InsanelyMac Forum > How to fit PC in a G5 PowerMac enclosure :>

XSMac

Aug 24 2006, 07:38 PM

QUOTE(bofors @ Aug 24 2006, 08:19 PM)

Wow, that "work log" is great:

That looks easy for a four PCI slot board (microATX?). But I don't understand how you dealt with using a full size, seven PCI slot, ATX board:

Well I sort of "made a mistake" in that choice because there wasn't a mATX Intel 975 w/ Wireless on Board and silent cooling for NB and SB available when I assembled my rig... so I made a few choices: opted out of one of the PCI Express slots (the orange one) and 2 of the small PCI slots which I'm not predicting to use anyway... If I was to buy components today I probably would've tryed to buy a mATX from an online retailer... But when you are in a rush...

For the adjustments an alu board bolted to the bottom of the G5 enclosure gave me just enough flexiblity to be able to slide everythng in... My first guess was that I would have serious trouble with the ports... which I did! So I bought a PCB and searched for ports that would fit most of the G5's exits on the back panel... desoldering them and establish a connection to a new PCB... Unfortunately to the best of my knowledge there aren't any stores here (Portugal) I can buy theses ports from... just serials and nothing else so I quit this idea and wen't for the "full" unwired version: Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, printer, Internet (soon to be) and sound connection... let's see how I'll evaluate my options later on...

bofors

Aug 24 2006, 08:36 PM

QUOTE(XSMac @ Aug 24 2006, 03:35 PM)

Well I sort of "made a mistake" in that choice because there wasn't a mATX Intel 975 w/ Wireless on Board and silent cooling for NB and SB available when I assembled my rig... If I was to buy components today I probably would've tryed to buy a mATX from an online retailer... But when you are in a rush...

The probem is that the the Asus P5W DH is not availble in an mATX format, and if I were to build now that is the board I would use.

QUOTE

... so I made a few choices: opted out of one of the PCI Express slots (the orange one) and 2 of the small PCI slots which I'm not predicting to use anyway...

So you attached the four PCI slots on the left, none on the right (all PCI-E)?

Somebody needs to design, build and sell some kind G5 case mod kit for about $100 that solves the major problems enountered when installing an ATX (or even mATX) board in a G5 case. Apple must have sold a few million G5's and these cases are just too nice to throw out with the PPC "trash".

XSMac

Aug 25 2006, 01:04 PM

QUOTE(bofors @ Aug 24 2006, 09:33 PM)

So you are attached the four PCI slots on the left, none on the right (all PCI-E)?

Just to state things correctly I have 3 PCI and 1 PCI-E x16 slots fully available.

Does anyone have an answer to the USB/Firewire connection issue?

kada

Aug 29 2006, 08:40 PM

Great idea... I thought I was done with modding, but this project would be tempting. Mhh...

Anyways I've seen a fake G5 ATX case... looked really cheap, plastic etc.

CZ*DarkLight

Aug 30 2006, 06:51 AM

kada: Screw those cheap sucking cases. Material what is made it from is weak, whole case looks crappy, and inside... Classic ATX terrible look. No thinking about buy instead of orig. G5

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Aug 30 2006, 09:19 AM

QUOTE(bofors @ Aug 24 2006, 08:19 PM)

Wow, that "work log" is great:

That looks easy for a four PCI slot board (microATX?). But I don't understand how you dealt with using a full size, seven PCI slot, ATX board:

At the moment it is not going to well. Ive got to cut the shelf, move the hdd rack forward on the shelf, move the fans forward. My dvd drive only just clears the motherboard, theres like 2mm in it. Im thinking of just saving for the base mac pro, it would save me a lot of headaches.

bofors

Aug 31 2006, 06:09 AM

QUOTE(bofors @ Aug 24 2006, 04:33 PM)

Somebody needs to design, build and sell some kind G5 case mod kit for about $100 that solves the major problems enountered when installing an ATX (or even mATX) board in a G5 case. Apple must have sold a few million G5's and these cases are just too nice to throw out with the PPC "trash".

