134 replies to this topic

[shiftysamurai]

It seems like only yesterday you started this, and you've already got a pretty good start. I almost went with a Mac Pro case before I found the G5, so this mod is really interesting to me.

Edit: It WAS only yesterday...

[WhatTheTech]

It seems like only yesterday you started this, and you've already got a pretty good start. I almost went with a Mac Pro case before I found the G5, so this mod is really interesting to me.

Edit: It WAS only yesterday...

LOL. Well, I only started posting yesterday but I worked a few hours here and there over the past few days on dismantling. Just ask SirKeldon - he was encouraging me via Skype to NOT give up

The Mac Pro is at the same time very familiar (coming from G5 experience) but also quite a different beast. I'm also learning that a full dismantle is about as involved you can get. Despite hating some of the screw placements, I am really understanding the detail and craftsmanship that went in to this case, and from a more informed position than simply modding the backside. Some might argue that the case is over-engineered, but in my mind it was done with excellence.

Thanks for following! I'm waiting to hear back from David from The Laser Hive for his professional advice regarding the backplate before I make any cuts. More updates soon no doubt!

[WhatTheTech]

THE REAR FAN

Well, in the hopes that I can save the original fan grill, I decided to get started and hope for the best. The Mac Pro has a processor cage with the fan attached, so the grill doesn't have holes for mounting a standard fan.



So, using my very scientific method of an overly sharpened pencil and a 120mm fan, I made the marks for the mounting holes:



I started at with a small bit to make the pilot holes, assuming that the thing was solid metal. Nope. Plastic underneath! So I pulled out the right sized bit and made four holes:



I wasn't too worried about the size once I found out there was plastic underneath. By keeping it a little small, I figured (correctly) that the fan screw would make their own threads. Here's the final product, with some nifty dark grey screws that I found in my toolbox:



Now, as you can see from the following picture, I drilled the holes off center. There's a not-so-small possibility that I will have to remove part of the inner grill for motherboard clearance, and if that's the case, I don't want to have to drill again!



Now just keep your fingers crossed that I won't have to cut the fan grill! It's so purty the way it is....

[Mr.D.]

motherboard clearance being all the stuff in the back I/O area on the MB I'm guessing? This is what is so far preventing me from installing the stock rear fans back into my G5. I don't need them for cooling, but it'd be nice to get those back in for originality sake.

[WhatTheTech]

motherboard clearance being all the stuff in the back I/O area on the MB I'm guessing? This is what is so far preventing me from installing the stock rear fans back into my G5. I don't need them for cooling, but it'd be nice to get those back in for originality sake.

Yep, that's what I'm concerned about. Best case scenario, there's a mm or two - worst case scenario I shave off some of the interior fan grill and put some plastic to insulate from shorts. I know that SirKeldon kept his (you can find it on his gallery here) so it's definitely possible for the G5!

[Mr.D.]

it all really depends on the placement of the stuff on your MB. I have two tall stacks of stuff - one being the USB/PS2 stack, and the other the DVI/VGA stack. Both rise high enough that I'd have to cut. By cut I mean the original fan mounting bracket thing. I could most certainly put fans directly on that grill - but since I don't need them, the only reason to do it is to reuse the original fan mounting bracket thing... and that is what I'd have to cut. A lot.

I had looked very very closely at his pictures before, but the detail just wasn't there to see clearly what he did down in that area... maybe I'll message him for some better pics that can give me some ideas.

[WhatTheTech]

It would be a good idea - I've been taken on a webcam tour of his case before and got some really good pointers from the way he set things up!

My RMA motherboard comes in Wednesday, so I should have a decent idea by then. I almost wish I hadn't taken the case apart for anodizing just yet so I can make the cuts first, but if it really comes down to it I'll cut the whole thing and have my kit from The Laser Hive anodized, and then just cut some more...

[Ira Aduro]

Mr. D, sometime in the near future we should have a G5 backplate that lets you keep the rear fans and fit any standard ATX motherboard's rear IO. Currently there is a mATX version done by Sheriff who released the schematic. I'm working on an ATX version. The rear fans would be moved to the left a bit so you'd have to shave off some of the plastic "lip" that sits flush with the CPU shield.

[q64ceo]

Wow, dude.

