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Broken Powermac G5

Submitted by GEOS on July 23, 2008 - 3:07pm. Hardware Repair Help

I've recently found a Powermac G5 for sale with a few problems. I think if I can get the price down, I may try my hand at fixing it up. The owner says he thinks it was in a lightning strike and now it doesn't work. He told me the power supply fans come on and motherboard lights up, power light comes on when you push the button to turn it on. Do you guys think this could be as simple as a PMU or PRAM reset issue? Or does this sound like a fried motherboard. I don't want to buy it if I am going to have to replace a bunch of parts. I figure I can fix just about any Mac, but if something is REALLY beyond repair and needs replacements I don't want to waste my money.

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eeun's picture

Why don't you ask him if you

Submitted by eeun on July 23, 2008 - 5:06pm.

Why don't you ask him if you can see the G5 and try a PRAM and CUDA reset, with the stipulation that if it does start up, you get some repair fee compensation.

If it doesn't work, then having been inside the Mac you would have a better idea what might need replacing, or whether it's worth your while buying it.

» It's all pants.
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GEOS's picture

I'd do that, but its a bit of

Submitted by GEOS on July 23, 2008 - 10:57pm.

I'd do that, but its a bit of a drive to where he's at. About 2.5 hours and with gas costing what it does, I'd like to be sure I'm gonna buy before I make the drive. I have a hunch it may be a bad processor or logicboard... but its hard to know for sure.

» Oh, Hazel, look. The field! It's covered in blood

MacBook Pro 2.16 Core 2 Duo, 12" Powerbook G4 867MHz, iMac G3 600, Powermac B&W G3 450, iMac g3 400, iBook 366, B&W G3 350, Beige G3 350, Powerbook G3 233. Plus many more..

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ibub's picture

Lightning Strike?

Submitted by ibub on July 24, 2008 - 4:18am.

Fans,Moboard Lites and Power lights Wouldn't survive a strike - maybe the power line surge consequent to the reclosers on the transmission line failing due to a strike elsewhere. Does it chime? How many times? Take along a Power Mac G5 Test DVD/CD and Use the select option to run the tests if it boots from your disk. The machines hard drive may have crashed due to the Surge and those are cheap/easy. Good luck.

» Things of quality have no fear of time,
ibub



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GEOS's picture

Re: Lightning Strike?

Submitted by GEOS on July 24, 2008 - 5:01am.
ibub wrote:
Fans,Moboard Lites and Power lights Wouldn't survive a strike - maybe the power line surge consequent to the reclosers on the transmission line failing due to a strike elsewhere. Does it chime? How many times? Take along a Power Mac G5 Test DVD/CD and Use the select option to run the tests if it boots from your disk. The machines hard drive may have crashed due to the Surge and those are cheap/easy. Good luck.
Those are all really good points. Maybe its still salvageable. I offered him $150 if he can't sell it for his asking price. I'll see if he bites. He wants $300 right now, but I can't risk losing that kind of money. Maybe if it were a faster model, but not for a single processor G5.

» Oh, Hazel, look. The field! It's covered in blood

MacBook Pro 2.16 Core 2 Duo, 12" Powerbook G4 867MHz, iMac G3 600, Powermac B&W G3 450, iMac g3 400, iBook 366, B&W G3 350, Beige G3 350, Powerbook G3 233. Plus many more..

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