This Modded iMac G4 With an M1 Chip Is My Dream Personal computer

Apple shook up its Mac lineup this week when it introduced the Mac Studio with its strong M1 Ultra and a companion watch, the Studio Show. These are undoubtedly intriguing merchandise, but their minimalist models deficiency a sure panache that as soon as existed in Apple equipment.

So as a substitute of plunking down a lot of countless numbers of bucks on new tech, one modder selected instead to get the body of a much cooler Apple device and up grade it with modern day elements. DIYer connor55 resurrected an iMac G4 all-in-a single laptop by replacing its getting older coronary heart with an M1 motherboard identified in the Mac mini.

The intention was to swap out the outdated sections with the new kinds with out compromising the iMac G4’s exceptional design and style. In the finish, it was a achievement. When the task was completed, the final product was a highly effective all-in-a person Computer with a funky vintage aesthetic.

The primary iMac G4, declared in January 2002, was powered by a PowerPC chip and could be equipped with up to 256MB of SDRAM and up to 80GB of storage. It turned a beloved icon of retro-tech, and for excellent reason: it looks futuristic, the shape is delightfully uncomfortable, and the stainless metal arm was downright innovative.

This create (with high-res shots) was posted to the MacRumors discussion board for those who want the stage-by-action method. The quick variation is that connor55 hollowed out the iMac G4 and suit a Mac mini motherboard into the base. This is attainable mainly because that just one element is smaller sized than the G4’s difficult travel alone. The motherboard involves an M1 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD–everything you have to have to run modern apps.

Incredibly, the unique electric power button and disc generate are functional, and the inventory 1024×768-pixel display screen works good (even though Connor55 is taking into consideration an update in the foreseeable future). Much better nonetheless, the FireWire 400 and VGA ports were swapped for modern ones–USB-C, HDMI, three USB-A ports, an SD card reader, an Ethernet jack, and a headphone jack–and Bluetooth and wifi can be made use of to hook up to the web or wi-fi units.

“The 3 antennas from the M1 Mac Mini have been chopped down to just the true antennas. I put them all appropriate subsequent to the vents at the prime of the base,” Connor55 wrote on the forum. “The Wi-Fi signal is meh, so I have a assortment extender ideal by it, and I can get more than 100Mbps however. The Bluetooth only operates proper upcoming to the dome, so [it’s] borderline useless.” He afterwards clarifies that the Bluetooth is “good more than enough to use a keyboard and a mouse.”

This isn’t the very first time the iMac G4 has been on the donor record for a coronary heart transplant. Late very last 12 months, colbyjohn94 posted a similar creation to Twitter and the MacRumors message boards. If only Apple could carry again this layout so we could all use a desktop that resembles the Pixar Luxo lamp.