10-09-2009, 11:51 PM

I just got an old PowerMac G5.
It's this one listed here:
Apple Power Macintosh G5 2.0 DP (PCI) Specs (Early 2005 - M9747LL/A) @ EveryMac.com

I opened it up for the first time today...I'm upgrading the hard drive and ram in the next few days...

Anyways, I noticed that there are 4 slots available for RAM.

There are 2 groups of spaces for these slots.

It looks like this:
4 - No slot
3 - No slot
2 - Empty slot
1 - 512mb RAM

1 - 512mb RAM
2 - Empty slot
3 - No slot
4 - No slot

So I got to thinking, why are there numbers 3 and 4 listed even if there are no DIMM slots for RAM?

Is it possible to install 4 extra slots so I can upgrade it to 8gb instead of just 4gb?

I've done a lot of work with PC's, never with a mac.

Opening this up for the first time today was like a dream come true.
Finally...organization underneath the case!

Thanks for any input/help!

-aved

10-10-2009, 07:15 PM

Sounds like either the slots have failed or the logic board is on the way out. Have you got the system install discs in order to run Apple Hardware Test from disc one?

10-10-2009, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by aVeD

So I got to thinking, why are there numbers 3 and 4 listed even if there are no DIMM slots for RAM?

It's because Apple launched various models of the Powermac G5 with the dual 2.0ghz processors...but used the same logic board.

1 of these models only had 4 ram slots, and another model had 8 ram slots.

HTH,

- Nick

10-10-2009, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

1 of these models only had 4 ram slots, and another model had 8 ram slots.

HTH,

- Nick

Is it possible to add more?

-aved

10-10-2009, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by aVeD

Is it possible to add more?

-aved

Do you have the skills to solder in 4 more DIMM brackets without destroying the logic board?

Of course this would be after you completely disassemble the G5 to get the logic board out.

- Nick

10-10-2009, 11:31 PM

Please don't take this as an insult!

If you can actually solder in 4 more DIMM slots on that G5 Logicboard without ruining it you will forever be my hero! In my computer life I have desoldered Chips from even the delicate Commodore 64 board (Some used no sockets at all) and made them work perfectly, but I really doubt you can pull this off. It would be like hand soldering a CPU socket.

All the holes on that board are full of solder. If I were you I would leave it at 4GB!