Mac Repair London carries out a screen replacement on the PowerBook G4 from our Central London workshop, for home users and businesses.
On the 15-inch aluminium PowerBook G4 the best-known fault is white spots appearing on the display, caused by pressure on the backlight diffuser. On the 17-inch, lines across the LCD are more common. We diagnose whether the LCD, the inverter or the display cable is at fault, then replace only what has failed using tested parts. Because these screens are scarce, a used panel in good condition is often the only realistic option and we say so upfront.
Signs it needs a screen replacement
- White spots on 15-inch displays
- Vertical or horizontal lines on 17-inch panels
- Backlight failure with a faint image
- Broken hinge or loose lid
How we do it
Before quoting for a new screen, we connect an external display and inspect the display cable, so we know whether the fault is in the screen itself, the cable or the logic board.
Before we hand it back, we test the new screen on a full range of colours and brightness levels and check the camera and sensors.
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
Take a photo of the damage while the Mac is on, especially if the fault comes and goes. It helps us tell a panel fault from a cable or graphics fault.
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
Do you use genuine Apple parts?
Yes, wherever they still exist. For a Mac this age Apple no longer makes many parts, so we fit genuine Apple parts recovered from donor machines and tested before fitting. Where no genuine part is available at all, which mostly applies to batteries, we tell you before any work starts.
Can you fit an SSD while it’s here?
Yes. This model uses a 2.5-inch ide (parallel ata) hard drive, and swapping to an SSD at the same time is often the best-value upgrade you can make.