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ojfd

macrumors 6502
Oct 20, 2020
485
311
Additional heat coming from the mSATA/converter brought the thermal situation out of balance.

bobesh and other 12" club members, what kind of mSATA drives are you using in your 12" PowerBooks?
What size, brand, model?
Thanks.
 
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ojfd

macrumors 6502
Oct 20, 2020
485
311
This is what I suspected. Have you ever paid attention to mSATA drive's current consumption?
The worst original mechanical HDD drive in PowerBooks that I have seen was spec'ed at 1A (the rest ~0,45-0,7A)
250GB 850 EVO draws 1,7A. Larger drives - 500GB and 1TB will draw even more..
You say your 12"-er runs hot? ;)
 

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Doq

macrumors 6502a
Dec 8, 2019
533
798
The Lab DX
That's interesting. While I don't have an SSD in my Twelve (it still has its original 100GB spinner), I did check this up on both the Companion and Old Companion and

LITEON LMH-512V2M-11 512GB - 0.95A
SAMSUNG SSD SM841N 128GB - 0.65A

So I guess here's a few SSDs that you could use in your Twelve that may reduce the heat issue.
 

VirtuallyInsane

macrumors 6502
Nov 16, 2018
333
435
I found this thread and I am here to add that I have a generic one (the YUCUN MSATA III 256GB Internal Solid State Drive SSD) that I bought off Amazon in mine, and it works well. My PBG4 12" runs quiet and I think it's a good machine for the age of it. The storage in it's perfect, and I'd never go back to using a regular IDE hard drive again.

So I guess here's a few SSDs that you could use in your Twelve that may reduce the heat issue.

I might also do that in the future. Although it runs well, it sometimes gets a bit hot, but not usually. It can go up to around 60-65c when it's under pressure, but I try not to let it get up there. I use mine for minimal tasks, like music playing and writing, etc. Story planning.
 

bobesch

macrumors 68020
Oct 21, 2015
2,142
2,220
Kiel, Germany
This is what I suspected. Have you ever paid attention to mSATA drive's current consumption?
The worst original mechanical HDD drive in PowerBooks that I have seen was spec'ed at 1A (the rest ~0,45-0,7A)
250GB 850 EVO draws 1,7A. Larger drives - 500GB and 1TB will draw even more..
You say your 12"-er runs hot? ;)
After some time I stopped memory test and within seconds numbers changet to:
GPU sensor = 58 deg C
HD Bottomside = 51 deg C
Processor topside = 53 deg C
mSATA (HD Bottomside) temperature went up, since fan is not running and there is no forced aiflow over it.
Well, on my 12"PBG4 with fans constantly switched off through G4FanControl and heavy load gave me 52°C at the HD bottomside (steambook-jpg.618347).
Probably Your mSATA/converter-combo is prone to heat up a bit too, whatsorever consumption the mSATA has.
 

ojfd

macrumors 6502
Oct 20, 2020
485
311
LITEON LMH-512V2M-11 512GB - 0.95A
SAMSUNG SSD SM841N 128GB - 0.65A

So I guess here's a few SSDs that you could use in your Twelve that may reduce the heat issue.

SM841N is good, I have one. LiteOn is probably ok on Delock adapter, but is already too much for white box chinese adapters. Those have voltage regulator with only 1A capability @25ºC (less at elevated temperatures) and internal overcurrent protection. JMicron controller alone draws ~0,13A. That leaves 0,87A for the drive, or, to be on a safe side ~0,8A.

Any extra current drawn by the drive also means extra heat generated by the voltage regulator. Most of the heat is dissipated into air inside the 12"-er case and that warm air is pulled across the heatsink by the fan to cool down the G4 processor.
I bet the original rotating HDD had different thermal profile than mSATA/adapter combos.

Probably Your mSATA/converter-combo is prone to heat up a bit too, whatsorever consumption the mSATA has.

