iMac G3 Mod - Its Innards

After we have custom-made a CRT back for the LCD Panel, we put all the hardwares needed therein, which include logic board, fan, harddisks, sound controller board, and wires.

After several attempts and amendment, We were successful in putting those stuffs firmly and orderly inside the CRT back respectively, we call the whole structure "CRT-shaped Console" because it is now the brain of the new iMac.

In fact, connecting the wires between hardwares would be another challenge, it is because space inside the CRT-shaped Console is very limited. We have to use as least wires as possible to seize every milli-meter inside the Console.

Apart from making a CRT-shaped Console, we also retain the video board inside the iMac. By doing so, the modify iMac will be more resemble to the original one. However, this improvement comes with the expense of a heavier iMac.

Related Articles:

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

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

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. 

Related Articles:

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

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

iMac G3 Mod - The LCD Panel

The iMac G3 has a translucent plastic case. in our opinion, when upgrading its hardware, if the original inward structure could be preserved at the same time, as if nothing has been changed inside, it would be so cool~

To achieve this goal, we have made a CRT-shaped Console for the iMac G3 as a storage for logic-boards, hard-disk, fan, wires and cables.

The front portion is the 15" LCD with 1024x768 resolutions whereas the rear, the CRT Console.

Related Articles:

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

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

Mac Mini 2014 has a Decreased Multi-core Performance...

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/19/mac-mini-2014-benchmark/

That is sad :(

Written by: Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber 

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

Mac Mini 2014

Just bought the long-waited Mac Mini 2014. I have customized it to the highest spec 3 GHz Dual Core i7 processor, 16GB Ram. Will be available in 3-5 days. I am so excited...

I will install it into my iMac G3 Mod ... for sure (^^)

Written by: Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber 

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

iBook G3 Clamshell Intel Core i5 Mod - Is it Possible?

This is one of the passages about the iBook G3 Clamshell modification project, of which a logicboard of Intel i5 was being installed into the classic Apple iBook G3 Laptop.

The Blueberry, Graphite and Tangerine iBook G3 Clamshell

The iBook G3 Clamshell was issued in July 1999 and discontinued in May 2001. It was a product for more than a decade. However, as time goes by, we find that its design is still very cool and elegant.

Is iBook G3 Clamshell obsolete?

The iBook G3 Clamshell had been classified as "obsolete" or "vintage" because it is no longer supported by Apple in terms of software upgrade or hardware repairation. Apple won't fix a broken iBook even one is willing to pay. However, if your iBook G3 Clamshell runs out-of-order, you can still find parts from ebay for self replacement.

Ironically, the iBook G3 Clamshell is quite durable, as in my iBook collection (of about 15), 13 of them still life healthy, running effectively and smoothly.

If you are not in pursuit of latest software and hardware, like some hobbyists do, iBook G3 Clamshell, with Mac OS 9 and old applications, will be an excellect machine to play with. Many vintage softwares are still powerful when working with vintage Macs. It is still a perfect tool in word-processing , CD player, or an excellent mobile music station.

You could still upgrade the iBook a little bit by installing a SSD (Solid State Drive), accordingly, the start up speed will have an obvious improment.

As to the DVD rom, you may get rid of it and replace it by a secondary hard disk.

But remember, this is only limited to run vintage softwares in non-internet environment. If you connects this buddy with the world wide web, compatibility issues will be arisen. It will takes long time to load because at its time, the web pages has smaller images, small files and a different set of scripts being used.

Can we replace the hardware of the iBook G3 Clamshell?

My team-mates and I have been thinking the possibility of hardware replacement over and over. We think that it is difficult, but NOT IMPOSSIBLE. Just treat the shell of iBook G3 Clamshell as a computer case, and fit a right logic board into it will make this possible. 

If we could install a PPC G5 logic board into it, it will become a G5; likewise, if we could install an Intel Core i5 logic board into it, it will become an i5.

As mentioned earlier, I have 2 broken iBook G3 Clamshell, I will use them for this experiment. We call this iBook G3 Clamshell Modification Project.

Is this a cool idea?

Related Articles:

iBook Clamshell Mod - What is iBook Clamshell?

iBook Clamshell Mod - Exploring the Possibility of iBook Clamshell Mod

iBook Clamshell Mod - Monitor

iBook Clamshell Mod - Keyboard

iBook Clamshell Mod - Side Panel

iBook Clamshell Mod - Polish the Apple Logo

iBook Clamshell Mod - DIY Protective Skin for the Shell

iBook Clamshell Mod - Applying Protective Skin on the Shell

iBook Clamshell Mod - Modifying the Yo-Yo

iBook Clamshell Mod - Yo-Yo Adapter Modified

iBook Clamshell Mod - Connecting the LCD Panel with the Main Body

iBook Clamshell Mod - SD Card Slot as A Substitute of DVD Rom

Written by: Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber 

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com