Replacement Motherboard for Dual 1ghz MDD G4

Eric,

What MDD do you have? Do you know if your MDD has the 133mhz bus or 167mhz bus? I believe that if you have the 167mhz bus logic board, then yes, you can reuse the dual 1ghz processor module card.

Thats like saying can I use the dual 1.42 processor card to replace my dual 1.25 processor card? Same thing applies - IF THE LOGIC BOARD IS 167MHZ BUS! otherwise, it wouldn't work to its fullest. I am not sure what the speed would be at 133mhz bus.

Just get a 167mhz logic board. I believe 1ghz processors operate at the full speed under 167mhz bus.

Now, if you need os 9.2.2 to be booted, then get the mirror drive doors FW400 167mhz bus board, if you prefer not to boot into os 9.2.2, then get the FW800 MDD logic board - make sure its 167mhz bus!

Eric,

If you post one of your email addresses in your profile, I'll email you the document that explains the situation with your existing logic board. It's only 3.3MB and would also be invaluable as a guide to help you swap the logic board.

As to your question, I can only say that you have a problematic motherboard (apart from being dead !!), that may have issues working with normal processors. Can't say for certain if your existing processors would work on a normal MDD logic board, but the issue identified by Apple was with your (dead) logic board so I think the odds are extremely favourable. So you should be fine with any replacement MDD logic board - with a 167MHz bus.

Trying to draw some meaning from the wording - which I posted earlier - it looks like Apple found an issue with logic boards after distribution. The advice to order a replacement logic board with replacement CPUs is most likely so that they can be tested together before shipping.
Remember all the advice in the document relates to replacing the CPUs, so Apple is probably taking the opportunity to swap the logic board too.

Like I said to Nadav, if I could get a replacement logic board or CPUs for the right price I'd do it. But I'd also be aware second hand G5's are pennies now too.
There's a dual 2GHz G5 with 2.5GB RAM about to go for under £100 UK on eBay.

Well I never ....

Also on eBay, 2nd hand 867MHz MDD in excellent working condition, comes with a Panther retail disk for under £1 ($2). Now I can see why you might go for the replacement board option.

Simon,

I was just on ebay. There are tons of MDD logic boards going for nice prices. I think there is one for 30.00 bucks - a FW800 board in excellent working condition. Now, I do notice the regular MDD logic boards with FW400 only are a little higher probably because they are capable of booting into OS 9.2.2

But, for what its worth, I just installed Sheepshaver and it works really nicely. I am running even Mac OS 8-8.6 and also 9.0.4 - its a real shame that it won't work with 9.1-9.2.2

You don't have to modify it. You can get a FW800 case by itself for less than what it would be to make one out of the FW400. I think I saw a few FW800 cases going for really cheap, like 15.00 + shipping on ebay.

Eric,

manual sent. you can remove your email if you want to prevent any spambots picking it up, although it should be safe there.

Simon,

My fabrication for the MDD 2003 G4 I have is: 820-1476-A - so, does this mean I can finally be at rest and install, if I choose to, a dual 1.42 processor?

can you email me the document <Edited by host>

much appreciation.

Nadav

I've just seen your thread. FYI, a little while ago I upgraded my original dual-boot(2002) Dual 1.25GHz MDD by swapping out the CPU for an Apple Dual 1.42GHz CPU plus copper heatsink. No other parts were exchanged (ie, it is still using the original FW400 motherboard, tho I have installed a FW800 PCI card. All appears to run well and stable, though I haven't yet tried to boot into OS9.

Cheers, Jack

Let me know if it does boot OS 9.2.2, even with the 1.42 processor.