[Dukeman]

I will be starting this mod this weekend to take a Mac G4 case and mod it with lights and a window for an AMD system. The case is gutted (if you love Apple don't fret, the system was literally used up and canabalized for other systems).

The biggest issues will be to get the back configured for a PC mobo as the PCI slots are mirror imaged. Also the PSU will be fun. Finally there is no mounting HW for the DVD/CD drives.

I will use a mini tower case to rob the mobo tray and back. The rest will take some ingenuity.



I'll be taking pictures as I go. Let me know of any good ideas on a PSU.

[maxxoverclocker]

looks nice! (sadly ive always loved the ways apple's looked hehe) i'm looking forward to the progress!

[Dukeman]

Yea, Apple's always made modern looking PC's (some of them actually cool looking) and since they are moving to an Intel platform, why not jump on.

[flamerail]

microsofts longhorn is gona blow away apples gui thoe... kinda neat! Vectors behold!!!!!!!!

Any how good luck with that case mod......... apples are designed to not be upgradeable

[SolidxSnake]

THATS WHAT THE G4 LOOKS LIKE?

Wow that looks much better than the G5 IMO.

Is that a Mid-tower sized? I know the G5 is full tower (or so it seems)... Its one heavy mofo (58lbs ).

Either way, I could think of some great mods to be done to that, but I wouldn't dare ruin the finish for a window.

And I'd take the look of a Lian-Li over the look of any of Apple's marshmellow cases anyday.

[-maddog-]

I saw someone do this except with a intel board for a old cheap power mac. They made a apple logo on it with the windows colors from the flag looked like the took a apple shaped cookie cutter to the windows flag.

[Dukeman]

It actually mini tower sized on the inside. I plan on replacing the left side plastic panel with a new panel shaped to fit to allow for the window. I want it to maintain the Apple style but with some real flair.

[Dukeman]

Or what do you think of making an outline of the apple logo using blue EL wire on the window?

[aeiou]

Personally, I wouldn't even put in the window, make into kind of a "sleeper" in a way. But if you do want to, an etched in appel logo would be cool.

[NsOmNiA91130]

Or, even better, a window in the shape OF the apple

[zip22]

Originally Posted by SolidxSnake

THATS WHAT THE G4 LOOKS LIKE?

Wow that looks much better than the G5 IMO.

Is that a Mid-tower sized? I know the G5 is full tower (or so it seems)... Its one heavy mofo (58lbs ).

the G5 is 36 pounds or 44.4 pounds for single and dual core verions respectively (for reference, the dell 9100 is listed at 34 pounds, and its moslty plastic). it is about 3" taller than my midtower case, though most of that is due to the handles/feet on the top and bottom.

[[OC]Lucifer]

This reminds me of the bad apple project they had over at HardOCP

[Dukeman]

Originally Posted by NsOmNiA91130

Or, even better, a window in the shape OF the apple

I like that idea. Plus I could still outline it in EL wire.

[fuzzba11]

Uh, why not get rid of the Apple logo and make an AMD logo instead?

[informalmyx]

i love apples ease of use only reason i dont use them cant game on them

[Dukeman]

I was a Mac lover for a long time but eventually I realized the Photoshop was the worst first person shooter ever...and really expensive. So I switched to Wintel.

[SolidxSnake]

Originally Posted by zip22

the G5 is 36 pounds or 44.4 pounds for single and dual core verions respectively (for reference, the dell 9100 is listed at 34 pounds, and its moslty plastic). it is about 3" taller than my midtower case, though most of that is due to the handles/feet on the top and bottom.

Hmm. Strange. Either way, my neighbors Dual 2.0ghz G5 is a heavy Mofo.

I say to not even bother cutting. I wouldn't wanna put a single scratch into a G4's finish.

[Dukeman]

Originally Posted by SolidxSnake

I say to not even bother cutting. I wouldn't wanna put a single scratch into a G4's finish.

Unfortunately it already has a 1.5" scratch on the side where the window will go. It might be able to polished it out, but I would need to research it. Still, I want more bling and I think if I fabricate a new panel properly it will still maintain the lovely finish but with a logo window.

[Captain Slug]

You're probably going to have to replace the motherboard tray area anyways since none of the mounting holes match. So if you have the skills you may be able to just replace the backplane, thus removing the problem of it being mirrored. There seems to be enough space to do so without hingering the clamshell mechanism.

[Dukeman]

I have an old mini/micro tower that I will canibalize for the motherboard tray to make the mobo and PCI card cage easier. The old motherboard tray is attached to the hinge for the door so will need to flatten it and attach the new mobo tray directly.

The main issue is where to put the PSU. I don't want it blocking the area where the CPU will go but putting it somewhere else may be difficult. Under the ROMs is promising but I'm concerned that it will be in the way of the PCI cards. I will need to fit the Mobo tray before I can make a final decision.

