How to fit PC in a G5 PowerMac enclosure :> Options

[teknojunkie]

np, do you already have a case and tools and stuff?

yeap Me and my cousin each bought a case and we have almost the same exact spec except for video cards

[HacOSXuser]

got any plans? full size atx or matx?

[teknojunkie]

got any plans? full size atx or matx?

yea a 7 slot pci so full size atx gonna use a mobo tray and what tools could I use to cut the case it the fastest way without damaging the it

[HacOSXuser]

i would recommend a Dremel. it seems to be the most popular. as i didnt have one handy at the time i used a hax saw and pliers. but like i said. its in my besk 24/7 so no one sees the back at all.

[teknojunkie]

Oh so everyones going with dremel all by one then but I dont get doesnt it spin clockwise how does it cut then

[Harloe]

It spins at high speeds with a blade on the end of it, that's how it cuts =]

[teknojunkie]

It spins at high speeds with a blade on the end of it, that's how it cuts =]

OK thanks now I get did you make a case mod

[Harloe]

I haven't no, I'm investing in building myself a MacPro =] Should be fun and I want legit OS X! But I was originally planning on the G5 Case mod and using a dremel but I thought it would be more trouble than it's worth.

[teknojunkie]

I haven't no, I'm investing in building myself a MacPro =] Should be fun and I want legit OS X! But I was originally planning on the G5 Case mod and using a dremel but I thought it would be more trouble than it's worth.

yea I want to do this for the fun DIY and all that plus my MacBook Air is coming in soon.

[nervouschimp]

I dropped by radio shack today in preparation of my upcoming G5-ATX mod. Definitely covered on supplies. I am absolutely not taking a dremel to the case. I found mine brand new on ebay for $160. It's mint. Anyway, most of the ports on ATX mobos are ancient legacy connectors.

My plan is to mount a full-size ATX board at the front of the case, and run jumpers to the rear-IO and expansion bays. The PSU will be situated at the lower-rear, and in a vertical orientation, with the heat-sinks facing the rear exhaust fans.

My goal is full functionality without any external mods. I don't anticipate the need to take a dremel to any part of my G5 enclosure.

I plan on using the front panel pinout from the G5 service manual, but I will reverse the power+ and led, as it seems that apple's design has the firewire and power+ somehow bridged in a way that is dangerous to standard motherboards..... it sort of makes since (to me) that that swapping the power and led would be a kind of work around, and sounds like that has worked for some.

On order next will be a Lian Li motherboard tray.

P.S.
Where the hell do I find those optical drive standoffs? My case did not come with any.

[HacOSXuser]

@Nervouschimp.

i wanted to do something like that too. but i just didnt think itd be worth it. i am looking foward to seeing how it turns out

my friend wants me to build him a computer into a G5 case as well. if your set up goes well i might copy it.

[teknojunkie]

I dropped by radio shack today in preparation of my upcoming G5-ATX mod. Definitely covered on supplies. I am absolutely not taking a dremel to the case. I found mine brand new on ebay for $160. It's mint. Anyway, most of the ports on ATX mobos are ancient legacy connectors.

My plan is to mount a full-size ATX board at the front of the case, and run jumpers to the rear-IO and expansion bays. The PSU will be situated at the lower-rear, and in a vertical orientation, with the heat-sinks facing the rear exhaust fans.

My goal is full functionality without any external mods. I don't anticipate the need to take a dremel to any part of my G5 enclosure.

I plan on using the front panel pinout from the G5 service manual, but I will reverse the power+ and led, as it seems that apple's design has the firewire and power+ somehow bridged in a way that is dangerous to standard motherboards..... it sort of makes since (to me) that that swapping the power and led would be a kind of work around, and sounds like that has worked for some.

On order next will be a Lian Li motherboard tray.

P.S.
Where the hell do I find those optical drive standoffs? My case did not come with any.

Nice, What tools did you get and how are you gonna use all your pci, pci e slots if it is a full atx and no dremel?

[SticMACâ„¢]

Offer:

Just bought two complete used G5 empty cases on e-bay for €115.00 in Ratingen, Germany! My problem is this, I live in Basil, Switzerland so they won't send them here! (EU regulations, customs etc.)


So if there is any body in Germany, France (EU) that wants them, or would like to share one and can go get them let me know?
I'm really not bothered, they want to be paid by bank transfer or at collection.

If you would like, I will e-mail them and tell them that my "friend" will pick them up or pay extra €15.00 to have it shipped then they are yours!(or to share)

PM me if you are interested, I'm including the description in german if you need to know more!

