Blew up my ten minute-old mac

Westfalia2 · 29-07-2009 8:04pm #1

I know. I shouldn't be let near a computer. I bought a second-hand Powermac G4 and accidentally tripped the voltage switch while setting it up. A bang and some smoke later and I now have no new Powermac. I can't believe it. Have I totally destroyed it or can it be fixed without costing a small fortune, one I just don't have.

Any advice gratefully received. No need to berate me, I can take care of that.

Jonathan · 29-07-2009 8:06pm

Could you get another PSU from somewhere and try it with that to see if the motherboard and other components are still working?

Sad Professor · 29-07-2009 8:10pm

There are PSUs on Ebay for 50 euro. Would be a waste if it didn't work though.

Westfalia2 · 29-07-2009 8:10pm

Hi Jonathan,

I don't even know what a PSU is, I'm a complete novice. Will have a Google when I've finished beating myself senseless.

Jonathan · 29-07-2009 8:13pm

PSU stands for power supply unit.

Westfalia2 · 29-07-2009 8:14pm

Is it something that could be safely borrowed from another mac to test?

Jonathan · 29-07-2009 8:17pm

Not really... it involves taking your computer apart and taking one component out and replacing with another.

It might just best to get someone to look at it?

Westfalia2 · 29-07-2009 8:21pm

Well that'll teach me. Will ask around for a few quotes but will have to pay off the mac first. What a lesson. Thanks for the help folks.

Ham'nd'egger · 30-07-2009 12:20pm

Westfalia2 wrote: »

Well that'll teach me. Will ask around for a few quotes but will have to pay off the mac first. What a lesson. Thanks for the help folks.

Try Dean at Bondi; he is quick, reliable, Apple certified and competitive price wise. At worst, a few minutes on the bench with a multimeter will cost you a bench fee but you don't seem to have much choice other than to have it looked at.

www.bondigroup.ie

Greentree_uk · 30-07-2009 8:07pm

have done this before myself when I imported a few machines a while back. your psu just needs replacing. apple don't supply parts for these anymore so the only choice is 2nd hand an apple dealer may help you there. what spec is the machine?

Westfalia2 · 30-07-2009 10:24pm

Here's where I really show my ignorance. It's a Powermac G4. Um... blue...... steep learning curve here....

Greentree_uk · 31-07-2009 8:52pm

what speed is it? does it have one power port on the back or does it also have a feed for the monitor?

Westfalia2 · 31-07-2009 9:13pm

Hi Greentree,

CPU 533MHZ (she says hoping fervently that's the speed) and yes, it has both.

Jonathan · 31-07-2009 9:25pm

How much did you pay for it?

You might just be better off writing it off as a bad experience if it didnt cost you too much. Finding parts for it could be more expensive than buying a new one.

Westfalia2 · 31-07-2009 10:06pm

Oh God. That's not what I want to hear! I got it fairly cheap but absolutely cannot afford to get another one so I'll have to do my best to find the part.

MACHEAD · 31-07-2009 10:27pm

Oops! A lesson there for anyone reading this, Don't touch the voltage selector!
At 533 MHz it sounds like you've got a 'Graphite' G4. A power supply from most of the graphite range should work though I wouldn't try to use one from the early G4's (ie 350 - 400MHz). Good luck finding your part, though it might be hard to take, labour costs might just make it actually cheaper to consider just buying another G4. They were/are a brilliant old workhorse of a computer and in my view more reliable than the G5 which replaced them!

Westfalia2 · 31-07-2009 10:31pm

Unfortunately, buying another one just isn't an option. Full stop. Will just have to do my best to find a part and wangle a favour out of one of my techie friends to get it installed. Thanks all.

Greentree_uk · 01-08-2009 4:54pm

would imagine you could find one of these for 50 euro or so. a power supply may cost you more. depending on the model you have, it may be possible to use an atx psu with modification it won't work without changing some wires.

here's the specs of your machine http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/tips/MDD_ps_mods/MDD_PS_Mods.html

here's the mod

http://atxg4.com/gige-da.html

nialler · 02-08-2009 1:57pm

I just disposed of 4 of them recently westfalia (last one on Friday) I'll be dropping into the office today I'll see if it's still there, I definitely have another one that is being used as a testbed for an iTunes music server and will eventually replace it with a mac mini, but that could be months away (still waiting for the guy to finish off paying me).

