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pcd2k · Apr 11, 2005, 07:43 PM

Where can I find or is there such a list of all definitive G4 Macs?

The G4 I'm in the prcoess of acquiring doesn't seem to appear in either the Apple web site nor in the Mactracker Program.

Its a pecularity of Apple Hardware not to have an actual public signage on their machines such that one look could reveal its designation.

The said G4 has the Audio sockets at the very top of the rear panel I can find no picture at either Apple or in the Mactracker. The person whom I'm buying it off knows didley squat about Macs but he refers to it as a 800 Mgtz machine although all other clues suggest its either a 733 or 933 Mghtz. It matters to me for reasons I can;t quite articulate only to say that the person selling it to me puts the value on it according to it being a 800 Mghtz mac, and he now admits that he he is unsure ?

Link · Apr 11, 2005, 08:03 PM

http://www.apple-history.com/frames/?

I'm betting he's talking about an 800mhz quicksilver.. They did exist

As well as an 867...

pcd2k · Apr 11, 2005, 09:09 PM

Thanks Link but the Machine in question doesn't seem to be in that list either, the unusualness of the machine has the audio sockets at the top rear and don't look like third party. As according to the seller it has 2 internal 30 gig drives one 7200 the other 5400 rpm and a superdive only, incidently haven't been able to ascertain if there is space for another cd type drive as it appears that way from the front ?

Link · Apr 11, 2005, 09:36 PM

Which of these does it look like:

http://www.osp.ru/pcworld/2003/03/138_3.jpg
http://www.houndsounds.com/g4%20cropped.JPG
http://homepage2.nifty.com/int/mac/g4mdd/pmg4_01.jpg

If it's the top one, that is a graphite G4.. those ran between 350mhz and 733mhz... The original were 350-450mhz(?) and had 4 PCI slots, the second gen had AGP graphics, a third had dual processors and (I think) gigabit ethernet, and the last had a pro speaker jack much like the quicksilver.. ADC as well.

If it's the middle one, that's a quicksilver g4.. they ran between 733 and 1ghz
The QS came in 2 models, the QS and QS2002 -- they were virtually the same, and essentially a digital audio housed in an entirely different enclousure (different drive rails and interior)..

The bottom one is the MDD g4 (also FW800) -- it ranged from dual 867 to 1.42ghz... and has room for dual optical drives unlike the earlier g4s (quicksilver and graphite) -- it can also hold 4 hard drives and usually has a blue motherboard.. some models had firewire 800 on them and the capability to drive an airport extreme card, as well as bluetooth.. most did not.

Don Pickett · Apr 11, 2005, 11:19 PM

http://www.mactracker.ca/

Indispensable for finding Mac info.

SSharon · Apr 12, 2005, 12:04 AM

If you can find it, I posted a site where you can enter the serial number online and it will tell you exactly where it was made and when, they should let you know what model it is. I think I posted it in the PB or iBook forum, I will find it when I have more time.

SSharon · Apr 12, 2005, 12:08 AM

Hell with my paper due tomorrow.
Here's the link

pcd2k · Apr 12, 2005, 12:44 AM

Thank you SSharon, the proof is obviously in the pudding.

SSharon · Apr 12, 2005, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by pcd2k:
Thank you SSharon, the proof is obviously in the pudding.

You're welcome. So which machine is it?

dav · Apr 12, 2005, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by pcd2k:
Thanks Link but the Machine in question doesn't seem to be in that list either, the unusualness of the machine has the audio sockets at the top rear and don't look like third party. As according to the seller it has 2 internal 30 gig drives one 7200 the other 5400 rpm and a superdive only, incidently haven't been able to ascertain if there is space for another cd type drive as it appears that way from the front ?

(at work) i'm running a 800mhz single processor g4 quicksilver which has the headphone and speaker out port at the very top on the rear panel. i think that's it. apple order no. M8705LL/A

pcd2k · Apr 12, 2005, 09:00 PM

The machine at this point looks to be one of the Quicksilvers',but won't definitely know until I actually get it, optimistically may be even later today.

pcd2k · Apr 13, 2005, 06:26 AM

Well SSharon that link returns no match to the model no. M8493 but going to Apple here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42739
it seems to be the first edition Quicksilver except that the back panel laypout suggests the Digital Audio model.
Shame that the Apple History site doesn't appear to have pics of the socket layouts nor does Mactracker ?

dav · Apr 13, 2005, 07:28 AM

i still think it's a quicksilver 2002 (second edition) @ 800mhz single g4.
link to pdf

Link · Apr 13, 2005, 02:01 PM

There's a quicksilver's back

The black plug at the top is plugged into 1 of the 2 audio out jacks, and there's a lock there that's kinda blocking the view of the modem jack, but you know about that..

