Case Mod - In Progress Project: HeckaFresh Apple G5 Mod

Hey Doodsies,

First time poster, long time snooper...I'm currently attempting my own Apple G5 Case Mod and my goal is to attempt to put a bunch of I7 Parts into it WITHOUT butchering the backside. I will then attempt to try to recreate as much of the original G5 Placements making it look all neat and pretty inside. There won't be any water cooling as I don't have the budget to fit it in, and I don't know how to do it, so double blamo.

Here is my parts list:

Apple G5 Case
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5
I7 920
Corsair 750 Watt PSU
6 gb of OCZ ram
Noctua-NHU12P CPU Fan
nvidia 8800 gt (borrowed from a friend until I have money to buy gtx 275, edit: nvm, can't borrow it anymore i'm sad)

I think that's it so far...But so far, I don't have any of the parts yet, just some old parts i'm using to measure things. Anyhow, here is my progress so far, I hope you like what I've done!!


Internal shot of the motherboard laid perfectly into position


My homemade motherboard tray made of Plexiglass and normal motherboard standoffs


Standoffs on both sides allow for perfect height from the case to the height of PCI Slots


Fits perfectly into place, where the underside standoffs are measured to exactly where the original logic board standoffs would go

Next Task: Work on the back panel!!

 

Whow, nice solution Gonna follow this.

 

you should get this
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3387
it has been used in many g5 mods before
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...e=product_info&cPath=130_210&products_id=2150
you might need that because sometimes the old front panel conn do not work
look around that site for stuff for the mod

then take the tray and trace the the back on the back of the g5
then take your dremel and start cutting
it will not be perfect but there will not be a big ass hole in the back

 

Thanks for your replies guys.

@Coldfusion1313: I was looking into that, but I do not want to cut the back of the case. I think it's beautiful the way it is, and I will have to work around it. I know what I need to do, it will be hard, but I think it's very doable. Hopefully I can work on it more and show you my idea. It will be awesome...according to the idea I have in my head...might not come out the way I want it, but I'mma try...hopefully you will like it too.

 

Good start,i've got a G5 case that I was planning to mod some time in the future so i'll be watching this closely,subd.

 

are you going to paint or polish the case
??????????

 

Welcome to the Bit-Tech "G5 Case Appreciation Society"!!!!

You put our ranks at about 5 or 6 + Cheapskate wants one.

I have seen on the internet somewhere a mod that does NOT cut the back side. It involves rewiring and building a new board to recreate the 'weird' Apple layout.

I have 2 and 1/4 G5 cases. They are cool but a total pain to fit non-Apple stuff in.

Mod on, I watch

john

/Edit
How much of the G5 case did you get? Clear Plexi air deflector? Fans and HDD mounts and tray?

 

@coldfusion1313: I'm going to be sanding and painting the whole case cuz there are a bunch of ugly scratches.

@jhanlon303: I've been looking for a cool case for a while, and I thought to myself, hey, I like the mac pro look, so decided I can try modding a g5 case, cuz everyone's doing it, why not? I got the air deflector, and some fans on top near the hard drives and the hdd mounts and trays. Other than that, it was pretty empty.

 

Is that a recurring problem? I haven't been able to find one in good condition yet, too lazy (plus no access to tools here) to redo the entire exterior.

Great project, though and great idea with retaining the stock look
*subbed*

 

Seems like it's an aluminum problem, since it's such a soft metal, it's very prone to scratches. If you accident bump it into something, it'll scratch. Like mac book pro's, or ipods(though not aluminum) are prone to scratches. There was one on ebay really good condition, but very $$$$, though, once u get one, you gotta be careful. Though, it's not too bad.

 

I must have been lucky,mine isn't marked at all apart from a 1/4" scratch near the bottom.

 

Lucky bum with a G5
Hopefully this log is promising!!

 

^What John said. AngelOD's G5 log involves rewiring all the I/O connectors if I remember right. That whole log is pure porn.

 

Oooh, I will have a look. I was thinking of a way I can integrate those back ports, though I have an idea, I'll check it out! Thanks! COol!

Edit: Cool, just checked it out, it would've been nice to have the original logic boards to use it's i/o ports, but I don't But I have a solution to this pollution!! I'll show you when I've built it!

 

And exactly what is wrong with butchering the backside of a G5?

Snug fit with the mobo and look forward to seeing what your idea is for the back.

Any thoughts on the colour of the case?

Cyp.

 

What's wrong with butchering the backside? Just take a look at your mod... haha, jk, you did a pretty good job, I was impressed. I guess I just like the simplicity route that apple took. I wish the motherboard would've fit without having to tamper with the dvd drive/hdd plate, but I had to remove it and will probably have to cut it a lil bit. As for the color, I am thinking a matte dark gray though I might change my mind later, but that's what I got for now.

 

Add me to the Wants a Powermac G5 / Mac Pro Case, but i want one with a mac inside!

 

That's nothing $3k can't fix

 

Yup, £4000 to have one of the most powerful PC's made

Maybe when i go to Uni.....

 

i got me a g5 waiting to go, so I'll be watching this too!!!