I didn't say that I kept that drive installed. It was just one of the many test runs. ;)
 
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3922434

Cancelled
Aug 24, 2023
123
41
Well after getting a 15 inch 1.67 g4 PowerBook last month I can finally join the PowerBook 12 club. Just ordered this morning in great shape for $40…I’ll be honest I’ve been using my PowerBook every single day for YouTube using iteroni and ppcmedia center. It’s been flawless for me in combination with sorbet leopard and safari actually being useful again I can honestly say for my use case this could easily be a daily driver if I had nothing else..want to thank wicknix and Cameron for keeping the browsers alive and kicking!
 

ojfd

macrumors 6502
Oct 20, 2020
485
311
Does anyone from the 12" Club in Europe want to swap his 867MHz model for 1.5GHz of mine? If so, PM me.
 

ToniCH

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2020
729
923
Just ran into this thread. I bought my PB G4 12" new and used it until late 2012. At that point I had been using Intel Minis and iMacs for 3 years already but this small PB did everything I wanted from a small laptop.

Its a 1.33GHz, 1.25GB, spinner HD and 10.4.11. Still the same installation I used back in the day + some stuff I added recently. Original battery still has 45% health and Apple replacement 72%, according to Coconut battery.

PB-G4-12-1-33-GHz-1-25-GB-10-4-11.jpg
 
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swamprock

macrumors 65816
Aug 2, 2015
1,261
1,837
Michigan
I'm in the process of restoring my 1.5ghz machine. I've bought a new fan and speakers, and will remove the optical drive. All are dead (speakers are blown out) due to being (unknowingly) stored in a moist environment. I'll strip it down to its components and clean any corrosion I come across (and I'm sure there is some). Now I just need to find a keyboard, which is next to impossible unless you buy a parts machine. Everything else is operational and the machine itself is dent-free.
 

Certificate of Excellence

macrumors 6502a
Feb 9, 2021
945
1,458
I am sad that both my 12” PowerBooks have died over the past few years. One gpu failure and the other logic board failure. I miss them. They were the cute PowerPC Mac equivalent to a desert rain frog.
 
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weckart

macrumors 603
Nov 7, 2004
5,957
3,658
Thanks. I find that they aren't any worse than the snow iBooks, and I've done three over the past two weeks 😂
Really? I did my last generation PBG4 and iBook G4 one after the other and the latter was easier. There is always the panic of stretching the aluminium over the thinner parts - around the ports and optical drive when getting the top lid off. The plastic, while fragile, tended to be a bit more robust and cooperative. Mind you, this was a few years ago and plastic only gets more brittle with time so maybe not any more.

I am sad that both my 12” PowerBooks have died over the past few years. One gpu failure and the other logic board failure. I miss them. They were the cute PowerPC Mac equivalent to a desert rain frog.
I bought mine as non-working but in decent condition with accessories. Found a cheap logic board quite easily, which led to having to dismantle it but it all went well. Not sure you could do that today, sadly. It runs like a champ and never seems to get as hot as its reputation so hopeful that it will trundle along for a few more years at least.
 

Certificate of Excellence

macrumors 6502a
Feb 9, 2021
945
1,458
I have them both as parts machines still. The 1.5ghz I took the time to break down to its individual components and have those safely stowed away in my office closet. The 867mhz is out under my garage bench which I haven’t really touched yet. My intent is to (if I’m lucky) find a sub $50 shipped or local replacement and then will have some good parts & clean cases for repairs and some decent extra batteries. I’m not into paying too much for a replacement however so am patient. I’m confident I’ll run into a suitable specimen eventually. The two I’ve had over the years were both $40 iirc and the 867mhz came with Boxed retail Tiger media which was neat. But I do miss them especially the 1.5ghz. They were fun to use.
 

ToniCH

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2020
729
923
If your picture is a small part of an apple orchard then you are giving new meaning to Appletalk. :D

If not, never mind. :)
Sorry, those are Spiraea 'Grefsheim' in the background. Our apple trees are on the other side of the house. :) Wife just made apple pie from our own apples early this week. Basically momentarily she had more apple -products than I have in my collection. ;)
 
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