Sonnet Technologies ST-G4 User Manual

Installation of certain ver-

e

m

he

At this printing, the Encore/ST G4 processor upgrade is compatible

with Mac OS 9.2.1 through OS X version 10.3.x. For up-to-date M

The Encore/ST G4 supports hard disk and display sleep in all com

Power Mac G4 computers; in some confi gurations, deep sleep ma

™

ENCORE

/

ST G4

Processor Upgrade Card for Power Mac® G4 AGP Graphics

Quick Start Guide for Encore/ST G4

Power Mac and Operating System Compatibility

This Encore/ST G4 processor upgrade card is compatible only with Power Mac
G4 AGP Graphics, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio, QuickSilver 2001, and single
processor (800 and 933 MHz) QuickSilver 2002 models.

sions of this product into a Power Mac G4 Cube is also supported, and r
Installation Kit (sold separately); professional installation is strongly reco

you are unsure which Power Mac model you have, refer to t
online Apple article that describes the differences at
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58418. This

article lists model numbers, and describes physical aspects of the
various Power Mac G4 models.

OS compatibility information, check our web site.

WARNING: In order for the Encore/ST G4 to operate in your

system, Mac OS 9.2.1 (or later), and the latest Power Mac G4
firmware must be installed. If your system does not meet these
criteria, you must upgrade to OS 9.2.1 (or later) and update your
system’s firmware before installing this upgrade. Otherwise, your
system will not operate with the Encore/ST installed. Instructions
follow.

®

supported.

You Should Have

The following items should be included in your product package:

• Encore/ST G4 processor upgrade card

• Processor card extension plate*

• Two extension plate mounting screws* (screwed into extension plate)

* Only required for installation of the Encore/ST in Gigabit Ethernet and Digital Audio models

originally shipped with dual processors.

The following items are required for installation:

• Medium Phillips screwdriver

• Flat blade screwdriver

• Needle-nose pliers

Remember to register your product online at http://registration.sonnettech.com to be informed of future upgrades and product releases.
Software updates and links are available from the Sonnet web site at www.sonnettech.com. • Online support form available at http://supportform.sonnettech.com.
Sonnet Technologies Customer Service hours are Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific Time • Customer Service Phone: [phone] • E-mail: [e-mail]
Sonnet Technologies, Inc., Irvine, California USA • Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

©2002 Sonnet Technologies, Inc. Revised 2004. All rights reserved. Sonnet, the Sonnet logotype, Simply Fast, the Simply Fast logotype, and Encore are trademarks of Sonnet Technologies, Inc. Macintosh and Mac are trademarks
of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change without notice. Printed in the USA.
QSG-SG4-E-C-042004

Support Notes: Please familiarize yourself with the

following instructions before beginning the installation.
If you feel you are unable to install the computer hardware,
please contact a qualified computer technician. Sonnet strongly
recommends that a qualified technician perform this installation.

Before proceeding with the installation, we recommend that
you make a backup of important information on your hard
drive prior to installing new hardware or software.

Software and Firmware Installation/Update Info

Multiple Upgrade Recommendation

If you intend to perform multiple hardware upgrades to your Power
Mac, we recommend that you complete the installation of the
Encore/ST fi rst, and then install the remaining upgrades; complete each
upgrade and test it before proceeding to the next.

Install or Upgrade to Mac OS 9.2.1 or Later, If
Necessary

The Encore/ST G4 requires Mac OS 9.2.1 or later in order to operate
in your system, and must be installed before you install the processor
upgrade card.

1. Ver ify the Mac OS version on your system is at least Mac OS

9.2.1, and then install or upgrade the OS software if necessary
(Figure 1).

Update Power Mac Firmware

Before installing the Encore/ST, you must ensure your AGP Graphics,
Gigabit Ethernet, or Digital Audio system’s fi rmware has been updated
to the latest version (currently 4.2.8). Please note, your system must be

able to make a connection to the Internet to perform some of the steps in this
section.

WARNING: When you install (or upgrade to) Mac OS 9.2.1 or

later, you may have to upgrade the your computer’s firmware
as part of the software installation. Please note, the firmware installed
with the Mac OS may not be the version required by the Encore/ST.

Before installing the Encore/ST, you may be required to upgrade
your firmware again; you MUST ensure your system is using ver­sion 4.2.8 firmware. If your system is using an earlier version of the

firmware, your system will not operate with the Encore/ST installed.

1. Boot your system in Mac OS 9.2.1 or later (not OS X, nor OS X

Classic mode). As of this writing, Apple has not made this fi rm­ware updater available as an OS X application.

2. From the Apple Menu, select and open Apple System Profi ler.

Click the triangle next to Production Information, and fi nd
the Boot ROM version information (Figure 2). If it reads
“$0004.28f1”, s kip t he r est of the steps in this section and pro-
ceed to page 3. Otherwise, go to step 3.

Figure 1

Figure 2

3. Log on to the Internet and type the following in your browser

window’s address bar:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120068.

4. Click on the appropriate link to download the firmware (Figure 3).

5. Double-click the G4 FW Update 4.2.8.smi fi le icon to mount

the G4 Firmware Update disk image.

6. Double-click the G4 Firmware Update icon to open the disk

image, then double-click the About G4 Firmware Update fi le
icon. Once the read me fi le has opened, print it.

7. Following the directions on the pages you printed, update the

fi rmware on your system. If a message appears stating that your
fi rmware is up-to-date, proceed to the next section.

