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Phase 5 Aptus CPU upgrade for C500
Posted by: wthww on 2022-11-14 08:45:55
I snagged one of these on eBay a couple months ago for a very reasonable sum as I recently got a C500 from a friend.

I think it's finally time to test it out 🙂

Will take some pics and let y'all know how it goes. Likely my best random eBay catch in a while.

//wthww
Posted by: Powerbase on 2022-11-14 09:24:07
Please do. Its so hard to even find pictures of the more rare niche machine upgrades.
Posted by: Fizzbinn on 2022-11-14 18:19:20
I snagged one of these on eBay a couple months ago for a very reasonable sum as I recently got a C500 from a friend.

I think it's finally time to test it out 🙂

Will take some pics and let y'all know how it goes. Likely my best random eBay catch in a while.

//wthww

Jealous! My Umax SuperMac C500 is one of my favorites, cool little box 😀

Definitely post some pics!
Posted by: wthww on 2022-11-14 22:36:31
As promised, attached phone pics.

This came to me by way of Poland, so if the seller recognizes the item, I'd be pleased as punch to leave positive feedback on the forms!
Posted by: wthww on 2022-11-21 10:20:55
Unfortunately this unit didn't come with a heatsink, which I had thought would be OK until I realized the heatsink from the OEM CPU module cannot be reused.

So I need to figure out how I'm going to mount a generic heatsink like this one safely and permanently.

Some other folks suggested double-sided thermal tape to get me up and going. I was thinking long term I might use a drill press on one of these to create the necessary mounting holes and some 1mmx10mm screws/lockwashers/nuts.

I'd be happy for feedback on this plan 🙂.

//wthww
Posted by: Bolle on 2022-11-21 10:29:01
I was thinking long term I might use a drill press on one of these to create the necessary mounting holes and some 1mmx10mm screws/lockwashers/nuts.
This is the way to go. I don't think thermal tape is going to cut it on a tiny surface like the G3 die.
As a side note: be super careful when tightening the screws holding down the heatsink. I'd suggest using precision washer to get them as close as possible to be the same height above the PCB as the die. It's relatively easy to snap corners off the die when over tightening the bolts/screws.
Posted by: jessenator on 2022-11-21 10:32:06
Super low-tech,

But also check out Wakefield-Vette's catalog for something to utilize the holes in the PCB. The PowerLogix board pictured didn't have them, so I had to do what I could :/ https://wakefieldthermal.com/content/catalogs/2019_Catalog.pdf
Posted by: macinbot on 2022-11-21 16:56:10
Nice score! The Aptus is just a rebranded Umax, correct?
Posted by: Phipli on 2022-11-21 17:01:11
Super low-tech,

But also check out Wakefield-Vette's catalog for something to utilize the holes in the PCB. The PowerLogix board pictured didn't have them, so I had to do what I could :/ https://wakefieldthermal.com/content/catalogs/2019_Catalog.pdf
Cough. I certainly do not have a card that uses two cable ties and a 4" nail to hold the heatsink on
Posted by: Phipli on 2022-11-21 17:03:16
Super low-tech,

But also check out Wakefield-Vette's catalog for something to utilize the holes in the PCB. The PowerLogix board pictured didn't have them, so I had to do what I could :/ https://wakefieldthermal.com/content/catalogs/2019_Catalog.pdf
BTW, have you seen the stock PowerLogix heatsink? Its weird - it grips the sides of the ceramic package and then a mushroom shape screws down on to the die and holds it in place!
Posted by: jessenator on 2022-11-21 19:37:24
BTW, have you seen the stock PowerLogix heatsink? Its weird - it grips the sides of the ceramic package and then a mushroom shape screws down on to the die and holds it in place!
Yeah! Wild. I actually was going to 3d print one, but even PETG at that thickness wouldn't hold for long :/


Nice score! The Aptus is just a rebranded Umax, correct?
Apus was one of the original models (in Europe?) rebranded for the USDM as the C600. Looks like Phase5 (who made the Aptus series of upgrades) was a Germany-based developer of upgrades. I'd never heard of them till today!
Posted by: gobabushka on 2022-11-30 19:49:07
God I miss my C500
Posted by: macinbot on 2022-11-30 22:13:35
God I miss my C500
I had a grey-market Apus 2240 destined for Asian markets, complete with Japanese characters on the key caps. Bought two of them new-in-box from a guy who had a stack of them in a warehouse in Union City (between Berkeley and San Jose in the SF Bay Area). Really nifty little Mac clone. I think I paid $40(?) for each in 2001.

Also ended up rescuing an assembly-line test pre-production Umax J710 (potentially the only one left in existence) that used the same case form factor.
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