- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 355
- Motherboard
- GA-Z87X-UD3H
- CPU
- i7-4770K
- