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UnknownEnder wrote:

I have an old iBook G4 with 1Gb RAM running 10.5.8 that I wish would run much faster. Now first let me explain that I'm an amateur when it comes to hardware but I've opened up xbox 360s, ps2s, my iBook, and couple ipods. For fun, repairs, and to get better understanding (all without tuts on how-to) . So anyways, would it be possible to actually some how retro fit an intel processor to the current logic board in the iBook, would I actually have to get a logic board that already has the intel processor on it and if thats the case could a macBook, new or old, logic board be able to fit into the iBook? I'm sure that all the trouble to do this isn't worth the time or money, but I'd love to just have fun and experiment with this.

you would need a logic board from a macbook because you can't just stick an intel chip into a PPC board.
If it would actually fit and I doubt it will ... it's going to involve ALOT of hacking just to fit the LB in there. then non of the external ports will line up.  then there isn't a guarantee that to screen would work.

But really what's the point? for less money you could get a real macbook that doesn't *look* that different than the ibook

UnknownEnder wrote:

Sorry if this is the wrong area for experiment questions but this looked like the right area.

this should have gone in the hardware hacking forum

Last edited by mrreet2001 (2009-10-22 12:44 pm)

Hacking as in making pieces of hardware fit together that aren't supposed to.

There's certainly no way to replace the G4 CPU with an Intel one. You'd have to replace most of the chips on the motherboard along with... as well as rewiring the motherboard. Designing a new circuit board isn't probably a good use of your time.

Even if you were able to shoehorn a Macbook's internals into the iBook case (probably not impossible if it's a 14" iBook) you probably would be stymied by the LCD screen not being compatible with the outputs on the motherboard.

Depending on your current level of expertise, learning about hardware and what does what is probably better accomplished by building some desktop machines (basically all the same form factor, so they snap together like lego) and/or reading an A+ Certification study guide or two. (I liked Que's.)

Even if you could fit a MacBook's logic board into an iBook, you would still have the problem of modifying the iBook's case to fit the MacBook's port layout since they do not have the same ports in the same locations.

Also, here is one place offering the Core Duo logic board for the oldest MacBook for US$350, which is a big chunk of change that could be better used to buy a new MacBook for $1000 or a refurbished one for $750 (based on a current listing at the Apple Store).

As dv wrote: the laptops are probably not the best platform to attempt hardware hacking. Too many of them (not just the Apple laptops) have customized parts which are not easily adapted into other laptop models even from the same manufacturer.