What to look for when buying a PowerBook G4

[Michael.S]

Hi,
Nostalgia just hit me and I am thinking about buying a Powerbook G4 15“ with 1.5 GHz, maxed out RAM to 2GB, and installed ssd with 120 GB.

Is there anything in general I should look out for when inspecting this machine before buying it?

Any particular flaws that appear on those macs that I should be aware of?

 

[Dronecatcher]

First question I always ask is "what condition is the battery in?" - as they are expensive to replace.

If you're given anything other than a solid answer expect the worst and it needs replacing.

 

[Amethyst1]

Check if everything is working and no parts, screws etc. are missing.
Is the SSD a modern (mSATA) one in an adapter or an old and slow IDE/PATA one?

 

[Michael.S]

Check if everything is working and no parts, screws etc. are missing.
Is the SSD a modern (mSATA) one in an adapter or an old and slow IDE/PATA one?

Would it make a difference based on the slow controller of this PowerBook?

 

[Amethyst1]

Would it make a difference based on the slow controller of this PowerBook?

I should have worded it better. I'm not just thinking of raw transfer speeds. I'm also concerned with quirks early SSDs may have. Most IDE/PATA SSDs are based on older technology.

 

[micahgartman]

Look for:
• Missing screws along the sides of the lower case
• Consistent gap between the screen and bottom case when the display is closed
• Test the CD/DVD drive (insert/play/eject)
• Bent body parts (especially around the display release button)
• Four feet
• LCD yellowing
• Trackpad
• Keycaps all work—keyboard backlight, too (if it has it)
• Fans (yes>/dev/null)

 

[Michael.S]

Here it is.
Battery doesn’t last and needs to be replaced.
The charger is not original but works.

Other than that it runs pretty nice 😊

 

[Amethyst1]

Congrats.

Is it a 2004 (PowerBook5,4) or 2005 (PowerBook5,6) model?

What SSD is installed, just out of interest?

 

[Michael.S]

Congrats.

Is it a 2004 (PowerBook5,4) or 2005 (PowerBook5,6) model?

What SSD is installed, just out of interest?

It‘s a 5.6.
Regarding the SSD it is using an adapter, I was told.
To be sure I would need to open it.
But I don’t want to do it for now.

 

[Amethyst1]

Regarding the SSD it is using an adapter, I was told.
To be sure I would need to open it.

No, just look at System Profiler's ATA section.

 

[Raging Dufus]

For anyone coming across this thread later: Be wary of dead RAM slots, which was a common problem with the 15" Aluminum PowerBooks.

Pay attention to the amount of memory listed: if it's greater than 1 GB, then both slots are working. If 1 GB or less, you're going to need to find out if both RAM slots are populated: 2 x 512 MB = 1 GB, and that's ok. 2 x 256 MB = 512 MB, and that's ok too. As long as both slots are populated and working, you'll be able to upgrade to the machine's maximum of 2 GB.

But if there's 1 GB or less of memory, and only one slot is populated - might be a problem. Be sure to get assurances from the seller that BOTH RAM slots are working, otherwise you may have a dead RAM slot and (on all but the very last version, the DLSD/Hi-Res model) you will be limited to a maximum of 1 GB memory.

Caveat emptor.

 

[Michael.S]

No, just look at System Profiler's ATA section.

Here you go

 

[Amethyst1]

Here you go

Thanks. That's a Samsung PM810 (aka 470) mSATA SSD. Good.

 

[Michael.S]

Thanks. That's a Samsung PM810 (aka 470) mSATA SSD. Good.

Thanks.

What’s not so good, that the PRAM battery just died.
Or it was dead already but I didn’t notice as the G4 ran on main power all the time.

Now I have to find a replacement cell battery for the LIR2032 3.7V that’s inside.
Unfortunately the seller that has it sits in UK and don’t ship to Germany where I live - brexit bummer 😒

Guess I need to search some chines websites then and wait forever until that stuff arrives.