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Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement

Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement

Jacob Garcia

Jacob Garcia and 8 other contributors

Last updated on February 16, 2021

10 - 15 minutes
Moderate

Introduction

Go to step 1

Removing the power supply of the Power Mac G4.

What you need

Tools

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  1. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement, Opening the case: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • The handle to open your computer is located on top of the right side panel.

    Edit

  2. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Grab the circular handle and pull outward.

    Edit

  3. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Your computer is now open and ready for repair.

    Edit

  4. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement, Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Optical Drive Disassembly: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • The optical drive is in the top left corner of the case.

    Edit

  5. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • There are four screws to be removed.

    • The first screw can be seen in the first picture.

    • The remaining three screws can be seen in the second picture.

    Edit

  6. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the optical drive by pulling the drive away from the front of the computer and out.

    Edit

    Had to detach the cables before I could slide the drive out because no space to slide back. My drive is about 10mm longer than that in the picture.

    Brains - Reply

  8. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Detach the two cables attached to the back of the drive.

    • The flat ribbon cable can be detached by pulling the silver tab. The multicolored cable can be removed by grasping the plastic connector on either side and pulling with substantial force.

    Edit

  9. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • The hard drive is located in the back right corner of the case.

    Edit

  10. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the flat ribbon cable by pulling with substantial force.

    Edit

  11. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screw holding the hard drive to the computer.

    Edit

  12. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the drive up and out of the computer.

    Edit

  13. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the multicolored cable by grasping the plastic connector on either side and pulling with substantial force.

    Edit

  14. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement, Power Supply: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • The power supply is in the upper right corner of the case.

    Edit

  15. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • There is a total of four screws to be removed.

    • The first three can be seen in the first picture.

    • The final screw can be seen in the second picture.

    Edit

  16. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • There are three 2.5mm hex bolts located in the back of the computer that also need to be removed.

    • A 3/32" Hex Key or Hex Driver, or a T10 Torx, are a bit small but may also work if gentle.

    Edit

  17. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the power supply cables from the mother board by pressing in the tab on the back of the connector as shown.

    Edit

    This step can be done prior to Step 13.

    dec59us - Reply

  18. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Before sliding out the power supply make sure to disconnect the cable to the big fan by pressing in the small black tab on the back of the black connector!

    • Slide the power supply away from the back of the computer and pull it out carefully stringing the cables through the hole in the metal support.

    Edit

    Before sliding out the power supply make sure to disconnect the cable to the big fan by pressing in the small black tab on the back of the black connector!

    7design - Reply

  19. Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Power Supply Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Your power supply is now free from the enclosure and is ready to be replaced.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

24 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 8 other contributors

Jacob Garcia

Member since: 01/28/10

621 Reputation

2 Guides authored

Badges: 8

+5 more badges

Team

Cal Poly, Team 14-41, Regan Winter 2010 Member of Cal Poly, Team 14-41, Regan Winter 2010

CPSU-REGAN-W10S14G41

4 Members

17 Guides authored

5 Comments

I hate to say this, but that is not fixing the power supply but replacing the power supply with a new unit. i was hoping to fix it as mine blew and was hoping to revive it, but not luck on this end by the look of it. :(

Yannick Docq - Reply

Thanks for the clear instructions to replace the power supply. I got my part on eBay for $29 (other online stores are charging $100-200+ for it) to doctor up an old G4, and it works like a charm now.

Brenna Jue - Reply

Thank you so very much for these instructions. On my 733 G4 the blue front panel had to be removed to allow the DVD drive to exit from the front of the machine. I also had to remove the fan to allow the wires to exit with the power supply.

John - Reply

Yet another G4 QuickSilver saved from the electronics recycler! In tandem with an eBay-listed refurbisher of my defunct PSU, it was brought back to life. Instructions were very clear.

dec59us - Reply

Is it normal that after installing a replacement power supply for the PowerMac Quicksilver 733MHZ one of the fans is still running? Not sure which one, but once everything is shut down completely, I just pull the plug to avoid that fan from running for ever. Any feedback is appreciated. That unit still runs under OSX 10.4.11 and Classic.

pjers.shastans - Reply

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