Soldering Motherboard on G5

My G5 recently died after being in storage below zero.
I reset the PRAM after a battery change and then took a hair dryer to the RAM -- shortly after it powered up enabling me to save everything elsewhere. Now it's not powering up at all unless I spend good few minutes melting up the RAM with the dryer.

Obviously this can't go on.

Has anyone any suggestions about soldering?

thanks,

chickmittens said:

Has anyone any suggestions about soldering?

Click to expand...

Why would any soldering be required? You didn't mentioned anything being broken…so what's going to get soldered?

If the ram seems to be the problem…replace the ram.

- Nick

soldering motherboard on G5

if there was a problem with the RAM would it respond to heat?
I forgot to say that heat is generally being applied to the motherboard too;
that is what convinces me that maybe there is a faulty capacitor.
I just cannot understand why it powers up after the hair dryer.
It's sad when beloved things die...!

thanks
kim

Heating the ram would cause swelling from the heat. Cooling causes contraction. It indicates to me something that is not connecting when cool, is now connecting when heated. In effect it sounds like a short has occurred that is being temporarily fixed by the expansion provided by the heat.

Not a permanent solution by any means.

Lisa

chickmittens said:

if there was a problem with the RAM would it respond to heat?
that is what convinces me that maybe there is a faulty capacitor (perhaps...)
thanks
kim

Click to expand...

Sure…you could have a failed capacitor. But this still has nothing to do with the ram. And heating ram is typically not a solution for "bad ram".

- Nick

I guess replacing the RAM is the sensible (and least expensive) thing to do to begin troubleshooting.

thanks for your help.

kim

chickmittens said:

I guess replacing the RAM is the sensible (and least expensive) thing to do to begin troubleshooting.

Click to expand...

I agree. If different ram does not help things…then (of course) it is something else. Could be the capacitors you mentioned.

iMac G5's were known for this. If you open up your computer…you can look at the capacitors to see if they are bulging or leaking. Do this visual inspection BEFORE purchasing or locating replacement ram.

- Nick

He is correct about soldering but not the capacitor.

See G5 powerpc based macintoshes where known for several key issues.

1. The capacitor would fail.

This happens also in the power supply to the machine as well.


2. The memory card slots for the machine start to crack solder joints because of heat from the machine.

Honestly replacing the ram is a band aid approach most machines need the logic board replaced.

Don't invest too much as the G5's day is over and parts, particulalrly memory, are not cheap.

thanks. yes it is obsolete in every way but it's running some discontinued software with a non-transferable licence.

a ram change and still refusing to chime. It is now flashing 3 lights and the fans are going into overdrive. the motherboard looks ok, but really i have no idea. if anyone has any further suggestions i'd be glad to hear them...

opening up the cabinet for a hair dryer fix before start up is not really a long-term solution so i'll have to accept that it's time to put my much loved aluminium buddy to bed!