Project: Gattaca

Associate
Joined
18 Jun 2007
Posts
1,473
Location
Cambridge, UK
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: 8GB Kingston DDR2 800
HDD: WD Raptor 150GB
GFX: Nvidia 9400GT 512MB
PSU: X-Power 500w
DVD/RW: Samsung 20x SATA DVD/RW
Soundcard: Asus SupremeFX II

OS:
Retail OSX 10.6.3 Snow Leopard
 
Last edited:
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jun 2007
Posts
1,473
Location
Cambridge, UK
Chop Shop:

First thing to do is strip out everything from the case that is getting in the way, a nice blank canvas.
iphone304.jpg


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.
iphone306.jpg


I am using an aluminium removable tray from a donor case.
iphone307.jpg


Test fit the tray and make sure it sits square in the case and look for possible fixing options
iphone308.jpg


Stand back and view your handy work :)
iphone310.jpg


Reference shot.
iphone313n.jpg


Another reference shot.
iphone315.jpg


Shake it baby!
iphone320.jpg


And one more for good luck.
iphone322.jpg
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jun 2007
Posts
1,473
Location
Cambridge, UK
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.
iphone324.jpg


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.
iphone325.jpg


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.
iphone326.jpg


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.
iphone327.jpg


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.
img0346sd.jpg


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!
img0345r.jpg


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.
dsc00539r.jpg


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.
dsc00540op.jpg


Braided the fan cables which are nice and long and plugged them into the the motherboard.
dsc00538k.jpg


Attached the perspex cover back to the case and forget about cooling problems :)
dsc00537iu.jpg


Welcome to the wind tunnel :) The fans are controlled by the motherboard temperature sensors.
dsc00542c.jpg


Case side back on and locked into place.
dsc00543i.jpg


Plug it in a test everything works!
dsc00545q.jpg
 
Last edited:
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jun 2007
Posts
1,473
Location
Cambridge, UK
Thanks guys! pulling inspiration from several different G5 mods across the web it seems to have worked well :)

The mod has taken about 2 weeks in total from start to finish although no mod is really ever finished so its probably going to be watercooled soon :)
 
Associate
Joined
3 Jul 2004
Posts
1,261
I decent temp drop there.
You have been the inspiration to start my take on a similar project in the next couple of weeks.
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jun 2007
Posts
1,473
Location
Cambridge, UK
Yeah I was very happy with the drop :) seems its a bit more now.

Idle temps:
Intel H/S: 50 51 50 54 idle
Evo 120: 33 33 34 36 idle

Load temps:
Intel H/S: 70 71 74 75 (Prime95 OSX)
Evo: 60 61 60 61 (Prime95 OSX)

Looks like the thermal paste has cured now.

Temperature taken using istat for OSX

Making one of these is good fun and challenging, the end result is a very capable machine.
 
Back
Top Bottom