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 - The Side Panel

Just finished making the Side Panel of iMac G3 i7 Version 2.0. Compare with the Version 1, this version has greater connectivity ability.

(1) Mic Jet;

(2) 3.5mm Stereo Jet;

(3) Firewire Port (could be changed to USB 3.0);

(4) and (6) USB 3.0;

(5) a Thunderbolt Cord; and

(6) Gigabite Ethernet.

Mic and speaker jets are new features of Version 2.

If you still have vintage devices like iSight Camera, iPod Gen 1-3 ..., you still need a FireWire Port, or just dropped it.

As there is no "female" Thunderbolt Port available in the market (unless being disassembled from a Thunderbolt device), the Thunderbolt Jet has no choice but to be built this way.

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

iBook Clamshell Mod - Keyboard and Trackpad Attached

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.
It is already the final stage of the iBook G3 Clamshell modification project. Yesterday, I attached the original Keyboard and Trackpad to the iBook Clamshell. Afterwards, I tested them thoroughly, by pressing the keys one by one. Also, I tried to use the combination keys such as reseting PRAM, all worked in order. Test results were satisfactory.

It is however quite disappointed that the Cap Lock Button could not be lit. And as to the Trackpad, originally, I intended to install the Magic Trackpad into the iBook but subsequently in vain.

Nevertheless, it is already a successful mod, in terms of keeping the original outlook at the same time, retain the original functions of those peripherials.

The "skin" if the Trackpad has been replaced by a new one (as the old one had been "polished" by repeated usage), and covered by the a layer of Bestskinsever. 

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

iBook Clamshell Mod - Keyboard and Trackpad Attached

Written by: Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber 

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

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

We are planning to replace the original DVD rom by a SD Card Slot, as DVD is no longer a popular storage means nowadays. The Slot is located at the cover of the DVD tray.

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

iMac G3 i7 Mod Video - 10000 Views Attained

The "iMac G3 Mod i7 Mod" Video was uploaded in last April. Today I am happy to announce that 10000 views was reached, in less than a year. It is a milestone of our work done. I would like to express my gratitude towards all people who have watched this video, in particular, who liked this video, who gave comment to this video, and the subscribers of our channel.

If you have watched other related videos of mine, you might find that I have fine-tuned this computer, which include:

(1) adjusted the viewable area of the LCD screen to about 13 inches so that it look much alike the original CRT screen;

(2) install the latest Mac OSX Yosemite for this iMac G3 i7;

(3) install the iStat Menus to show more performance information of this machine; and

(4) connecting it with other Apple devices i.e. Wireless Mouse and Keyboard and iPhone 6 and iSight Stand Alone Camera.

If I have another chance to make a Version 2.0 video, It would includes all those changes, besides, I would also:

(1) upgrade the start-up disk from SATA To SSD;

(2) show its connectivity with iPod, iPad and Apple Watch;

(3) activate more applications to demonstrate its performance of multi-tasking; and

(4) improve the fluency and skill of my presentation (^.^).

Written by: Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber 

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

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

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.
Instead of using a 800x600 resolution LCD panel, we replace it by a new one with 1024x768. It is because a 800x600 LCD couldn't show all contents of Mac OSX Yosemite.

After we install the new LCD, we rearrange the wires as shown in the above picture. Then we attached the LCD with the main body of the iBook.

Now, the LCD was connected to the body of iBook. And it was booting Mac OSX Yosemite.

We have a video about this iBook G3 booting Mac OSX Yosemite:

http://youtu.be/X1wdGIpPuk4

Enjoy～

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

iBook Clamshell Mod - Keyboard

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.

Applying Protective Film to the keys of Clamshell

Repeat pounding of keyboards renders the marking of the keys to fade.

There are two ways to prevent fading of keyboard markings: either place a layer of silicon protective film onto the keyboard, or apply protective skin on each of the keys.

The silicon protective film provides the strongest protection for iBook G3. It not only protects the keys but also the gaps betweens the key against water, dirt  or dust.... 

There were once many manufacturers that produced this kind of silicon film. However, as iBook Clamshell had been classified as "obsolete", accessories for it are not easily found these days. However, you could be able to find it in ebay in very rare occasions.

So making a protective film for the keyboard seems to been a more feasible choice.

If you wish to DIY a protective film for your keyboard, I would suggest the brand "Bestskinsever" as your first priority.

Why?

Because "Bestskinsever" has "DIY skin" for sale, of which one can simply use scissors to cut the desire shape any device.

Today, I applied "Bestskinsever" protective skins onto each of the key of my Apple iBook Clamshell. It looks great～

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

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