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Dual G4 Mac Cube

Posted by michael on from the doubles-as-space-heater dept.

ijx writes: "Those of you with a hardware-hacking bent should enjoy this - a Mac Cube modded to accomodate dual processors, courtesy of AccelerateYourMac. It seems that it uses the same dual-proc module as a Sawtooth G4 Tower. My question: will it melt?"

3 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by flonker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Modifying a machine to be dual processor without swapping out the motherboard? Anyone have any more info on this? The article was kinda skimpy on the details, it assumed we knew already.

    1. Re:Interesting by Osty · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Modifying a machine to be dual processor without swapping out the motherboard? Anyone have any more info on this? The article was kinda skimpy on the details, it assumed we knew already.

      This is a by-product of the PPC architecture used by Apple. You're thinking in a PC mindframe, where the CPU sockets are built directly onto the motherboard, and to do a dual setup you need a mobo that supports two CPUs. A Macintosh is different. The CPU is on a separate card. The dual CPU card is the same as a single CPU card, but with two CPUs on it. It connects to the motherboard in exactly the same way. Now, I've never taken a mac apart or done a CPU upgrade, so I don't have much authority here, but that is the gist of how it's done. PC architecture vs. Mac architecture.

    2. Re:Interesting by SlamMan · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Exactally right. We got a dual 500 processor card donated to us because the machine was damaged in flood (there was liquified ceiling tile corroding the rest of the motherboard, but the card was high enough to stay out of it). All we had to do was pop it in the slot that had out single processor 400, and off it went, rendering out movie files at extra blazing speed.

      --
      Mod point free since 2001