PowerBook G4 Aluminium 12" Upgrades
G4 12" Front View

This page covers all the upgrades we sell for the PowerBook G4 12". Choose the type of upgrade you are looking for from the tabs below.(Not the right Mac? See here for more PowerBook G4s, or here for all Macs.)

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If you want specific upgrades for your exact model, choose it from the Model ID links below, or enter your serial number here:


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G4 12" Top View

History

This page covers the versions of the PowerBook G4 with a 12" display.

In January 2003 Apple revamped the PowerBook range and brought in the ultra portable 12" PowerBook G4. Drawing on the iBook Dual USB's design, Apple crammed PowerBook performance into an even smaller case than its iBook counterpart.

There have been a number of different models in this range, with increasing clock speeds. All the units use DDR RAM and have USB, FireWire 400, Ethernet, Airport Extreme slot. They sport a side mounted, slot loading, Combo or Superdrive optical drive. The later models have an Airport Extreme card included and USB 2.0.

The first PowerBook G4 12" was released in January 2003 with an 867MHz processor using DDR PC2100 memory. Apple specs here.

The refresh in September 2003 brought in a 1GHz processor, an upgraded graphics card and replaced the standard USB ports with USB 2.0. Apple specs here.

In April 2004 a new version of the PowerBook G4 12" brought the processor speed up to 1.33GHz, moved from DDR PC2100 or DDR PC2700 memory and included Airport Extreme as standard. Apple specs here.

In January 2005 another refresh brought this PowerBook up to 1.5GHz. Apple specs here.

The last model was released in October 2005 with a 1.5GHz processor and SuperDrive as standard. Unlike the 15" and 17" models, this revision did not move to DDR2 RAM. Apple specs here.

How to Identify these Machines

The G4 Aluminum 12" has a silver keyboard and a 12" display.

There were also 15" and 17" models made - to tell them apart (without measuring), look at the edges of keyboard. If there is no gap then the machine is 12", if there is a 1" gap between the keyboard and the edge then its a 15", if its more like 1.5" then you have a 17" PowerBook. Also, unlike all other PowerBooks, the 12" model does not have a PCMCIA slot.

Apple System Profiler (Apple Menu>About this Mac; click on "More Info") can be used to tell what processor speed you have.

If you are still unsure you can contact us on 01223 833 412 or by email for confirmation. If you want to upgrade but aren't happy to install your upgrades then we can help. Simply ask our engineers for further details.

Memory Upgrades

The PowerBook G4 12" has one memory socket. It also has some RAM soldered onto the main board. The 867MHz model has 128MB non-removable, all faster machines have 256MB built in.

The 867MHz model can take up to an extra 512MB of PC2100. Later models can take up to an extra 1GB of PC2700.

There are none available.

Difficulty 2 / 5 - Reasonably easy

Turn off the machine and remove the power cable and battery.

The socket is underneath the machine. Turn the machine over on a soft cloth, and find the rectangular port held in place with 4 screws. Remove these to reveal the RAM socket.

Apple own guide can be found here.

CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive Upgrades

All PowerBook G4 Aluminums came equipped with a Combo or SuperDrive.

We sell both internal and external CD/DVD writers for this laptop. We also offer an installation service for the internal parts.

INSTALL SERVICE - Internal CD/DVD Drive in a MacBook, MacBook ProStock: Available£29.00 + vat (£34.80)
REFURB 8x Internal DVDRW for Al PowerBook, iBook G4, iMac G5 or EarlyMac Mini and MacBook ProStock: Available£49.00 + vat (£58.80)

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Difficulty 5/5 - Very Hard (internal)

The optical drive on the PowerBook G4 12" is not classified by Apple as a user installed part - it is difficult to fit, and requires the logic board to be removed. Mac Upgrades can install drives for you, please contact us for details.

You can purchase the drive for installation yourself, but Mac Upgrades cannot provide instructions or support for the install process.

Internal Hard Drive & SSD Upgrades

This range of drives will work in your PowerBook G4 12", although user installation is advised against (see below).

If you don't want to fit a new hard drive yourself, you can take advantage of the MacUpgrades Installation Service. Add the installation service from the list below to your cart along with your chosen hard drive. We can also clone your existing hard drive onto the new one, simply add the Clone Original Hard Drive service below to your cart.

