It says they buy on their website. I think you have to e-mail them for more information.

A wee update.

I have a plan. The G5 will be replaced. Looking at a first gen Mac Pro from Scrumpy macs, Intel era here I come. Just need to sort out the finances and we're off.
I might see if they are interested in the G5 as a trade in, even if it's just for parts.

Could you get away with just a motherboard and processor upgrade?

While it pains me to do so this is a spur to get a newer machine that will be supported going forward. PowerPC machines are no longer supported by Apple via software updates and a lot of newer software simply won't run (including things like Firefox and Flash so the platform is becoming less secure over time as it's left behind).
Sadly it's not as simple or as cheap to swap the motherboard and processor in a Mac as it is in a Windows PC. A compatible motherboard and processor would probably cost about as much as the Mac Pro I'm looking at and be of a similar age so have similar chance of developing the same fault (there's plent in t'internet about G5 power issues and not many solutions).

I just imagined that a new motherboard and processor would bring you right up to date, or do Apple not release compatible motherboards and processors till they have stopped producing that model?

Well, Apple stopped producing that model years ago. While the G5 and Mac pro share a case, the internal configuration has been changed several times. There's no guarantee the motherboard from a Mac pro would fit exactly in a G5 tower - the cooling might be routed incorrectly, the daughterboards for RAM might not be correct or certain cables might need extending. Unless you wished to do it as a hobby project, You'll probably end up giving up in time the equivalent of what you save in cash...

Jon

Didn't the I/O ports move about a bit as well?

Since I gave up tinkering once I switched. I imagined it would be similar. Though there maybe you could get the components from a mac supplier. OMC in the US do various parts maybe you can get a new case as well. Though I doubt that you will get all the bits because that would challenge the Apple business model. Could you get a new model with minimum spec but upgrade what you need?

If memory serves, the G5 tower famously used liquid cooling, which was dropped with the switch to Intel chips.

So, an Intel mobo and parts wouldn't fit in a G5 tower case without a hacksaw and some duct tape.

My G5 is air cooled. It was only the very top end quad G5 that used liquid cooling (and was prone to leaking on ocassions).

Replacing the components inside my Mac would cost nearly as much, if not more than the 'new' machine' I'm looking at anyway plus simply repairing the problem will still leave me with a machine and OS that is no longer being supported.

I was having a look at the new Mac mini but I'd much rather go for a tower so I can fit all the hard drives I've got kicking about in it (I know I could stick them all in external enclosures but I'd prefer to have most of it in a single box).

I know what you mean about having it all in one. I use a MacBook Pro attached to an external screen, keyboard and mouse, with umpteen external drives around my desk.

When funds permit, I was looking to move to an iMac, but the new Mac minis look awesome. Even a baby one with the full 8GB RAM in it will knock my old MBP into the long grass.

Anyone heard of Studiomacs (in Manchester)?

No... however they['re very convenient for me to get rid of an old mac I have. The building they're in is about 5 minute's walk from my office. It's not a shop though, it's a quite swanky office building.

I may send them an email on Monday, see what they'll give me for my old mac.

Jon

Well, I've got to say Studiomac's have created a very good first impression. They are answering e-mails on a Sunday.

Order placed for an Early 08 Mac Pro 2.8GHz quad with 4 GB of RAM and 1TB hard disc with StudioMacs.