Contribute
Register

Wolfies BeQuiet Mac Pro 2013 (G5 mod)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
580
Motherboard
<< need manufacturer and model # >> See Forum Rules !!
CPU
6700k
Graphics
1080ti FTW3
Mac
  1. iMac
Well, ive had this case sitting around for the last six months and it was in fairly good nick. I was inspired by http://www.tonymacx86.com/powermac-...ac-g5-i7-3770k-ga-z77x-up5-th-gtx-660-ti.html

but I really wanted the iphone 5/ ipad mini contrast with the dark slate grey overtone. It looks amazing in real life, sorry about the really ****ty photos but thats all I have access to at the moment (off iphone4) as all my gear is back in Sydney where I live (currently on campus residence out of Sydney).

Its very much a work in progress.

Anyway, I decided on powder coating the case. I was tossing between anodising for the grey slate, but i figured as soon as I scratch it it'll annoy me no end and you cant really patch up anodising work so I settled on powder coating both the mainframe and the outer shell. At least I can patch things up when required with touch up paint (already needed it putting the bloody pieces back together. The worst part to date is unscrewing and rescrewing the some 50 odd screws holding the two mainframes together.

Now with only two powder coating companies in my area, I wasn't exactly spoilt for choice and while I was happy with the overall job, Im a bit disappointed in some areas where its pitted/roughened up a bit like you would when you spray paint it. Should have picked the other company but the price was ok. Ill show the paint job when I have access to a better camera. Its not bad by any means, but I'm a perfectionist and it isn't up to my standards. However the overall finish is AMAZING and the black is a Glossy Black and the Slate Grey is more of a matte finish.

This is the progress to date, and tomorrow will involve spray painting some odds and ends to put back into the case (though i decided to keep the slightly lighter shade of grey within the plastics of the locking mechanisms to break up the two tone shade to date). The latch at the back of the G5 will be spray painted to slate grey tomorrow (its currently in its original colour).

Power button will be sprayed slate grey and despite the pictures not being clear enough, the i/o panel is already the slate grey so there is uniformity while the actual backplate was powder coated black.

I will be attaching a black vinyl apple logo sticker on both sides of the panels to make it look a more realistic, and still deciding on the interior layout, though that wont be for a while (possibly end of the year). What I have in mind will not involve a standard messy cable management though it will appear so in the meantime until I get some more time towards November to fix it all up.

I will be moving my BeQuiet system in my signature over and hopefully all goes well in that regard!
I have a icy dock SSD holder so my 3 SSD's will sit at the bottom of the G5 with my power supply and eventually get covered by a sheet of acrylic.

The front i/o will contain 2 USB 3.0 ports. FireWire is a waste of time. Ive already modified the spaces.

FYI the modification kit is LaserHive
Any questions let me know!


IMG_0037.jpgIMG_0032.jpgIMG_0034.jpgIMG_0038.jpgIMG_0039.jpgIMG_0040.jpg
 
Looks good Wolfie.

:thumbup:

Did you also powdercoat the backplate? Any special prepping needed?
 
The backplate was powder coated black, AFAIK it was coated directly onto it. I didnt do it, the powdercoat people did so if they did any extra procedures I'm unaware.
However the back i/o plate I sprayed it slate grey myself as the original plan was to leave it in its natural aluminium colour, but when I got the case and backplate back, I changed my mind.
 
UPDATE. Case still not finished, but getting there.

Most of it is put back together. I stuck USB 3.0 ports on the front and JB welded to the plate of the original I/O interface for support.
Power button and usb is painted in the slate grey. The sound port is missing, I still have to do it but im not in a hurry.

There is a black glossy vinyl sticker attached to the flap of the G5 as well as the Apple logo cut outs.
My BeQuiet gear is all in there and I added a 140mm fan in the top shelf to spray some air onto the GPU.

Still to do list :
Add floor and back panels to hide all my cabling.
Sound Port
Add 2x 140mm fans at the front and fan filter using items (awaiting delivery)
Fix the power port. Gotta take the original Power plug and attach it to the hole in the back for a proper solution. Im not in aterrible hurry for this.

Comments welcome as well as criticism to see how to improve this little project

Edit - clearer photos attached
screenshot249.jpgscreenshot252.jpgscreenshot239.jpgscreenshot257.jpgscreenshot254.jpgscreenshot250.jpgscreenshot248.jpgscreenshot244.jpgscreenshot237.jpgscreenshot255.jpgscreenshot251.jpg
screenshot247.jpgscreenshot245.jpgscreenshot238.jpgscreenshot246.jpg

View attachment 63817screenshot239.jpgscreenshot256.jpg
 

Attachments

  • screenshot253.jpg
    screenshot253.jpg
    147.6 KB · Views: 371
Really liking the dark theme of your mod, though it's a shame that the quality of the photos (probably?) don't give a very accurate representation of how this might look. Looks really good man!
But that optical drive is sticking out like a sore thumb - any plans on painting it?
 
Thanks guys, once I get access to my dslr back home ill take real shots. The photos aren't true of what it really looks like, though it is closer to my first photos uploaded when case was empty.

ill be putting a black glossy pane over the top shelf hiding that bright coloured junk DVD. Interior still needs work for a clean finish.
 
UPDATE INTERNAL PHOTOS ADDED:
Sorry again for the ****ty photos. Soon I will get some DSLR shots. This iPhone 4 aint doing it justice.
All panels are glossy acrylic black panels

*Still to do
Add a proper power connection to case
Add sound port on front

Add air filters (on the way)

I have a few ideas left up my sleeve about this case so its not completed. Most of it is firmly secured using angle brackets, velcro and good old fashioned perfect cutting to get that tight wedged fit between panels.


Any questions let me know


screenshot257.jpgscreenshot261.jpgscreenshot262.jpgscreenshot265.jpgscreenshot267.jpgscreenshot270.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top