Figure 3

2

Installation—AGP Graphics and Gigabit Ethernet Models

This section covers the installation of the Encore/ST G4 into Power
Mac AGP Graphics and Gigabit Ethernet models. If you are install­ing this product into a Digital Audio model, skip to page 7. If you are
installing this product into a QuickSilver 2001 or QuickSilver 2002
model, skip to page 12.

WARNING: When handling computer products, take care to

prevent components from being damaged by static electricity;
avoid working in carpeted areas. Handle processor upgrade cards only
by their edges and avoid touching connector traces and component
pins.

Shut Down and Open Computer

1. Shut down your Power Mac. If the computer has been on, allow

20 minutes for it to completely cool before beginning the instal­lation.

2. If you need to move the computer to a different area where you

can work freely, disconnect any connected cables, move the com­puter, then reconnect the power cord.

3. Touc h a port access cover on the back of the computer (Figure 4)

to discharge any potentially damaging static electricity.

4. Disconnect the power cord from the computer.

Support Note: To avoid generating a static charge in your

body, do not walk around the room until after you finish
installing the Encore card and close the computer.

5. Locate the security lock at the back of the computer (Figure 5).

If it is not already pressed in, do so now.

Figure 4

Figure 5

side panel

port access

cover

security lock

6. With the right side of the case facing you, open your Power Mac

by lifting the release latch and lowering the side panel away from
the computer’s case (Figure 6).

Remove Heat Sink

Locate the processor heat sink on the logic board (Figure 7); your heat
sink may appear different from what is pictured. Using caution to
avoid touching the processor card, grasp one of the clips securing the
heat sink with needle-nose pliers, between the heat sink and proces­sor card. Pull down and away to unhook one side of the clip from the
processor card (Figure 6). Push the clip away from you to unhook it
from the other side. Repeat these steps with the other clip. Once the
clips have been unhooked, gently lift the heat sink and clips away
from the processor and set them aside, but not on the logic board.

raise release latch

Figure 6

heat sink

clip clip

Figure 7

3

Installation—AGP Graphics and Gigabit Ethernet Models

Remove Processor Card

Remove the three screws securing the processor card to the logic
board (Figure 8). Grasping the processor card by its edges, carefully
lift it straight up and away from the logic board.

screw

processor

card

Support Note: You will find a piece of foam covering a con-

nector on the edge of the Encore/ST card. Do not remove the
foam; the connector is not used in this installation.

Install Encore/ST G4 Processor Upgrade Card

1. Remove the Encore/ST processor upgrade card from its anti-

static package, and remove the packing material. Make sure to
handle the card by the edges (Figure 9). Also, do not touch the
thermal pad covering the processor.

2. If you removed a single-processor card from your system, skip to step 3.

If you removed a dual processor card, remove the extension plate
and two screws from the parts bag included with the Encore/ST,
and then remove the screws from the extension plate. With the
Sonnet logo side of the board face up, place the Encore/ST proces­sor card on top of the extension plate (support foot face down) as
shown (Figure 10). Secure the Encore/ST card to the extension
plate with the two provided screws; do not overtighten the screws.

Please note, when attached properly, the extension plate will be level
with the Encore/ST board.

anti-static

package

Encore/ST

card

screw

Figure 8

thermal

pad

Figure 9

screw

screw

Encore/ST

card

extension

plate

3. Hold the Encore/ST card with its connector facing up (Figure 11).

Carefully remove the cap covering the connector; place the cap
on the original processor card’s connector. Place the processor
card you removed from the computer into the anti-static package
and store it in a safe place.

screw

Figure 10

Encore/ST

card

protective

cap

Figure 11

4

Installation—AGP Graphics and Gigabit Ethernet Models

4. Align the Encore/ST card’s three screw holes with the three

threaded posts on the logic board, then set the card gently on
top of the posts (Figure 12). Make sure the connectors are lined
up, then, grasping the card by its edges, gently press it straight
down until the connectors snap together. Verify the connectors
are completely coupled by gently pulling up on the edges of the
Encore/ST board; the board should remain fi rmly in place.

screw hole

5. Snugly secure the Encore/ST card to the logic board with the
three screws you removed previously; do not overtighten the
screws (Figure 13).

Reattach Heat Sink

Support Note: The following steps address the installation of

your system’s heat sink. Please note, only the single processor
heat sink is pictured, but the procedure is identical for the dual pro ­cessor heat sink. Please also note, that your heat sink may differ from
what is pictured.

1. The heat sink clips must be positioned properly on the heat

sink. Examine the clips and note the short and long sections, and
the dimple. When you reattach the heat sink, each clip will be
placed on the heat sink so its long section rests in the tall fi n area

(Figure 14). Please note, this may be opposite of how the clips
were originally installed.

clip

screw hole

screw

long

section

dimple

screw

Encore/ST card

short

section

clip

heat sink

screw hole

Encore/ST card

Figure 12

screw

Figure 13

fins

Figure 14

2. Set the clips aside. With the heat sink’s tall fi ns at the back,

guide the heat sink’s posts into the holes on the Encore/ST card;
place the clips across the heat sink, with the long sections resting
in the tall fi n area; make sure the clips do not get caught between
the card and the heat sink (Figure 15). Verify that the heat sink
is resting fl at and level across the top of the Encore/ST card.

heat sink

clip

post

Figure 15

5

clip

post