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| Author | Mac Mini G4 Heatsink Pins (Read 40386 times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Johnny7
64 MB  Posts: 78 System 7 Newcomer! 
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on: August 21, 2024, 23:49
Hi all! The other day I had repositioned a Mac mini G4. A day later I turned it on and after a couple minutes it randomly went into standby while also reinitializing the optical drive. I reactivated it and it did it a couple more times. I’m thinking “not good”. Googled the symptom and most agreed probably dirty inside. So, disassembled and a spring and a small broken plastic peg fell out. Quick visual and saw that it was a broken heat sink pin. I immediately thought “I can’t believe the spring didn’t fry the motherboard”. Googled G4 broken heatsink pin and found a LOT of discussions on the matter. I saw some pretty cockeyed pics of makeshift fixes. But also found quit a few discussions on how to fix it correctly… #4/40 nylon screws and nuts. Checked eBay and could only find lots of 100 for $15.00 + $5.00 shipping. Plus, another $15.00 + shipping for 100 nuts. Screw that! (No pun intended). I checked Amazon and found smaller counts but only in metric sizes. So, I check a couple conversion charts… talk about confusing! The closest “explanation” I could find to a #4/40 screw @ 3/4” length (20mm) was this… “The closest size screw in metric to a #4-40 machine screw is M3x20mm. What does M3 mean? Well, the M means metric and the 3 means three millimeters in diameter.” So, my question is, will this kit suffice? Size wise I mean? It’s a much better value and I have a total of three G4’s that I better replace all the nylon heatsink screws. https://tinyurl.com/4muvpd6p Oh, and I guess I’ll need some thermal past too. Any other with this G4 experience? Here's a pic of the motherboard. https://revontulet.org/2024/08/26/f7aab7a791c541ddb62dedfe518eafa5.jpg |
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Last Edit: August 26, 2024, 17:03 by Johnny7
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #1 on: August 22, 2024, 00:34
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I have not experienced that problem with my G4 Mini. I would be very surprised if the screw size is a 4/40. I think everything manufactured in the world has gone to metric. I live in small town USA and the local hardware store has a nice selection of metric fasteners which can be purchased individually. For American standard screws 4/40 means a #4 gauge wire with 40 threads/inch. And in our unique and different measurement systems wire sizes gauges are different for copper wire and steel wire, because well of course they are. I have no clue how metric screw sizes are measured and when I go search for one I tend to take an example with me and hunt through the bins until I find a match. I presume that nylon is suggested because force can be used to make them work. Hey does not everyone just apply enough force to make a fastener cut new threads into the nut?
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Johnny7
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64 MB Posts: 78 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #2 on: August 22, 2024, 01:18
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Here's a conversation on IFIXIT (which I'm not too fond of that site) about US screw size for the G4 fix. https://tinyurl.com/reuhrttv Yeah, first went searching locally here in Gulfport, MS for nylon screws/nuts... no luck, not even big box. "I presume that nylon is suggested because force can be used to make them work. Hey does not everyone just apply enough force to make a fastener cut new threads into the nut?" Hence the springs around the pins... 'cause you wouldn't want all your thermal paste squeezing out the sides... ;-) I'll probably actually reuse the springs... but after replacing the nylon screws I'll put some heat shrink around the four springs to prevent future zappings to the M/B from flying komikazee springs - 'cause you know, gotta make this baby run foreva! BTW, the corner of the heat sink that is now missing a pin and spring, has lifted a good 64th of an inch (0.3969 mm) LOL, hardening the thermal paste underneath to a rock like substance! ;-)
Last Edit: August 22, 2024, 02:12 by Johnny7
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #3 on: August 22, 2024, 01:56
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Thermal paste seems to generate a lot of controversy on internet discussion boards. If you can get the separation down to 1/64th inch and the paste is turning hard, perhaps a solution would be to look at using a thermal pad instead of paste. The thermal pads used for cooling on the Raspberry Pi and other SBCs are sticky and hold the heat sink in place, where the screws would serve mostly to hold the heat sink in alignment and perhaps help the screws as well. There are also thermal pads that are not sticky, yet might add enough flexibility to provide for better contact with fewer working screws. I generally get those sorts of items from Newegg, but they are also available from Amazon and I am sure other sources.
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Johnny7
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64 MB Posts: 78 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #4 on: August 22, 2024, 02:31
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Another FYI, I noticed tiny particles of what looked like some sort of metallic mesh on the motherboard. I found that it was coming from the top cover. I put a meter across the mesh and it is 100% conductive. So gonna remove all that MoBo frying stuff from the top cover. Inside Top Cover Pic... https://revontulet.org/2024/08/26/258a44c5c1814967882beb3cbe889e78.jpg
Last Edit: August 26, 2024, 17:04 by Johnny7
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #5 on: August 22, 2024, 03:34
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This is getting more like a chat than a forum thread  Searching on Amazon for "heat sink pushpins" turns up many options. Ones with a spring and a round head look very similar to the one on the corner of the heat sink in the motherboard picture. I noticed in the description that most of the listing say they are 18.6mm, which I assume is the length, indicating that these items are somewhat stock items. A bag of 50 is ~$8. I know you do not need 50, but even so a $8 fix on an old computer is fairly reasonable.
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Johnny7
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64 MB Posts: 78 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #6 on: August 22, 2024, 03:51
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@wove... I love chattin! 😁 Weird, ironically I too, just today, saw some "heat sink pushpins" (with a spring) which would seem to have worked on a G4. (I shoulda Bookmarked!) 🧐 BTW, this G4 is a 1.5GHz S/U. Thanks wove...! I'll check Amazon. (gotta meet that $35.00 minimum for free shipping). Guess I'll just have to order some goodies too!
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Johnny7
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64 MB Posts: 78 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #7 on: August 22, 2024, 04:06
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Another BTW, I was going to install OS9.x on this G4 but it screwed up... 'cause I have a MAC OS 9.x driver for an HP 1320N laser printer (which is on my network) which I'm hoping I can share from OS 9.x so that I can print to the HP from the Quadra 605 w/OS 7.5.5! At least that's the goal. 😎
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Johnny7
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64 MB Posts: 78 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #8 on: September 02, 2024, 17:16
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Just a follow-up... I went ahead and ordered the nylon screw and nut kit as it seems much sturdier. It worked well using the existing springs. See pic. One G4 done and two more to go. 😎 https://revontulet.org/2024/09/02/ddc3905d38bb4ae7839d983ae879dd86.jpg
Last Edit: September 02, 2024, 17:35 by Johnny7
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