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Hardware

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

By Erik Eckel October 16, 2008, 1:04 PM PDT

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Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

The G3 Dual-USB Apple iBook

The G3 Dual-USB Apple iBook

Apple’s second generation G3 iBook was first released in May 2001. The 12.1-inch active-matrix TFT display boasted a 1024×768 maximum resolution. Other specifications for the first second-generation G3 iBooks included a 500MHz CPU with 256KB L2 cache, an 8MB ATI Rage Mobility chip, a 10GB hard disk and two USB, one FireWire, one video out, an Ethernet and modem ports.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Rear View of the Second Gen G3 iBook

Rear View of the Second Gen G3 iBook

The air vents in the middle of the rear panel play a crucial role in exhausting heat from this system. As we’ll see later in this gallery, behind the white plastic vent housing is the actual metallic heat sink designed to help cool the laptop.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

G3 iBook Left-Side View

G3 iBook Left-Side View

The iBook’s left side holds the unit’s (from left to right) modem and Ethernet ports, FireWire and USB ports and video out and headphone jacks.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

G3 iBook Right-Side View

G3 iBook Right-Side View

The iBook’s right side holds the laptop’s CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive and power port.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Second Gen G3 iBook Bottom View

Second Gen G3 iBook Bottom View

Apple’s simple designs preclude easy access to the iBook’s hard disk or even memory. Only the battery (bottom left corner) is easily replaced.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

G3 iBook Battery

G3 iBook Battery

Here’s a closer look at the G3 battery compartment (with the battery in place). These models featured a simple test mechanism, whereby the circular button at the top right corner could be depressed to illuminate a series of LEDs indicating the battery’s strength.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook Foot Pads

iBook Foot Pads

Rubberized foot pads, which help keep the laptop from slipping when placed on desks and other flat surfaces, hide Philips head screws that must be removed to disassemble the unit. Here you can also see one of the many numerous Torx and Philips head screws that help secure iBook components.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

The iBook Open

The iBook Open

The second-generation G3 iBooks featured translucent keys and white plastic polycarbonate shells.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Stereo Speakers

Stereo Speakers

Stereo speakers were placed at the top right and left corners of the laptop’s bottom shell (visible here above the keyboard).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Trackpad

Trackpad

Here’s a closer look at the 2G G3 iBook Trackpad.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook Display Hinge

iBook Display Hinge

Apple chose a new hinge design for its non-clamshell Macs.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook Battery

iBook Battery

The Mac iBook’s battery itself is easily removed. Simply use a quarter to turn the silver battery release button found on the Mac’s bottom. The battery then slips away.nnThe actual battery, model number A1008, is a Lithium-Ion unit.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Rubber Foot Pad

Rubber Foot Pad

This is one of the iBook’s four rubber foot pads. Each pad hides a Philips head screw that must be removed to enable disassembly.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Metal Retaining Rings

Metal Retaining Rings

These metal retaining rings, of which there are three on the second-generation G3 iBook, help secure the bottom shell to the rest of the assembly.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Speaker, Key and Power Button Close Up

Speaker, Key and Power Button Close Up

Here’s a closer look at the translucent keys, power button and one of the unit’s stereo speakers. Also important in this image is the keyboard retaining tab, which sits between the F11 and F12 keys.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Second Keyboard Retaining Tab

Second Keyboard Retaining Tab

The second keyboard retaining tab sits in between the ESC and F1 key. These keyboard retaining tabs must be pressed backward (using a small flathead screwdriver) to remove the keyboard.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Keyboard Rolled Back

Keyboard Rolled Back

With the keyboard retaining tabs depressed, the iBook’s keyboard can be rolled backward. In this image, the keyboard has been rolled back on the laptop’s palm rest and track pad.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

AirPort Card Slot

AirPort Card Slot

Were this unit equipped with an AirPort (wireless) card, the device would have been installed here. Note you can see the antenna cable, with the black cable and silver and gold tip, is present.nnHere you can also see the RAM shield, the silver cage that protects additional RAM installed in the system (the expansion bay lies behind this shield).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

RAM Shield

RAM Shield

Here’s a closer look at the RAM shield once removed from the laptop.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

RAM Expansion Bay

RAM Expansion Bay

This second-generation G3 iBook shipped with 128MB of SDRAM soldered onto the motherboard. This expansion bay accommodated up to 512MB of additional 144-pin SODIMM memory.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook Keyboard

iBook Keyboard

In this image of the iBook keyboard, you can see its data cable (that connects the keyboard to the system board) at the bottom.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Bottom Case Removal

