So, which iBook parts are interchangable?

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Jasoco's picture
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So, which iBook parts are interchangable?

I am going to be receiving a G3 600 Combo iBook (8MB RAM, non Spanning hackable.) next week and while it should suit me for now, I was curious what parts would be interchangable with others in it?

For instance, can the mother board from a G4 iBook be put in place of the MoBo on a G3 iBook?

Can the Combo Drive be upgraded to SuperDrive and if slot-loading, can the shell be switched easily?

Basically, I'm curious if all the screws would line up, if the HD, CD/DVD, Monitor, etc slots all line up. If they used the same layout for each. Or did they completely change the insides and the shape and placement of screws and such? It'd be cool if I could one day upgrade it to a G4 iBook.

coius's picture
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first of all...

g4 ibook are not interchangeble with the g3 in the same the first rev. ibooks aren't compatible with the 600, another thing, DON"T DO IT. I have had so many problems with my 900mhz, and it's based on the same design. Mostly because of the GPU of the board being under the HDD. If I were you, get a Pismo and upgrade it because (1). they are cheaper to upgrade, (2). they don't have very many problems and (3). they are mory upgradable and have mory features.

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forget G4 upgrade, guts differ too much

Innards differ too much for a practical swap. If you want a G4 iBook just sell the G3 and buy a G4. A low end G4 sells for only a very few hundreds over value of your G3. Figure $400 - $500 for 600 combo, ~$700 for G4.

However you can swap out the optical, any slim tray- or slot- load optical drive should work. If tray and you wish to use the same faceplate, if the replacement is the same make as the original combo then the original face ought to fit fine.

Slotload may come with a generic face, else you may want to make a matching bezel. Pretty easy since it doesn't have to move as does a trayload face. HD likewise is standard part, = or < 9.5mm thick is only limitation.

coius's advice re: replacing with a Pismo is doable, they sell for similar money to your 600.

Advantage Pismo - speed, expandability, sheer presence, can sleep-swap batts, etc.

Advantage iBook - size (smaller is better in my 'Book), ruggedness, modernity, etc.

The choice is a wash with video subsystem, processor speed, battery life. Personally I'd suggest sticking with the iBook unless a Pismo can do something the iBook cannot.

(rant)
Damn iBooks can't sleep-swap batteries, where PowerBooks can ('cept the 12" G4) Why TF couldn't Apple have figgered a way to keep the damn thing alive for the few seconds it takes to swap batteries!!??!! Grrrrrrr!!!!!
(/rant)

dan k

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Thanks, guys.

Thanks, guys.

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