Is it possible to run a G5 PPC970fx (2004) in a logic board designed for the PPC 970 (2003), subject to recalibration? I read conflicting reports: some say they’ve done it, others say Apple says its impossible. Anyone here actually tried it?
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PPC970fx in earlier G5 logic board - possible?
- Thread starter beachycove
- Start date
No response stopping me dead in my tracks, so I went ahead and did the swap late last night.
The reason is that I have a 2003 dual 2.0GHz machine (M9032LL/A) with a bad processor, and no suitable spare card, and an 04 dual 1.8GHz with a bad logic board. I wondered whether one working unit could be made out of the two. The cards are an exact match in terms of physical fit, and even the smaller G5 decorate plates on the two heat sinks can be swapped for the larger, single aluminum plate originally on the 04 processors, so that the whole thing looks meant.
Does it work? Yes, at this stage I can say that it seems to work, though thermal recalibration using ASD 2.5.8 is needed after the switch. This stops the fans trying to take the thing into orbit.
I’ll need to do more testing to see whether there are any real anomalies. The only oddity I can spot so far is that the machine thinks it still has PPC970 processors installed (running at 1.8GHz). Meantime, in the System Profiler, the machine still reports itself as a Powermac7,2 (i.e., an M9032LL/A). It is currently running though the ASD tests, but earlier was running really cool with fans on a mere 300-400rpms at idle, while not ramping up more than expected at load.
In short, forget everything you read online about this being in principle impossible. Whether it will run stably is the next question!
The reason is that I have a 2003 dual 2.0GHz machine (M9032LL/A) with a bad processor, and no suitable spare card, and an 04 dual 1.8GHz with a bad logic board. I wondered whether one working unit could be made out of the two. The cards are an exact match in terms of physical fit, and even the smaller G5 decorate plates on the two heat sinks can be swapped for the larger, single aluminum plate originally on the 04 processors, so that the whole thing looks meant.
Does it work? Yes, at this stage I can say that it seems to work, though thermal recalibration using ASD 2.5.8 is needed after the switch. This stops the fans trying to take the thing into orbit.
I’ll need to do more testing to see whether there are any real anomalies. The only oddity I can spot so far is that the machine thinks it still has PPC970 processors installed (running at 1.8GHz). Meantime, in the System Profiler, the machine still reports itself as a Powermac7,2 (i.e., an M9032LL/A). It is currently running though the ASD tests, but earlier was running really cool with fans on a mere 300-400rpms at idle, while not ramping up more than expected at load.
In short, forget everything you read online about this being in principle impossible. Whether it will run stably is the next question!
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Still good, all ASD tests passed, and given the new heatsink compound I put on there when still trying to get the two original machines to run, I now have a nice quiet, fully working ppc machine.
For the identification thing, maybe try MAChSpeed Control? I think Sonnet also had a similar app.
http://xlr8.com/machspeedcontrol-osxandos9combo.aspx
(Edit: Sorry, didn't notice how old this thread was. Still relevant, though!)
http://xlr8.com/machspeedcontrol-osxandos9combo.aspx
(Edit: Sorry, didn't notice how old this thread was. Still relevant, though!)
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