactly 3 minutes 57 seconds (3:57) in this video,

it fades to black and then when the video returns the power button assembly has been magically??? removed.

How was that done?

 

[mryingster]

Found this information on another forum. I'm not near my G5 to confirm though if this is accurate.

The button is recessed into a cast pocket in the front and the circlip fits into a circumferential groove behind (case side) the button and stops it from falling out. Take a pair of circlip pliers (or two thin pointy things/ very small screwdrivers) and insert into the little rings at either end of the circlip and squeeze them towards each other. The circlip will pop out and so will the power button. Do it on newspaper or somewhere where the circlip won't bounce off and get lost..........​

https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/how-do-you-remove-powermac-g5-power-button.77355/

 

[DeltaMac]

The power button almost never needs to be removed (unless the button itself has failed), as it is not actually part of the front panel board, but can be unplugged when the front panel board is removed.

This may be easier for you if you download Apple's service manual.
There's 3 different major models of the PowerMac G5, and each has differences in how the logic board is removed. Some need the front panel board removed first. Others do not need that panel removed, just disconnect from the logic board.
Assuming that video is showing the same PowerMac G5 that you show in that video, which is a Late 2005 model, you can search for the file name to download: powermac_g5_late2005.pdf

(There's 2 screws that attach the power board to the logic board. If you remove those two screws, the front panel board will be loose then)

1. Disconnect the power button cable from the front panel board.
   
   
2. Remove the two front panel board mounting screws.

3. Gently pull the board back from the front panel, tip the back of the board up so that it clears the DIMM slot ejectors, and remove the board from the enclosure.

(The actual power button is just disconnected, and does NOT need to be removed!)

 

[dbdjre0143]

This thread has a site that has a ton of service manuals readily available:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/treasure-trove-of-apple-service-manuals.2128572/

 

[AphoticD]

On my PowerMac7,2 G5s, I recall just removing a couple of screws to take the board out. As mentioned, the power button stays in place and is disconnected, but the board with the ports can come out (at least on the earlier models).

One of my G5s was exhibiting an issue where I could not get sound out from the internal speaker. I replaced the speaker and the logic board assuming that would cover it, but it turned out to be the front I/O board. The headphone jack was reporting that it was connected, which caused the internal speakers to be muted (even the boot chime). A little IPA and a cotton bud to clean out the jack resolves the issue.