I just finished a G5 mod. It's not all pretty & neat like some of the others here so I won't bother posting pics but I will share a few things I learned along the way:

-The standoffs indeed come off with a quick twist. Don't waste your dremel blades on them becuase they are hard to cut. (found that out modding a G4 Tower) You can reuse the standoffs to mount your ATX tray. Epoxy them back on in the right spots.

-Using an ATX tray is definitely the way to go. It makes the back messy looking but how often do you see the back of your case? You can easily put in a full ATX board using this method and won't have to re-locate the hard drive bays.

-Front panel stuff is kinda confusing. Took me 5 or 6 tries to get it right. Get the G5 service manual before you attempt it. I made the mistake of trying some diagrams I found online which were entirely wrong.

-5V the drive bay fans if you plan to use them. They're LOUD.

-Cutting the rear case is pretty easy thanks to the holes. Easier to mod than a regular solid case. I used some standard dremel metal blades -- only took 2 to cut the entire back of the case out.

-If you're going to install the power supply in the bottom front of the case, put some rubber feet under it to avoid vibrations.

-If you're going to use the original hard drive bay it's easier to run your own SATA/Power connectors. The ones that come in the case are more work than they're worth. I don't know how the original G5 is but I oriented my drives so the connectors were facing outwards and ran them through the hole in the front of the case near the optical drive, then cut a hole in the plastic fan divder to reach the rear. Much better airflow over your HD's this way and it's easier to take the drives in & out.

That's about it. This is a good modding case. A lot easier than the G4 Tower and a ton cheaper than the MacPro tower.

jsz0,

I was curious, did you use the included plug for the drive bay fans, or have to strip the wire and add a new 3pin plug?

And as for the front panel, did you get the sound, USB and FW working?
If so, care to share how ? This is my first build, and the front panel is a bit daunting to me...

Thanks!

I used the original plug. The wire was a little too short to easily strip and I didn't feel like yanking out the whole PCI divider so I soldered on some pins and plugged them straight into the existing fan connector.

The front panel stuff is tricky. The G5 service manual will tell you exactly what each pin is for. USB was easy -- just match GRND/USB+/- & 5V. For audio, you proably have to set your BIOS to use "AC97" for its front panel audio connector instead of HD. From there just use an AC97 pinout. I had to do some guessing on the AUDIO_SENSE and AUDIO_COM pins.

For the power button & LED, there is a VERY tiny set of wire sconnecting them to the front panel board. You have to cut into the wires there. One set of wires is the power switch, one set is the power LED. The power LED needs power from somewhere. I pulled it off a 5V wire. I didn't document what was what -- just hooked up a multi-meter and figured it out.

FW I didn't bother with since I don't have a FW port but it looked pretty straight forward.

This is my fit No drilled holes or cuts on case, just screws in original holes. Backside has no changes, all ports (graphics, usb) are on the brackets, ethernet chord is plugged directly to mobo and coming out from case to box on th wall. Couple of color changes on photo, and that's it O:-)

Here's my finished setup (sorry the iPhone camera sucks)

Hey guys,

Been reading through this thread now for a bit and I'm gonna try my hand at this mod after christmas when I get some money aside! I want to work with computers as a job and my college course is teaching no practical work at all, just theory. So I have decided to take matters into my own hands! =P

After looking through a few mods, I have decided to perhaps go ahead with cutting out a portion of the back of the G5 case so I can have an ATX Motherboard Tray there hopefully, rather than having to run wires on the original ports. Does anyone have any recommendations on tools for doing this job? I'm only 18 and the only practical building work I have is a Grade C in High School Woodwork! lol

For the power supply I have decided to mount it at the bottom front of the case, but here is where I am confused. How am I going to get power to it? Is there some sort of cable extension I can use to travel along the bottom of the case into the cases power socket? One of my friends said something like a 'Female to Female' connector? Is this possible?

Another quick question about the Mobo Tray, where will it screw into? (I'm not very metalwork minded and I am {censored} scared of breaking something lol)

Thanks for all your help and it's really inspired me to go ahead to mod a case and build my own computer =] A lot of the mods are truly brilliant, especially Aqua-Macs with that metal casing cover within the case!

Thanks once again =]

Dremel, metal cutting wheels, drill, plyers, metal epoxy, soldering iron, multi-meter, face mask, safety glasses



Yep just run a jumper. You can find the proper socket on the back of an old power supply or from some types of computer power extension cables. If you don't already have the power supply check this one out -- it's perfect for the G5:
http://www.svc.com/ixm-30-14.html




Remove all the original G5 motherboard standoffs. (twist them with plyers, don't cut) Then re-use the standoffs to mount the ATX tray. While the tray is still outside of the case attach the standoffs to the corners and a couple in the middle. Apply metal epoxy to the bottom of the G5 standoffs. Place the ATX tray into the case, line it up and push down on the tray to set the epoxy. Stack some weights or heavy books on the top of the tray and let it sit for at least 12 hours. I ended up using all the original G5 standoffs just to be on the safe side. It's in there rock solid.

