I think I fried my g4 sawtooth motherboard.

[macninja]

Well not me per say, my brother forced a stick of pc2700 ram into one of my slots and poof.
Now it won't start and I get that blown smell.
I was wondering how I can check to make sure it is indeed the MB that is fried.
And I suppose some instructions on replacing it. I saw a few on ebay for like $20.

 

[harryb2448]

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Yes he has blown it big time. You might try and pop a PC100 Mac compatible module in the slot and see if there is any joy. Make sure it is a Mac compatible low density module and not a PC high density. And for what it is worth with the current prices of G4, say $100 for a Quicksilver 1GHz, not worth the trouble replacing logic boards or power supplies..

And keep your brother well away from anything electrical as he sounds a real health (and pocket) hazard!

 

[macninja]

Thanks.

There is definitely no joy with pc100 ram or even empty. Just sucks because I picked that beauty up like a week ago for $50. I still want to try and find a cheap mobo. That computer has a cpu upgrade to a whopping 1.1Ghz. Still spending another $20-$50 is no big deal. It will be a while before I can scrape the money together to get an intel mac.

Oh well, easy come easy go.

I guess I should also ask if I need the model 820-1043 A like I have now, or are the g4 mobos interchangeable? I'm guessing since the I/O are in different positions probably not...But would be good to hear from someone who actually knows.

 

[harryb2448]

They are not interchangeable due to differing system bus speeds etc. A 100MHz bus speed board from a Gigabit Ethernet may fit, but Digital Audio and higher no joy. Find a board same as installed now.

 

[dtravis7]

You sure on that number? My Sawtooth is 820-1094-A. The Sawtooth is also called the AGP Graphics.

This is a board from a 400Mhz G4 Sawtooth. It should work.

G4 AGP Sawtooth Logic Board Motherboard 820-1094-A +CPU - eBay (item 390092557110 end time Jun-07-10 11:59:41 PDT)

Very low price and buy it now. Seller is excellent.

What country do you live in? That board number you posted seems to be in the UK Ebay. Did they use a different number in UK Macs?

 

[dtravis7]

They are not interchangeable due to differing system bus speeds etc. A 100MHz bus speed board from a Gigabit Ethernet may fit, but Digital Audio and higher no joy. Find a board same as installed now.

Also besides the Bus and CPU support, the newer boards like the one in the DA have different holes as the backplane where the board and case opening mechanism is different and there have to be different cut outs in the board.

That one in the URL above should work. I had a Sawtooth 500Mhz and that was the same part number in mine as that auction.

 

[harryb2448]

And pics of the model number you supplied show three memory slots only, so that is either a PCI Tikesor a DA or later board, not a Sawtooth.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/APPLE-820-104...ing_Apple_Mac_Accessories&hash=item53e14c0183

 

[dtravis7]

And pics of the model number you supplied show three memory slots only, so that is either a PCI Tikesor a DA or later board, not a Sawtooth.

APPLE 820-1043-A POWERMAC G4 LOGIC BOARD on eBay (end time 12-Jun-10 11:30:18 BST)

Harry, you talking about my URL's or his? I found several with the number he provided that show 4 ram slots. Also my PCI Yikes G4 has 4 slots. The DA and above have 3 slots in the back of the board right by the AGP slot.

 

[Mac SK]

Wow..Guys. Im still working on how his kid brother got a stick of DDR in the slot..one strong kid.

 

[pigoo3]

Wow..Guys. Im still working on how his kid brother got a stick of DDR in the slot..one strong kid.

Yeah...usually if a stick of ram doesn't fit...it doesn't fit!

Square Peg + Square Hole =

Round Peg + Round Hole =

Square Peg + Round Hole = Fried Motherboard

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

I have seen RAM forced into the wrong slot more times than I care to remember. There is a site called Johnny Guru's Rants where he posted pics of what customers did to the boards, RAM and CPU's his company sold people. Amazing. CPU in 180 degrees the other way. Since it would not seat due to the pins, the dood hammered into the socket! No joke! Amazing what some people will try!

 

[macninja]

You sure on that number? My Sawtooth is 820-1094-A. The Sawtooth is also called the AGP Graphics.

This is a board from a 400Mhz G4 Sawtooth. It should work.

G4 AGP Sawtooth Logic Board Motherboard 820-1094-A +CPU - eBay (item 390092557110 end time Jun-07-10 11:59:41 PDT)

Very low price and buy it now. Seller is excellent.

What country do you live in? That board number you posted seems to be in the UK Ebay. Did they use a different number in UK Macs?

I just double checked, and yup it 820-1043-A according to the print under the CPU. I thought I saw a 820-1043 version 2...But it's been a long day of searching the net and don't remember where I saw that.
APPLE 820-1043-A POWERMAC G4 LOGIC BOARD Motherboard on eBay.ca (item 360146232070 end time 04-Jul-10 19:00:17 EDT)

Also besides the Bus and CPU support, the newer boards like the one in the DA have different holes as the backplane where the board and case opening mechanism is different and there have to be different cut outs in the board.

That one in the URL above should work. I had a Sawtooth 500Mhz and that was the same part number in mine as that auction.

Thats what I was worried about, stuff like the audio I/O is in a different spot in every model. Had no idea the hinge mechanism is different as well.

Wow..Guys. Im still working on how his kid brother got a stick of DDR in the slot..one strong kid.

Yeah strong, and smart like ox.

Would it be possible the rest of the ram got fried? One of the end ones was the one that got rammed. I removed all the ram today and all the sticks but one smell fried. Hopefully thats just residue or something...Any thoughts.

Funny thing is is that I kind of fell in love with the machine, I can't believe how good it worked for being over a decade old. I feel bad for it, and want to fix it.

Any more ebay links or help tracking one down is greatly appreciated. That $10 one will not ship to Canada, and all the ones I found that do charge more for shipping than the mobo itself. Since I'm laid off I want to try and spend as little as possible.

 

[harryb2448]

The URL quoted was a result of doing a Google search for that part number and used to illustrate care. Either the part number is slightly incorrect or eBay seller is showing pic of a different board. The board in macninja's post above looks the go and it is a different part number to that originally listed.

 

[macninja]

So what do you guys think about all the RAM getting fried along with the mobo? Is that possible? There would have been three other sticks in at the time. I guess it is safe to assume the foreign RAM is toast.

Sucks I got no way of testing this stuff.

 

[dtravis7]

When RAM is put in backwards, in the wrong type ram slot, Anything could happen. Blown RAM, Messed up Ram Socket, blown memory controller. Seen it all.

 

[harryb2448]

Especially if the module has started to melt. If it has reached that stage memory controller may well be toast. Really think spending more money on the Sawtooth could well be a waste, when you can get a Quicksilver for about $100.00.

 

[macninja]

Especially if the module has started to melt. If it has reached that stage memory controller may well be toast. Really think spending more money on the Sawtooth could well be a waste, when you can get a Quicksilver for about $100.00.

At least nothing melted.
I guess I should bring that computer in to a shop for a free diagnostic, find out what is toast.
The reason I want to salvage it is because it has a upgraded processor to a 1.1Ghz. If it was a 400 or 500Mhz that would be a different story.
If it is just the mobo that needs replacing I can deal with that, if other stuff is fried I guess I will have to look into something else.

 

[macninja]

Harry you may or may not be happy I took your advice. I sure am. I found a MDD for $60 whoo hoo

 

[harryb2448]

I am happy for you. Enjoy and without all those frustrations.

Tip for the MDD ~ keep brother away my boy!