I have a PowerMac G4 1.42ghz Dual Processor, and recently it's been freezing up whenever I put the system under load (usually encoding a video). I checked the usual issues, pulled out all the ram tested it, ran Tech Tool Deluxe - everything passed.

Ran memory test on each ram stick (4x512MB of ram). No issues, couldn't get it to lock up.

Used Disk Warrior to check the disc, it had some issues, fixed them, but yet it still freezes up. Booted off the Tiger DVD and ran a disc check, no issues.

The weird thing about the freeze, is that it isn't a full lock up. I can still move the mouse, I just can't click anything, or use the keyboard etc.

I checked the temperature, and it seems to sit around 58 to 59 degrees.

Cannot see any issues in console (panic log) not that I know what I'm looking for.

Thinking it might be time for a reinstall to see if it continues, but thought I'd check in here first to see if anyone has any ideas?

Honestly, just call me cosmic "bad cap" hobo... but of course, that was my first thought upon hearing the term "freeze", 1.42Ghz processor...

But looking at the production dates, it doesn't really add up... the eMac G4 and iMac G5's that had bad caps experienced the problem around June04 - Apr 05... and your machine looks like it would be no later than 03...

Still - those things pop open easily don't they? Can't hurt to have a look for any swollen/leaking caps...

Yeah I thought that too, but I already checked that (probably should have added it to my last post) - I went over the insides with a fine tooth comb!

remind me a lot of my old sawtooth running overclock 700mhz processor.

if reinstallation doesnt help, it'll probably time for a new mac pro

Yeah I'm chucking in a PCI slot fan that a friend has, see if it cools it down.

havent plugged anyhitng new (usb wise) recently?.

my dp 1.4 sometimes cracks the barries when i plug usb stuff into it (a pc webcam, but only sometimes?)

proberly a uselsss help, but?.

I chucked in a Belkin USB2/Firewire PCI Card recently, but the problems were happening before that - I usually only have my keyboard / mouse plugged into USB, sometimes plug in my EyeTV Hybrid, but believe it or not, every-time I use the EyeTV it doesn't freeze up.

Stuffed Apple USB mice and keyboards used to kill iMacs randomly - they'd always work perfectly in the shop as we never asked customers to bring in their peripherals. The problem soon became obvious though.

How do I test this Currawong? Just use a different keyboard / mouse? (Do you recommend I grab a non-apple one). As I have 3 apple keyboards in the house. And heaps of USB mice.

yeah my girlfriends g4 1.25 dual used to randomly do shit like this, and then it stopped doing it one day, about the time she got that new keyboard and mouse set up.. hmm now it all makes sense... yeah try that mate...

Isn't it a bit unreal that a keyboard or mouse could bring a mac to its knees.

I used the keyboard on my iMac G4 all the time, without issue, so I reckon it might be the keyboard (which came with the powermac when I got it recently. Will swap her out and see what happens.

Thanks guys!

maybe i should rephrase the whole thing so that it doesnt sound to you like "pointless piece of shit?"


what i meant, hawker, is that the processor might be the culprit, if a new reinstallation doesnt help. off course i have no idea about the history of this model.. they could have been in a render farm and last a lifetime

and the use of has a purpose ...

My PowerMac had this occasionally too, although very very rarely...I've also changed out from the stock keyboard (and never used the mouse) so it may have been the problem. Although because it was so infrequent I never really looked into it. Heats not the issue I don't reckon, mine runs at a constant 59 with the new Radeon 9800 Pro installed without much of a problem - although still go with the PCI cooler (and maybe an exhaust fan in the hole for the speaker at the front). You'll be amazed at how much hot air is blown out by the PCI cooler though - incredible!

I am def going with extra cooling, I'll swap the keyboard over and really push the machine tomorrow. if it fails, reinstall, if it fails past that I'll jump and down and thrown a tantrum :P

Was going to suggest cooling too Point a desk fan at the innards of the Mac and see what happens when you give it a good thrashing. Dust is also a killer - get a can of compressed air and clean out the heatsink on both the CPU, power supply fan and video card.

JB