Powermac G4 Dual 1.42 Always Crashing

[mac-man]

hey there, I have a powermac G4, It randomly system crashes and kernel panics.. at first it was overheating at over 60 Degrees.. so I got someone to put thermal paste under the processor. Problem solved. ( for heating anyway ) that worked for a little while as before I couldn't even shut the case for 5 mins before a kernel panic and now I can. It keeps safe at roughly 53 at the hottest.

The problem is that its STILL kernel panicing... I have done RAM tests and sometimes they pass and sometimes they fail.. using memtest and tech tool pro 4.

sometimes the mac only sees 1gb of the 2gb and sees the ram slots empty... obviously i have ram issues.. and Im willing to buy 4 new 512mb sticks from OWC.

found here: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other...ng/2700DDR512/

also another issue I don't understand is that I have a mirror door tower.. with a Dual 1.42GHZ processor.. did they even make this ? or did someone take the processor from a fw800 tower ? could this be part of the problem ?

like i said, i know ram is part of the issue, if not all, do you think that will completely cure it up ? id really like to turn this into a leopard Server stability is crucial to me, and i dont have the money to get a new 1.. (just bought the new macbook)

specs:
1.42GHZ Processor
2GB Ram
Stock Gforce 64mb Video
fresh install osx 10.5.5
200gb hdd


Thanks for any help you can provide, please no junk/stupid replies..

[appleman_design]

post your console log here for more indepth viewing into the problem.

[trevor]

Quote: Originally Posted by mac-man hey there, I have a powermac G4, It randomly system crashes and kernel panics.. at first it was overheating at over 60 Degrees.. so I got someone to put thermal paste under the processor. Problem solved. ( for heating anyway )

When applying thermal paste, it's quite important that it be done properly. First, the old paste needs to be cleaned off without scratching anything. Then, just a very small amount of new paste needs to be applied, enough to make up the small hills and valleys between the processor and the heat sink, but not enough that when they are squeezed together some of the paste squeezes out onto the circuit board and other components.

This is not rocket science, but it does need to be done carefully and properly, otherwise the thermal paste can do nothing, or make things worse.

Quote: Originally Posted by mac-man that worked for a little while as before I couldn't even shut the case for 5 mins before a kernel panic and now I can. It keeps safe at roughly 53 at the hottest.

So, it worked a little, but not very well. I suspect that the person who applied the thermal paste didn't do it properly, or else there is some other reason for the overheating.

Quote: Originally Posted by mac-man The problem is that its STILL kernel panicing... I have done RAM tests and sometimes they pass and sometimes they fail.. using memtest and tech tool pro 4.

So, in addition to possible heat problems, your memory is probably bad.

Quote: Originally Posted by mac-man sometimes the mac only sees 1gb of the 2gb and sees the ram slots empty... obviously i have ram issues.. and Im willing to buy 4 new 512mb sticks from OWC.

That is a good idea.

Quote: Originally Posted by mac-man also another issue I don't understand is that I have a mirror door tower.. with a Dual 1.42GHZ processor.. did they even make this ? or did someone take the processor from a fw800 tower ? could this be part of the problem ?

There is most definitely a 1.42 GHz Mirrored Drive Door Power Mac G4. That's the fastest of the Power Mac G4 models.
http://lowendmac.com/ppc/firewire-800-power-mac-g4.html

Trevor

[stewiesno1]

Have you tried a PRAM reset first ?
Try that and then before you buy new Ram , I'd look at removing all the sticks bar one and seeing if you still get the kernel panics.
Introduce the memory back one stick at a time and see if the problem persists.
You may just have one module that is cactus.

Stewie