In the process to find a standalone app that everyone might use to determine the performance of old GPU thermal pad vs. replacement with a new pad… I first considered
CineBench - but that simply doesn’t run long enough to determine any sufficient temperature rise or fall between the two pads [IMO] from a cold booted G4 mini. And I didn’t want to manually have to restart it over and over again for up to 30 minutes - while also attempting to record times and temps along the way.
Apple Hardware Test (AHT)And it was pretty much the same for
AHT (Apple Hardware Tests) for the minis.
However, discovered that there are two different and distinct versions of AHT for the G4 minis and neither one will function for the other, from their respective original OS install discs.
[
10,1 = (
1.25 GHz & 1.42 GHz) AND
10,2 = (
1.33 GHz & 1.5 GHz] Unable to find downloadable versions
** of these two disc sets anywhere, unless perhaps you purchase them via eBay, etc. OR unless someone could strip them from the original install discs?
For reference:Mac mini Print & Media set
603-7377 for
10,1. (Discs:
2Z691-5455-A &
2Z691-5499-A)
Mac mini Print & Media set
603-7594 for
10,2. (Discs:
2Z691-5510-A &
2Z691-5533-A)
**Did find this on Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/691-5455-A2ZMac_mini._Mac_OS_X_Install_Disc_1._Mac_OS_v10.4._AHT_v1.0._Disc_v1.0
Apple Service Diagnostic (ASD)
ASD v2.6.3 shown here.
Which now brings me to
ASD v2.5.8 &
ASD v2.6.3 (
ASD) discs. Also two different versions - but infinitely more detailed & intense testing than
AHT -
PLUS the added ability to define and loop tests repeatedly. I set it and looped it 10 times - and it ran for 25 minutes on a 1.5 GHz mini with 1 GB of RAM. (37 minutes total elapsed time if you include boot time.)
Both versions ARE available for download via Macintosh Garden and the Repository.
https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/apple-service-diagnostic-ppc (DO read the text descriptions there.)
Only two possible issues are: (1). ASD does take so very long to boot - but that only serves to warm up the mini being tested here for the GPU thermal pad (before and after). And (2). It does boot under OS X - but that may not really matter all that much here for thermal pad heat tests. Patience is indeed necessary while waiting for it to boot.

Got a G4 mini? You need ASD! (Even if you do - or don’t have AHT)
And yes it’s a bit of an ordeal to burn to disc after download, but if you intend to keep running your mini for many more years to come… ASD is an invaluable diagnostic tool that should serve you very well. And especially for any G4 Mac mini that you might have just recently purchased. (It can also generate an extensive accounting of all your mini’s hardware.)
Device ID: 4. (2 banks of memory)? See attachments below.
Pardon the greyscale, patched-together images.