Is there any modification you cant do?

You are pretty damn good at it

[WhatTheTech]

Wow, dude.

Is there any modification you cant do?

You are pretty damn good at it

Well, I really appreciate that

Still, you don't hear me on Skype with SirKeldon freaking out about what I'm going to do...lol

[WhatTheTech]

Well, a small update. I have decided what I'm going to do with the backplate, and I'm feeling good about my final decision.

Every G5 mod I have ever done involved cutting the back. Honestly, I had no problem with it - I would prefer to have a secure motherboard with a cut back than an non-secure motherboard with a clean one. By a series of misfortunes in terms of measurements (things being 5mm too small, 8mm too big) I was sort of forced into keeping the back uncut. For those who are interested, here are some of the factors that came into play:

1) I wanted it to look good.
2) I wanted to use the stock fan grill
3) I didn't want to encroach on the PSU area with my motherboard (I/O is longer than Mac Pro stock area)
4) My Lian-Li backplate was one PCI slot shorter than the Mac Pro, meaning I would have to have a gaping hole on one side or the other...

You know, when talking with SirKeldon about all this, I realized that the ONLY things that I use on my motherboard are the USB ports. Seriously! My mic and headphones are USB, obviously my keyboard and mouse are, and I use a PCIE wi-fi card. I never use on-board video, so as long as I had good PCI brackets, I was good to go! So, with two USB 3.0 ports on the front that I will hook up, and a 4-slot USB expansion card - all I needed now was a way to utilize the two USB 3.0 ports on the back (I have 7 USB devices total). I found these panel mount USB 3.0 ports, and despite not loving the idea of having more screws on the back, I think some JB Weld might be an acceptable alternative! As for the rest of the ports on the back, I'll use some salvaged plastic from a Mac fan bracket to block them off.

I'm sort of looking forward to my stock look - probably because it's something I haven't done before. Who knows, maybe it will turn in to a total stock look with extenders for each port???

We got a BUNCH of snow last night, so I'm putting off anodizing until Friday, but be prepared for picture overload!!!!

[q64ceo]

Well, a small update. I have decided what I'm going to do with the backplate, and I'm feeling good about my final decision.

Every G5 mod I have ever done involved cutting the back. Honestly, I had no problem with it - I would prefer to have a secure motherboard with a cut back than an non-secure motherboard with a clean one. By a series of misfortunes in terms of measurements (things being 5mm too small, 8mm too big) I was sort of forced into keeping the back uncut. For those who are interested, here are some of the factors that came into play:

1) I wanted it to look good.
2) I wanted to use the stock fan grill
3) I didn't want to encroach on the PSU area with my motherboard (I/O is longer than Mac Pro stock area)
4) My Lian-Li backplate was one PCI slot shorter than the Mac Pro, meaning I would have to have a gaping hole on one side or the other...

You know, when talking with SirKeldon about all this, I realized that the ONLY things that I use on my motherboard are the USB ports. Seriously! My mic and headphones are USB, obviously my keyboard and mouse are, and I use a PCIE wi-fi card. I never use on-board video, so as long as I had good PCI brackets, I was good to go! So, with two USB 3.0 ports on the front that I will hook up, and a 4-slot USB expansion card - all I needed now was a way to utilize the two USB 3.0 ports on the back (I have 7 USB devices total). I found these panel mount USB 3.0 ports, and despite not loving the idea of having more screws on the back, I think some JB Weld might be an acceptable alternative! As for the rest of the ports on the back, I'll use some salvaged plastic from a Mac fan bracket to block them off.

I'm sort of looking forward to my stock look - probably because it's something I haven't done before. Who knows, maybe it will turn in to a total stock look with extenders for each port???

We got a BUNCH of snow last night, so I'm putting off anodizing until Friday, but be prepared for picture overload!!!!

There may be a way that you dont have to cut anything.

I was thinking about this and I thought why not have the motherboard not be so close to the end of the case, giving some space and creating some internal extension cords/cables/wires then placing the cords in the empty space lining them up with the backplate. You would also need an internal mounting device to hold your PCI/e cards. But, as long as you can make those internal extension cords, no cutting would be necessary at all.

It would be some damn hard work.

Did that make any sense? lol

I know what I wanted to say but had a hard time thinking of how to type it up.