Once you have booked the service, send your machine to us, we will carry out the work and return it to you. Alternatively, we do offer a Collection Service with our courier, please see here for details.

Installation Services

INSTALL SERVICE - Clone Original Internal DriveStock: Available£25.00 + vat (£30.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - Fit Customer Supplied PartStock: Available£17.50 + vat (£21.00)

Internal SSD Drives to Replace Main Hard Drive

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Difficulty 5 / 5 - Very Difficult

The PowerBook 12inch's internal hard drive is very difficult to get to. It is not classified by Apple as a user installable part. Installing a replacement drive during warranty will void any remaining warranty.

Mac Upgrades does sell drives for user installation, but we cannot offer instructions or support for the install.

We do offer a drive fitting service, but this is for out of warranty machines only. To preserve warranty, a drive must be fitted by an Apple Centre.

Graphics Cards and Displays

The graphics card in your G4 12" PowerBook is part of the main logic board. Unfortunately therefore it is not possible to increase or change the graphics card.

There are no graphics card upgrades available for these Macs

Expansion Card Upgrades

Your PowerBook G4 Aluminum has no available PCMCIA sockets for connectivity expansion. It does have a socket that will take an Airport Extreme card.

INSTALL SERVICE - Expansion Slot Card in a Laptop MacStock: Available£15.00 + vat (£18.00)
Apple Airport Extreme Card (refurb)Stock: Out of Stock£19.00 + vat (£22.80)

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Difficulty 2/5 - Reasonably Easy

The Airport socket is accessed through the battery bay. Unplug the PowerBook, remove the battery, and open the revealed flap to fit the card. Apple's guide can be found here.

Keyboards & Mice

The following keyboards and mice are compatible with this Mac.

Trust 3 button USB Optical MouseStock: Available£6.75 + vat (£8.10)
Cherry Strait 3.0 USB Keyboard - UK Mac LayoutStock: Available£32.00 + vat (£38.40)

Power Supplies & Batteries

Listed below are power supplies, batteries and related products we supply for this Mac.

Third Party 65W AC adaptor for White iBook G3/G4 & PowerBook G4Stock: Out of Stock£24.99 + vat (£29.99)

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Cables & Tools

Listed below are power cables, tools and related products we supply for this Mac.

Cables & Adaptors

FireWire 400 - 800 Adaptor Cable M/M (6pin - 9pin) 6 ftStock: Available£11.00 + vat (£13.20)
Mini-DVI - DVI M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£10.50 + vat (£12.60)1
Mini-DVI - HDMI M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£12.50 + vat (£15.00)1
Mini-DVI - VGA M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£12.50 + vat (£15.00)1

Tools

Precision Screwdriver Set, 31 Piece - Phillips/Torx/TR6Stock: Available£12.50 + vat (£15.00)
Anti Static Wrist StrapStock: Available£8.50 + vat (£10.20)
1For models with a Mini-DVI video output port.

External Drives & Enclosures

This Mac can use any of the following external hard drives.

3.5in USB Enclosures

2.5in USB Enclosures

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Complete Machines - Refurbished

Any complete machines of this type or similar that we have for sale are listed here. Please note that these are refurbished models with a 3 month warranty, and that delivery is likely to take 3 - 5 working days. These can be purchased online with the standard website courier delivery charge for the mainland UK only. Please contact us for a quote on shipping to other areas.

There are none available.

Repair Services for this Mac

Here are the various repair services we offer for this Mac. You can have us take the machine in for evaluation, or book a fixed-price repair if you already know what the fault is and the service is listed below (for services without parts, please see the relevant tab on this page for compatible parts that we sell). If you know what the fault is, but we don't have a fixed-price repair listed below, please contact us for a quote.

Evaluation Services

Mac Repair - Evaluation ServiceStock: Available£39.00 + vat (£46.80)

Installation Services (parts not included)

Collection ServiceStock: Available£24.68 + vat (£29.62)
INSTALL SERVICE - Clone Original Internal DriveStock: Available£25.00 + vat (£30.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - RAM in an Apple LaptopStock: Available£10.00 + vat (£12.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - Expansion Slot Card in a Laptop MacStock: Available£15.00 + vat (£18.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - Internal CD/DVD Drive in a MacBook, MacBook ProStock: Available£29.00 + vat (£34.80)