Thanks jsz0! Is metal epoxy like a glue? I've never heard of that before! In all how much did this mod cost you? And what exactly is a 'dremel'?

Kemmi: Epoxy glue is glue :-D it comes in two tubes - Resin and harder. You have to make mixture of this two "ingredients", usualy in ammount ratio 1:1, then apply on surface, load some heavy things up to keep both parts together for several hours, and then it is its glued together, hard like a rock.

And what about dremel - it is just some kind of grinder or cutting tool. I guess that picture will explain.

Hmm are them Dremels easy to use? I don't wanna end up missing a finger.... lol

Dremels are pretty simple. If you can use a drill you can use a dremel. As far as safety goes just make sure you wear safety glasses and some sort of face mask to cut down on the amount of dust you inhale. Don't run it at full speed. I find a 3 or 4 setting is more than adaquate. It takes a little longer but you avoid mistakes and the cutting wheel is more managiable. If you run it at speed 7 or 8 the blade is going to jump all over and run a greater risk of breaking. The other thing to remember is dremels get VERY hot so you're gonna need to give it some time to cool down when you're cutting. Other than that, just be mindful of where the cutting blade is at all times. You'd have a hard time losing a finger but you could give yourself a deep cut.

Just a quick post to make people aware of something with the frontpanel on the G5. I've killed a brand new mobo and I wouldn't want anyone else to do the same

I have the service manual and it says that pin 1 is +v and pin 2 is gnd. It says pin 14 is Pwr Button.
I connected all the pins on the connector to the mobo, the usb, firewire, audio and power button led. I should of checked the Apple manual was right but I didn't and assumption is the mother of all f**k ups...

What appears to happen if you follow the Apple pinout, is that when you hit the power button you short pin 1 (which is connected to firewire +V) to pin 14 (pwr button). In the best case you short the firewire power to ground and in my case you short firewire +v to power switch +v.

I am not stupid and don't think I make a mistake, I build hifi amps/dacs/preamps and can solder well but there is something amiss. It looks to me like Apple use the firewire +v as a trigger for the mobo to go live because pin 1 does indeed feed +v on the firewire connector.

I've seen other posts telling you to connect pin 1 to gnd and not +v. This will work fine assuming you never connect the firewire header or front port. (because you are then pulling the +v from pwr button to gnd which is correct)

My mobo doesn't start now so I'm going to try and rma it

The solution for me because I want working firwire is to isolate the power button and run seperate wires for it..

You cannot really cut yourself with a dremel, I can put the cutting disc on my hand whilst spinning and nothing happens - no blood! The danger as previously mentioned is that you use it too fast that it will skip and jump all over your lovely G5 case
Dust is a big issue, the discs tend to wear down as fast as what you are cutting through and that black stuff is choking and gets everywhere. I either use the garage or do it in the bath so you can wash it away. I wouldn't cut inside...

I was only kidding about losing a finger =P

I am pretty sure I could use one, I generally like to take areas like D.I.Y sorta slow so not to ruin anything, specially a G5 case. Boy would I cry myself to sleep at night, lol

Another question once the back section as been cut out; where will the screws actually screw into? Like into the back of the G5 case? This has been confusing me for a while now... I know it sounds stupid but I keep picturing it screwing into the small holes of the grill-like back, am I right? OR completely wrong? lol

Thanks for all your help =]

Do you mean the screws for expansion cards in PCI/E slots? They will screw into the ATX tray. This is what a typical ATX tray looks like (although they're usually not as tall)

I wish I had my shop still. I retired from welding but man I could of made some nice case's like the G5 and sold them to modders.

The ATX tray I've been looking at is an ATX Replacement Tray (a Lian Li tray I think) and it looks different to the one posted above.. Hmm.. I think I can do this, it's just the practical metal work I am worried about and trying to figure out how to screw the stray onto the back of the case, will I need some sort of custom frame for it to screw into or can it just screw into the case itself on the back?

Hello,
Look also at "www.koebs.org" - "coolcases" - "PC2007"
This one is also a good one
Kind regards
wieder_Ich

Hi can you guys help me on the one I got this is it http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?sho...c=83104&hl=Is thier is a possible way to use the G5 power supply and fans on this I know the fan is but how about the power supplysorry for all the post but this is my last one for rite now If any one is interested in the motherboard let me know I don't thing it works though

The fans can be used, see page 5 or so of tis thread, they involve a bit of rewiring.