Bottom Case Removal

Separating the iBook’s casing requires patience (and many sites recommend a spudger, or special delicate probe/separation tool).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Case Removal

Case Removal

Several tabs, such as this one within the battery compartment, must be depressed to separate the bottom casing from the iBook’s chassis.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Bottom Case

Bottom Case

The bottom case, once removed from the iBook, looks like this. The circular object toward the bottom center of the image is an inside view of the battery compartment’s locking ring.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook View With Bottom Casing Removed

iBook View With Bottom Casing Removed

With the iBook’s white polycarbonite bottom casing removed, the metallic shield protecting the CD/DVD drive and motherboard becomes visible.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Metallic Shield Removal

Metallic Shield Removal

To remove the metallic shield, several Philips screws must be extracted.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Decorative Port Trim Piece

Decorative Port Trim Piece

As the iBook’s white plastic casing is removed, this trim piece that encapsulates the laptop’s external ports can be pried loose from the chassis.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Metallic Shield Removal

Metallic Shield Removal

Once the Philips head screws are extracted from the metal shield, several taped edges must be freed. Here you can see I just pulled the shield gently to separate it from the rest of the unit (although several pieces of the yellow tape, shown here, needed to be cut).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Metallic Shield Removed

Metallic Shield Removed

Here’s the bottom metal shield, once removed from the iBook.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook View, Minus The Bottom Shield

iBook View, Minus The Bottom Shield

Removing the bottom shield reveals the iBook motherboard. You can also see the bottom of the CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive to the top left. The power cable, that connects the iBook’s power port to the motherboard, is taped against it.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Inside The iBook

Inside The iBook

Visible here, in addition to the bottom of the CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive to the top left, is the system’s cooling fan (the silver square toward the top center) and the onboard RAM (the four blocks toward the image’s center).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Disconnecting The Power Connection

Disconnecting The Power Connection

Here you can see the iBook’s power cable has just been disconnected from the system board.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

35mm Cooling Fan

35mm Cooling Fan

The iBook was cooled by a 35mm cooling fan manufactured by Sunon (in Taiwan).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Disassembly Continued

Disassembly Continued

A key Philips head screw, which must be removed to continue disassembly, sits behind this magnet. The magnet itself serves to help secure the iBook’s keyboard, when in place. It must be pried out using a flathead screwdriver.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Magnet Removed

Magnet Removed

With the keyboard retention magnet removed, the Philips head screw becomes visible.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Trackpad Electronics

Trackpad Electronics

The iBook’s Trackpad electronics, and data cable, become visible once the upper case top polycarbonite shell is removed.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Top Polycarbonite Shell

Top Polycarbonite Shell

Here’s the iBook’s top polycarbonite shell, once removed from the iBook chassis.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook Disassembly

iBook Disassembly

The iBook’s main metal chassis is much more visible with the top polycarbonite shell removed. Also visible is a top-side metallic shield, which protects the system’s motherboard, hard disk and CD-RW/DVD-ROM from the top.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Top Shield Removal

Top Shield Removal

Several screws must be removed, and taped edges unfastened or cut, to remove the top shield.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Top Shield Removed

Top Shield Removed

Here’s the top shield, once removed from the iBook. The top shield sits under the keyboard, Trackpad and palm rest and protects the motherboard, optical drive and hard disk.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Fujitsu Hard Disk

Fujitsu Hard Disk

With the top shield removed, the iBook’s hard disk is revealed.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Toshiba Optical Drive

Toshiba Optical Drive

With the top shield removed, the top of the optical drive is also revealed.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Removing The Hard Disk

Removing The Hard Disk

The IDE hard disk drive data and power cable must be disconnected before the hard disk can be removed from the Mac laptop.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

The Fujitsu Hard Disk

The Fujitsu Hard Disk

This G3 iBook, distributed in early 2003, featured a 40GB hard disk. The disk, model number MHS2040AT, was manufactured in Thailand in May 2003.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

System Board Ports

System Board Ports

Integrated on the motherboard, as with most every laptop, are the Apple’s modem, Ethernet, FireWire, USB, video and audio ports.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Power Port