[WhatTheTech]

I was thinking about this and I thought why not have the motherboard not be so close to the end of the case, giving some space and creating some extension cords to line up with the back plate? You would also need an internal mounting device to hold your PCI/e cards. But, as long as you can make those internal extension cords, no cutting would be necessary at all.

People have done this before, but personally it's not something I want to do, since I really want the PCI cards to be solid. Using the stock PCI bracket like I intend to, I have 2-3" of space as it is, which is honestly enough if/when I want to extend more than just the USB. It's not a bad idea, and as I mentioned people have done it before, but I don't want to have to worry about something coming loose every time I disconnect a DVI cable

[Ira Aduro]

WhattheTech, that panel mount USB 3.0 you found is the right kind of female header for securing via just the header itself, supposing the USB ports on the Mac Pro are the same dimensions as the ones on the G5. I only did a quick test but it should hold from pushing and pulling without giving way.

[WhatTheTech]

Wait, are you talking about for the front panel or the back panel? For the front panel, I'm getting one of these.

[Ira Aduro]

For the back panel. Have you seen the "clean mac pro" mod by oentz? He bought and used some conversion kit from china, looks like your front panel is something similar. Wish they sold something like that for the G5 which has USB 3.0 front panel.

[WhatTheTech]

For the back panel. Have you seen the "clean mac pro" mod by oentz? He bought and used some conversion kit from china, looks like your front panel is something similar. Wish they sold something like that for the G5 which has USB 3.0 front panel.

Ah, I see what you're saying. A bit of background before replying. My first G5 mod was...well...my first attempt. Things were a little shaky overall, with motherboard standoffs for the PCI bracket and a makeshift I/O shield at the back. I hated the feeling that I might knock something out of place, and really don't want to replicate that. I'm not saying that just fitting the header wouldn't work, but just for my own sake I want to KNOW that it's not going anywhere. That's why I'm almost disinclined to use JB Weld, and may actually use the screw system (obviously replacing the screws for something more aesthetically pleasing.

I have seen the conversion kit (and the near $300 price tag), but honestly it's just out of my budget. It's by the same guy that makes the front panel, which is much more reasonably priced at around $35. I may have mentioned this already, but if you look at the store section of G5modders, The Laser Hive is actually in the process of making up front panel 3.0 boards for the G5. I don't know the details, but an email to info@thelaserhive.com would definitely not go amiss!

[Ira Aduro]

Fair enough. If you want the screw to not show, I wonder if you could thread a hole the size of the screw in the case, screw it in place from within the case but keeping the end of the screw flush with the outside of the case, use bondo to clean up the surface and paint to match the case. Though, since you are getting it anodized that probably wouldn't work since it would be hard to match the anodized color.

[WhatTheTech]

Fair enough. If you want the screw to not show, I wonder if you could thread a hole the size of the screw in the case, screw it in place from within the case but keeping the end of the screw flush with the outside of the case, use bondo to clean up the surface and paint to match the case. Though, since you are getting it anodized that probably wouldn't work since it would be hard to match the anodized color.

This is exactly what I plan on doing (great minds etc.), minus the bondo. The anodizing place is throwing in some screws (and they have THOUSANDS of sizes), so I'll already have the match

[Mr.D.]

USB expansion card[/url] - all I needed now was a way to utilize the two USB 3.0 ports on the back (I have 7 USB devices total). I found these panel mount USB 3.0 ports, and despite not loving the idea of having more screws on the back, I think some JB Weld might be an acceptable alternative! As for the rest of the ports on the back, I'll use some salvaged plastic from a Mac fan bracket to block them off.

This is essentially what I have done with my G5. I have managed to fish one USB extension cable thru one of the USB holes in the case that connects to a powered USB hub. That's how I solved my USB port issues. I very seriously thought about not even aligning the motherboard at all with the back and rotating it sideways, but I also wanted to secure my GPU (didn't have one at the time but figured I eventually get one - and did get one 2 months later) with something better than just the PCIe connections. I also bought a USB header to USB Type A Plug adapter for less than 10 bucks so if I do need access to more USB ports, I got that covered as well.

On two other notes - JB Weld is your friend, and I am getting snowed on now and I blame you.