Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
18
Time Required
10 - 15 minutes
Sections
4
- Opening the case
- 3 steps
- Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Optical Drive Disassembly
- 4 steps
- Hard Drive
- 5 steps
- Power Supply
- 6 steps
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Introduction
What you need
Step 1
Opening the case
- The handle to open your computer is located on top of the right side panel.
The handle to open your computer is located on top of the right side panel.
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Step 2
- Grab the circular handle and pull outward.
Grab the circular handle and pull outward.
Step 3
- Your computer is now open and ready for repair.
Your computer is now open and ready for repair.
Step 4
Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Optical Drive Disassembly
- The optical drive is in the top left corner of the case.
The optical drive is in the top left corner of the case.
Step 5
- There are four screws to be removed.
- The first screw can be seen in the first picture.
- The remaining three screws can be seen in the second picture.
There are four screws to be removed.
The first screw can be seen in the first picture.
The remaining three screws can be seen in the second picture.
Step 6
- Remove the optical drive by pulling the drive away from the front of the computer and out.
Remove the optical drive by pulling the drive away from the front of the computer and out.
Step 7
- Detach the two cables attached to the back of the drive.
- The flat ribbon cable can be detached by pulling the silver tab. The multicolored cable can be removed by grasping the plastic connector on either side and pulling with substantial force.
Detach the two cables attached to the back of the drive.
The flat ribbon cable can be detached by pulling the silver tab. The multicolored cable can be removed by grasping the plastic connector on either side and pulling with substantial force.
Step 8
Hard Drive
- The hard drive is located in the back right corner of the case.
The hard drive is located in the back right corner of the case.
Step 9
- Remove the flat ribbon cable by pulling with substantial force.
Remove the flat ribbon cable by pulling with substantial force.
Step 10
- Remove the screw holding the hard drive to the computer.
Remove the screw holding the hard drive to the computer.
Step 11
- Pull the drive up and out of the computer.
Pull the drive up and out of the computer.
Step 12
- Remove the multicolored cable by grasping the plastic connector on either side and pulling with substantial force.
Remove the multicolored cable by grasping the plastic connector on either side and pulling with substantial force.
Step 13
Power Supply
- The power supply is in the upper right corner of the case.
The power supply is in the upper right corner of the case.
Step 14
- There is a total of four screws to be removed.
- The first three can be seen in the first picture.
- The final screw can be seen in the second picture.
There is a total of four screws to be removed.
The first three can be seen in the first picture.
The final screw can be seen in the second picture.
Step 15
- There are three 2.5mm hex bolts located in the back of the computer that also need to be removed.
- A 3/32" Hex Key or Hex Driver, or a T10 Torx, are a bit small but may also work if gentle.
There are three 2.5mm hex bolts located in the back of the computer that also need to be removed.
A 3/32" Hex Key or Hex Driver, or a T10 Torx, are a bit small but may also work if gentle.
Step 16
- Disconnect the power supply cables from the mother board by pressing in the tab on the back of the connector as shown.
Disconnect the power supply cables from the mother board by pressing in the tab on the back of the connector as shown.
Step 17
- Before sliding out the power supply make sure to disconnect the cable to the big fan by pressing in the small black tab on the back of the black connector!
- Slide the power supply away from the back of the computer and pull it out carefully stringing the cables through the hole in the metal support.
Before sliding out the power supply make sure to disconnect the cable to the big fan by pressing in the small black tab on the back of the black connector!
Slide the power supply away from the back of the computer and pull it out carefully stringing the cables through the hole in the metal support.
Step 18
- Your power supply is now free from the enclosure and is ready to be replaced.
Your power supply is now free from the enclosure and is ready to be replaced.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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Author
with 8 other contributors
Jacob Garcia
Member since: 01/28/2010
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Team
Cal Poly, Team 14-41, Regan Winter 2010
Member of Cal Poly, Team 14-41, Regan Winter 2010
CPSU-REGAN-W10S14G41
4 Members
17 Guides authored
Yannick Docq - Mar 14, 2014
Reply
I hate to say this, but that is not fixing the power supply but replacing the power supply with a new unit. i was hoping to fix it as mine blew and was hoping to revive it, but not luck on this end by the look of it. :(
Brenna Jue - Jun 15, 2014
Reply
Thanks for the clear instructions to replace the power supply. I got my part on eBay for $29 (other online stores are charging $100-200+ for it) to doctor up an old G4, and it works like a charm now.
John - Apr 1, 2016
Reply
Thank you so very much for these instructions. On my 733 G4 the blue front panel had to be removed to allow the DVD drive to exit from the front of the machine. I also had to remove the fan to allow the wires to exit with the power supply.
dec59us - Mar 10, 2018
Reply
Yet another G4 QuickSilver saved from the electronics recycler! In tandem with an eBay-listed refurbisher of my defunct PSU, it was brought back to life. Instructions were very clear.
pjers.shastans - Nov 23, 2019
Reply
Is it normal that after installing a replacement power supply for the PowerMac Quicksilver 733MHZ one of the fans is still running? Not sure which one, but once everything is shut down completely, I just pull the plug to avoid that fan from running for ever. Any feedback is appreciated. That unit still runs under OSX 10.4.11 and Classic.