I just wrote MNPCTech.com about this idea.

CODE

Dear MNPC,

I think you should seriously consider designing,
building and selling a kit to retrofit Apple PowerMac
G5 cases.   In case you are not familiar, these are
high end aluminum cases that would probably go for
about $400+ if sold as new ATX cases.  They are higher
quality than Lian Li or Silverstone.

Over the last three years, Apple has sold a few
million of these cases with G5 PowerMacs that are now
obsolute.  However, the demand for the use of these
cases in new builds is high and will remain high for
years, in part because Apple decided to stick with the
same exterior case design in the new Mac Pro.  These
cases are not going to be tossed out with the trash.

People can easily pick up used PowerMac G5 cases on
eBay for about $150.  But a number of problems are
encountered using these cases with ATX components.
The principle issue is people do not what cut the case
up to expose the IO ports.   Other issues include PSU
mounting and a rack for at least two more hard drives.

See these threads for details:

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=4525

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1074089&page=1&pp=20

I writing you because I actually want such a product.
Specifically, I want to be able to buy a used PowerMac
G5 case and some retrofit kit that I can install to
cleanly adapt them for use with ATX components.

I think someone could sell thousands of such kits.

Cheers,
~[bofors]

I also notice that they sell "Modder's mesh":

http://www.mnpctech.com/moddersmesh.html

They also sell "brush chrome" file: http://www.mnpctech.com/BrushedChromeFilm.html

I could see this stuff being potentially useful we dealing when modding the back of a G5 case.

osxgus

Aug 31 2006, 08:50 AM

I also wrote them and told them that I knew tons of people intrested in a "ATX kit" for the G5 case (i do!). Everyone else who is intrested should write them so that they understand that a every G5 modder will come to them, and that there IS a demand for them.

Cheers,

osxG

CZ*DarkLight

Aug 31 2006, 09:46 AM

It is a nice idea guys, anyway, each modder done his G5 project with other result, and I think that atx kit is not too great idea, beucase then will not be G5 mod so unique. Uniqueness of this mod is just right in this - many people dont want to spend lot of time and work on that, so they just put their idea out. But small number of US are so interested in it, so we will solve these problems ourselves and make it on our own, with no kits etc. including backpanel. I am making backpanel right now, not just cut it and put there atx layout, that sux. And I am really pleased to do that, when I imagine to buy kit and just screw inside finished backpanel with cables for connect to ATX case, then I dont feel like modder in fact. So, my opinion is - forget ATX G5 kits. But, what will you do is your thing

howgh

bofors

Aug 31 2006, 12:32 PM

I am going to expand on the "kit" idea a little bit. Here is what I really want: Somewhere to buy ATX modified G5 cases with a PSU at a reasonable price. I really do want want to spend any time trying to get a case off of eBay, dealing with sketchy sellers, nor designing the mod or getting the tools, etc. The advantage of having a company do this is huge. They invest the time to figure out how to do it "right" and have the custom parts need to do it "right" fabricated.

Really, the only problem for a company is the supply of used Power G5 cases appears somewhat limited. I mean, there are not hundreds for sale on eBay and dealing with individual eBay sellers takes time (as I stated above). So, the idea of a "kit" is another way a company to do this whereas they would not have to deal with eBay sellers and could just sell the parts they have had built to do this "right."

I think a company like MMPC should do both. Sell the ATX retro-fitted cases and also the kits.

bofors

Aug 31 2006, 08:42 PM

Here is the response I got from MMPC:

CODE

Hi [Bofors],

I've been aware of this.

At this time, the demand for our existing products is greater than our production capabilities. We've got ideas for several more unique products like this for PC builders, but many issues to solve before we can expand production any further. We call it growing pains.

Hopefully we do address something like this in the future.

Thank you,
...
Mnpctech.com

Seems like they agree about the demand issue, but otherwise this seems like a "firm maybe".

