Power Mac G4 Mdd System Fans Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

                          5 - 15 minutes

Sections

Case
2 steps
Hard Drives
8 steps
Optical Drive Cage
4 steps
System Fans
2 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Case

The Power Mac G4 MDD: the last, and the fastest G4-based Mac. This computer boasted up to a Dual 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 CPU (though I have a single 1.25GHz).
Two USB 1.1 Ports
Assorted Audio
Video (ADC & DVI)
Networking (RJ-45 Ethernet/56k Modem)
Some later model MDD’s (such as the dual 1.42GHz) Have a FireWire 800 Port Here:

The Power Mac G4 MDD: the last, and the fastest G4-based Mac. This computer boasted up to a Dual 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 CPU (though I have a single 1.25GHz).

Two USB 1.1 Ports

Assorted Audio

Video (ADC & DVI)

Networking (RJ-45 Ethernet/56k Modem)

Some later model MDD’s (such as the dual 1.42GHz) Have a FireWire 800 Port Here:

1024

Step 2

Unplug the computer.
Unplug the power supply and all external connections from the computer.
Pull on the side lever and lower the side of the case.

Unplug the computer.

Unplug the power supply and all external connections from the computer.

Pull on the side lever and lower the side of the case.

Step 3

              Hard Drives

The hard drive cages are located here.

The hard drive cages are located here.

Step 4

Cage 1
Start by removing this screw.
Remove the ATA-66/ IDE ribbon cable from the motherboard.

Cage 1

Start by removing this screw.

Remove the ATA-66/ IDE ribbon cable from the motherboard.

Step 5

Now, remove the power connection from the drives.

Now, remove the power connection from the drives.

Step 6

Push this tab down, and pull the cage toward you.
Now, you can set cage 1 aside.

Push this tab down, and pull the cage toward you.

Now, you can set cage 1 aside.

Step 7

Cage 2:
Remove this Phillips screw:
Disconnect this IDE ribbon cable from the logic board.

Cage 2:

Remove this Phillips screw:

Disconnect this IDE ribbon cable from the logic board.

Step 8

It’s likely that there is a cable clip holding the ribbon cable to the case.
To remove it, push the end, and it should pop up.

It’s likely that there is a cable clip holding the ribbon cable to the case.

To remove it, push the end, and it should pop up.

Step 9

With the ribbon cable clip free, pull this tab towards you, slide the cage up until it hits the platform under the power supply, and pull it away.
Now, set the cage on top of the CPU, and remove the power connectors.

With the ribbon cable clip free, pull this tab towards you, slide the cage up until it hits the platform under the power supply, and pull it away.

Now, set the cage on top of the CPU, and remove the power connectors.

Step 10

Once the cables are free, set the drive cage aside.
To remove the hard drives from the cages, remove the four screws on the sides of the cage that are connected to the drives, then slide the drives out.
The two cages are cross compatible and can be put in either location.
The MDD does not have a 128GB drive limit like older Macs. My MDD has 3 drives (a 400GB Hitatchi Deskstar, 40GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, and a 30GB Quantum Fireball LCT).
Note the ID jumpers on the two drive set. One is set to Master, the other to slave. A single drive can be set to Cable Select.

Once the cables are free, set the drive cage aside.

To remove the hard drives from the cages, remove the four screws on the sides of the cage that are connected to the drives, then slide the drives out.

The two cages are cross compatible and can be put in either location.

The MDD does not have a 128GB drive limit like older Macs. My MDD has 3 drives (a 400GB Hitatchi Deskstar, 40GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, and a 30GB Quantum Fireball LCT).

Note the ID jumpers on the two drive set. One is set to Master, the other to slave. A single drive can be set to Cable Select.

Step 11

              Optical Drive Cage

Start removing the optical drive cage by removing its back cover.

Start removing the optical drive cage by removing its back cover.

Step 12

Now, remove the IDE and power cables from the drives.

Now, remove the IDE and power cables from the drives.

Step 13

Remove these two Phillips screws:
Pull the cage away from the front until it is free.
Slide the cage towards you, and out of the Mac.

Remove these two Phillips screws:

Pull the cage away from the front until it is free.

Slide the cage towards you, and out of the Mac.

Step 14

To remove the drive(s) from the cage, remove the two screws on each side of the drive(s), then pull the drive out of the cage.
My MDD has a 3rd party 22X SuperDrive, for burning DVD’s in Leopard (Thank You Generic Drive Support!)

To remove the drive(s) from the cage, remove the two screws on each side of the drive(s), then pull the drive out of the cage.

My MDD has a 3rd party 22X SuperDrive, for burning DVD’s in Leopard (Thank You Generic Drive Support!)

Step 15

              System Fan

You may find removing the system fan is unnecessary to remove the power supply cable from behind it, but if you’re unfamiliar with how the power supply cable is situated behind the fan, this step is useful in seeing this.
Disconnect the optical drive IDE/ATA-33 cable from the logic board.
Disconnect the system fan 2-wire power cable connector from the logic board.

You may find removing the system fan is unnecessary to remove the power supply cable from behind it, but if you’re unfamiliar with how the power supply cable is situated behind the fan, this step is useful in seeing this.

Disconnect the optical drive IDE/ATA-33 cable from the logic board.

Disconnect the system fan 2-wire power cable connector from the logic board.

Step 16

Grab the system fan by its sides and pull it up and out. The system fan is very large and loud, compared to standard sized fans.

Grab the system fan by its sides and pull it up and out. The system fan is very large and loud, compared to standard sized fans.

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

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office - Feb 19, 2016

(y)

Das waren halt noch service- und support-freundliche Macs …

Introduction#

What you need#

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Introduction

What you need

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