iBook logic board: swap between 14" and 12"?

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iBook logic board: swap between 14" and 12"?

Is it possible to swap out a 12" iBook G3's 600MHz logic board for a 700MHz logic board from a 14" G3 model? I've been snooping around on PBFixit (www.pbfixit.com) and they look to be the same shape and size, but I wonder about power requirements or other gotchas. I believe these guys are one revision apart, but they're within the same P29 family of machines.

Thanks!

Jon
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IIRC one of the forum members

IIRC one of the forum members swapped a 900 into a 600. The 700 swap should work if 12" an d14" aren't problems. I don't know, but I doubt the Mac side of the LVDS cable would be different.

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give it a go and let us know

I was going to say no way, but perusing the SS manuals I see that while they have different part numbers, they look identical. I haven't got any 14" machines, otherwise I'd try it myself. So give it a go and let us know the results.

dan k

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The swap is on.

Thanks for the comments, folks. I just got a busted-screen 14" iBook off eBay and will try to do the swap once it gets here. Any tips on cracking one of these things open? I did a screen swap between two Wallstreet-era PowerBooks and that was a blast. Now I'm hooked on laptop upgrades -- way more fun than desktop stuff.

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ibook swap 12' - 14'

I had ibook 800 mhz G3, 14' . There was a problem with the video-card and I had to change the logic board (mother board). I found in ebay G3, 600Mhz, 12' board.
If you are not familiar with hobby technologies and skills the change of boards may become difficult and frustrating. During the change I got 3 problems.
1. The connector on the logic-board to the battery on 14' board is going to the battery with a cable, which should be used when mounting "new" 12' board;
2. The connector of 10.8 volts battery (12' ibook) has few mm vertical difference in the battery bed if compare with 14' ibook. But it is not difficult to be fixed carefully by mechanical tools.
3. 12' ibook has 10.8 volts battery. 14' ibook has 14.4 volts battery. you will be able to use ibook either with battery either plugged to AC. I couldn't charge battery in the ibook. I've bought impulse charger and I charge the battery pulled out of the ibook.
The charge of Li ion battery should be carried with exact stabilized voltage. In the beginning of the charge current is 2-3 Amperes and sometimes the rectifier switches off by temperature, later the current become lower and no problems. Very important is to charge battery with correct voltage and never to allow over-voltage even with 0.01 Volts. There are good sites in the net with explanations how to charge Li ion batteries.
IF YOU PLUG THE IBOOK TO AC POWER WITH BATTERY INSIDE THE LOGIC BOARD WILL BE DAMAGED!!!! Once I did that mistake and had to change 2 transistors on the logic board. It was hard because they are SMD, very small and close to other SMD elements.
I use that ibook with swapped 12'-14' logic board last 2 years with no problems. The battery is in very good health - lasts about 3.5 hours.
If you want to be able to charge the battery when it is in the ibook, you can use 10.8 volts battery from 12' ibook. in that case you should prepare good bed for the battery in the place usedf by bigger 14 volts battery feeding 14' ibook.
Good luck!

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