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Hotrodding the 15” and 17” Aluminum PowerBooks

Over the years I've written articles about hotrodding various PowerBook and iBook models, but never the big aluminum PowerBooks. No slight intended. I have a 17" PowerBook and love it, but aside from the RAM being upgraded to 1.5 GB it's box-stock in specification.

The thing is, the 17" and high-end 15" aluminum PowerBooks, aside from the by today's standards modest 512 megabytes of standard RAM, are pretty sumptuously equipped in standard trim, and even the "entry-level" 15-incher is no slouch. Even my 1.33 GHz BigAl, a model that debuted in September, 2003, came with a very respectable RADEON 9600 graphics processor and 64 megabytes of video RAM, an 80 gigabyte hard drive, a SuperDrive, gigabit Ethernet, built-in Bluetooth, 802.11g wireless, FireWire 400 and 800, USB 2.0, and an internal modem, which is something you don't get in any MacIntel 'Book. The later, 1.5 GHz and 1.67 GHz AluBooks have even more impressive standard equipment, which somewhat attenuates the incentive to tinker and upgrade.

However, that doesn't mean the 15" and 17" AluBooks are not candidates for hotrodding, especially now that we're nearly two years into the MacIntel era, and their performance and specification are well back of the cutting edge. Also, prices of used and refurbished AluBooks are coming down, with early versions now well below the $1,000 threshold, and with some judicious hotrodding they can still form the basis of powerful and useful production platforms or just nice personal-use laptops with what some of us still consider the substantial advantage of being able to support OS X Classic Mode and the aforementioned internal modem.

Memory Upgrade

The first phase of any AluBook hotrodding project should definitely be a RAM upgrade, and I recommend maxing it out at 2 GB from the get-go, especially if you plan on installing OS 10.5 Leopard, although that will involve removing and probably discarding the OEM 512 MB stick from one of the two memory slots.

There are lots of memory vendors, and a good place to compare prices is Ramseeker:
http://www.ramseeker.com/

I've personally had good luck with RAM upgrades from Other World Computing, who offer, for example:

1GB (1024MB) PC2700 DDR SODIMM 200 Pin Memory Module 128x64 CL 2.5 for PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" & 17 for $67.99

1GB (1024MB) Other World Computing brand PC2700 DDR SODIMM 200 Pin Memory Module 128x64 CL 2.5 for all PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" & 17" for $75.99

1GB Samsung Original PC2700 DDR-SO 333MHz Cas 2.5 200 Pin Memory Upgrade Module for all PowerBook G4 - $83.97

For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/

Faster, Higher Capacity Hard Drive

Most AluBooks came with 4,200 RPM ATA hard drives, although some of the later models had 5,400 RPM drives. Capacities ranged from 60 GB on the earlier models to 120 GB on the last ones, so a hard drive upgrade to a 100 GB or a 160 GB unit rotating at 5,400 or 7,200 RPM can increase both your performance and data storage capacity.

As with RAM upgrades, various vendors offer hard drive upgrades for the 15" and 17" PowerBooks

Four examples are:
http://www.mcetech.com/products.html
http://eshop.macsales.com/
http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=76
http://www.techrestore.com/

The downside is that getting at the AluBooks' hard drives (unlike with, say, the Pismo PowerBook in which it's a 10-15 minute easy job) involves substantial disassembly of the computer. If you think you have the skill and patience to tackle the job yourself, or want more information to help determine whether you do or not, check out iFixIt.com’s free illustrated teardown guide for the appropriate model PowerBook here:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/

IFixIt also has a selection of parts and upgrade items for the PowerBook here:
http://www.ifixit.com/cart/catalog/

SuperDrive Upgrade

The very early 15" AluBooks were sold with Combo optical drives on the entry-level model, and a variety of DVD-burning SuperDrives came with most of these machines. My 1.33 GHz unit, for example, has a 2x SuperDrive, which does the job, but is a bit of a slug compared with the Fastmac 8x Dual-Layer SuperDrive upgrade in my old Pismo PowerBook. The 1.67 GHz 15" and 17" AluBooks got 8X SuperDrives in January, 2005 and dual-layer 8X drives in their final, November, 2005 revision.

If you have one of the older models with a 2x or 4x SuperDrive (or a Combo drive), several vendors supply SuperDrive upgrades for the aluminum PowerBooks:

Fastmac offers an 8x dual-layer unit for $149.95. I have FastMac SuperDrive upgrades in both of my Pismos, and they've been excellent performers.

For more information, visit:
http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=76

MCE Technologies also offers 8X DVD±R/RW SuperDrive upgrades with both Double Layer AND Dual Layer support for the 12" PowerBook G4 that allows users to author professional-quality DVDs as well as create, store, and share their collections of videos, music and photography, priced at $149.00.

You can check it out at:
http://www.mcetech.com/products.html

TechRestore offers 8x Dual Layer Superdrive Self-Service Upgrade For PowerBook G4 Aluminum 12", 15" and 17" Series at $119.99.

For more information, visit:
http://www.techrestore.com/xcart/home.php?cat=256

Other World Computing offers the OWC Mercury PBG4 SuperDrive Dual-Layer upgrade for all PowerBook 15" and 17" models for $109.99

For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/

Extended Life Battery

Another hotrodding tweak that should especially appeal if your 'Book's battery is getting more than a bit past its prime is a high-capacity battery replacement.

