Restore a PowerMac G5 Dual PSU

artaxerxes

artaxerxes

artaxerxes

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I have been gifted a broken, but cosmetically flawless Power Mac G5 Dual 2.XGHz.

Apparently it has a failed power supply. I will test the Pin 23 - 1 for 5v trickle, once I have it in the lab.

I would love to resurrect it - but balk at paying £80 -120 for a new PSU.

Assuming it was something like blown caps - has anyone resurrected their G5 PSU?

Otherwise I am considering parting out the graphics card (AGP X800 256MB with DVI and Apple Connector) which seems to go for £100-200 and would cover the price of a the PSU and some change. I would be without graphics - but I assume there is a cheaper option that I could buy with the change. What is the cheapest card?

Thanks,
 
If you know what your doing, can get the parts, and then have the ability to solder it all together then yes.

However a failed PSU nearly always takes something else out as well :p

How is your electronics knowledge?

Even with my ability to read and understand things like this:
normal_IMG_9238-01.jpg


I wouldn't attempt it :p
 
Is the power supply in a mac pro the same as in a conventional PC?

If so cant you borrow one to test the system with, it may be that when the PSu went it took some components with it.
 
"How is your electronics knowledge?"

I have Honours in Electronic Engineering, a full university lab at my disposal, but I solder like a unco-ordinated 7 year old in need of ritalin.

The PSU's had a high failure rate.. 22% a year (there was a replacement program but this Mac doesn't have the correct serial), but then again the mainboards went out too at about 11%.

http://damntechnology.blogspot.com/2009/02/rebuilding-powermac-g5-power-supply.html

Some chap tried it above with an ATX power supply - something I wouldn't of thought to look for because I too *know* they are not compatable. So it looks entirely feasible BluZiff!
 
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I have G5 dual with a failed mainboard (well actually my wife does). I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the rest of it yet but was thinking of either selling as a complete (but broken) machine or stripping it and selling for spares. It's a pity you're not closer to Surrey to give it a try to confirm the PSU is still ok.
 
artaxerxes said:
"How is your electronics knowledge?"

I have Honours in Electronic Engineering, a full university lab at my disposal, but I solder like a unco-ordinated 7 year old in need of ritalin.

The PSU's had a high failure rate.. 22% a year (there was a replacement program but this Mac doesn't have the correct serial), but then again the mainboards went out too at about 11%.

http://damntechnology.blogspot.com/2009/02/rebuilding-powermac-g5-power-supply.html

Some chap tried it above with an ATX power supply - something I wouldn't of thought to look for because I too *know* they are not compatable. So it looks entirely feasible BluZiff!
Click to expand...

Well your certainly qualified then.

If you can work out what is wrong with it then give it a go tbh.

Nothing to loose really, if you do get it working it's still worth a few bob, maybe £200ish? If it is the fastest Dual G5 there was...
 
It's been an entertaining search for a cheap solution. I will see if I can find a 550 watt lying around and try the snip, though missing the ADC voltage is an small annoyance as I have one of those monitors attached to my other old junker (G4 PowerMac Digital Audio).

I'd love your bits Hades - but it is worth a shocking amount parted out on eBay. Case, Optical, Chips, Ram, PSU, blue tooth, wifi card even the power cable and graphics all going for silly money!
 
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If it's the same model that I have, getting the PSU out of its cave in the bottom of the case in the first place is a pain in the arse.
 
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Yeah - the long shafted screw driver for the CPUs is a concern. But you only need to remove one... and then not damage the pins putting it back in! I am full of over confidence, and more importantly I have free licence as I am not destroying any value given it was free.
 
If you do get it up and running, consider updating the firmware on the X800. IIRC, with all but the newest firmware, its fan would run at 100% all the time, which was some racket.

Was the system by any chance an early Xbox 360 Dev Kit in a former life? They were duals with that graphics card and I don't think that spec was typical otherwise.
 
Nah the spec was originally an nVidia 5200(?) according to the chassis. The X800XT was aftermarket.

Could only find a 400 watt psu to sacrifice, so I am gonna sell the X800 methinks. And get a Psu and a less powerful card with the change. Worst case I can sell it on. Though I am going to give the serial to apple and see what they have to say about repairing it... Though I suspect it will be prohibitively expensive!
 
Found a supplier of Mac Specific PCI Radeon 9000s on the 'Bay... comes out about 26 quid. I lose the ADC =( but with the X800 on sale I can then afford the PSU... Excellent.
 
One went for 130 quid last week.
Other are being sold at 300 dollars as we speak.

Mac specific top end AGP cards are rare as hen's teeth. They go for silly money. There is a market for old flashed PC cards too. It's been a real eye opener looking at this Mac.
 
Right, mine looks like an AGP FX5200 64mb. It looks like you've already sourced another card but if that doesn't work out then drop me an email.
 
Intriguing Hades - I really would like to keep the ADC connectivity which I think the 5200 offers.

Let me offload the X800 XT and see where I stand.
 
Sure, no rush.

There's no obvious FX5200 name on the card but it says model A146. When I searched for that it brought up various threads about the FX5200 64mb so I'm pretty sure it's that model. It has two connectors on the back. One looks like a standard DVI connector and the other is very similar but has rounded edges. This looks like the ADC connector on Wikipedia.

The reason I don't know the exact spec is that it was my wifes before it died (would not boot past the grey screen and spinning timer). So I didn't pay too much attention to it while she was using it. I can take pics if it's necessary but I'd need to borrow a camera from somewhere unless poor quality phone images are ok.

It's a real shame that it died. I've just looked at it again and it's a beautiful machine. If I had more time I'd mod the case to take modern PC somehow.
 
Hey Hades!

I can't see an email in your Trust.. but mine is dagmar.fraser /AT/ gmail.com

I have off loaded the X800 to a Bulgarian no less and would love to steal your nVidia. So get back to me with your demands...
 
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