Q: iBook G4 2005 Power Issues!

The specs appear fair (better than stock) but with 10.5.8 it still will seem slower

than Tiger 10.4.11; enough RAM helps, yet will prefer to use swap space as VM

from the hard drive in addition to chip RAM. You may consider a PMU reset, yet

that won't fix a depleted, worn, and out-dated battery. A second power adapter

is often a recommended idea as it may help in troubleshooting power issues.

•PowerPC-Based Mac notebooks: Identifying the right power adapter and power cord--US - Apple Support

The battery should be replaced. I see (but have not bought) a quality third-party

replacement appears at OWC laptops page for under $90. usually. Note which

display size you have, since battery number will matter, for power requirement.

Examples of a suitable quality replacement with guaranty for portables with a

user-replaceable battery are in second link directly below:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook-ibook-macbook/ - general portable

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple/Laptop/Batteries - batteries/general

An iBook with 14-inch display uses a different battery number than the 12-inch.

You may be able to locate a good condition original/official Apple power adapter

for your iBook; or you could use a new generic power adapter with similar plug

from a company such as OWC, among others. These do not have the colored

light in the power plug to indicate charge status, however.

You may need to see if a reset of the Power Management Unit (PMU) helps,

but it will not restore a dated and failed battery; their life is up to two years.

•Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support

A 'legacy SSD' in ATA/IDE build, for use in older computers is available from OWC

and though it is a pain to open these, you could speed it up. But then what? Maybe

set it up to boot from some other OS such as linux or other custom build for PPC.

A failed wireless component may be the dual-purpose wi-fi circuit that is attached

to the logic board and is not (in last iBook models) a user-removable part. See that

item in the iFixit.com repair guide for late model iBook G4, as it can be replaced.

Companies such as powerbookmedic & wegenermedia have options for old 'Books.

Anyway, hopefully this helps somewhat...

Good luck & happy computing!

For an iBook or PowerBook G4, by the Cycle count, would be considered an old battery.

I have two Apple batteries for my iBook G4 (mid-2005) 12-inch 1.33GHz stock machine

that is running 10.5.8; it does also have 1.5GHz RAM, with a Samsung 1024MB added.

(Subject to full new install from secure erase, to Tiger 10.4/.11 from original DVDs)

The batteries can have as little as 65 or 40 cycles and be near dead. Even at 60% power

at "full charge" that isn't enough to really do anything. The total capacity you say yours

has, is not within the range of that kind of cell. Usually the max is about 5,000 mAh.

Or maybe a little more with a NuPower cell from OWC, that claims more storage.

The PMU reset may adjust the Power/Battery info as seen in System Profile.

So it could be the battery. If the battery is less than one year old, depending

on source, it may have a warranty. Third-party cells may have only 6 months.

Sketchy is the status of most any aging or used PowerPC portable's battery.

{My early MacBook1.1 (first model) has a totally different take on charging & battery life.

And it is running a comparable 10.5.8 intel-version in a 1.83GHz coreduo. Better spec.}

If you have install-restore discs for the OS X, you could start up and use Disk Utility

from the Installer (do not reinstall) menu header options; could be there may be a

problem, perhaps some other one including hardware. The original DVD set had an

included Hardware Test, that may help in some instances... The discs some toss.

Anyway there is some doubt about the validity of the (battery) specs you see.

Good luck & happy computing!

The link, in blue, was included in an earlier reply; same as here:

"You may need to see if a reset of the Power Management Unit (PMU) helps,

but it will not restore a dated and failed battery; their life is up to two years..."

•Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support

{PS: Did you have the system install-restore, or even a retail 10.5 Leopard DVD?}

And the link still works, though is now considered vintage...

edited