How to Upgrade a Mac Sawtooth USB 2.0

The Power Macintosh code named "Sawtooth" was introduced by Apple Computer in October 1999. This model had a 400 megahertz (MHz) G4 processor in a tower configuration and originally cost $2,500. Because it's a tower Mac, upgrading it is easy. The entire side of the Sawtooth opens, giving you full access to the internal workings of the Mac. There are a number of ways to upgrade this computer.

• 1

  Increase the random access memory if your Sawtooth Power Mac does not have the maximum. You need PC100 SDRAM RAM chips, but you can take the low end of 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM and increase it to 2 gigabytes (GB). This Power Mac has four RAM slots. Start by purchasing the correct RAM. Unplug the Sawtooth and place it on a work table with the right side facing you. Lift the latch and lower the entire side door of the Mac. In the door itself, on the lower left, are the RAM chip slots. Each chip is held in by plastic clips. Pull these at the same time away from the chip and the chip will jump up. Remove it and fill each of the slots with 512 MB RAM chips. More RAM will make the computer run faster and cause less strain and heat.

• 2

  Replace the hard drive with a larger-capacity, faster one. The Sawtooth Power Mac came with a maximum-capacity hard drive of 27 GB. You can replace it with up to 128 GB hard drives of the ATA/IDE 3.5-inch variety. This also causes less strain and faster seek times during normal use of the computer. To replace the hard drive, open the side door. With the door resting on a work table, locate the rectangular metal box of the hard drive. Carefully remove the ribbon connector by rocking it from side to side. Do not bend the pins. Use a #1 Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw under where the connector was. Lift out the entire hard drive and carriage unit. Turn it over and take out the four screws. You will need these and the carriage to attach to your new hard drive.

• 3

  Install a faster processor. Most of the early G4 Power Macs can accept faster processors. Unlike many other Macs, replacing the processor on the Sawtooth is not that difficult. Open the side door and find the heat sink. This is a large finned piece of metal. It is held by metal bands that clip into the logic board. On the side of the heat sink nearest the RAM chips, use your plastic utensil to gently pry the metal band clips off the heat sink. Take the bands off the heat sink entirely. Raise the heat sink straight up and set it aside. The processor is a square circuit board with three #2 Phillips screws. Unscrew these and lift out the processor.