Mac Repair London carries out an SSD upgrade on the PowerBook G4 from our Central London workshop, for home users and businesses.
Every aluminium PowerBook G4 uses a 2.5-inch IDE drive, and on the 15 and 17-inch models it sits beside the optical drive under the keyboard. We replace failing original drives with an SSD on a quality IDE adapter and restore your system onto it. On the 12-inch the drive is deep inside the chassis, so we quote that model separately. For many owners the main reason is preserving a working Tiger or Leopard setup for audio, design or legacy software that won’t run anywhere else.
Signs it needs an SSD upgrade
- Original hard drive failing SMART or making noise
- Very slow boot into Mac OS X
- Kernel panics on reading files
- Wanting a quiet, cooler machine for vintage use
How we do it
Because IDE solid-state drives are no longer manufactured, we use a modern SSD on a tested IDE/ATA adapter. We check the adapter fits the drive bay without pressing on the logic board, which matters on these tightly packed machines.
Once fitted, we install Mac OS X Tiger or Leopard (whichever suits your software) or restore your existing system, then run a full surface and read/write test.
If you’d rather move to a new Mac instead, our data migration service (from £79 + VAT) transfers everything across.
At a glance
| Years | 2003–2005 |
|---|---|
| Processor | PowerPC G4, 867MHz–1.67GHz |
| Storage | 2.5-inch IDE (parallel ATA) hard drive |
| Memory | Socketed, upgradeable |
| Battery | Removable |
| Power / charging | Round barrel DC-in |
Before you bring it in
Think about whether you want a clean install or everything moved across exactly as it is. Both are fine; a clean install can also clear out years of clutter.
Which model do you have?
This page covers the PowerBook G4 Aluminium (12, 15 & 17-inch, 2003–2005) (PowerBook5,x and PowerBook6,x; A1010, A1046, A1052, A1095, A1104, A1106, A1107, A1138, A1139). On a PowerPC Mac, open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, then More Info to open Apple System Profiler. Not sure? Bring it in and we’ll identify it for you.
Price
We give you a fixed quote for your exact model before any work starts. All prices are subject to inspection, and nothing is done without your approval.
Questions we’re often asked
Will I lose my files?
No. We clone or back up your data before any upgrade and check everything is in place afterwards.
Is it worth upgrading this model?
For most owners it is. An upgrade costs a fraction of a new Mac, and we’ll say plainly if your particular machine has other faults that make it a poor investment.