Imac G5!

[Theretrogamingroom]

I got an Imac G5 (Which I am using for this post) off Craigslist for $250. It came with the original cables, keyboard and mouse.

Here are the Specs:

Imac G5

Running 10.5.8

2 GB Ram

1.6 Ghz

250 GB HD

CD/DVD Superdrive

Airport Installed

 

[littlecloud92]

Did you happen to check its capacitors yet?

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

Did you happen to check its capacitors yet?

No I didn't. Do these things break easily?

 

[IIfx]

The caps are faulty Chinese made ones. (stolen Chen formula)

 

[mcdermd]

And easy to replace for about $10USD if you can perform some simple soldering.

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

What happens if I don't replace them?

 

[Christopher]

The they start to bulge and cause system problems to the point of not being able to use the computer at all...

to put it bluntly.

 

[QuadSix50]

I can confirm this first hand since I have an iMac G5 ALS from 2005 that I purchased new. The first time it happened, Apple had a repair extension program in place to replace the logic board and PSU even if the iMac was out of warranty. That program expired a couple of years ago, though, so those with problems will either have to pay Apple or a Mac service center to fix it, or they will have to replace the caps on their own. Mine did it again around the end of 2010 so now I have to find some time to embark on this project. Not all the iMacs exhibit them despite them all using the same caps, but it's like a time bomb sitting there so just be aware.

 

[bizzle]

Ouch. That's a lot of money for an iMac G5.

 

[QuadSix50]

Well, no one expects things to fail to that degree when purchasing new, and I made sure to hold off until the Rev. B, but unfortunately all of the iMac G5 models were affected by the capacitor issue. Originally, Apple was only covering a certain number of serial numbers which amounted to the Rev. A models, but they changed that to cover all of them since many people with Rev. B ALS models and Rev C. iSight models were having the problems. It's a shame because I love my iMac G5, but that is a major black eye to the model.

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

The they start to bulge and cause system problems to the point of not being able to use the computer at all...
to put it bluntly.

Oh.

And easy to replace for about $10USD if you can perform some simple soldering.

Will these Capacitors need to be replaced again or will it be a one time fix? Who/where specifically can I get these from?

Ouch. That's a lot of money for an iMac G5.

It doesn't look like it. On ebay and craigslist, Imac G5s in the same (Or worse) condition are at usually $50+ more then what I got mine for.

 

[QuadSix50]

The capacitors that were in the iMac G5 systems (and many other PCs as well) used a formula that was faulty, and in turn caused the capacitors to be defective. More about that problem here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

The replacement capacitors you buy should be fine at this point in time. The issue was widely publicized and I do believe that most made sure to eliminate capacitors using that faulty formula.

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

The replacement capacitors you buy should be fine at this point in time. The issue was widely publicized and I do believe that most made sure to eliminate capacitors using that faulty formula.

Good. I just opened the cover of the Imac and all of the Caps are in great shape with no leaking or bursting caps. There is also a sticker on the power supply that reads "Warranty 1 year from repair date: 3-5-11". I guess that means that it was just recently serviced and that the capacitors that are in there now should have a good formula. So my guess is that this thing will last at least another 10 years (And if I am not mistaken, that warranty is still good, right?).

What do you guys think?

 

[mcdermd]

One more layer of troubleshooting:

99% of the time the bad capacitors will have a three-legged scoring pattern on the top (like a Mercedes Benz symbol). The good ones will be in a "K" shape.

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

99% of the time the bad capacitors will have a three-legged scoring pattern on the top (like a Mercedes Benz symbol). The good ones will be in a "K" shape.

Well then I know for sure that a few of them are good, but most of them are "X" shaped. Are these good or bad?

 

[IIfx]

99% of the time the bad capacitors will have a three-legged scoring pattern on the top (like a Mercedes Benz symbol). The good ones will be in a "K" shape.

Well then I know for sure that a few of them are good, but most of them are "X" shaped. Are these good or bad?

Look for obvious bulging or leaking.

Who made them would also be useful.

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

Look for obvious bulging or leaking.Who made them would also be useful.

1: No bulging/leaking. They all look like new.

2: National Ram Electronics, Alpine NY, 14805.

 

[bizzle]

X's and Peace Signs as I called them where the most common to be leaking on all the iMac G5's I've worked on, which are hundreds. We kept covering them at Apple long after the repair extension was over, so I worked on a lot. I did see some with bad K's but it was rare.

 

[Theretrogamingroom]

Well still, it isn't too bad if you only have to replace the caps every 5 or 10 years (You would probably spend that much on maintaining/upgrading most older 68k macs anyways).