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Apple Issues Power Supply Exchange
mpath_lamp writes "Today Apple issued an exchange program for all owners of the Mirrored Drive Doors Power Mac G4. It's meant to resolve the incredibly loud fan noise in the current power supplies of Power Mac models that began to ship in August 2002. The program requires a $20 shipping charge and the return of the old power supply. Apple will begin shipping the kits on March 10 in limited quantities and the kit consists of a 360-watt power supply, system fan, allen key, and installation instructions. A big thank you can be directed to the guys over at G4noise.com for the continuous support in trying to get an official response from Apple."
here is a link to the news.com.com.com.com coverage
There is a DIY "kit" or you can send it back to apple. from the actual article: Install the kit yourself or have it installed for you ...Or have a service provider install the kit for you
additionally, it says "After you have ordered and received the kit, take your computer and kit to a retail Apple Store (U.S. only) or Authorized Apple Service Provider if you do not feel comfortable performing the exchange yourself or are concerned that you may damage the computer while doing so. Please note, however, that you may be charged an installation fee to cover the cost of labor. Prices may vary.
Your problem is solved via a firmware update.
If you only get the really bad noise in Mac OS 9 it is firmware, but if you get it no matter what OS it is hardware.
(I think I just saved you $20).
sin(6cos(r)+5A)
Now if they would just repair the cheap-ass plastic lid latch release button
They will fix exactly this, for free. Or they should, if they are current with Apple Policy.
Well, they'll replace it with one exactly like it--so it still may have the same propensity to get chewed up. But iBook latches are a covered repair, if the unit is still under warranty. If you asked before, ask again. If you asked recently (in the last week or so), ask someone else who's more current.
(email me privately if you fail to get satisfaction, I may be able to help.)
--
$tar -xvf
No... The noise issue has been fixed in the new models. Only the august 2002 models are concerned. And not even all of them, apparently...
El Ganzo Loco
Hello! I'm a disaster waiting to happen!
Also nice to note: Verax is still working on a kit, for which one of our main contributors lend them his G4. He says it is whisper-silent now. Hopefully Verax's solution will still be developed and maybe it will indeed make the mac even more silent than Apple's fix-kit.
-- Thomas De Groote, G4noise.com webmaster