08-24-2006, 06:10 AM

Hi everyone,

I have just acquired a G4 Tower and need to change the CD/DVD rom drive. I have tried every way I can think of bar taking an axe to the box. Is there anyone in here whom can help me with this matter.

Also it is running on a 400mhz processer. Does anyone know if this can be upgraded because even though it has a 1gig R.A.M. its slow. I would like to get it up to around 1ghz, is this possible?

Regards

08-24-2006, 06:36 AM

Taking the drive out of a G4 tower is actually quite easy. When you drop the side off the machine, just inside the front there are 2 clips. Unclipping these drops the front drive doors off. You should see one or two screws - undo them and the whole drive assembly comes out.

If you are replacing your original drive with an aftermarket drive, you might need to remove the silver tape around the enclosure and extend it a couple of notches. Put the silver tape back on and you're good to go.

08-24-2006, 07:20 AM

Will try tonight cheers cazabam. Has anyone any idea on the processor problem.

08-24-2006, 07:24 AM

Have a look at the Sonnet or PowerLogix processor upgrade cards. They can take you well beyond 1GHz if you so desire.

08-24-2006, 07:27 AM

Do you know if this is an AGP Graphics or PCI? There was a 400 that was PCI Only and called the Yikes and an AGP that was called the Sawtooth. I hope you have the AGP one as its a much better machine.

If you have the AGP Graphics G4/400, you can get up to a 1.8Ghz Single or even Dual 1.8Ghz CPU but it's not cheap. The 1Ghz one would be a lot cheeper. Check out Giga Designs, Sonnet and OWC.

http://www.gigadesigns.com/

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/cpu_upgrades.html

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/accelerators/

That should help you a bit. If you need any help figuring which machine you have, let me know. I have both here at the house.

...Dennis

08-24-2006, 07:48 AM

Cheers for the info Dennis,

How do I find out which processer I have. Do I have to take the processor fan and cover off and look at it directly or can I obtain the info through the operating system OSX 4.7?

Regards

Originally Posted by dtravis7

Do you know if this is an AGP Graphics or PCI? There was a 400 that was PCI Only and called the Yikes and an AGP that was called the Sawtooth. I hope you have the AGP one as its a much better machine.

If you have the AGP Graphics G4/400, you can get up to a 1.8Ghz Single or even Dual 1.8Ghz CPU but it's not cheap. The 1Ghz one would be a lot cheeper. Check out Giga Designs, Sonnet and OWC.

http://www.gigadesigns.com/

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/cpu_upgrades.html

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/accelerators/

That should help you a bit. If you need any help figuring which machine you have, let me know. I have both here at the house.

...Dennis

08-24-2006, 08:00 AM

It's not so much the processor as the model of PowerMac G4 that you have. There were 4 different ones, from the Yikes! (spelled with the !) which only had PCI, through AGP, gigabit ethernet and finally the 'mirrored drive doors' version.

There is a handy guide here to help you distinuish between them.

08-24-2006, 08:38 AM

Cazabam, yep that was the site I was thinking of. I know about the ! in Yikes! but was lazy to post it. :spook:

The main thing to look for between the Yikes! and the AGP is the Speaker/Line In Jacks. As that picture shows, the Yikes or PCI has the Audio ports going right to left while the AGP they are one above the other going up and down. With a single 400 I doubt your Mac is anything other than those two.

Just checked Low End Mac and it apears they did make a 400Mhz Gigabit Ethernet also, but since the Upgrade CPU's are the same for both, it makes no difference.

Do let us know which Mac you have.

08-24-2006, 09:02 AM

Its this one if that helps

Originally Posted by dtravis7

Cazabam, yep that was the site I was thinking of. I know about the ! in Yikes! but was lazy to post it. :spook:

The main thing to look for between the Yikes! and the AGP is the Speaker/Line In Jacks. As that picture shows, the Yikes or PCI has the Audio ports going right to left while the AGP they are one above the other going up and down. With a single 400 I doubt your Mac is anything other than those two.

Just checked Low End Mac and it apears they did make a 400Mhz Gigabit Ethernet also, but since the Upgrade CPU's are the same for both, it makes no difference.

Do let us know which Mac you have.

08-24-2006, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Studiotime

Its this one if that helps

When you get home look at the audio ports in the back. That will tell you which one it is. All the early G4 towers from the front look the same.

08-24-2006, 09:16 AM

Looks like this... Any help?

Originally Posted by dtravis7

When you get home look at the audio ports in the back. That will tell you which one it is. All the early G4 towers from the front look the same.

08-24-2006, 09:29 AM

In that case it's a PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, which is one of the best of the bunch. The only real worry is if it's a Yikes!, because the were considered "road apples", i.e. Apples you buy with your eyes open.

08-24-2006, 09:58 AM

I had a quick read of the link you sent me. My G4 has 4 R.A.M. slots, so I dont believe it is a G3 in a G4's body.

HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS A YIKES! Is there a tell tale sign to look for?

Originally Posted by cazabam

In that case it's a PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, which is one of the best of the bunch. The only real worry is if it's a Yikes!, because the were considered "road apples", i.e. Apples you buy with your eyes open.

08-24-2006, 09:58 AM

If you are sure it's a 400Mhz CPU, then it can not be a Digital Audio. They came in 466Mhz and up. Like I said, check the placement of the Audio jacks and check that url that Cabzbam showed. It will tell you what system it is. In OSX if you click on the Apple and About this Mac it will tell you the CPU speed.

08-24-2006, 11:09 AM

Will Check and make sure tonight thanks for all your help. Might be time to spash out on a new G5 I feel.