Found a free g4 dual 500

[gheem]

So I just got a free g4 dual 500, it’s dusty as hell and no signs of power. I just tested the cpu in another machine and the dual 500 cards works great. I’m thinking of stripping it down completely rebuilding it. So I’ve heard that people shove the mlb into the dishwasher, is that really a thing?? This is a project to push stuff, so I’m not gonna get mad if I ruin the board. I’m gonna recover the plastics and other parts if I can’t get it to live. Thoughts?

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Never put a logic board in the dishwasher! Any cap leakage (which likely won't be present on a g4) in the same place as your dishes is a bad idea. And also, if you do have cap leakage or other corrosion, the dishwasher has been known to break already weak connections in a way that isn't visible to the eye, making repair very difficult. Avoid at all costs. The 8 bit guy among others promoting this fix is not good. It can work, but it is not a good way.
Your no-power issue is likely a bad PSU.

 

[joshc]

It is a thing but it's not really necessary, I imagine the board isn't really that dirty. I usually say a brush (anti-static ideally) and a light swab with IPA (isopropyl alcohol 99%) would be enough.

No signs of power is probably a power supply issue in one of those.

 

[gheem]

Never put a logic board in the dishwasher! Any cap leakage (which likely won't be present on a g4) in the same place as your dishes is a bad idea. And also, if you do have cap leakage or other corrosion, the dishwasher has been known to break already weak connections in a way that isn't visible to the eye, making repair very difficult. Avoid at all costs. The 8 bit guy among others promoting this fix is not good. It can work, but it is not a good way.
Your no-power issue is likely a bad PSU.

I was just curious l, my instincts say no way am I gonna do that so thanks for the confirm. I agree the issue is likely the PS. I’m doing an atx conversion on my working G4, so that old PS in that one will go into the “new one”. I’ll go back to my tried and true alcohol and swabs to clean up this mlb. As soon as I get the new PS, I’ll test. I was thinking of doing this as a straight os9 game machine IF I can get it to work.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Good luck!

 

[gheem]

Thanks! This is a project that has no impact on my “rare” stuff, so I can be a little less cautious on what I’m doing…….hehe

 

[gheem]

Got around to putting in a spare power supply and it fired right up! It’s turned out to be a pretty solid machine.

 

[MBongo]

Big Congrats on your success (and that FREE G4 Dual 500)!

A friend of mine does clean mobos submerged in a bathtub and then allows them to dry for days. I’ve a personal aversion to that approach but I have used many cans of this stuff (which once only cost $5.00). It can now still be found for less than $10.00. But I start with an air compressor, outdoors, masked-up.



And dusty? This dusty?
#5 definitely has a power supply issue.


Only really wanted #6 - but the rest just followed me home.