[v8q]

Has anybody tried to replace the G3 chip in an older imac with a faster one?
I have a 400mhz dv and want to put an 800mhz chip in it but nobody seems to be able handle the BGA chip soldering.


For the inevitable "why don't you just get a faster imac?" question, my current one is a tangerene and it matches the kitchen cabinets.

[IEEE1394]

This hack is easily done:

1. Get out your soldering iron, plug it in and warm it up.
2. Go find a G4 chip. Make sure it has exactly the same pin configuration.
3. Unsolder the G3 chip, solder on the G4.
4. Reboot, and watch the smoke fly and your computer not work.

Actually, if you have the old old old iMac (Rev A-D, not slot loading) you can rip out the processor card and replace it with a G4 card, no soldering required

[v8q]

Originally posted by IEEE1394:
<STRONG>This hack is easily done:

1. Get out your soldering iron, plug it in and warm it up.
2. Go find a G4 chip. Make sure it has exactly the same pin configuration.
3. Unsolder the G3 chip, solder on the G4.
4. Reboot, and watch the smoke fly and your computer not work.

Actually, if you have the old old old iMac (Rev A-D, not slot loading) you can rip out the processor card and replace it with a G4 card, no soldering required </STRONG>

I am aware of the rev a-d processor cards. I have a rev e.
That is why I am looking for somebody that knows how to do BGA rework. I really doubt it will be done with a soldering iron.
I was thinking along the lines of hot-air or infra-red.
Is this the hardware hack section?
Does anybody understand the concept?
To me, a hardware hack is not simply plugging in an upgrade card. A hack example could be as you suggested - to graft a G4 into an i-mac. It is in fact possible. It would also be a huge amount of expensive work.
It is also possible to add real PCI slots to a i-mac. That also would be a huge amount of work - but certainly qualifies as a "hack".

So - my question restated is: Does anybody know of a place or method to deal with reworking BGA chips?
It looks like it might be possible to buy a 700Mhz PPC750CXE chip for under $100. If it could be installed for another $100 I could have the latest obsolete i-mac for not a lot of money.

[yukon]

Buy a G4 motherboard, processor, and fan. Put it in your tangerine imac case.
Go and paint a G4 orange.

Personally, I wouldn't try it unless I had a few extra iMacs, and a few extra million dollars.

[IEEE1394]

You could take it down to your local AppleStore, they have Mac Geniuses there trained for this kind of work. You have to provide the G4 chip though. And while you're at it, why not take off the Rage128 and put on a GeForce4Ti? I'd pay big $$$ for that machine .

[ 03-06-2002: Message edited by: IEEE1394 ]