Mike... · 02-08-2009 2:01pm

Westfalia2 wrote: »

Will have a Google when I've finished beating myself senseless.

There is a dirty joke there somewhere!!!

ozt9vdujny3srf · 02-08-2009 4:35pm

I'm really interested to know how much it cost!

Westfalia2 · 02-08-2009 8:43pm

How much the mac cost? Enough for someone who's been suffering from the summer lull in work! Nialler, do you mean you've just gotten rid of four macs? I really hope it won't come to buying a new machine but if anyone hears of anyone selling parts I'd be very grateful...

flywheel · 03-08-2009 5:19pm

suggest you ask over on the forums at www.clubmac.ie too in case someone there can help...

Jonathan · 03-08-2009 5:47pm

Westfalia2 wrote: »

How much the mac cost? Enough for someone who's been suffering from the summer lull in work!

How much is that?

smokiebeverage · 03-08-2009 6:01pm

If you just tripped the voltage switch then most likely it is only the internal fuse in the power supply thats blown. Now saying that the smoke is not a healthy sign that could be popped capacitor. Either way its worth taking a look at the internal fuse as if it is that it will only cost a couple of cents to fix

nialler · 03-08-2009 6:23pm

yes I just dumped four perfectly working G4's and sent them to computer heavan (recycled), now I noticed in an earlier post you said it was blue, is it blue or grey, all G4's are grey, blue's are G3, let us know, didn't get into the office today forgot I had no keys. I have given 2 dual 1.2 G4s to the staff, an 800mhz MDD G4 and a dual 533 I think away, clearing all the old stuff.

Westfalia2 · 04-08-2009 10:29am

It's definitely blue! Sorry I don't have time to reply to everyone, am out of the country until tomorrow.

nialler · 05-08-2009 8:50am

One on the left or one on the right? Although there may be an processor upgrade card thrown in. iF you're colour blind easiest way to tell is the handles, G3 handles are opaque, G4 handles are clear.

Westfalia2 · 05-08-2009 4:51pm

I'm not doing much for my credibility here. It's grey! In my defence I was out of the country and was going by my dodgy memory. Also, the monitor is blue.

nialler · 06-08-2009 2:24pm

right written on teh back of the mac should be the full specification, type it in here, I still have an old one that hasn't been collected for recycling yet.

Westfalia2 · 06-08-2009 2:42pm

Hi Nialler,

I won't be home until about 8 but will do it as soon as I can.

Many thanks, E

Westfalia2 · 06-08-2009 9:10pm

OK Nialler, here goes:

Powermac G4
Model # M5183
100-120V-/200 - 240V-
8A/4.5A, 50-60Hz
Serial # CK108HZDKX5
533 Mhz/1M Cache

Does that tell you what you need to know?

Thanks again, E

nialler · 07-08-2009 2:08pm

Yup that's fine, I can give you a similar model, probably slightly faster all you have to do is change the hard drive from one to the other (very easy) and that should sort you out. If not you can cannibalise it for parts. I'll pick it up in the office tomorrow. I presume you're in Dublin?

N

Westfalia2 · 07-08-2009 3:15pm

Hi Nialler - sent you a PM

drzhivago · 12-08-2009 2:30am

Westfalia2 wrote: »

Hi Nialler - sent you a PM

Just an aside, how did you pay for it
If you paid by credit card it may be insured for 1st 90 days after purchase

Westfalia2 · 12-08-2009 8:12am

I paid cash. Got it second hand through Buy and Sell. Today's problem is a new one. I got another tower thanks to a kind boardsie, but now the bloody monitor won't turn on! It was definitely working before I bought it as I got a demo, but there are no signs of life now. Is it possible that I damaged the monitor too when I tripped the switch if it was connected? (please say no!)

Thanks, E

Blew up my ten minute-old mac

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