Switching G5 from LCS to Fan Cooling?
  • Butterfly
    Butterfly
    WB_Coder
    Posts: 66 from 2014/5/1
    I know that some MorphOS users have converted their G5 PowerMac's with Liquid Cooling Systems to a Fan Cooled solution, but I have some questions about that modification.

    1. How did you do it, what parts did you use?

    2. How well does the fan cooling work, compared to the liquid cooling system?

    3. Do any of the users who have completed the conversion to fan cooling also dual or triple boot their G5 systems into MacOSX and/or Linux PPC, as well as MorphOS, and how well does the fan cooling work when the G5 is running demanding MacOSX, or Linux PPC software on both G5 CPU's, or both cores of a dual core G5 system?

    I have two liquid cooled G5 systems that I would like to convert to fan cooling to remove the risk of a future leak, but I still want to be able to run MacOSX and Linux PPC with demanding software, like Final Cut Pro and other software, which might push the G5 much harder than MorphOS can ever do using only one CPU.
    WB_Coder = Wanna Be Coder
  • »01.06.15 - 22:41
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  • Jim
  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Jim
    Posts: 4977 from 2009/1/28
    From: Delaware, USA
    Why not ask pampers.
    The G5 he currently has posted has been converted.
    "Never attribute to malice what can more readily explained by incompetence"
  • »01.06.15 - 22:53
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12138 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > I know that some MorphOS users have converted their G5 PowerMac's with Liquid Cooling
    > Systems to a Fan Cooled solution, but I have some questions about that modification.

    This thread might also help:

    https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=9330&forum=11
  • »01.06.15 - 23:52
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  • Butterfly
    Butterfly
    WB_Coder
    Posts: 66 from 2014/5/1
    Quote:

    Jim wrote:
    Why not ask pampers.
    The G5 he currently has posted has been converted.


    I did in a PM, but he is not the only one who has done this conversion, so I wanted to get the most answers I could, as some may have used different method, or parts, and have different results.

    Did you do the LCS to Air cooled conversion on your dual 2.7GHz G5 PowerMac Jim? If yes, what parts and what are the temperature observations you have made on your system?

    Thanks for thread link Andreas Wolfe.


    [ Edited by WB_Coder 02.06.2015 - 01:59 ]
    WB_Coder = Wanna Be Coder
  • »02.06.15 - 10:27
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Doffo
    Posts: 508 from 2010/10/14
    From: Nevada
    It's been a few years since I did this.

    1. How did you do it, what parts did you use?

    Just decided that I wanted to give it a try. Since I might of bought about 4 G5 machines, I wanted to see if and how the other non LCS heatsinks would work/mount. So for parts, I just bought some used 2.0ghz CPUs off ebay and used the heatsinks off them.


    2. How well does the fan cooling work, compared to the liquid cooling system?

    I did replace all 4 fans straight into the PSU, but of course it was a bit noisy for my taste. I did leave it as is before I did the fan switch and it seemed to run a bit cooler since the previous LCS was already showing signs of failure.

    3. Do any of the users who have completed the conversion to fan cooling also dual or triple boot their G5 systems into MacOSX and/or Linux PPC, as well as MorphOS, and how well does the fan cooling work when the G5 is running demanding MacOSX, or Linux PPC software on both G5 CPU's, or both cores of a dual core G5 system?

    I did not triple boot or dual boot. I did install OS X and things seemed to be fine. From what I was told, MorphOS has the CPU running at full bore on the G5. OS X would actually run cooler since it can control the CPU a bit better. I may be blowing smoke out my own ass, but thats how I understood things. :)

    Only thing that I could think of doing is getting a hold of an Apple Diagnostics Service disc so the G5 can recalibrate itself. But beware, my 2.7s failed to recalibrate and wouldnt ever successfully do it. I did manage to put in a set of 2.5ghz CPUs in a 2.0GHz G5 mac and then the CPUs did successfully calibrate. But what I found out is that if its a newer firmware 2.0ghz G5 then it can accommodate faster CPUs.

    Good luck! I would chance changing out to some active cooling heatsinks but only if its the older Delphi LCS. So far the Panasonics ive seen have been ok.
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  • »06.06.15 - 05:24
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  • Butterfly
    Butterfly
    WB_Coder
    Posts: 66 from 2014/5/1
    Thanks for the detailed reply Doffo.

    I will look for some used 2.0GHz heat sinks, or CPU's with heat sinks included on eBay, or local computer recycling center.
    WB_Coder = Wanna Be Coder
  • »06.06.15 - 07:35
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Doffo
    Posts: 508 from 2010/10/14
    From: Nevada
    Yea, best bet is to just pick up a set on the cheap. I forget how much mine was, but I think it was under $20 shipped.

    I did bring back the 2.5ghz CPUs alive. They were dead on arrival and of course experienced the LCS leakage and it was all over the CPU cards. After a good scrape with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol they actually booted up and recalibrated. :)

    Hard to say though. Make the change and see if you can succesfully run the Diagnostics CD then give good ol OS X a shot.
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  • »06.06.15 - 15:57
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