Orea

Sep 1 2006, 10:53 AM

Pretty sweet, but over here in the uk, there are some very close rip-offs made of the case,

mines only a very cheap jeantech case, and i bought it from pcworld for £10

Bayliss

Click to view attachment

bofors

Sep 3 2006, 01:28 PM

Part the G5 mod kit that I think is needed would include something like this Lian Li hard drive rack:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/ind...97f1a17c6a30d76

Dafut

Sep 4 2006, 10:30 AM

After al lot of PM's about my mod I'll post some more resent pictures:

I forgot to connect the CCFL's under the mirror to the powersupply. The 'D' and the 't' are glowing but that's because of the light fall in the room.
There is new hardware in it, a P5W DH Deluxe, OCZ Platinum PC8000 and a Core 2 Duo E6600. But at the moment the motherboard is on RMA because it died. (might because of a voltmod

) But I'll have a new one at the end of this week

.

bofors

Sep 4 2006, 10:48 AM

Here is another hard drive rack, this one is the ThermalTake "iCage", that could be useful in a G5 case mod:

http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-icage-module.html

I am not sure if this BTX adapter kit for ThermalTake cases is useful for a G5 mod, but we sure could use something like it. Here is the rear plate:

http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-a9358-btx-upgrade-kit.html

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Sep 15 2006, 02:41 PM

After a period of bordom and anger (dual boot just wont work what ever i do) i have regained interest in my powermac g5 case

. I am currently mounting my mobo on the original stand offs, pulled off and re situated. I am gonna have to cut the shelf to shape to allow my mobo in. I will shift the hdd cage forward, re drill the shelp for that and put spaces so it can be secured on the case wall. I may have to trim the bottom of the plastic too. I am currently sticking with just 4 pci slots and no ports for now (im lazy). Then when i have the dinero for a mac pro, i will get a mac pro.

Heres what i mean about the shelf and hdd rack. (Note that is not the mobo i plan to put in)

FabricioGS

Sep 21 2006, 12:43 AM

QUOTE(bofors @ Aug 24 2006, 05:33 PM)

The probem is that the the Asus P5W DH is not availble in an mATX format, and if I were to build now that is the board I would use.

You forgot to mention that this board uses a heat pipe system and it would probably have problems because you need to install the board upside down and the gravity won't help.

Anyway, I would give it a try if I could find one of those here in Brazil at a good price.

PS: Great topic!

Dafut

Sep 22 2006, 08:35 AM

QUOTE(Viper.Br @ Sep 21 2006, 01:40 AM)

You forgot to mention that this board uses a heat pipe system and it would probably have problems because you need to install the board upside down and the gravity won't help.

Anyway, I would give it a try if I could find one of those here in Brazil at a good price.

PS: Great topic!

I have a P5W DH in my G5 case upside down and I have no cooling problems at all. The heatpipe works perfect, so that's not a problem.

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Sep 22 2006, 01:11 PM

Tribesman: can you possibly share the secret of the working front panel. I have lost all my bookmarks and cant find the site that told me.

boo50

Sep 26 2006, 01:05 PM

some days ago i get G5 case too.

how are you fasten MB?

osxgus

Sep 29 2006, 01:17 PM

G5's ugly ripoff sister is here..

http://www.qtec.info/products/product.htm?artnr=14451

damn.. that's just plain baaad

novaris

Oct 8 2006, 01:08 AM

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=146385

Dear tribesman, got some questions regarding yr mod proj.

what did u connect to the front switch pins?

for the original G5 8pin molex, did u connect the power cable from the PSU that was originally meant for the motherboard?

i just got my g5 casing and i am using a dfi Venus motheboard/

thanks man,,

does anyone have a diagram detailing the position of the mobo standoffs?

my plan is to mount an alu panel consisting of the original apple standoffs positions to that i can mount it then using ATX mounts to place my atx m/b

