What have you done with a PowerPC today?

[vorob]

Okay, looks like I found another issue with this iBook from 2004. Looks like gpu is dying. I’ve tried some games and Red Faction gives me artefacts. I downclocked gpu for 10% and these lines went away.

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Didn’t see such in os itself or in other games, but I also didn’t see such things on my iBook from 2005 so it’s definitely an iBook 2004 issue. I also tried OS X Tiger on 2004 and it was the same, same artefacts in RF.

I switched fans to maximum I didn’t see any artefacts, so downclocking and better cooling gives some space for this machine.

Though I my experience it’s still a dying gpu. It’s just not dying instantly, these old ATI chips just can’t hold temperature as they die, in normal conditions it could artefact on 80c but a dying gpu will bug you on basic 60c.

 

[Amethyst1]

I switched fans to maximum I didn’t see any artefacts, so downclocking and better cooling gives some space for this machine.

Is it possible that it’s just overheating?

 

[vorob]

Well I will give a small chance for it. I’m monitoring temperatures and all the sensors do not register something really high i’m on safe values.

Anyway I will do a full reassemble and replace the thermal pad there. But honestly I don’t think it’s the case and I still think the GPU is dying. If you check the Wikipedia about this ibook from 2004 it’s prone to failure exactly on GPU issue.

 

[Amethyst1]

If you check the Wikipedia about this ibook from 2004 it’s prone to failure exactly on GPU issue.

In this case I guess I’m lucky mine still works.

 

[lepidotós]

Down this path lies madness, but I'm going to try to build GNOME 1.4.1, just to see if it's any lighter or faster than LXDE (and because I'd like to have an even more classic desktop). I also just really like the look of the mixed alias, pixel-based desktops of the time.
​

 

[wicknix]

If you want light and classic, try either window maker or icewm. One looks like NeXT, the other like win9x. Or if you want even lighter openbox with fbpanel.

 

[lepidotós]

I know and like both WMaker and IceWM, and have for a while (IceWM was my main desktop on the iMac G5, and I've used WM on and off since 2018). I just want to try something... well, not new, but unfamiliar. I compiled CDE on my 6600K a few months ago, which was pretty good once I got it to play nice with 1080p.
I will absolutely be checking out fbpanel in the future, though.​

 

[Amethyst1]

Down this path lies madness, but I'm going to try to build GNOME 1.4.1 […]

KDE 1.1.2 anyone?

 

[lepidotós]

KDE 1.1.2 anyone?

There's also one for KDE 2.2.2, and I keep trying to build it on various computers but it keeps giving me the same error message -- "CMake Error at kdelibs/cmake/kde2_library.cmake:111 (export): export Unknown argument: "TARGETS"."
So, I figured GNOME 1.4 would be close enough and so far it's had slightly more progress, but I keep trying and failing to get some pieces to even generate a valid makefile that cmake will make, let alone make install. I'll work on it more when I wake up...​

 

[eyoungren]

So…since late Sunday night the G4 'NAS' has been dropping off the network. I suspect the Gig-E card is going. That's another Netgear card (same as what's in my G3 Server). The symptoms seem to be the same.

I'm unwilling to hook up the stock Fast Ethernet port though as there's just less pain in shutting the G4 down than transferring files over that.

Anyway, taking a different tack. Somebody in Washington state had a pair (separate auctions) of G4 Xserve Gig-E cards for $12 each so I snapped both up. That'll give me a chance to compare native Apple tech against the two Netgear cards I have in the G3.

PS, before I go and make a thread on it…would anyone know why my G4/500 seems to require that I have a monitor attached before it will boot? If you know, is there any way around this? I'm booting off a 250GB SATA laptop drive through the PCI-SATA card if that makes any difference.

 

[dextructor]

would anyone know why my G4/500 seems to require that I have a monitor attached before it will boot? If you know, is there any way around this?

I've heard of some cases of picky PC's in the past to require an monitor to properly boot. (I never experienced personally but you aren't the first case either), so what was recommended it's to use a "dummy plug" (there was different connectors, but use what fit's your case scenario). And if you have the required parts, you can DIY your own.

How To Make a VGA Dummy Plug

Amazon

AliExpress

 

[eyoungren]

I've heard of some cases of picky PC's in the past to require an monitor to properly boot. (I never experienced personally but you aren't the first case either), so what was recommended it's to use a "dummy plug" (there was different connectors, but use what fit's your case scenario). And if you have the required parts, you can DIY your own.

How To Make a VGA Dummy Plug

Amazon

AliExpress

Cool! Should have thought about that. Bought the one you linked from Amazon, thanks!

 

[Marche90]

I bought an audio adaptor for my G4 cube and confirmed it works in the OS. Not much, but I've only had the machine for a few days and this is my first experience with a PPC Mac. I've been slowly fixing stuff and cleaning the machine 🫡

 

[Tratkazir_the_1st]

@eyoungren
Excuse me for heavy offtopic. M.b. it worse to think about a PC box & OpenMediaVAult as a NAS? Why do you need PowerMac for this ?

