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Level 1

8 points

ibook G4 logic board fix

I have two 12" ibook G4 laptops. The logic board in one failed about six months ago. I didn't try to hard to fix it because it was my roommate's and mine still worked fine (he bought a new Powerbook). Last week when trying to start up my ibook the screen went dark and the fan made a loud whirring noise, the exact same thing the other ibook had done. After doing some digging today it appears this is an issue with the ibook G4s, most of which fall outside of Apple's logic board replacement program. The problem seems to be that the case of the G4 (and possibly the soldering on the GPU) is defective. The case allows the logic board to flex, which causes the (possibly defective) soldering on the GPU to seperate, disconnecting it from the board. I just talked with Apple support and was told that they were not willing to fix my ibook unless I paid, which seems a bit unfair to me considering the product is defective, but OK, life's unfair, no need to dwell on it.

My question is: it seems that the hack for fixing defective G3s is easier because the GPU is mounted on the underside of the logic board. Has anyone found a reliable fix for G4s?

Also, if this has happened to you, please let Apple know about it. Maybe they will extend the replacement program (again).

Thanks!

Corey

PS. Here are a few relevant links:

http://www.applefritter.com/node/10193

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1369476

http://www.powerbook-fr.com/ibook/bricolage/repairg3_video_enarticle797.html

ibook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Sep 8, 2006 2:57 PM

73 replies

Jan 30, 2007 1:05 PM in response to ericmac

I've lost the use of 2 iBook G4's this month. Add me to the list!

Feb 20, 2007 11:20 AM in response to Bev Goethe

I think it might be worth hanging on to the broken logic board ibooks. I've heard this happening to a lot of people including a company I know of who have had this happen to 5/6 of their G4 ibooks bought around 04-05. My logic says that the longer time passes the more machines will break, the more pressure on apple to extend their G3 repair programme to G4s. This is the second time it has happened to me. I'm looking forward to a nice new HP, same spec as macbook, with vista for 499 GBP and not looking back.

Feb 23, 2007 9:48 AM in response to Ben Cavanagh

This is out of control. The logic board on the iBook G4 I'm using now is starting to wig out...the computer is two years old, but I've already had the logic board replaced once (just out of warranty).

Our family is a huge group of Mac users, but every single iBook we've had has suffered at least one logic board failure. That's 9 logic boards gone bad on seven computers over the past four years (includes four kids in college, in case you're wondering why that number's so high). That's absolute bullsh**. Two got their boards replaced as part of the settlement, two had AppleCare, one we junked and the other two we paid for out of pocket. There's no other word for this: crap. Absolute crap. I love Apple products but this is beyond idiotic.

This is like one long nightmare that won't stop. Meanwhile, I've had to resort (at times) to our old Flower-Power original style iMac. That's just sad. Absolutely sad.

Feb 26, 2007 10:40 AM in response to William Goodwin2

G4 iBook 12" 1.2Ghz,

Same symptoms. Black screen, fan noise etc.

Tried the rubber shim on chip as per Corey's website. Runs now between 10 minutes and 2 hours without failing. But fail it does.

Interestingly, with bottom case off and power supply plugged in while standing on its 'ports' side it will go all night. Bottom cover back on and problems start again...

Heat shield short?

Hey, when this becomes the biggest thread on the discussions it will become archived. Bet you.

Feb 27, 2007 9:48 AM in response to switchlight

Add another one to the list. I bought the iBook G4 refurbished for my spouse almost 2 years ago. Unfortunately I was the one using it when all of a sudden the screen went black this past weekend. Startup attempts result in the fan running and a black screen.

Kind of frustrating after my iBook G3 had to go back for the same thing a couple of years ago. The G3 did have the kindness to go a bit more gradually so I could get all of my data off. I did also have AppleCare for the G3. Meant to get it for the G4 but I actually bought the computer a month earlier than I remembered so my year was up when I attempted to buy AppleCare.

iBook G3 (800 Mhz), iBook G4 (800 Mhz), iMac G5 (1.8 Mhz) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Feb 27, 2007 9:59 AM in response to 2yearslifespan

Well, add me to this growing list too. Black screen, whirring fan on start up, occasional ability to log on if I squeezed the case just to the left of the trackpad, etc --now, nothing. I took the iBook into two different authorized repairshops and the first time was told that there was nothing wrong it (back when it still started up, intermittently) and the second time that the logic board was kaput. Count me a lifelong but very disappointed Mac user.

derev

Level 1

5 points

Mar 7, 2007 10:32 AM in response to c_w_arnold

I tried your solution and it worked!! However, now I have to call the guys over at Ernie Ball and see if they can replace my two medium guitar picks.

http://tinyurl.com/z8z4q

iBook G4 1.2 ghz Mac OS X (10.4.8)

choose: Logic Board Fix2.jpg

iMac 2ghz Intel Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2gb ram .5tb hd

derev

Level 1

5 points

Mar 9, 2007 1:15 PM in response to derev

I spoke too soon.

Now it runs for 10-20 min and then gets a video panic (verticle rainbows).
Reboot and 10 - 20 more, then repeat line 1.

I highly recommend that everyone involved archive the hard drive.

Apple should take ownership of this problem. There are now 1858 signatures on the recall petition at http://tinyurl.com/jebtg

iMac 2ghz Intel Core Duo 2gb ram .5tb hd

kgerwitz

Level 1

0 points

Mar 11, 2007 9:53 PM in response to DKay

What did you say to get Apple to cover the costs for you?

Mar 14, 2007 5:58 AM in response to redsoxfan_1977

I'm going to add myself to the list too. Currently my iBook g4 1.42 Hz in in for service after dying at the weekend. It's only 13 months and has been only used for my iTunes library, iPhoto library, mail and internet.

At first when I tried to boot on Sunday i just got kernel panics either at log in or, at best, after 2 mins.

Now I'm lucky if it starts at all. Often i get a black screen, loud fan sound and in my opinion the left side of the iBook is a lot hotter than normal.

The service guys say it could be the HD or the logic board and, since all data is backed up i'm hoping its the former but the more I read the more i think I'm another logic board problem.

Spoke to Applecare as i'm just out of warranty and they dismissed me out right. Apparently I'm an isolated one of case as iBooks 'quote/unquote' are reliable and generally do not have problems.

Uchuujin

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2007 10:16 PM in response to Phill Rogers

Chalk another one up to the dead/dying logic board. My 20 month old G4 iBook just died on the weekend while writing an essay. No applecare unfortunately, so looks grim. The infamous clamp method works, so its almost certainly the GPU, but i'm not too keen on walking around with a G-clamp at Uni, luckily managed to save/backup my data. May look into the shim fix if Apple refuse to do the right thing and at least offer to solder the chip back on, I'm even willing to pay an Apple techie to get it done... as long as i get some resolution from Apple.

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.8)

Meggit

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2007 2:44 PM in response to Uchuujin

I'm starting to fear that my logic board is also gone. From what the other posts say it is exactly what is going on with my compy. I'd hate to think that my ibook which is less than a year and half old would fail me after saving forever to buy it. Surely Apple will hear us out...

c_w_arnold Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 3, 2007 6:29 PM in response to c_w_arnold

There is not yet a clear reason as to why these iBooks are failing.

ibook G4 logic board fix