Here's the situation:
I have a Powerbook G4 Titanium 500Mhz that seems to be having a logic board issue. Often the computer will not boot normally (e.g., screen stays black and you only hear the faint sound of "on") and the only way to to get it to boot is to reset the PMU. Booting into OS 9 (either through the Apple Diagnostics CD [TechTool] or into the install on the HD) greets me with the "The built-in memory test has detected a problem with cache memory. Please contact a service technician for assistance."-message.
When I run benchmarks like Xbench [or check the Processor preferences pane from CHUD,] I get no results from my L2 cache; however, when I run the AppleCare Diagnostics CD or the Apple Hardware Test nothing seems to be the matter with my logic board or my L2 cache -- in fact, nothing seems to be the matter at all with these tests.
I'm guessing the problems here could be (and these are obviously not mutually exclusive, just various scenarios):
1. I have a problem with my PMU.
2. I have a problem with my main logic board.
3. I have a problem with BOTH my PMU and my main logic board.
4. A problem with my PMU is causing my logic board to behave strangely.
5. A problem with my PMU has damaged my logic board.
Can anyone tell me if any of these are more likely or unlikely than others?
Also, can anyone tell me if 4 is possible? Because I'd really like it to be that.
I can fix that myself and inexpensively.
Any feedback or additional diagnostic tips would be greatly appreciated. This machine is out of warranty and I am broke ... I certainly don't have the $310-$500 the Apple Store suggested it would take to fix it right now.
This is the machine I mentioned in a different thread where I suspected the L2 cache was gone and was curious how long I could run it. This means that it's also the machine that has eaten three other main logic boards in the last five years. (It's also eaten two power adapters, one battery, one hard drive and disc two/side b of
The West Wing, Season 1, for the record.)
Thanks again!
CPE
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