More pics of the case as is:




Note the drive cage in the lower left. There is great air flow there and it may be the best place for a micro ATX PSU (as long as it is a Fortron).


Side panel that will become the window. I've found out that an alcohol bath will make it transparent. I just need to polish out the scratches and it will be very nice.

[maxxoverclocker]

:O i can't wait (i secretly lust those cases.... lol)

[TimmAy]

that is awsome apple cases look sick.. cant wait for more pics

[Dukeman]

I found a donor for a mobo tray, a Compaq 5000 series presario which has died from obsolesence. Fortunately it had an organ donor card so I was able to harvest the mobo tray less than a year after it died.

Case Disassembly - I used a 3/32 drill bit and a drill. You could also use a dremel tool. For safety I used leather gloves and safety glasses. Just got over a cornea abrasion, trust me when your eye is in pain every waking minute for 48 hours you learn to wear your safety glasses.

Removing Rivets - Drill the center of each rivet to remove them. You will see that the head of the rivet may ride up your drill bit when break through the head. Do not let these pile up as they are really difficult to remove in numbers. Only when wearing your leather gloves, at low speed on the drill just pull the head of the rivet off the drill bit. Do not try that without gloves.

The Donor


The donor's former glory...


The freshly harvested motherboard tray


The new tray sitting on top of the G4 back panel. Note the gloves and safety glasses to the left of the system. Not more that two weeks ago I was cutting a wire tie and shot it into my eye. Had to take a trip to the eye doctor cause I scratched my cornea. Wear Your Glasses!


After looking at the two trays I will have to remove all of the plastic from the back hinged section to fit the new tray. I will have a fun time trying to attach the new tray to the door as there are lots of protusions on both of them. I will start flattening them tomorrow after I've removed all the plastic panels from the G4 case. Now where's that hammer...

[Archer36]

When/if you complete this its going to be a cool case. All the mac people will hate you, but we will love you.

BTW I have a Mac G3 almost the same case but blue and white

[Dukeman]

I'm not worried about the Mac community. If Steve Jobs hadn't killed the Mac clone industry they could have really cool mods as easily as the PC community does. And I did try to put a disclaimer that I'm using a worn out system. (Not that I wouldn't gut the case even if it did work. )

[Dukeman]

Tonight I took the plastics off but ran into two problems. The front bottom foot won't come off due to a rounded screw (I think apple uses metric hex wrenches). I will either need to drill it or get an easy out to remove it. Also, the back panel has a security loop connected to it that has be removed before it can be freed. I still haven't figured out how to do that yet.

More pics...
Screw Detail. I will get a new screw off one of the Macs at work to replace the rounded one.


Back of Motherboard Tray. The motherboard tray is two sheets of metal but only the inner sheet is riveted to the hinge so I will drill the rivets between the two sheets and then cut the inner sheet away, leaving just enough for a secure connection to the hinge.


Windows Side. I will need to look at the interior again but most of this side will be cut away. I will only leave enough to screw the side panel back on once it is transparent.

[MadSkillzMan]

this looks interesting (subscribed) yea the macs always had cool looking cases...the back of that one reminds me of an SGI machine.

You MITE be able to use the current G4 PSu, i could be wrong...i know the G5s video cards use 24v. but i have a G3 thatll need a new PSU, and theres mods to use a PC PSU on it, just change some wires.

s that a Mid-tower sized? I know the G5 is full tower (or so it seems)... Its one heavy mofo (58lbs :eek.

G5 is mid. and its 55lbs thank you lol..well the watercooled i think is 58, but yes theyre heavy and made of steel. HOWEVER, if you slap a neon behind the grill it looks darn sweet (gonna do that soon)

youll probably get surperb cooling

[Dukeman]

Tonight drilled out the rivets holding most of the outer mobo side to the inner mobo tray on the door. I cut off the inner tray that also had the back panel and card cage attached. I left the outer part as this is where the plastic panel and door latch are attached. All I need to do now is cut down the PC mobo tray and then attach it.

I'll post all of the mobo mod pics once I have the new mobo tray installed.

[Dukeman]

The G4 I have does not have a PSU so I'm better off buying a micro ATX unit.

[FoxBat]

Originally Posted by Archer36

When/if you complete this its going to be a cool case. All the mac people will hate you, but we will love you.

BTW I have a Mac G3 almost the same case but blue and white

Lol, well maybe not ALL of them! Yes we are a passionate lot, but I like this mod. Creativity and fine technique are to be admired whatever it is practised on.

I like idea of an AMD logo on the side replacing the apple, though it will be alot more work than just keeping the apple. Either way, light it up!

I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out.