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#1 2007-10-03 3:03 pm
- pkmgarf
- Member
- From: Sussex, WI
- Registered: 2007-06-13
- Posts: 479
DA board in a GigaE?
So, my new Sonnet chip (warranty replacement) will be on the way soon. However, my built in ethernet port seems to have bit the dust. I'm hoping it's a software problem, but I don't think I'm that lucky. It's weird that System Profiler sees it, but I can't use it when I go to activate it in the Network panel.
Anyway, will a Digital Audio motherboard fit and work in a Gigabit Ethernet? I found one for cheap, and the extra PCI slot and 4x AGP support is well worth the ~$30 price tag....
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#2 2007-10-03 3:33 pm
- pkmgarf
- Member
- From: Sussex, WI
- Registered: 2007-06-13
- Posts: 479
Re: DA board in a GigaE?
I just realized the different port alignments that would be on the back of the case....is there a way around this? If I'm going through the...joy....of putting a new motherboard in, I want to upgrade if I can.
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#3 2007-10-03 7:20 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: DA board in a GigaE?
http://www.macopz.com/buildamac/
Power Supplies
Power supplies can be tricky. The original gigabit boards used a 22 pin power supply to power the motherboard (due to the addition of the Apple Display Connector). Subsequent G4 logic boards went back to the 20 pin power supply design, but Apple's modifications to the wiring mean that a standard ATX power supply from any PC vendor still won't work.
For this project you have two options: purchase a new 22 pin power supply (model number API-9841) from this seller on ebay (if you go with a different model board, the vendor should be able to recommend a source for a power supply), or modify a PC power supply to power your Mac. Since that is beyond the scope of this tutorial, and since there are potential hazards involved, I will not disclose how to do this. A search on Google can help you if this is the method you wish to pursue and you possess the necessary electrical skills.
The beauty of the Apple power supplies is that they will fit in any standard PC ATX case since the dimensions and mounting holes are the same. Keep in mind though, the length of the power connector is 18" and this must be taken into consideration when choosing your case.
For the sake of simplicity I decided to purchase the standard 22 pin power supply. It cost me $75 and will fit perfectly in a standard ATX case.
So, you might need a different power supply too. Otherwise, sure.
If you're going from PC100 to PC133, you'll need to buy new RAM, though.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#4 2007-10-03 7:28 pm
- pkmgarf
- Member
- From: Sussex, WI
- Registered: 2007-06-13
- Posts: 479
Re: DA board in a GigaE?
I guess I'll just stick with a Giga board then. I'd really like to have AGP 4x and another PCI slot, but I really think the fact that the ports are aligned differently and that that 4th PCI slot would not (easily) fit out of a Gigabit Ethernet....back to eBay.
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