If you custom order a machine without a modem, it also won't have a modem jack -- it'll have a blank there.. but speaker jacks at the top are perfectly normal.

The MDD and FW800 were odd in that the IO backplate wasn't recessed!

SSharon · Apr 13, 2005, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by Link:
The MDD and FW800 were odd in that the IO backplate wasn't recessed!

Hey you're right!

Also you need to enter the serial number into that link I posted nut the model number.
Apple Menu -> About this Mac -> more info -> (hardware tab), second to last line is the serial number and the last line is the model number.

Link · Apr 13, 2005, 06:18 PM

unless of course, you've had the motherboard replaced, in which case it's not in there (but rather on the back of your machine)

pcd2k · Apr 14, 2005, 08:14 AM

Thanks Link, thanks for the pic, yes thats it. One unfortunate aspect of the donk is that there is a piece of minijack plug in the speaker socket broken just below the surface of the minijack socket . When I play audio thru from the headphones socket to an external amp/speakers the sound doesn't quite sound clean though?

dav · Apr 14, 2005, 08:41 AM

so you have it now? what are the official specs?

bbales · Apr 14, 2005, 09:30 AM

Well, that looks like my computer -- which is a gigabit ethernet. And -- I've had this machine for 4 1/2 years and never noticed the weird audio thing at the top. Still has the original plug -- I just use external speakers plugged into the output plug. Obviously sound quality isn't a big thing with me...

pcd2k · Apr 14, 2005, 10:45 PM

Hi Dav kere is the official specs http://www.apple-history.com/frames/...=g4_quick_2002

The Mac came to me like new in the original box with a manual and a packet of 8 Installation CD's
My Quicksilver (how can I abbreviate that word) 800 Mghtz with 768 ram 2 Hd's,the 32VRAM card is different its called ATY Blue Stone Planet and another card that ASProfiler says is called pci 37a,1 I'd appreciate knowing what the heck it is ?

The problem with the installed Jaguar is that it is written accross both drives. Should I make a new post about this as I'm not certain how to proceed with a new install ?

dav · Apr 15, 2005, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by pcd2k

My Quicksilver (how can I abbreviate that word) 800 Mghtz with 768 ram 2 Hd's,the 32VRAM card is different its called ATY Blue Stone Planet and another card that ASProfiler says is called pci 37a,1 I'd appreciate knowing what the heck it is ?

The problem with the installed Jaguar is that it is written accross both drives. Should I make a new post about this as I'm not certain how to proceed with a new install ?

i use a quicksilver at work, and under the system profiler (agp/pci cards) there's something about bluestone as well - not sure about bluestone, but i am sure the quicksilver has a ati 7500, 32mb in it (i'm guessing yours has the same).

jaguar across two drives... raid? i'd reformat both, pull out the 5400rpm drive (move it to an external enclosure), buy a new 7200rpm high capcity drive (100+gigabytes), install jaguar (or wait till tiger) on one of the drives and use the other as a scratch drive.

pcd2k · Apr 16, 2005, 09:23 PM

Thanks Dav yes my v. card is the same,went to Apple to get a firmware update but non exists for this card. Each time I try to install a new system the process stops and wants me to get the firmware update. Would you know if these cards were in the machine when released ?
Am presently at the ATI Radeon site,there is no mention of it being used in a Mac, all indications are that its a windows only card. So I need to find a work around since the installed system has many unusual aspects to it,for eg. the internet config file doesn't work, problem is I'm on dialup.
I'm thinking now the only way out of this is to install System 9.1
and go from there ?
(presently accessing web via borrowed iMac)

dav · Apr 18, 2005, 11:59 AM

as far as i know there hasn't been a firmware update for the ati 7500 from apple. the card for mac may not have been sold at retail (only to apple), that would explain no mention at ati, but it was the stock card for the 2002 quicksilver 800mhz g4. so the mac won't let you do a clean install without a firmware update? odd, have you run any repair utilities on the mac (like onyx)?

i did find this link