siiveldotcom: All-in-one

Thursday, May 28, 2015

iMac G3 Mod - iMac G3 "i7": an iMac G3 with i7 CPU

The original meaning of iMac G3 refers to the all-in-one desktop computer produced by Apple computer during 1998 to 2003 with a PowerPC G3 processor.

As a product of more than a decade. What can we make use of it in 2015?

(1) it is still a perfect tool for word processing.

(2) it can be used as a music player.

Anything else?

Honestly speaking, even if its hardware is still in good condition, its specification is unfit to meet our needs these days. Nowadays, computers need to handle more complex tasks, such as, backup data of mobile devices, edit and play HD movies, storage of photos, entertainment... Some tasks even need to implemented wirelessly, like sending media messages, syncing data with iCloud, and so on.

If we still want it to be our perfect companion, why don't we upgrade its hardware to meet this goal? Accordingly, we need to treat the iMac G3 housing as an ordinary computer case, in which the elements inside would be replaced and upgraded with latest ones.

iMac G3 "i7" is an integration of old with new elements. We replace the PowerPC G3 logicboard of iMac G3 with an Intel i7 logic board. The outlook of the iMac G3 has no change, but there is "a big change" inside. Instead of calling this modified machine iMac G3, we name it as "iMac G3 i7".

Up to this moment (March 2015), the iMac G3 i7 could be upgradable to the highest possible specification of 4GHz Intel Quad Core i7 with 32GB memory.

All-in-one, Apple, iMac, G3, Modification, Modify, i7, Intel, Core, PowerPC G3, Siivel, siivel.com,

iMac G3 Mod - The LCD Panel

iMac G3 Mod - The Side Panel

iMac G3 Mod - Its Innards

Written by: Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

Friday, March 13, 2015

iMac G3 Mod - What is iMac G3?

I am going to make a complete record about "iMac G3 i7 Modification Project" in a series of articles.

1998, All-in-one, Apple, Bondi Blue, Desktop, eMac, Ethernet, iMac, G3, Jonathan Ive, M4984, M5521, Mac OS 8.1, Modem, PowerPC, Slot Loading, Steve Jobs, Translucent, Tray Loading, USB, What is, Macintosh,

First, let us start from a brief history of iMac G3: iMac G3 is an all-in-one, consumer-targeted desktop computer Apple debut under Steve Jobs return to Apple to be its interim CEO in 1997. It was designed by Sir Jonathan Ive.

iMac G3 was introduced at the “Back on track” Special Event in 6 May 1998. And was began shipping on 15 Aug 1998.

According to Steve Jobs, “iMac comes from the marriage of the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of Macintosh,” “i” stands for “internet”, “individual”, “instruct”, “inform” and “inspire”.

The original iMac was of “tear-shaped”, made of translucent “Bondi Blue”-colored plastic, with a white plastic handle on top, a CRT in front, and socket panel at the right hand side hidden behind a door. It contained a PowerPC G3 233 MHz Processor, equipped with Mac OS 8.1, a tray loading CD Rom, 2 USB ports, a Modem port and an Ethernet port.

Since the original iMac is equipped with a PowerPC G3 processor, it was named as "iMac G3" to distinguish for its subsequent models.

The specification of iMac G3 is radical, as it abandoned the 3 1/2 inch floppy disk drive, the ADB, SCSI and GeoPort Serial Connection which was still prevalent at that time.The keyboard and mouse were also redesigned for this iMac with translucent plastic and a Bondi Blue trim, with USB as the only mean for connection.

The first iteration (Model 4984) of iMac G3 is cited as “tray-loading”. In 5 Oct 1999 tray-loading iMac G3 was discontinued and was replaced by the “slot-loading” with 2 additional FireWire ports (Model M5521).

The slot-loading iMac G3 was subsequently discontinued in Mar 2003 by the released of eMac.

Related Articles:

iMac G3 Mod - What is iMac G3?
iMac G3 Mod - iMac G3 "i7": an iMac G3 with i7 CPU