Convert iMac G5 to a Tower

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Convert iMac G5 to a Tower

Hello! I have an old pre-iSight iMac G5. It has the dreaded vertical lines which have just gotten horribly worse over time. Yesterday, I replaced it with a brand new iMac but I don't want to necessarily get rid of a perfectly good computer. What I'd like to do is use it as a home server where I can store movies etc. on and watch them on my new iMac or my MacBook Pro. Does anyone think it's possible to take the core components from the iMac and place them in a new computer tower/case? I haven't seen this done anywhere, and I've scoured the internet.

Let me know what you guys think. Thanks for your help.

Drew

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jan 20, 2016 8:42 AM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

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Jan 20, 2016 8:53 AM in response to Drewzer©

Anything of that kind is possible, but feasible? I mean I imagine you can fit a modern car engine into a Model T Ford if you really want to but it requires like 99.99% adaptation. If you are going to use this as a server then why not just keep it as it is? If you are talking about using some parts from a newer computer with parts from the older one then that is very unlikely with the exception of maybe using the drives (presuming they are SATA).

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Answer 2

Drewzer© Author

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Jan 20, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Limnos

I guess I could just keep it as is. Was just worried about the screen running all the time if I want to access the files etc. I guess I can wipe it clean, set it up and then mess with the screen settings. Was just curious as to if it was possible/feasible/and or easy to do. Probably more work than I really want to get into.

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,109 points

Jan 20, 2016 11:48 AM in response to Drewzer©

Can't you put the display to sleep with an energy saver preference?

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Answer 4

Jan 20, 2016 3:12 PM in response to Drewzer©

Isn't that the iMac G5 model that has an easily removable back panel? You can easily access the internal components on that model, compared to most other iMacs. This web site has repair guides with instructions.

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_G5

You'd have to go "a bit" further, if you want to transplant the components into another case. Many years ago, I took apart my G3 iMac (when its CRT display component failed), and used it as a "FrankenMac" with an separate display. It actually worked BETTER that way. 🙂

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Answer 5

rccharles

Level 6

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Jan 20, 2016 4:02 PM in response to Drewzer©

Did you try running the machine in safe mode? A lot of video problems can be cured this way.

R

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Answer 6

Drewzer© Author

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Jan 21, 2016 8:45 AM in response to Limnos

I probably could, just haven't messed with it. I know this model is also notorious for overheating, so I wanted to make sure it was getting cooled properly, another reason for placing it in a tower.

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Answer 7

Drewzer© Author

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Jan 21, 2016 8:46 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

It definitely is the easiest iMac to take apart. I may just keep it all together and go from there. Thank you for the information.

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Answer 8

Drewzer© Author

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Jan 21, 2016 8:49 AM in response to rccharles

I have not, mainly because this mac model is notorious for having this defective LCD screen. It was so bad, users created several forums to have Apple replace it. Seeing as the computer is now nearly 10 years old, it was time for an upgrade anyway.

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Answer 9

Hi Drewzer

Have the same model and had same problems with just vertical lines, ( rccharles got it try safe Mode) I got this model fixed with this article thanks Robert. was not easy to do. Herb

what can i do if the screen of my imac g5( vrsus 10.4.11) have blue horizontal lines?

in response to parachutiste9608

[DocumentBodyStart:fd174760-306b-4c53-92ec-eb4dce37aab3]

You may have a problem with the video chip.

Here is how to tell...

Shutdown your machine. Hold down the shift key. Poweron. Bootup will be longer.

Wait awhile while you harddrive is being checked.

An article on how to boot into safe mode.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

Runs OK in safe mode...

Running in Safe mode leaves out some video drivers. Which results in your machine not using advanced video hardware. As luck would have it, you can run the safe mode video drivers in normal mode.

Here is how:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3263472?answerId=16057567022#16057567022

Look through the above thread. See the second page. You don't have to read through the first page. Just go to the part where I try a solution that works.

Using the safe mode video driver results in these limitiations:

-- OpenGL acceleration is not supported on this mac

-- Your mac lacks quartz extreme acceleration

Summary of G5 problems. Includes instructions on a hardware fix for the brave at heart:

See -Rotten Apple- articles in both of these threads.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4023152?tstart=0

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4043819?answerId=18700825022#18700825022

Robert

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