SticMAN

2x Leergehäuse Apple Powermac G5
(sie bieten hier auf beide zusammen ! )

Wie der Name schon sagt, handelt es sich bei diesen Gehäusen um leere Gehäuse,
es befinden sich inwendig nur ein paar schwarze Kabel, Plastikbefestigungen
und die Plexiglasdeckel, die Alu-Aussendeckel sind ebenfalls dabei.

Die Gehäuse sind zwar gebraucht, aber noch gut in Schuss, ein wenig Staub,
minimale Kratzer, wenige Schlieren, die sich wegreinigen lassen.
Beide Gehäuse kommen sehr sicher verpackt in den originalen
Apple Ersatzteil-Verpackungen.
Es wird keinerlei Garantie übernommen.

KEINE LIEFERUNG AUSSERHALB EUROPÄISCHE UNION.
EU-Versandkosten auf Anfrage.
Innerhalb Deutschland moderate 15€ versicherter UPS Versand.
(Versand weder mit Post, noch mit Hermes, noch mit Fleurop).
Abholung ist auch möglich.
Die Lieferung erfolgt incl. ordentlicher Rechnung mit ausgewiesener MWST.
Diese MWST ist im Steigerpreis enthalten.

[nervouschimp]

I was working on the front port last night and ran into a problem. there is no explicit v-ground listed on the g5 service pinout for the firewire cable, only chassis ground fw (shield ground?), but the usb cable does have both usb v-ground and chassis ground.

So it looks like I must use pin 2 (listed as V-GND) to ground the firewire.

Now, if I do that, that leaves me with where to ground the power button.

Can the power button and the firewire share the same ground?

Is this why people have had trouble with their firewire ports? Because they are using pin 2 for PWR BTTN ground, and are left with no V-GND for firewire? I really don't think the chassis ground cable alone is enough for a healthy firewire connection?

Am I right?

found on the net:

"In order to understand the issue, it is necessary to understand just a little bit of how FireWire operates.

FireWire allows the attachment of external devices to host computers through a cable which is composed of the following wiring components:

Serial Data Pairs, of which there are two, giving a total of 4 wires.
Power, which is generally somewhere between 8 to 24 volts DC.
Ground, which is a lead that provides a current return for the Power line.
Shield, which helps prevent the emission of Radio Frequency Interference from the FireWire cable."

[nervouschimp]

OK, I just figured out something.... the apple pinout diagram is correct, but it assumes that you are looking into the end of the front panel cable connector. The apple diagram is correct only if you have unplugged the cable and are staring into the bottom of the plug.

This is why some find the apple front pinout to be backwards..... because it is

[regsys]

nice, that should solve my front panel connecting issues...

[teknojunkie]

Finally got my cases now where to begin and how do I connect the front panel to the motherboard










The one above is the Front Panel Connector and more below



Above Hard Drive Area


Cd Drive Tray thingy

The Back

That is the port on the motherboard for the Front Panel Board Power thing more pictures underneath

Usb For Front Panel

Above For Audio

How Motherboards Gonna be place but with a Motherboard Tray

Another Angle

In progress

Ok so Basically Right Now I want to know How to connect the Front 3 Ports and Power Button

[nylock10]

I didn't know you could just use the IO ports that are already built into the case instead of cutting them, I'd like to know how to do that!

Anyway to explain how to do that to a noob like me? I have no idea how any of the motherboard/IO parts work.

[teknojunkie]

I didn't know you could just use the IO ports that are already built into the case instead of cutting them, I'd like to know how to do that!

Anyway to explain how to do that to a noob like me? I have no idea how any of the motherboard/IO parts work.

Well You can buy a cose enough motherboard to do that but the easier way is if you know how solder, then you can desolder move and tweak them to fit into them. But I suggest cutting the back and getting a MotherBoard Tray so if you ever want to change it then you can.

[nervouschimp]

on the front ports:
I'm working on that right now... haven't had time to test my new wiring.... but one thing is certain... there are not enough grounds.... the firewire really needs a voltage return, so I am without a ground for the power switch atm.

on the back ports:
you can buy panel mount cables for firewire, usb, lan and audio, etc... and epoxy their ABS housing to the back-plane instead of using the included screws. many of the cables can be found at frontx.com. because most atx motherboards load up the rear with legacy ports, just de-solder those, and they'll be out of your way. find a board with lots of internal headers for usb, firewire, and just run a panel mount cat6 patch cable from the rear lan to the appropriate port on the G5 backplane. make some custom port caps to neatly cap the unused ports, like modem etc.... like they do with cars... they just neatly cap off the sections of the dash for options that you did not elect for at the time of purchase, and it looks better than an empty hole, and no-one will think twice about it....
or:
just use the common method of slapping an atx tray on the back.