[Aranamac]

I recently installed a PowerLogix PowerForce55 G4/1GHz upgrade (900 mhz factory-overclocked to 1 ghz) in my GigE machine. Installation was painless, though PL's documentation was a little sketchy in places. The CPU seems to be seated firmly and securely. It's screwed into place. I had to take the fan off because there is no room for it in my tower. (that was a glaring omission in the manual: no mention of fan; no picture of a fan; and the installation video from PL's site doesn't have a fan on the card).

My Mac runs incredibly fast now (esp. since I've been at 400 mhz for years), but after about 30 minutes to an hour the computer freezes completely. I reboot, and an error dialogue tells me that OS X had suddenly quit.

I'm using 10.4 (installed it the day before the processor upgrade). I'm away from my Mac for a few days so it'll be a little while before I can call PowerLogix for help, and the Help section of their website is fairly useless. Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this problem?

Reading the documentation (available here http://plx.crmdesk.net/?_a=downloads) a Firmware update from a CD provided by PowerLogix is required. However, my packaged did not include any CD. I have the latest firmware update from Apple's site. Am I going to have to ask PowerLogix for this CD? I ordered the CPU from OWC and all that was in the box was the CPU and a manual. I have a feeling that this particular piece of documentation is for a different CPU upgrade than the one I bought.

Perhaps someone else has done this upgrade who has experience that could help me. Thanks in advance for any assistance!

[bimmerphile]

I can tell you this: Call OWC, and return the CPU. Period. The problem you experience is on ethat is due to powerlogix having an extremely poor design of their processor card and cooling system. That fan MUST be on there for it to even slightly work. You're right - It won't fit in your tower. Powerlogix's solution: tell the customer to run the computer with the case open.

I say this from experience as I went through 6, count six CPU upgrades from PL before I got one that "kinda" worked, and that was only due to my use of a waterblock. In the end I sold that G4 in favor of a G5.

Get a GigaDesigns upgrade.

[Aranamac]

Thanks for the quick response. I was kinda already leaning in the direction of your answer, and you confirmed it.

What fun this is.

The GigaDesigns are a little expensive for me. What's the reputation on OWC's Mercury Extreme processors?

[outsourced]

bimmerphile is exactly right: "Get a GigaDesigns upgrade."

Return that PowerLogix upgrade as quickly as possible! I speak from experience from a failed PL 1.4GHz upgrade for a GigE machine also. The PL support was pretty good, but we were getting nowhere. After a week or so of "try this", I returned it (directly to PL) for a refund and bought the GigaDesigns 1.2GHz. Worked right out of the box -- no problems.

Also, the GigaDesigns upgrades are actually cheaper at their own store than the one's sold at OWC. Not sure about return policy, though.

As for the OWC Mercury...who knows?