Please help me revive a PowerMac G5

[Chris_147]

Hi all,

 

I just bought very cheap a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0.

Very nice machine, except it doesn't work.

I bought it from someone who got it from a small company that also sold him several older PowerMacs G3 and G4.

So probably there was already something wrong with it.

 

Memory, Superdrive and HD was missing, also no CDs.

 

So the steps I did and please tell me if a step is wrong:

1) added 2x512MB DDR PC3200 400 MHz ram (took from my AMD 64 S939) in the inner slots on each bank.

2) added a SATA disc, it doesn't contain OSX, probably even formatted as NTFS.

3) added LG DVD ROM from an old pc, no jumper set. Removed front from tray so door could open.

4) added battery, don't know if still holds a charge

5) reseated graphics card (FX5200) to make sure no bad contacts

6) connected monitor on DVI, keyboard and mouse on USB

 

When I start it up:

- fans make a noise for a second then lower their speed

- no video, no sound, nothing

 

I opened the DVD drive, inserted an Ubuntu PowerPC liveCD, booted with C pressed: nothing

 

How can I try to fix this thing?

 

I don't want to spend too much money because if it is something in the logic board all that money is wasted.

I see on Ebay an ATI Rage PRO from a PowerMac G4, could that work in a G5?

[capt_cope]

I can't say for sure since we don't have a g5 at the office, but are you SURE that you can stick plain old ram in there? We allways had to go get "apple certified" or at least a close facimily thereof.

[Chris_147]

Not sure (that's why I am asking here ), but then what makes Apple RAM different? Specs look the same to me.

[Synaesthesia]

Any RAM should work, "Apple Certified" is always just regular RAM...I don't know what's wrong. Normally if there's no disk, you will hear the "dong" startup sound The grey screen should come up, and then a little "missing harddrive" icon...

 

I take it you have visited these sites;

Inside your Power Mac G5

Apple Power Mac G5 Do-It-Yourself Repair & Upgrade page (requires serial no.)

[Chris_147]

Thanks for the links, but indeed I already checked them (downloaded all manuals also)

 

I ordered a second hand graphics card that should work in a PowerMac G5, hope that solves the problem.

Because for now, it is really doing nothing

 

It is no problem that I installed a different DVD drive? no special firmware needed in that one?

If the battery is empty, will it also not start up or only give wrong time and date?

Is there any way to check if the logic board is mailfunctioning?

[Synaesthesia]

I don't know about the battery, that could be a cause, but then you said you put in a new one.

 

It's definitely not the DVD-ROM, no special firmware or anything like that is needed...

 

I don't know how to check the logic board, sorry.

 

edit: Have you checked the PSU? I know you said the fans spin so at least that's something. Best of luck, I hope you come right!

[MrBrights]

I would:

strip it down to basics, (no new nothing) leave certified ram and mac parts only for now, get all the "new" stuff out and fire her up. that should at least give an idea of what may be going on.

if that fails, and nothing happen:

Troubleshooting checklist:

* PSU, if your pmac is older than late 2004 early 2005 that might be the issue, there were several recalls on this part. this means get a new one of "borrow" (which is unlikely to happen) a good one to check and test.

* HD, get it out and check it in a different machine and make sure it is wiped clean if you are to install a fresh os.

* logic board, theres absolutely no way to check this unless you have stripped down the computer and tested the parts (assuming all the rest of the parts tested good your problem is in the logic board).

Over all make sure all the parts you test are in good condition and compatible with your g5, remember this computer maybe the 1st gen of g5s and as usual as in all 1st generations they ALL have many many annoying bugs. Always wait for 2nd gen to purchase something.

JJ