Apple actually stated what is user installable parts. Just take a look at the apple support page. Look for your mac's section.

Most common parts is RAM. The rest like HDD, Optical Drive, Airport & bluetooth module are varied among models. The difference of DIY and sending it to Apple Certified Technician is, you spoilt it during the process you might not get a replacement. If technician didn't do a good job and f*ck up your machine, he/she will fix it for u. Or you'll makesure he/she does it.

Powersupply is not user installable parts for all desktop mac(that i know), power adapter is a different thing. If your warranty expired, and you doesn't want to get expensive replacement from Apple. There's always ebay. Or if you have the older G3/G4 macs, you might be able to convert ATX puwersupply and use it. Otherwise it has to be Apple/ made for mac parts, use or new.

Do bare in mind that mac's optical drive have a different firmware that allow OS booting.

This post has been edited by wei: Feb 6 2007, 10:49 AM

that does not apply to every mac, especially those older one
most easy to upgrade mac should be the Mac Pro, nothing come close to it that I've use.

This post has been edited by wei: Feb 6 2007, 12:37 PM

Not just the hard drive. CD bay. Thumbscrews on express card lane. Daugther board for more RAM. Modular PSU. Intel proc.

All those made upgrade much easier compare to PPC era.

I don't get it. Why fail? Did you push it hard enough

Depend on what you want and which you can afford.
gforce 5200? Radeon 9800? or even 7800GS?

Price won't be cheap or else you're brave enough to flash the PC card into mac compatible. Which I might do soon when I receive my Sawtooth logicboard this 2 weeks.

try ebay my friend. you might able to get the stock Rage128 card for a low price.