Forums | MacLife
You are not logged in.
#1 2003-01-02 11:21 pm
- Mustapha Mond
- Up your alley
- Registered: 2001-03-24
- Posts: 7029
- Website
Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
I'm sure this question must have been asked before, but a quick search didn't turn up anything:
Is it possible to upgrade the HD in my iBook? My machine came with a rather small 14gigs (or there about) and I'd like to beef it up. So, are there harddrives available for it anywhere? And, perhaps most importantly, how difficult is it to install them and make them play nice with the Mac OS?
I'm no stranger to opening up my machines and installing RAM or AirPort cards, or video cards, and I've done a processor upgrade on a desktop (which was astoundnigly easy), but much more than that I'm not too comfortable with. As for software, I'm not sure I trust myself to do much more than toss the CD in the drive and click "Install."
I poked around on Google for info about this, but most of what came up seemed to be for iBooks older than mine (600mhz G3, just under a year old I'd guess).
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Offline
#2 2003-01-03 1:35 am
- iboy
- high as a kite
- From: Vancouver
- Registered: 2001-06-21
- Posts: 1536
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
Yes, it's possible, but Apple won't do it for you, and it will void your warranty if you have one. But it's not that hard for a professional. Definitely out of a novice's league though. (No offense, I couldn't do it either.)
R.I.P. MacAddict
Offline
#3 2003-01-03 8:23 am
- Mustapha Mond
- Up your alley
- Registered: 2001-03-24
- Posts: 7029
- Website
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
Yes, it's possible, but Apple won't do it for you, and it will void your warranty if you have one. But it's not that hard for a professional. Definitely out of a novice's league though. (No offense, I couldn't do it either.)
Hey, no offense taken. I try to know where to draw the line on tinkering with my machine and Novice is about where it's at.
So, do you know where and how can I get it done? (I figured Apple wouldn't do it.)
Offline
#4 2003-01-03 11:47 am
- Short Circuit
- authorized airduct engineer
- From: UESC Marathon
- Registered: 2002-05-17
- Posts: 4739
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
I think that these guys can do it...
http://www.mcetech.com/
W
Frog7blast the ventcore!
Offline
#5 2003-01-03 10:50 pm
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
How do you upgrade a PowerBooks processor or graphics card? Can anyone do this?
So long,
Larg0
Check out my site: http://www.evil-android.com
Offline
#6 2003-01-04 12:07 am
- Cobalt60
- Member
- Registered: 2002-04-17
- Posts: 1388
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
Yeah, MCE Technologies can do it. Read their website. They say it is hard to do. The president of my local MUG is a tech and he says it is a bear too.
Putting RAM in a iBook is usually not too tough.
I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look!
Offline
#7 2003-01-04 5:17 pm
- iboy
- high as a kite
- From: Vancouver
- Registered: 2001-06-21
- Posts: 1536
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
How do you upgrade a PowerBooks processor or graphics card? Can anyone do this?
So long,
Larg0
No, no one every has, and it is almost impossible. Even on the PC side there are very few laptops where you can do this, and they all suck because they are over 3 inches thick and have about a half hour battery life. Basically, don't get a laptop and be expecting to upgrade the graphics card. The processor, sometimes you can do it, but definitely not on the Tibook.
R.I.P. MacAddict
Offline
#8 2003-01-04 5:39 pm
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
Why is that? Why can't I buy a graphics card or processor made for a newer model PowerBook and slap it in?
So long,
Larg0
Check out my site: http://www.evil-android.com
Offline
#9 2003-01-05 8:08 pm
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
yes u can upgrade the cpu
www.sonnettech.com
www.powerlogix.com
www.mcetech.com
Powerbook G4 500 (wallstreet)
PowerMac G4 500 (Blue Tower}
PowerMac G4 500 (sold)
PowerMac G3 400 (9600
Ibook 300 (Blue)
Offline
#10 2003-01-06 10:58 am
- Zonker
- Member
- From: Walden Puddle
- Registered: 2002-11-27
- Posts: 31
Re: Can my iBook's HD be upgraded?
The main reason you can't do it is because, in most cases, these chips are soldered to the mother board, not on an easily swapped out card.
On the G3 series PowerBooks, the CPU's can be upgraded, but not the video chip. And all of the form factors are different too from one generation to the next I believe, so if you have a card for a new TiBook, It wouldnt necessarily fit into a Pismo (but thats mostly an educated guess)
Believe me, I wish I could upgrade the video chip on my Pismo (8MB?????). Sure would like to get something like (at least...) 32MB in there......
But I'm not that good with a soldering gun.....
Z
When in doubt, duct tape it...
Offline
