Difficulty

Very difficult

Steps

16

Time Required

                          1 hour

Sections

5

  • RAM Door
  • 1 step
  • Shell
  • 4 steps
  • Motherboard Access Panel
  • 1 step
  • Fan Assembly
  • 4 steps
  • Motherboard Assembly
  • 6 steps

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2

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Introduction

Still now days i recall the goosebumps and chills watching my friends trying to scratch of some resistors from the board as i was holding it to achieve the overclock as my eMac costed me 6 months of salary when i was working and studying. It was not a good idea to play with but we surly enjoyed it.

This guide was made in memory of those moments and for all those who still own one and would love to juice out some power of it and it is based on featured guides from iFixit members Arthur Shi, Chris Green and an outsider Leo Bodnar who gave me the idea.

Hope you enjoy it as i did those days. Please feel free to contact me for details or featured corrections.

What you need

Step 1

              Door Removal
  • It should be noted that these guides are written based on a late-model eMac (2005, 1.42GHz, DDR). They will differ slightly from the older model eMacs that use PC-133 RAM.
  • Lay the eMac screen-down on a flat surface. I’ve found it convenient to use a carpeted floor because the computer is so heavy.
  • Remove the single phillips #2 screw on the RAM door, and remove the door
  • The screw is captive in the door, so don’t worry about losing it.

It should be noted that these guides are written based on a late-model eMac (2005, 1.42GHz, DDR). They will differ slightly from the older model eMacs that use PC-133 RAM.

Lay the eMac screen-down on a flat surface. I’ve found it convenient to use a carpeted floor because the computer is so heavy.

Remove the single phillips #2 screw on the RAM door, and remove the door

The screw is captive in the door, so don’t worry about losing it.

1024

Step 2

              Bottom Screw Removal
  • Before starting this process it’s important to note that the eMac can have some seriously dangerous voltages inside of it, thanks to the CRT display. Before working on an eMac, you should unplug it, press the power button to clear any stored charge on the motherboard, and then let it sit for 24-hours (or more) to allow the CRT to discharge.
  • You can read more about CRT safety procedures here. If you aren’t experienced with working on devices featuring a CRT, it’s recommended that you don’t proceed any further.
  • On the bottom side of the eMac, remove the following screws:
  • A single 2.5mm hex screw
  • Two #2 phillips screws

Before starting this process it’s important to note that the eMac can have some seriously dangerous voltages inside of it, thanks to the CRT display. Before working on an eMac, you should unplug it, press the power button to clear any stored charge on the motherboard, and then let it sit for 24-hours (or more) to allow the CRT to discharge.

You can read more about CRT safety procedures here. If you aren’t experienced with working on devices featuring a CRT, it’s recommended that you don’t proceed any further.

On the bottom side of the eMac, remove the following screws:

A single 2.5mm hex screw

Two #2 phillips screws

Step 3

              Top and Side Screws
  • Remove two 2.5mm hex screws from each of the other sides of the computer.

Remove two 2.5mm hex screws from each of the other sides of the computer.

Step 4

              Power Button Cable
  • Now, the shell can almost be separated from the computer.
  • There is a cable that connects to the power button. This must be disconnected before removing the housing completely.
  • Lift the housing enough to allow you to fit your hand through the access door, and disconnect the cable at the power button.

Now, the shell can almost be separated from the computer.

There is a cable that connects to the power button. This must be disconnected before removing the housing completely.

Lift the housing enough to allow you to fit your hand through the access door, and disconnect the cable at the power button.

Step 5

              Shell Removal
  • Now the entire shell can be removed from the computer.

Now the entire shell can be removed from the computer.

Step 6

              Panel Removal
  • The motherboard access panel is held on by 4 phillips #2 screws.
  • Remove the screws, then use your fingers to pull on the top tabs to separate the panel from the computer frame.

The motherboard access panel is held on by 4 phillips #2 screws.

Remove the screws, then use your fingers to pull on the top tabs to separate the panel from the computer frame.

Step 7

              Cables
  • To remove the fan assembly, several cables must be disconnected first:
  • 3-pin fan cable
  • Ground wire, requires phillips #2 screwdriver
  • 2-pin AC cable to power supply

To remove the fan assembly, several cables must be disconnected first:

3-pin fan cable

Ground wire, requires phillips #2 screwdriver

2-pin AC cable to power supply

Step 8

              Screws
  • Now remove the following screws securing the fan assembly:
  • 3x coarse thread phillips #2
  • 1x machine thread phillips #2

Now remove the following screws securing the fan assembly:

3x coarse thread phillips #2

1x machine thread phillips #2

Step 9

  • There may be a zip tie holding another cable to the fan assembly, cut it to remove the fan assembly.

There may be a zip tie holding another cable to the fan assembly, cut it to remove the fan assembly.

Step 10

              Assembly Removal
  • You should now be able to remove the fan assembly.
  • Doing this will expose more of the CRT neck, be careful not to touch this area because it can contain high voltages (and is fragile)

You should now be able to remove the fan assembly.

Doing this will expose more of the CRT neck, be careful not to touch this area because it can contain high voltages (and is fragile)

Step 11

              Bottom Connectors
  • There are four connectors at the bottom of the motherboard that must be removed.

There are four connectors at the bottom of the motherboard that must be removed.

Step 12

              Display Connector
  • There is a large display connector that must be removed. This can be done by squeezing the tabs and pulling.

There is a large display connector that must be removed. This can be done by squeezing the tabs and pulling.

Step 13

              Power Button Cable
  • The power button cable may be tucked in the casing, you will need to un-tuck it.

The power button cable may be tucked in the casing, you will need to un-tuck it.

Step 14

              Screws
  • There are several phillips #2 screws that hold the eMac motherboard assembly to the rest of the computer. They will all need to be removed.
  • 2 large ones near the drive bay door.
  • 7 smaller ones scattered around

There are several phillips #2 screws that hold the eMac motherboard assembly to the rest of the computer. They will all need to be removed.

2 large ones near the drive bay door.

7 smaller ones scattered around

Step 15

              Screws (Continued)
  • More of the screw locations from the previous step

More of the screw locations from the previous step

Step 16

              Motherboard Assembly
  • The motherboard assembly should now come free.

The motherboard assembly should now come free.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

                                      with 2 other contributors 


                    Emmanouil Georgopoulos

Member since: 03/15/2011

79 Reputation

                                      1 Guide authored                  



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capitaine NEMO - Jan 13, 2021

Reply

i am searching a POWER BUTTON for my old eMac(2004)

somebody can help me?

my email:cabanel.robert@orange.fr

thank you!

Pavel - Dec 27, 2021

Reply

Where is Overclocking ?)