PowerBook G4 Titanium Upgrades
G4 15" Titanium Front

This page covers all the upgrades we sell for the PowerBook G4 Titanium. 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.)

100% Compatibility Guarantee

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


Where is my serial number?
 100% Compatibility Guarantee
G4 15" Titanium Back

History

This page covers the first versions of the PowerBook G4. From the original 400/500MHz units, through the gigabit ethernet models, and finally onto the DVI capable machines. All of these units use the same upgrades.

When the G4 PowerBook was announced in January 2001, it was a major breakthrough in getting desktop power to the portable. Its innovate ultra thin design was only one inch thick, and came in an eye catching titanium enclosure. The machines shipped with slot loading optical drives, a change from the older G3 machines, DVD-ROM to SuperDrive models were made.

The screen size was stretched to 15.2 inches giving an 1152 x 768 screen resolution. The Titaniums all shipped with OS 9.1 and 10.x when it was released - they will support every Mac OS from 9.1 upwards.

The first PowerBook G4 Titanium, released January 2001, was shipped in 400MHz and 500MHz configurations. Apple specs here.

In October 2001 a new model was released with gigabit ethernet, available in 550MHz and 667MHz versions. Apple specs here.

Another update in April 2002 moved the graphics output from an analogue VGA to a digital DVI type. This was available with 667MHz and 800MHz G4 processors. Apple specs here.

The final update to the PowerBook G4 before it moved from the Titanium to the Aluminium models, was in November 2002. This Mac came in 867MHz and 1GHz configurations. Apple specs here.

How to Identify these Machines

The G4 Titanium has a black keyboard (as opposed to silver used on the 15" Aluminum PowerBook G4). This is the main distinguishing method between these two revisions.

This group of machines were the first to be finished in a metal titanium finish. Configurations changed half way through the series, with a change to the video output from VGA (3 row 15 pin connection) to a DVI connection. See bottom picture to the left for images of both configurations.

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

All PowerBook G4 Titaniums have two memory sockets. The machines can accept up to 1GB in RAM in two 512MB modules.

There are none available.

Difficulty 3 / 5 - Reasonably Easy.

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

The RAM is housed below the keyboard. To remove the keyboard release the catches at the top of the keyboard (between ESC & F1 and F8 & F9). This reveals the internal parts - both sockets are now easily reached.

Apple's own instructions can be found here.

CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive Upgrades

The PowerBook G4 Titanium came equipped with a DVD or Combo or SuperDrive (slot loading at the front). At present we don't stock internal CD or DVD writers which fit internally to this machine.

It is possible to use an external device FireWire (or USB 2.0 if present).

There are no optical drive upgrades available for these Macs

Difficulty 1 / 5 - Easy

Install any supplied software, restart machine and connect the new device.

Internal Hard Drive & SSD Upgrades

This range of drives will work in your PowerBook G4 Titanium.

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 3 / 5 - Reasonably Easy

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

Turn the PowerBook upside down. There are 8-10 holding screws on the bottom of the machine, which hold the bottom case in place.

Remove these with a torx screwdriver. This will reveal the hard drive and internal components.

The hard drive is secured in place with 4 more torx screws. Two are accessible through the battery bay - the drive can then be moved outwards.

Remember to disconnect the IDE cable, and remove the other two screws.

Fit the new drive and reassemble machine in reverse order.

Start computer from CD and initialize the drive. If you are unsure call or email our team.

You can find Apple's own guide here.

Graphics Cards and Displays

This laptop can take a secondary graphics card through it's PCMCIA (Cardbus) slot, to allow it to control a wider range of external displays that it can by default.

There are no graphics card upgrades available for these Macs

Difficulty 1 / 5 - Very Easy.

Install any supplied software, turn off the machine, and insert the PCMCIA card into the socket on the left of the machine.

Connect it to your monitor and your finished.

Expansion Card Upgrades

Your PowerBook G4 Titanium has one available PCMCIA socket for connectivity expansion. This port is located to the left of the machine.

This credit card sized socket allows users to take advantage of newer connectivity such as USB 2.0, FireWire 800 and Wireless networking.

INSTALL SERVICE - Expansion Slot Card in a Laptop MacStock: Available£15.00 + vat (£18.00)

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 1 / 5 - Very Easy

Install any supplied software, turn off the machine and insert PCMCIA Card into the socket on the left of the machine. Restart machine and away you go.

For fitting an Airport card, see Apple's guide 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£40.65 + vat (£48.78)

Power Supplies & Batteries

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

Third Party 65W AC adapter for White iBook G3/G4 & PowerBook G4Stock: Special Order£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)
DVI-I - VGA M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£6.50 + vat (£7.80)1

Tools

Torx Screwdriver Set - 20mm T6 T7 T8 T9 T10Stock: Available£8.00 + vat (£9.60)
Screwdriver Set - 20mm Phillips #00, #0, #1 - Flat 1.4mm, 1.8mm, 2.4mmStock: Available£5.00 + vat (£6.00)
Anti Static Wrist StrapStock: Available£8.50 + vat (£10.20)
1For models with a DVI video output port.

External Drives & Enclosures

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

3.5" USB Enclosures

Startech USB 3.0 Enclosure for 3.5in SATA DrivesStock: Available£36.57 + vat (£43.88)1

2.5" USB Enclosures

Startech USB 3.0 (USB 2 compatible) Enclosure for 2.5in SATA Drive with UASPStock: Available£19.59 + vat (£23.51)1
1Only suitable for this Mac if you have added USB 2.0 or eSATA with an expansion card. Will not boot this Mac.

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.

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)