Recovered Power Mac G4 no video

Hello, first of all I am very impressed at the amount of dedication that you enthusiasts have with macs. So today I picked up an old g4 from the recycling center and I was eager to try to restore it. I am willing to spend some money to fix it up. I turned it on and there was the Apple boop sound but no video. So I opened and saw that there was no ram inserted at all, I had one stick that fit in and I tried every slot. Sometimes the power light would pulse to indicate disk activity so I don’t think that the HDD is to blame. I will include pictures of everything and I hope that someone will be able to give me some insight as to what steps I should take to restore this Mac.

Thanks for your time

Images: https://imgur.com/gallery/G1ixV

oskito said:

I turned it on and there was the Apple boop sound but no video.

Click to expand...

When you say no video...can you describe exactly what you mean? Also...you can't just stick any RAM into an Apple computer (especially an older one). Older Mac's were more "picky" about what RAM is used. The RAM you used may or may not work...but could explain if things aren't functioning properly.

Also understand the possibility that this computer may have been at the recycling center for a reason...it doesn't work or had an issue that the previous owner didn't want to deal with.

- Nick

By no video I mean when I turn it on there is nothing, no detected video activity whatsoever. Also do you mind giving me a suggestion what ram to buy?

Not without jelp from you providing a model number. There are eleven different models of G4 PowerMacs, and then within that elev en there might be up to three different models depending on CPUs etc. Memory will vary from PC-100 168 pin, through to PC-133, then later models run PC-2100 through to PC2700. Memory must be low density modules, not cheaper high density PC memory. Don't spend too much money on the G4 as they are not worth it, can only run a version of OS X up to OS X.4 or maybe OS X.5. We are currently up to OS X.12 with OS X.13 to be produced in the next few months.

And don't take it online as those old operating systems have had no security updates for years.

oskito said:

By no video I mean when I turn it on there is nothing, no detected video activity whatsoever. Also do you mind giving me a suggestion what ram to buy?

Click to expand...

If you're getting absoutely no video...then the video card or something about the logic board could be bad. Assuming that the video cable and display are good.

As Harry mentioned. We would need to know the exact model of this Powermac G4 in order to suggest the correct RAM.

- Nick

Where/how do I find the specific model number?

If possible, give us the serial number of the G4 and from that we can tell which model it is. The serial number may be on the bottom plate.

https://imgur.com/gallery/LUQB4

Hope this is enough info

It is a 2000 model, 125MHz system bus speed, known as a Gigabit Ethernet and will run uop to OS X.4 Tiger. Here is what to buy, the full retail pack on eBay, not a silver grey system install disc:-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-OSX-Tig...1e5197&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=372016036100o

Memory specs are, from Mactracker:-


2.0 GB under Mac OS X, 1.5 GB under Mac OS 8/9
Memory Slots 4 - PC-100 3.3v, unbuffered, 8-byte, non-parity 168-pin SDRAM
Minimum Speed 125 MHz (8 ns)

OWC, mascsales.com, sell new memory and four 2GB you would need 4x512MB modules. Starting to mount up the cost eh?

https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/apple-power-mac-g4-gigabit-ethernet-400mhz-2000/memory

Did you mean 4 ram slots? Because I can only find 3. Also if I were to buy ram is there a minimum to get it to boot or can I cheap out just to see if ram is the problem. Also is it a know issue that there is no video Output when no ram is installed?

There are four ram slots.

Understand there is no 'cheap' options with your PowerMac. As it came from a recycle centre it has been dumped.

Your problems could include a failed mother board, a failed power supply, a failed graphics card, a failed hard drive, a failed optical drive, a failed PRAM battery and failed memory slot/s. The power light flashing, about 1/4 second duration, can be used as a diagnosis tool.For mine I would give it away as you can spend a couple of hundred bucks and still be no closer.

Harry that is a 1862 EMC which is a G4 Digital Audio which does only have 3 RAM slots unlike the older Ethernet and Sawtooth models. It uses PC133 RAM. Here is the url to the specs.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_server_g4/specs/macserver_g4_533.html

@OP. If this is a 2000 model Powermac G4...this is an old old computer (obviously about 17 years old). If you do get it working...what are you going to do with it? Certainly not going on the internet with it (very very very slow). You could run vintage software on it (if you had some or could find some).

The reason why I ask is...this computer on a "good-day" (and working 100%)...might fetch $15-$25 on Craig's List. Many folks actually give them away for free. I mention this because this unit is not working 100%...and it would be pretty easy to spend more than it is worth to get it working. And as I mentioned above...this thing could have a bad video card, bad logic board, weak/bad power supply, etc. And the only real way to test these things in a DIY situation...is purchase known good parts & swap them into the computer for testing.

Of course if money is not an issue...and if you enjoy the "challenge" of taking a non-working item and getting it working again...hey...have at it!

- Nick

Oops the pics have changed and I can see it is three slots sorry OP dtravis7 is perfectly correct. The difference in memory is PC133. It will still only run up to Tiger.

When he said 3 Ram slots I remembered my Digital Audio and re-checked that EMC code. My DA is far from stock. Maxed out RAM, 1.8Ghz G4 and ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. Not fired it up in a while as 10.5 Leopard is very limited with todays Internet! Grin

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the helpful and prompt replies. Have a great day because everyone’s willingness to help made mine great.