ClassicConnect

Ben0258 · **New Member** Joined: 09 Jul 2026 Age: 17 Posts: 4

This is an iMac G4 1.25 GHz that I got from Facebook Marketplace sometime in 2023(?). It was my first PowerPC Mac and still one of my favorites.

About a year later I tried to do an upgrade to it, opening it up (to a LOT of dust!) and replacing the RAM and hard drive. The latter of which was unsuccessful, as the cheap IDE-to-SATA adapter I got from Amazon wasn't recognized by the iMac. Worse, I had broken the molex cable for the ODD. With no idea as to how to fix that cable, I kinda just gave up and left it in storage...

But it's been a few years. I think it's time I get it back out and finish the job.

And right here is the first problem. As already mentioned above, I broke the molex cable for the ODD. The cable for the HDD is fine however. I've heard that you can fix this with "crimping", but I'm not familiar with things like that...

As for the SSD, I've seen a few recommendations for the StarTech IDE2SAT2 adapter, at least for this particular iMac. What interests me is that it has a cable to convert Molex to SPP, which seems to have female and male connectors...Perhaps I can power the ODD this way?

If someone has any thoughts on this, I wanna hear it!

teedeeaye · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2026 8:30 am Post subject:

Looking forward to seeing this unfold. I've always loved the form factor of the G4!

I've got an Indigo G3 myself - it's basically my baby ever since I rescued it from being disposed of.

As for your molex connector, it might be worth getting one with some wiring attached from a PC power supply unit and soldering it on the wires for your old one if you can?

Soldering is fine, just don't touch the hot bit! Razz

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That sounds irresponsibly silly and is therefore, clearly, something I am likely to almost always do.