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updated2026-10-04 23:30

 
Power Mac G4 M5183 Teardown STEM Project
DevicePower Mac G4 M5183
DifficultyModerate
TimeNo estimate
Steps11
This guide is by Harrison Case on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>

This guide is for my engineering class. My goal is to show you how to fully gut a Power Mac G4.

Tools: Phillips #1 Screwdriver; 2.5 mm Hex Key; iFixit Opening Tool


Step 1 :: Case
[step 1 photo] [step 1 photo]
• Pull the tab to open the case.

Step 2 :: RAM
[step 2 photo] [step 2 photo]
• Pull the white tabs down
• Lift up the RAM
• Repeat x4

Step 3 :: Heat-sink
[step 3 photo] [step 3 photo]
• Use a flat head screwdriver or spudger to lift up the tabs that hold down the heat-sink.
• Repeat x2
• The heat-sink should just lift right off.

Step 4 :: GPU
[step 4 photo] [step 4 photo]
• Remove highlighted screw.
• The GPU should lift right out.

Step 5 :: Mother Board
[step 5 photo] [step 5 photo] [step 5 photo]
• Remove highlighted cables.
• Remove highlighted screws.
• Lift out the motherboard. (Note: pull to the left to clear the ports from the case)

Step 6 :: CPU
[step 6 photo] [step 6 photo]
• Remove highlighted screws.
• After removing the screws, simply lift off the CPU from the connector. Use only a minimal amount of pressure when pulling the CPU from the connector.
• This is the connector after removal of the CPU.

Step 7 :: DVD/ROM drive
[step 7 photo] [step 7 photo] [step 7 photo]
• Remove the face plate. You are supposed to press down the highlighted tabs from the inside.
• Remove highlighted screws.
• Slide out the drive. (MAKE SURE TO UNHOOK THE CABLES)

Step 8 :: Hard drive
[step 8 photo] [step 8 photo] [step 8 photo]
• Remove the highlighted cables.
• Remove highlighted screw.
• Lift out the hard drive.

Step 9 :: Main Fan
[step 9 photo] [step 9 photo]
• Remove highlighted screw. ( SAME SCREW ON OPPOSITE SIDE, REMOVE THAT AS WELL.)
• Disconnect the connector.
• After that, just pull it out.

Step 10 :: Power Supply
[step 10 photo] [step 10 photo] [step 10 photo]
• Use a 2.5 mm hex key to remove these screws.
    • Remove highlighted screw.
    • Feed the wires through the highlighted hole, then pull out the power supply.

Step 11 :: Finished!
[step 11 photo]
• You will be left with an empty case.

Credit
This guide is by Harrison Case on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>
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