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Cube for $20!
- Thread starter TheMacGuy
- Start date
You released the mystic blue smoke.
From my own experience, this is not a good sign. I am crossing my fingers it's a simple problem with a simple solution.
:'(
From my own experience, this is not a good sign. I am crossing my fingers it's a simple problem with a simple solution.
:'(
Do you have a camera?
Snap us a pic!
Snap us a pic!
Here you go:
PowerMac G4 Cube VRM by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
PowerMac G4 VRM Issues by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
PowerMac G4 Pillar Burn Marks by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
UPDATE #5: Tore apart most of the Cube, down to the logic board (backside of the processor). The poor thing has (what I originally thought was soda) coffee all over the inside. I had a hard time trying to reinstall the RAM, as slot #3's (farthest in away from the edge) RAM holders have dried coffee in them. The HDD and RAM were upgraded. Originally, from the factory, it would have had 20GB HDD and 64MB of RAM. It has currently a 80GB Western Digital HDD, and 1.5 GB of RAM. With these specs, I'm guessing the lady I bought it from bought it second-hand, now I bought it third-hand. If the lady would have cared more about the machine, I would have said I was the second owner. But who ever had this machine originally, cared about it.
Coffee stains:
Coffee & RAM by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
More Coffee by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
On the worse side, the video riser card fried. I'm guessing thats what smoked. Now up to 2 boards I have to replace, the DC to DC board (VRM) and the video riser card. Here are the pictures of it fried:
Riser Card is fried 2 by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
Riser Card is fried by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
Coffee stains:
Coffee & RAM by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
More Coffee by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
On the worse side, the video riser card fried. I'm guessing thats what smoked. Now up to 2 boards I have to replace, the DC to DC board (VRM) and the video riser card. Here are the pictures of it fried:
Riser Card is fried 2 by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
Riser Card is fried by 68k TheMacGuy, on Flickr
Are you sure that's coffee? Based on your earlier pics, it's probably smoker's tar. If it is definately coffee and never cleaned up, it's most likely corroded away parts of the motherboard and is not repairable. I'd be really wary even if you repair/replace the VRM that it will smoke out just as quickly once again.
Same goes with the video riser board - that's a fairly simple part (it just reroutes the video connector right angles, more or less), that shouldn't fail unless something is seriously up with the motherboard itself. Be wary. Cube motherboards are pretty cheap now, I'd consider replacing that before all else (+ VRM which looks toasted, I don't think that'll be repairable). Resoldering the things that have "popped" off the board will most likely release more of the magic smoke ... what has popped off (tantalum caps, and ?) is not normal for a plain VRM failure (usually it's the MOSFETs that fail on these, and just the VRM fails, not everything else going all toasty).
Same goes with the video riser board - that's a fairly simple part (it just reroutes the video connector right angles, more or less), that shouldn't fail unless something is seriously up with the motherboard itself. Be wary. Cube motherboards are pretty cheap now, I'd consider replacing that before all else (+ VRM which looks toasted, I don't think that'll be repairable). Resoldering the things that have "popped" off the board will most likely release more of the magic smoke ... what has popped off (tantalum caps, and ?) is not normal for a plain VRM failure (usually it's the MOSFETs that fail on these, and just the VRM fails, not everything else going all toasty).
Sadly, I learned the hard way about coffee last night; tried to fix an old Apple Design Keyboard only to find that the coffee had completely etched the traces off the laminate. Bummer.
If you are set on repairing instead of replacing (GOOD ON YOU!!) I shouldn't think it would harm it to drop the board into a plastic container of isopropyl alcohol and try to just generally clean any debris and residue off the board before trying to remove/replace those caps, would it?
If you are set on repairing instead of replacing (GOOD ON YOU!!) I shouldn't think it would harm it to drop the board into a plastic container of isopropyl alcohol and try to just generally clean any debris and residue off the board before trying to remove/replace those caps, would it?
Ah yes this I hadnt considered.
Hey would warm soapy water be okay if I rinsed the soap residue after?
How long do you let your boards dry after rinsing them? I've always figured as long as possible, but isn't there a chane of oxidizing things? Do you towel dry them?
Hey would warm soapy water be okay if I rinsed the soap residue after?
How long do you let your boards dry after rinsing them? I've always figured as long as possible, but isn't there a chane of oxidizing things? Do you towel dry them?
Thanks for all the help. I'm serious, thank you. My Cube may just live again!
But for this weekend, I'm going to take a break, relax, and come back to the Cube on Monday or Tuesday. For now, all the parts I took out are in anit-static bags stored below the Cube in the acrylic casing (good place to put it until I get it running).
Thats the plan. So far 2 boards are going to need to be replaced, video riser and VRM (DC to DC) board. The soldering for the broken piece for the VRM board is so small, it's going to be tuff. And the video riser board, well, that's damaged beyond repair. The board is chard around the chip that caught fire. The side of the logic board facing away from the DVD drive looks good, minor to no repairs needed. Guess it was good I pulled the plug out immediately after the smoke started.
But for this weekend, I'm going to take a break, relax, and come back to the Cube on Monday or Tuesday. For now, all the parts I took out are in anit-static bags stored below the Cube in the acrylic casing (good place to put it until I get it running).
Ok, about to start repairing again. I've just been so lazy over the past couple of days. 
Lets see what we find. I will try and remember to take pictures.
On a better note, my iCEO plush Steve Jobs look-a-like by Throwboy should be here today, and we all know how Steve loved the Cube!
Lets see what we find. I will try and remember to take pictures.On a better note, my iCEO plush Steve Jobs look-a-like by Throwboy should be here today, and we all know how Steve loved the Cube!
Ok, finished for the day. Its to hot in Southern California, and I don't want my sweat dropping into the computer. Its hot even with A/C! Logic board is out, nothing looks to serious. I will take a closer look tomorrow. The only things left in the shell are the CD drive, main Heat sink, and AirPort antennas. Also, my Throwboy Steve came right in the middle of the logic board coming out. Weird timing. Anyway, I got number 300 of 1200! Even number! Going on top of my 512kE.
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