Harvey

Oct 20 2006, 05:27 PM

I know this thread is pretty dead at the moment but i was wondering if any1 with an ASRock 939 Daul SATA2 motherboard has managed to fit it? Also could some1 make a basic tutorial on how to make everything fit?
Cheers Harvey

guyin916

Oct 23 2006, 02:27 PM

one thing i don't understand about this topic is that it is a sticky with 7 pages... i read a few different postings, but damn.. is the project even done? can we keep at least the first post of this topic updated so i and others don't have to make these sort of postings? O:-)

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Oct 23 2006, 02:34 PM

QUOTE(guyin916 @ Oct 23 2006, 03:24 PM)

one thing i don't understand about this topic is that it is a sticky with 7 pages... i read a few different postings, but damn.. is the project even done? can we keep at least the first post of this topic updated so i and others don't have to make these sort of postings? O:-)

There are a few that have been completed, but they havent posted how in detail. One chap is very close, Darklight, and i expect he will post in detail upon completion. Maybe the mods could update the first post to reflect the whole topic.

macmaniac

Dec 11 2006, 08:22 AM

Got my new ASrock mobo working. The sleep works. When it wakes up, and turns on the fans, it sounds just like my G5 waking up. (Its almost spooky). SO...

I just bought a G5 case on ebay. Gonna make me a beautiful hackintosh.

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Dec 27 2006, 01:54 PM

QUOTE(macmaniac @ Dec 11 2006, 08:22 AM)

Got my new ASrock mobo working. The sleep works. When it wakes up, and turns on the fans, it sounds just like my G5 waking up. (Its almost spooky). SO...

I just bought a G5 case on ebay. Gonna make me a beautiful hackintosh.

Glad to hear you got sleep working. Something i could never manage.

Make sure you post your hackintosh work here for other people thinking of doing it to see. Good Luck

Orea

Dec 27 2006, 09:49 PM

There is never a powermac g3. g4 or g5 case on ebay in the uk. If you did get one off ebay, your lucky. I would pay upto £120 for a case like that. My pc rip-off id a bit crappy, mind it only cost £10.\

Any got one?

BaYlisS

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Dec 29 2006, 05:37 PM

QUOTE(Bayliss @ Dec 27 2006, 09:49 PM)

There is never a powermac g3. g4 or g5 case on ebay in the uk. If you did get one off ebay, your lucky. I would pay upto £120 for a case like that. My pc rip-off id a bit crappy, mind it only cost £10.\

Any got one?

BaYlisS

Ive got one that im not using. Mac Pro sorted that one out.... PM me bayliss if your interested.

boo50

Dec 29 2006, 10:37 PM

QUOTE

Got my new ASrock mobo working. The sleep works.

but does anyone have working power on by schedule in power pref. ??
i do //

sandwer

Dec 30 2006, 12:10 PM

QUOTE(Bayliss @ Dec 27 2006, 09:49 PM)

There is never a powermac g3. g4 or g5 case on ebay in the uk. If you did get one off ebay, your lucky. I would pay upto £120 for a case like that. My pc rip-off id a bit crappy, mind it only cost £10.\

Any got one?

BaYlisS

Well....there was a G5 case last week, a touch expensive although your £120 would have got it, I think. If you want a G4 case- the Quicksilver is best for modding imho - www.scrumpymacs.com, and email the owner Phil. Tell him I sent you. Mine cost me £40

//R

aqua-mac

Jan 6 2007, 09:31 PM

Here's a few pics of my Hackintosh.

The Watercooling on my Hacintosh is up and running, photos are here:

http://www.aqua-mac.com/hackintoshaqua-m.html

You may need to refresh your browser or empty Safari's cache to see the new pics.

aqua-mac

MacX

Jan 30 2007, 10:56 PM

I have went threw all the pages! Man some talented people out there! Wonderful

Suspect

Feb 7 2007, 11:14 PM

I just got a used G5 case today but it didn't include the wires to connect the front ports to the motherboard. I asked the guy I bought it from before I paid if there were wires attached and he said yes...oh well. Anyone know where I can locate one?

