Quieting an old Mac G4 867

[jlandd]

This thing has always sounded like an airplane taking off, and it's common in this era Apple desktops. Now it's been relocated to the dining room and when one of the kids does their homework on it it's unacceptably loud, so it's time to deal with it. I'd really like to swap a fan or mod the case to make it acceptable. Since it's from 2001 much of the references were outdated as far as suppliers of specific fans and etc, and the useful ones just gave laundry lists of things to try.

Anyone tame the sound of a 2001 G4? Can you pass on how you did it? Did a fan swap do anything? I would settle for a low output, quiet fan since it only gets used occasionally.

Much thanks : )

j

 

[alyoshka]

Does it look like this
http://dev.methodknowledgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/powermac_g4_mdd_open.jpg

 

[alyoshka]

If so the FAN which pushes air onto the big heatsink should be the noisiest...
I would suggest trying to use a rubber strip or double sided foam strip between the fan and the chassis where it's screwed on
What you can try is another small trick is to get to old hest sink fans which were used in the Pentium 2's or earlier Pentium 3's and screw them right onto the heat sink.
They'd be just wide enough to slide inbetween after you've removed the big fan there , they'd be less noisy and the Air flow would be same if not more... keeping it cool and quiet
I guess, you ought to try it
And do let us know if it worked

 

[fatkid35]

i thought mac users just tossed their mac out every two years?

 

[Scotteq]

Anyone tame the sound of a 2001 G4?

Unplug it.

Problem Solved!

Next!


Joking aside - It's apparently a common issue, since the Wiki for the model makes the note there was even a replacement program for the power supply for that reason. Though this being a highly PC based site - (many/most of us build our own, an act which AAPL prohibit) - I'm not sure how much help we'll be able to provide.


{edit} Poked around a little for you:

http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-29993.html


http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Device/PowerBook_G4_Aluminum_12%22_867_MHz

http://www.mac-pro.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.407/.f

http://www.macintouch.com/g4-2003pt04.html

Hope that's at least some help...

 

[jlandd]

Thanks Scott : ) Macintouch I've been around on (as well as numerous other sites) but the other three I had not seen and have info I need. (Never knew of ifixit, but it's much better than Macfixit, which was moved over to CNET) Apple used to offer a replacement package for these G4s that I believe included new fans and power supply but it ended in 2003. So my goal has been to find out how to find compatible parts to swap in.

And I know that this is a PC centric site, but it's always been full of useful info for me. Thanks for the leads!!! : )