Re: G4 Mac Power supply really loud

LongJohn wrote:
"Rowland McDonnell" <real-address-in-sig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1hzm7yg.f548o3q8epesN%real-address-in-sig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
LongJohn <not@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"Rowland McDonnell" <real-address-in-sig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
LongJohn <not@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

We have a G4 Powermac but it's really noisey; I think it's the PSU.
Umm. Best to find out exactly what's wrong first. Could be a software
issue.
Software issue? What software? The firmware?
The OS is OSX 10.3.9
Could be something getting confused due to something buggy and/or
corrupted.

The fans are variable speed and can run flat out if there's a
hiccup in the software that controls them, and also if they need to
because it's hot in there.

However, the tower G4s are famously noisy, some of them.

Are the PSU's the same as PC PSU as I have a spare one of those?
Not the same at all: totally different.

Erm.

See if you can isolate the fault properly.
Sounds loudest when I put my ear to the PSU. Don't think it's the hard disk.
What else could it be?
Could be a dying PSU :-) Dunno about `else' - but if you're fairly
sure, you're fairly sure.

It's very dust around the PSU, would vacuuming it out help?
Oh yes lots! My old 2G4 ran a lot quieter if I took the trouble to
clean out the dust every few weeks. Lots of dust all over the place
needed removing.

Do the deed with the Mac *plugged in to the mains*.

Yes, that's right - but make sure that the power is turned off at the
wall socket too.

That way, you keep the machine earthed.

Caution: do not let any of the fans get themselves spun round by the
vacuuming process. Slow rotation by hand is okay, but an electric motor
being driven mechanically tends to behave as a generator, doesn't it?
Right.

Could be that someone has a
spare of what you need. Well, I possibly have, but I'm not up to
offering to do anything for anyone at the moment (if it weren't for that
and the model's right, I'd offer you a PSU for postage).
That would have been grand
[snip]

If the PSU packs up, don't throw the machine away. Ask me.

Rowland.

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Thanks for all the help everyone.

Am I really OK to vacuum the inside of my mac? This seems like a dodgy thing to do.



I've heard stories about vacuums generating static, but I've never had any problems myself.

Paul
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: G4 Mac Power supply really loud
    ... Sounds loudest when I put my ear to the PSU. ... clean out the dust every few weeks. ... Do the deed with the Mac *plugged in to the mains*. ... vacuuming process. ...
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  • Re: G4 Mac Power supply really loud
    ... Sounds loudest when I put my ear to the PSU. ... clean out the dust every few weeks. ... Do the deed with the Mac *plugged in to the mains*. ... vacuuming process. ...
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