All my content and ptohos
iMac G4 700MHz - Flat panel
Although using flat panels in desktop Macs was tried
earlier (in 20th anniversary Mac), in more popular models Apple decided
to make use of it in 2002 iMac. As always it was stylish - hemispherical
base contained all internals while 15-inch flat panel was mounted on
easily adjustable jointed shaft. This made them look like desk lamps,
making these Macs known as "desk lamp" iMacs. The move from CRT displays
in Macs has started. And comparing to earlier MAcs, this panel has good
quality of picture.
Inside, the first model had a 700MHz PowerPC G4 CPU and 256MB of RAM
mounted in non-user-replaceable DIMM, while additional RAM could be
added with SODIMM. 40GB hard drive was sufficient for most tasks, yet
this Mac had FireWire to add more space with fast external FireWire
disks. Optical drive could be CD-RW or, in more popular variation, a
CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive called "SuperDrive". These sets were usually sold
with white keyboard/mouse and small spherical speakers.
Unfortunately the design made these Macs very fragile, and today it's
not easy to spot a working one.
| Model No: | ?? |
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| Year: | 2002 | |
| Discontinued: | 2003 | |
| CPU: | PowerPC G4 700MHz | |
| RAM: | 512MB (256MB DIMM on board + 256MB SODIMM) |
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| Max. RAM: | 1GB | |
| RAM Type: | DIMM/SODIMM PC133 | |
| Hard disk: | 160GB PATA (originally 40GB) | |
| Floppy drives: | None | |
| Other drives: | CD-RW/DVD drive, tray-loading | |
| Graphics: | 1024x768 graphics, Onboard GeForce 2 MX | |
| Sound: | Stereo + built-in speaker | |
| Display: | Built-in 15" LCD | |
| Dedicated OS: | Mac OS 9.2.2, 10.1 | |
| Maximum OS: | Mac OS X 10.4.11 | |
| Expansions: |
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Memory by SODIMM - USB - FireWire - AirPort card |
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Peripherals in collection: |
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| Connectors: | - USB (3 ports) - FireWire (2 ports) - Ethernet - Phone - Power - Speakers/Mic - Display? |
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My unit has been used in office in Germany, first with Mac OS X, then with Ubuntu Linux, until 2010. During its using period it was upgraded with 160GB Samsung drive and got another 256MB of RAM - to make 512MB. It was probably imported with other computers. Despite few scratches it is in working condition. I removed Linux and installed back 10.3, updated to 10.3.8 with Polish patch.
| Overclocking | Links |
Overclocking, or why NOT to do it
This particular computer has very specific design. The
mainboard is on the bottom while the heatsinks with fan are on the top,
and between there is a drives cage, power supply unit and its
subcircuits. The problem is that the whole heat from CPU is transmitted
to heatsink/fan assembly on top of hemisphere by a single heat pipe.
More, because mainboard is mounted to bottom part of hemisphere, the
heat pipe is in fact two heat pipes which are pressed together when
bottom part is fastened. There must be a decent amount of good thermal
compound between them and service manual instructs to replace it every
time the case is opened. Any air bubble in this junction dramatically
decreases cooling efficiency and makes machine run hotter.
So although it is possible to overclock CPU (see links), it is
definitely not recommended to do so. Not because CPU can't, it's because
cooling can't stand excessive heat. This is not an easily-overclockable
eMac with heatsink-augmented heat pipe and a big fan to blow the air
through it. Problems with maintaining proper heat exchange in pipes
junction was the main factor why working "desk lamp" iMacs are so rare
today.
Links
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_700_fp.html -
iMac flat panel on EveryMac
http://faqintosh.com/risorse/en/guides/hw/imac/g417hd/ - Upgrade RAM
and disk drive in 17-inch flat panel iMac.
http://www.thundernerd.com/iMacG4Chart.html - Overclocking G4 iMac.
Theoretical information. READ MY NOTES before doing it.