Project: Gattaca

[Ch3ck5um]

I am about to embark on a new project, turning and old G5 Apple PowerMac case into a PC, well actually a Mac Pro.

Parts List:

Case(s):
G5 PowerMac Case: (Ebay)
Donor Case: Coolermaster ATC-201
Parts: Antec 900

Components:
CPU: Intel Q6600 @3ghz

Motherboard: Asus Blitz Formula SE
RAM: 4GB Crucial Ballistix
HDD: Seagate 80GB 7200.9
GFX: Nvidia 9400GT 512MB
PSU: X-Power 500w
DVD/RW: Samsung 20x SATA DVD/RW
Soundcard: Asus SupremeFX II

OS:
Retail OSX 10.6.2 Snow Leopard


Last night I stripped down the G5 case to a shell and began measuring the back panel for surgery.

UPDATE: Pics added.

[Ch3ck5um]

Chop Shop:

First thing to do is strip out everything from the case that is getting in the way, a nice blank canvas.


Use a jigsaw of a Dremel (I prefer a Dremel with a disc cutter) to cut out the hole for the motherboard tray, also remove all the old motherboard stand offs apart from 2 which you will need to fix the new tray to the side panel.


I am using an aluminium removable tray from a donor case.


Test fit the tray and make sure it sits square in the case and look for possible fixing options


Stand back and view your handy work


Reference shot.


Another reference shot.


Shake it baby!


And one more for good luck.

[Ch3ck5um]

Assembly:

The upper panel of a G5 powermac (when hdd bays and fans are removed) is exactly the right size for mounting the PSU. I used 5 double sided sticky pads on the bottom of the PSU to stick it to the bottom of the panel so it would not slip around. Make sure the power switch is set to "on" and plug in a power cable and route it down the back of the panel.


Fit a normal DVD drive and make sure there is a power plug ready for it. Route the rest of the power cables / ATX plugs through a convenient hole at the rear of the DVD drive.


As the cable is routed behind the motherboard tray all you need to do now is re-attach the door latching mechanism and fix back the top tray to the chassis.


Fix back the clear perspex latch to the top tray and make sure it fits properly. Now the chassis resembles a PC more and rest is pretty much as a normal PC build.


Drill and fix the motherboard tray to the internal 2 stand offs we left and screw the back panel to the chassis making sure nothing moves around.

Cut out and fit a chassis plug to the rear panel and fix it in place.


Wire up the chassis plug to the PSU plug cable and make sure its covered with insulation or a purpose made rubber boot which will stop you getting electrocuted, it is the most dangerous part in the case so pay special attention here!


I wired the front panel connectors USB/Firewire/Audio/Power button and LED up to several accessory cables I had around which had normal PC fittings to attach to the motherboard, shrink rapped them and covered the bundle in black braiding.

Fit the motherboard/processor/ram/graphics etc.. and find a good place to fix down a HDD (I used a 3.5" adapter tray from an Antec 900)

I replaced the Apple rear fan with a MUCH quieter YS-tech 80mm fan which also moved a lot more air.


Next up is cooling, I used the front fan inserts from an Antec 900 and attached Scythe HDD stabalizer rubber mounts to them and then drilled and fixed them to the perspex cover.


Braided the fan cables which are nice and long and plugged them into the the motherboard.


Attached the perspex cover back to the case and forget about cooling problems


Welcome to the wind tunnel The fans are controlled by the motherboard temperature sensors.


Case side back on and locked into place.


Plug it in a test everything works!

[azcrazy]

wow is only 3 post's and all are from u, funny if u ask me

[Ch3ck5um]

Changed to ATC-201 motherboard tray as the ATC-101 tray did not fit.

[Ch3ck5um]

wow is only 3 post's and all are from u, funny if u ask me

<tumble weeds> ...

[Bobsama]

wow is only 3 post's and all are from u, funny if u ask me

No really. Without any pictures or sketches, it's really tough to offer any comment. Not even a "nice!" or "looking good!" is possible. Open up with a few pictures of what you have (regardless of progress) and my guess is that you'll start getting comments.

[Church]

Well. I can comment without any pics posted only that project name is one of my favourite sci-fi movies of all times. I doubt seeing references to it in mod apart from name though. It's hard to imagine something to do with 50ties' cars or DNA discrimination in case mod .. maybe painted face of Uma Thurman on sidewall?
One might make something steampunk-ish though .. i recall computers/their keyboards and such in space academy shown as some old style hw.

[miptzi]

he was afraid of not having empty topics left, I he waited.....

[Ch3ck5um]

Well. I can comment without any pics posted only that project name is one of my favourite sci-fi movies of all times. I doubt seeing references to it in mod apart from name though. It's hard to imagine something to do with 50ties' cars or DNA discrimination in case mod .. maybe painted face of Uma Thurman on sidewall?
One might make something steampunk-ish though .. i recall computers/their keyboards and such in space academy shown as some old style hw.

Glad you got the reference

You will have to wait and see.

[Ch3ck5um]

Well I finally got some daylight to use the dremel, pics added.

[InCredible]

very nice start.

[dpokrajac0]

love the name.

[Mabyboi]

NOOOOOO YOU BEAT ME TOO IT!!! damn... im getting a Mac Pro case this summer and modding it... oh its on.... its on.....

Where did you get the case btw?

then again i am building a WC loop inside it... lol

[Ch3ck5um]

You snooze you lose :P

Technically its a totally different mod as the Mac Pro is pretty much a MicroATX pc.

The G5's are a lot more PowerPC so need to be stripped and chopped.

The case was from Ebay, I picked it up for £60 as it was sold as stripped.

I am now planning how I can best fit my watercooling gear and also hard drives.

[Mabyboi]

You snooze you lose :P

Technically its a totally different mod as the Mac Pro is pretty much a MicroATX pc.

The G5's are a lot more PowerPC so need to be stripped and chopped.

The case was from Ebay, I picked it up for £60 as it was sold as stripped.

I am now planning how I can best fit my watercooling gear and also hard drives.

should be a good one! cant wait to see what you do!

[Ch3ck5um]

Another small update for assembly.

DVD and PSU installed

[faraprejudecati]

Where from did you get your back panel for your case?

[Ch3ck5um]

Where from did you get your back panel for your case?

The rear panel and tray is from an old Coolermaster ATC-201.

The same back panel and tray is also in the Coolermaster Wavemaster case, I know this as I have just coverted a wavemaster into a ATC-201 using the spare parts from the old ATC-201 donor case.

[neoman]

Seems like a good project , keep us updated

[CryptiK]

Nice this is different, good progress so far. Keen to see how it turns out.

[Raiden]

Love those macbook cases , wish i could get one !

More...

[Ch3ck5um]

Added pics to Assembly:

Fitted PSU chassis plug.
Fitted Apple triple blade 80mm delta fan.
Removed lug from rear panel.

[Ch3ck5um]

Next up is the hard drive mounting options although I am a little stumped ...

Ideas anyone?

[Mabyboi]

Next up is the hard drive mounting options although I am a little stumped ...

Ideas anyone?

if you can get a silverstone tj07's hard drive mounting cage you can always attatch that to the base of the case.. same deal with any holders really.. Thats one of the reasons why id like to get the mac pro case rather than the g5, due to its hard drive sleds.