aqua-mac

Feb 9 2007, 10:10 PM

Not cheap, but available Click Here

Nykwil

Feb 24 2007, 08:15 AM

If anyone has the PROPER pinouts for the g5 case it would REALLY REALLY be appreciated. I've been through several different threads all of which have different pins representing different things for the power and LED switch on the I/O panel...all i need is to get the Power switch and LED working on my Gigabyte 965P-Dq6 mobo.

i wish we can just get a standard diagram

does anyone have that?

and not some cryptic messed up diagram like the most recent pinout thread eaither

DiaboliK

Feb 24 2007, 09:51 AM

QUOTE(Nykwil @ Feb 24 2007, 12:15 AM)

If anyone has the PROPER pinouts for the g5 case it would REALLY REALLY be appreciated. I've been through several different threads all of which have different pins representing different things for the power and LED switch on the I/O panel...all i need is to get the Power switch and LED working on my Gigabyte 965P-Dq6 mobo.

i wish we can just get a standard diagram

does anyone have that?

and not some cryptic messed up diagram like the most recent pinout thread eaither

you can always use a multimeter, some wire, and a soldering iron and make pigtails straight from the powerswitch and the led

that how i reworked my g4 quicksiler frontpanel for my flip mod.

Nykwil

Feb 24 2007, 10:10 PM

QUOTE(DiaboliK @ Feb 24 2007, 04:51 AM)

you can always use a multimeter, some wire, and a soldering iron and make pigtails straight from the powerswitch and the led

that how i reworked my g4 quicksiler frontpanel for my flip mod.

yeah i ended up doing that...im wiring it straight to the powerswitch board itself but i'm encountering something wierd with my initial tests. Seperately, i can get the switch the power on my computer and when it's running i can get the LED to turn on...turns out the middle solder lead on the power button is shared by the msg led - and pw+ on my mobo while the 1st lead is the msg led+ and the 3rd lead is the pw minus. Seperately they work fine...but when i twist the msg led - and the pw+ wires and place it on the middle solder lead on the power switch it seems to go into a reset loop...I'm not sure maybe something is touching something it's not supposed to I need to solder it on and test it some more.

When i look on the other side of the powerswitch board...right under the LED is what appears to be a resistor....

What i'm thnking is is there some sort of circuitry that is splitting the signals to prevent it from putting it into a reset loop or something?

I'm thinking maybe it would stop reseting itself if i wired directly to the led itself?

DiaboliK

Feb 25 2007, 03:02 AM

QUOTE(Nykwil @ Feb 24 2007, 02:10 PM)

yeah i ended up doing that...im wiring it straight to the powerswitch board itself but i'm encountering something wierd with my initial tests. Seperately, i can get the switch the power on my computer and when it's running i can get the LED to turn on...turns out the middle solder lead on the power button is shared by the msg led - and pw+ on my mobo while the 1st lead is the msg led+ and the 3rd lead is the pw minus. Seperately they work fine...but when i twist the msg led - and the pw+ wires and place it on the middle solder lead on the power switch it seems to go into a reset loop...I'm not sure maybe something is touching something it's not supposed to I need to solder it on and test it some more.

When i look on the other side of the powerswitch board...right under the LED is what appears to be a resistor....

What i'm thnking is is there some sort of circuitry that is splitting the signals to prevent it from putting it into a reset loop or something?

I'm thinking maybe it would stop reseting itself if i wired directly to the led itself?

i just wired straight from the buttons and the led, and then with an exacto knife i picked out and disconnected any of the leads (lighter green portion of the board surrounded by darker green) that goto either of them so they dont interuppt or use any of the other components on the frontpanel.

i beleive the resistor you are talking about is for the power button fade function when it goes to sleep.

steven89

Feb 28 2007, 04:39 AM

Ive been modding a G5 case in the last week or so.. here are some progress pics.. will post updated pics soon

aqua-mac

Mar 4 2007, 06:42 AM

Looks like you are making a nice job here! What motherboard tray did you use. Looks fairly similar to the Cooler Master tray that I used.

steven89

Mar 6 2007, 07:01 AM

QUOTE(poodle2118 @ Mar 4 2007, 12:42 AM)

Looks like you are making a nice job here! What motherboard tray did you use. Looks fairly similar to the Cooler Master tray that I used.