Power Port

The iBook’s power port (and DC-In board). This is where the iBook’s power adapter plugs in to the laptop not only to provide the laptop with electricity but to also recharge the battery.nnThe power port is a notoriously vulnerable connection on laptops. Through heavy use, the ports can sometimes separate from their circuit board, requiring resoldering or replacement.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook LCD Removal And Heatsink

iBook LCD Removal And Heatsink

Several screws must be removed from the Apple’s chassis to remove the LCD.nnIn addition, in this image you can see the metal heat sink blades (seen beneath the iBook lettering) that help draw heat from inside the iBook outside the unit. The heat sink’s goal was to transfer heat from the logic board and via a thermal transfer pad away from the heat-generating components.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Heat Sink

Heat Sink

Here’s a look at more of the iBook’s heat sink.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

The iBook's Modem

The iBook's Modem

Here’s an old school modem, a V.90 56K unit manufactured by Conexant.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

The iBook Chassis

The iBook Chassis

This is the main metal chassis that provides support and rigidity to most all the internal components. This chassis sits between the top and bottom polycarbonite shells.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Heat Transfer Pad And Heat Sink

Heat Transfer Pad And Heat Sink

Here’s a close look at the heat transfer pad and heat sink, once removed from the main logic board.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Heat Sink Close Up

Heat Sink Close Up

This is a close up look at the heat sink’s metal blades.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Main Logic Board

Main Logic Board

This is the iBook’s main motherboard, once removed from the Mac’s chassis. The logic board carries Apple’s name as the brand (copyright 2002) and lists the model number as KK0U22801110U02. The part number is 820-1419-A.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

IBM Power PC Chip

IBM Power PC Chip

In the bottom right of this image the IBM Power PC chip is clearly visible. This unit, the PPC750FX, ran at 900MHz, featured 512k on-chip L2 cache and boasted 100 MHz bus speed.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Apple's 4479A I/O Microchip

Apple's 4479A I/O Microchip

Apple’s 4479A semiconductor sits prominently on the logic board adjacent to the PowerPC CPU. The 4479A chip is the large square black box to the left of the IBM chip. If my research is correct, this chip served as memory and I/O device controller.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

ATI Mobility Radeon Chip

ATI Mobility Radeon Chip

This is the ATI graphics microchip with the thermo foam removed.nnThe 900 MHz G3 iBook featured an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics chips. This ATI model boasted 32MB of video RAM.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Sharp Microchip

Sharp Microchip

This is Sharp’s LH28F008BVT-BTL10 flash memory microchip. On the Mac G3 notebooks, this flash memory held the iBook’s Boot ROM instructions.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Broadcom Chip

Broadcom Chip

The iBook’s Ethernet connectivity is powered by this Broadcom microchip (model number BCM5221A4KPT).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

iBook LCD

iBook LCD

The iBook LCD, once removed from the main laptop chassis.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

LCD Disassembly

LCD Disassembly

Several Torx screws, found on the side of the iBook’s lid, must be removed to continue disassembly of the LCD.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Apple Mac Cover

Apple Mac Cover

The Apple Mac top cover, featuring the cut-out Apple logo, once removed from the LCD.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

LCD Shield

LCD Shield

The metallic shield that sits inside the LCD cover.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

LCD Hinge

LCD Hinge

In this photo you can see the two hinges, and power and data cables, that connect the iBook LCD to the main chassis and motherboard.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

LCD Cage

LCD Cage

A custom cage secures the LCD inside the Mac’s polycarbonite case.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

LCD Cage

LCD Cage

Here’s the LCD cage, once removed from the LCD display.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

LCD Trimpiece

LCD Trimpiece

Here’s the LCD trimpiece, without the LCD, once it’s been removed from its other components (including the main bottom hinge mechanism).

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

Samsung Display

Samsung Display

Samsung made the LCD displays used on the iBook. A Samsung Electronics display model LTN121X1-L02 graced this second-generation dual-USB G3 iBook. This display was made in Korea.

Cracking Open Apple’s G3 iBook

The Apple Dual-USB G3 iBook, Disassembled

The Apple Dual-USB G3 iBook, Disassembled

Here are most all the components that compose the Apple Dual-USB G3 iBook.

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By Erik Eckel
Erik Eckel is a managing partner at Louisville Geek and president of Eckel Media Corp. He previously served as Executive Editor at CNET Networks' TechRepublic. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Louisville and received
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