Prepare your working area.
Tools of the job. Screwdriver set, Thermal Paste, Blanket, Anti-static Wrist strap.
Ready to go.
Support the upper dome seperately to the base.
Four screws hold on the base. The base has the iMac's serial number and original configuration.
Anti static wrist-band connected. Touch the base reduce the risk of damage due to static build up.
Gentle unclip the SODIMM.
Pull the clear plastic tab to remove the Airport (Extreme) card.
Disconnecting the Airport aerial
Accessing the iMac G4 'Factory' compenents.
Four screws (T15) are all that need to be removed to get at the 'Factory only' components.
Cracking the case. Take your time as the cables in there are short. You don't want to rush and damage them.
Cracking the dome open
Carefully seperate the base from the dome.
Carefully lower the base down
3.6volt ½ AA size - PRAM Battery (abnout $5/£6)
Thermal Pipes across top of logic board take heat away from the G4 processor
Open view
Close-in open view
Close-in view of connectors
Power/electrical connector
Internal mono speaker for when you don't have the Apple Pro Speakers or other external audio device connected.
All connectors are closeby
Right-hand port view
Apply a petit pois size blob to the pillar in the base.
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Line the Airport (Extreme) connector up and then firmly push it downwards. You will feel a click.
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Replacing the PRAM Battery
Factory DIMM
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TDMS Video connector // VERY FRAGILE //
TDMS Connector cover. There are two sticky pads holding the cover down. An AASP didn't replace these on my iMac following work so I guess they aren't too essential.
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Close-in view of connectors.
Gently loosen the audio connector.
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Removing the old thermal paste.
Scrape the old thermal paste off the top and bottom pillars.
A small metallic strip holds the shielding grill on to the Optical Drive.
Shielding grill from Optical Drive.
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Remove the old thermal paste off the top and bottom pillars.
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Power Supply Unit and internal view of the optical drive door mechanism.
Half of the Power Supply Unit.
All the internal cables that connect the iMac top to the base.
ATA/ATAPI drives
Hard drive
Hard Drive covered in a sticky white plastic wrapper.
The white wrapper probably just keeps dust off the drive as the hard drive is directly beneath the cooling fan.
700/800MHz have 5,400rpm ATA66 drives, 1.0/1.25GHz have 7,200rpm ATA100 drives.
Rear of the
The optical drives tend to use a thinner bezel.
The iMac G4 is the only iMac to use a standard 5.25" Desktop-size optical drive. Replacements are <$40/£25.
Under the white wrapper is a bog-standard 3.5" IDE (ATA66/100) hard drive.
Parallel IDE/ATA/ATAPI connectors
The cooling fan is located at the highest point centrally in the iMac's base.
IDE cable for Optical drive is taped to the base of the Optical drive. This will probably tear off when you open the case.
Open view
Use the syringe to apply small amount of Thermal Paste.
Apply small amount of thermal paste to the pillar on the base. Spread it slightly then allow the compression of the two pillars to do the rest.
Blob of Thermal Paste on pillar.
Line up the tab, then push the SODIMM upwards until the notches on the side line up. Then push the SODIMM towards the iMac base. Don't touch the chips. Wash you hands and onlyh touch the edges of the module.