FastMac offers TruePower extended life batteries for the PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15 for $99.00, and for the PowerBook G4 Aluminum 17 at $119.95.

For more information, visit:
http://fastmac.com/laptop.php

Newer Technologies also offers extended life batteries for the AluBooks - up to 16% More Capacity on Aluminum 15" models with the Newer Technology NuPower 55.5 Watt-Hour Battery at $119.99, and up to 21% greater capacity 17" Aluminum Models with the Newer Technology NuPower AL17 60 Watt-Hour Battery at $129.99.

Newer Technology also offers an Intelligent Battery Charger/Conditioner for the PowerBook G4 15" and 17" at $149.95.

For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook/batteries/

I have both Fastmac and Newer Technology extended life batteries for my Pismos, and they're both great products that have performed as advertised.

Compact Flash Memory Reader

As we noted, the aluminum PowerBooks came pretty comprehensively equipped, but one feature Apple has for some reason never offered on any of its notebooks is a built-in Compact Flash reader - which is available on some Windows PC laptops. However, fortunately there are a variety of CF Card reader adapters available that interface through the PowerBook's PC CardBus slot.

With Delkin's CardBus 32 CompactFlash Adapter, PowerBook users will be able to read Type I and Type II CompactFlash Cards. The design provides for a compact, rugged card/adapter combination that can be inserted completely within its host computer. Mac drivers for Tiger are available.

Price direct from Delkin - $39.99

For more information, visit:
http://www.delkin.com/products/adapters/cardbus/


Lexar Media's Cf 32 Bit Cardbus Adapter looks like a Type II CompactFlash PC card adapter, but when inserted into a the PowerBook's CardBus slot, it supports read/write speeds up to the maximum CompactFlash protocol interface – just over 16MB/s. Lexar's 32-bit Card Bus reader offers support for Windows and Macintosh operating systems, extending the solution to Macintosh users for the first time.

List price - $49.99

Available new and used from $24.95

For more information, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/Lexar-RW021001-Adapter-Cardbus-Package/dp/B00069P6BS

Sandisk 6 in 1 PC Card Adapter converts Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia and xD Picture card to PCMCIA (type II)

$21.99

For more information, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Adapter-SDAD-67-A10-Retail-Package/dp/B0002JC2QE/ref=pd_rhf_f_t_cs_1/103-2083538-3668625

The SanDisk SDDR-64-768 Compact Flash to PC Card Adapter can turn any CompactFlash Type I card into a PC Card.

From $28.22

For more information, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006B9QM/ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1/103-2083538-3668625

Processor Upgrades

The ultimate hot rod tweak for the 15" and 17" PowerBook is of course a processor upgrade. Daystar Technology's latest PowerBook upgrade offering of the XLR8 MAChSpeed G4 Aluminum upgrade for some Aluminum PowerBook G4 systems can take you up to 1.92 GHz delivering up to 40% faster performance with prices starting at $399.

Daystar says the 1.75 GHz and 1.83 GHz options deliver roughly the same power consumption as the stock processors in these machines, but with more speed.
The 1.92 GHz and 2.0 GHz upgrades are the desktop substitute alternative, running warmer than the standard PowerBook and needing to be connected to AC power for the absolute fastest workhorse applications.

The MAChSpeed G4 Aluminum is compatible with the following (Aluminum) systems.
15": 1.0, 1.25, 1.33, 1.5, 1.67 GHz
17": 1.33, 1.5, 1.67 GHz"

Software Compatibility:
Apple Mac OS9.2.2 Classic Mode
Mac OS X Panther, Tiger, and updates
Standard Mac Software.

CPU Performance:
Freescale 7447A/B CPU
512 KB Internal L2 Cache at CPU speed.

Includes:
Complete installation and testing.
Fully CPU / Cache Upgrade.
30 Days of Daystar ProTech Support.
Custom modifications.
Custom shipping container.
XLR8 MAChSpeed Control.
Daystar 21 point test and diagnostic.
Overnight burn-in and thermal testing.
3-way US ground shipping + options.

MAChSpeed for 15" Aluminum offers up to 2.0 GHz for the 15" PowerBook

Base price $379.00
1.0 GHz to 1.75 GHz (to 1.83 GHz add $25)
1.25 GHz to 1.75 GHz (to 1.83 GHz add $25; to 1.92 GHz add $100)
1.33 GHz to 1.75 GHz (to 1.83 GHz add $25; to 1.92 GHz add $100)
1.5 GHz to 1.83 GHz

MAChSpeed for 17" Aluminum offers up to 1.83 GHz CPU for the 17" PowerBook

Base price:
$349.00

1.0 GHz to 1.4 GHz (7455)
1.33 GHz to 1.75 GHz (to 1.83 GHz add $25.00)
1.5 GHz to 1.83 GHz add $25.00
1.67 GHz to 1.83 GHz add $25.00

For more information, visit:
http://www.xlr8.com/

Summary

So there you have it, whether you decide to just upgrade the RAM in your AluBook, go whole-hog with a Daystar processor upgrade, or anything in between, hotrodding can make an already very capable PowerBook even more of a performer, and extend its useful service life for possibly several years yet. I know I'm in no big hurry to move on.


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cmoore@macopinion.com


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