I used a Lian Li motherboard tray from Performance-PCs heres a link to it.. Link to motherboard tray

As for my updates (if anyone is interested) i finally got the system in, now i just need a modular PSU, clean up wiring, get some fans, and then start designing a liquid cooling system hah

Anyways.. here come the pics

Can someone give me a link or send me a PM with how to set up the front pins? my case didnt come with any and right now im usin buttons/lights i made to test boards.. Thanks in advance!!!

Nykwil

Mar 6 2007, 02:58 PM

Some updated pics from one of my threads decided to just post it in here,

I was able to get my watercooling rig setup entirely inside the G5 case

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Mar 6 2007, 04:07 PM

Nice, makes me wish i had stuck at my mod!

I love apple macs, my mac pro is immense but i miss the satisfaction from diy and i love watercooling!

aqua-mac

Mar 6 2007, 09:21 PM

Nice,

I am currently using a Quad core "Kentsfield" and getting temps maxing at around 34 degrees but this has been overclocked to 3.2 Gigs. Have you booted yet, I will be interested to see what temps you get on the processor. One thing you will want to watch on this Gigabyte motherboard is that if you remove the processor fan and heatsink & watercool as I did, the mosfets on the left & just below the CPU get pretty toasty as they are no longer cooled by the processor fan. In fact so much so that I have added a slot cooler aimed directly at them. Whilst they never gave any problems I did not want to cook the motherboard. I will try to get a picture up tomorrow when I bring my camera home from work.

Once again, a first class mod!

Nykwil

Mar 6 2007, 09:46 PM

QUOTE(poodle2118 @ Mar 6 2007, 04:21 PM)

Nice,

I am currently using a Quad core "Kentsfield" and getting temps maxing at around 34 degrees but this has been overclocked to 3.2 Gigs. Have you booted yet, I will be interested to see what temps you get on the processor. One thing you will want to watch on this Gigabyte motherboard is that if you remove the processor fan and heatsink & watercool as I did, the mosfets on the left & just below the CPU get pretty toasty as they are no longer cooled by the processor fan. In fact so much so that I have added a slot cooler aimed directly at them. Whilst they never gave any problems I did not want to cook the motherboard. I will try to get a picture up tomorrow when I bring my camera home from work.

Once again, a first class mod!

I dont think the heatsink and mosfet will have a problem getting any air. My dual 120mm fans are pulling cool air from outside the case in and back out the back.

Granted none of my components are on and most likely the temps will change, but I dont think by about too much.

Nykwil

Mar 7 2007, 12:29 PM

had to do this in Vista since I cant seem to find a temp monitor that works perfectly in OSX

Been running Orthos in Vista for 5hrs and 30 mins now @ a 3ghz overclock.
My idle temps are 31-32c
Stress temps top out at 44-45c avg.
I love how after being stressed my temps will drop back down to 32c instantly though.

I'm pretty happy to get it running at 3ghz...I could probably push it more if I upped my vcore and what not but I'm too lazy right now...this computer has already taken enough of my time

Nykwil

Mar 15 2007, 01:12 AM

took off the plastic on the case

added a ccfl that i only turn on when i need to look into the case...it's off otherwise
added a power and hdd status LED

ѕӎѳѳҭңӌ

Mar 15 2007, 07:10 AM

Looks great!!!!!!!! Are you using the front panel?

Nykwil

Mar 15 2007, 11:00 AM

QUOTE(Smoothy Boothy @ Mar 15 2007, 03:10 AM)

Looks great!!!!!!!! Are you using the front panel?

yeah the front panel works except for the power LED.

I just went ahead and bought 2x3mm leds and wired em up to the motherboard. On the front panel I use the USB port the most, but the firewire, headphone ports and power button all work.

I installed the HDD status led because..well frankly my hdd is so quiet I needed a better way to guage its status.