Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Hardware Hacking > New Motherboard for old mac??

New Motherboard for old mac??
Thread Tools
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 1, 2008, 02:47 PM
 
Hi-
I have a G4/400 desktop...obviously...its old
Can i swap out the motherboard for something faster? and if so, what else would i have to change? and of course, what would b the maximum upgrade i could make?


any thoughts would be appreciated....

Thanks
~S~
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 1, 2008, 03:43 PM
 
Just about everything changes in the physical layout of the G4s. The way the USB, Firewire and ethernet, video align make it close to impossible to upgrade the mobo. Unless you are really trying to create a conversation piece, it just isn't worth it. Oh, and I forgot to mention power supplies, nightmares!
     
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 1, 2008, 10:22 PM
 
And with processor upgrades making it easy to level the field, I'm not sure what the incentive to swap out boards is.
I like chicken
I like liver
Meow Mix, Meow Mix
Please de-liv-er
     
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 2, 2008, 12:29 AM
 
Originally Posted by Lateralus View Post
And with processor upgrades making it easy to level the field, I'm not sure what the incentive to swap out boards is.
Increase in bus speed from 100mhz to 133mhz would be about the only thing...
Cube w/Non-Cube NewerTech Dual 1.8ghz G4 7448 CPU, Velociraptor 10k RPM HD, Superdrive, XFX Geforce 6200
     
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 2, 2008, 12:48 AM
 
Originally Posted by sethwrks View Post
Hi-
I have a G4/400 desktop...obviously...its old
Can i swap out the motherboard for something faster? and if so, what else would i have to change? and of course, what would b the maximum upgrade i could make?


any thoughts would be appreciated....

Thanks
~S~
The later G4 motherboards with faster bus speeds actually hold less RAM (1.5gb) whereas your 400mhz machine will hold up to 2gb. If yer gonna stick with that machine, I'd drop some cash on maxing out the RAM and a new processor and not worry about the mobo!
Cube w/Non-Cube NewerTech Dual 1.8ghz G4 7448 CPU, Velociraptor 10k RPM HD, Superdrive, XFX Geforce 6200
     
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 8, 2008, 04:05 PM
 
never hurts to ask! lol

thanks all for your input...i use it as a secondary mach.. just wanted to see if it was worth upgrading...



~S~
     
   
Thread Tools
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:07 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2011 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.7 © 2000-2011, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2