 

[eyoungren]

@eyoungren
Excuse me for heavy offtopic. M.b. it worse to think about a PC box & OpenMediaVAult as a NAS? Why do you need PowerMac for this ?

I don't.

I already have a G3 with a drive enclosure (2TB RAID). I also have a 6TB NAS (a real NAS). But someone on Reddit was offering up a free 500mhz G4 locally. Rather than have it go to the landfill I took it - and this is the purpose I gave it.

I don't NEED it, but I can use it.

 

[eyoungren]

So…since late Sunday night the G4 'NAS' has been dropping off the network. I suspect the Gig-E card is going. That's another Netgear card (same as what's in my G3 Server). The symptoms seem to be the same.

I'm unwilling to hook up the stock Fast Ethernet port though as there's just less pain in shutting the G4 down than transferring files over that.

Anyway, taking a different tack. Somebody in Washington state had a pair (separate auctions) of G4 Xserve Gig-E cards for $12 each so I snapped both up. That'll give me a chance to compare native Apple tech against the two Netgear cards I have in the G3.

PS, before I go and make a thread on it…would anyone know why my G4/500 seems to require that I have a monitor attached before it will boot? If you know, is there any way around this? I'm booting off a 250GB SATA laptop drive through the PCI-SATA card if that makes any difference.

Quoting myself so I can update…

Apparently this problem is not the network card. So, I have two spare network cards coming. I'll drop one of them into the G4.

What I have just deduced IS the problem though is the PCI-SATA card. I guess it decided to fail (I troubleshooted).

Fortunately I have a spare, the original PCI-SATA card that I flashed for my Quicksilver. But it's only got two ports.

Will need to find another SATA card.

 

[eyoungren]

I've heard of some cases of picky PC's in the past to require an monitor to properly boot. (I never experienced personally but you aren't the first case either), so what was recommended it's to use a "dummy plug" (there was different connectors, but use what fit's your case scenario). And if you have the required parts, you can DIY your own.

How To Make a VGA Dummy Plug

Amazon

AliExpress

So, the dummy worked. I'm seeing 1920x1080!

There are a couple additional resolutions but I'm just going to leave it to what it defaulted to.

Thanks again!

 

[eyoungren]

The 'ol Quicksilver PCI-SATA card…

 

[eyoungren]

OK, bought the same PCI-SATA card. It's a SIIG Serial ATA 4-Channel PCI #SC-SA4011. I know it works because I was using it for years before it failed.

If anyone wants a link to the vendor, let me know. They are cheaper than that other vendor selling the 3114 flashed cards.

 

[Doq]

If anyone wants a link to the vendor, let me know. They are cheaper than that other vendor selling the 3114 flashed cards.

Pass that link this way and I might throw one haphazardly at the Beige Restoration Project.

Might give it more life seeing as it's got the bummy v1 ROM and doesn't support more than one device on the IDE channels.... and forget getting my hands on SCSI anything.

 

[eyoungren]

Pass that link this way and I might throw one haphazardly at the Beige Restoration Project.

Might give it more life seeing as it's got the bummy v1 ROM and doesn't support more than one device on the IDE channels.... and forget getting my hands on SCSI anything.

Here you go…

Siig Serial ATA 4-Channel PCI #SC-SA4011 Serial ATA Controller | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Siig Serial ATA 4-Channel PCI #SC-SA4011 Serial ATA Controller at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

MODS! NOT MY AUCTION!!!!

 

[Tratkazir_the_1st]

@eyoungren
Just look at this

LSI Logic SAS3041X-R PCI-x 4-Port SAS Controller 03-01084-03D | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LSI Logic SAS3041X-R PCI-x 4-Port SAS Controller 03-01084-03D at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

If it fit slot - it's far better. AFAIK it MAY work right OOB with FCode ROM onboard & driver built in OS.
Copypasting
MODS! NOT MY AUCTION!!!!

 

[eyoungren]

@eyoungren
Just look at this

LSI Logic SAS3041X-R PCI-x 4-Port SAS Controller 03-01084-03D | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LSI Logic SAS3041X-R PCI-x 4-Port SAS Controller 03-01084-03D at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

If it fit slot - it's far better. AFAIK it MAY work right OOB with FCode ROM onboard & driver built in OS.
Copypasting
MODS! NOT MY AUCTION!!!!

My understanding is that RAID controllers do not work. Are you using this in your Macs?

Also, does a PCI-X card work in a G4 PowerMac?

 

[Tratkazir_the_1st]

Not quite sure about PCI-X in G4 (I've tested some PCI-X cards in regular PC in PCI slot - works). About RAID - this cards usually work as JBOD (without any RAIDs configured). At least LS3041E-R worked in such manner before my Quad stopped to work... About drivers - 10.4.11 Server & 10.5 (any type) have it built-in.

 

[dextructor]

So, the dummy worked. I'm seeing 1920x1080!

There are a couple additional resolutions but I'm just going to leave it to what it defaulted to.

Thanks again!

Glad that I could help.