I had a go at the 450w psu, didnt get too far. To be fair im by no means experienced with psu's, but all the wires are there that would be in a normal 'atx' psu, apart from 2. I posted this information earlier in this thread!

So I just need to buy a PSU but can I connect to the plug that in the back where you stick the power

Yeh, bit of soldering and you will be away!!!

Good Luck

Yes.. Ok lol where do I solder From lol im new to this

do you want to reuse the plug from the back of the original apple psu?

yea I would love to or even open up another and stick it at the bottom where the original psu is located. And use that one because im thinking about selling the original one to get more money for a new video card

like this

and this

this is someone elses

Reusing of the plug is just fine, I did that Just a minute of soldering, and it looks and works nice Three wires takes down the possibility you can mess something up

which wires need solderingwhich wires need solderingsry accidentally did it twice

there are 3 wires: live, neutral and earth. Now that is in the uk where we have a 3 prong plug of the wall. As i understand it, the internal wires should be the same regardless of the plug.

On the apple psu, you only have to unsolder but the wires are a different colour: earth, neutral (black) and live (white).

Thats how my apple psu is. Basically you unsolder the apple on and resolder the live, neutral and earth in the same way as they were soldered on the standard psu.

Correct me if im wrong

dude thanks that helps alot i guess its that easy

if your changing the case of your psu then you should transplant it but if your intending to keep your old psu housing (my original intention) i came up with a little trick. I was gonna house my psu at the top of the case where the hdds were but i wanted to use the original hole for the plug. I got a power lead, chopped off the wall plug, then cut the cable to the needed size. Then plug one end into your psu, and solder up the chopped off end to the apple plug and fix that to the original hole in the case. Ill see if i can dig out any pics.

K that will help alot what do u mean by transplant I was going to hide it where the original psu sits and how much do you think a G5 non functioning logic board will sell for

heres my G5 case mod. Before i post pictures i would like to remind everyone i am just a 13 year old with a passion for computers and someone who has loved os x since they were about 6 years old =]


Its not the cleanest on the inside. but no one my age asks to see the inside. and as you can tell from the desk shot. the back is never seen either.

Working Shot:


Inside Shot:


Desk Shot:

Thats really nice what the back of your case or what motherboard tray and im only 16 and you got a great gift thanks

haha thanks. well the first time i modded the case i cut out the original backplate as i had a full size ATX board. but then i built a new computer and decided to use a mATX for better compatibility and i cut out the entire rear end. and my brother had an old mATX laying around. so i took a hax saw and cut of the access parts of the case except the back and motherboard tray. then i just screwed it into the top HD/CD Drive Plate. I completed the entire case on my own and well considering im young im pretty satisfied. and with my friends knowing nothing about computers except that apple has a cool store. they cant even tell the difference. if you planning on using a full size ATX board i would get a motherboard tray and a dremel and measure very carefully. you dont need a motherboard tray if your using an mATX board. but i started with a full size so cuttign the case wasnt an option.
i do recommend a mATXboard as i think if would have helped stop alot of the trouble i had, and not to mention cuts i had from inexperience. haha. thanks for compliment though

do u have a pic of the back of the case thanks, and also i notice you have an apple pro keyboard do all the buttons (or shortcuts work)

i havent taken a picture of the back. will do when i get a chance. and yeah the apple pro keyboard works great. but i only use OS X. i completely forgot what windows is. so i dont know how it works in windows if thats what your wondering

Yea ok it works in OSX that what I was wondering because some guy tried it ad it didn't work well thanks and how did you get the front panel board to work (if you did) can you tell me thanks,

Amantheboy
www.teknojunkie.com

Nice case you have there hacOSXuser!

Amantheboy.... i must have deleted those pictures, i lost all interest in my g5 case when i got a mac pro.

An unfuctioning logic board will probably not sell/for a few $$, cant imagine why anybody would buy a broken, out of date piece of silicon.

If your placing your psu in the bottom of the g5 case where the original was then you dont need to do that wire hack i was talking about because the psu will be in the same place as the original, the only reason i brought it up was because i didnt know where you were putting it.

Thanks Smoothy Boothy

My case came with no front panel. but it did have the front button. the front button has 3 wires, but only 2 need to be connected. connect wires going from your motherboard to the front button. i removed my front button and it has writing on the back label the wires. i believe they are W B and R. my cable had a white and blue cable. the white connected toe he R and the blue connected to the B.

ThanksK thnaks yea was just gonna use another PSU

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.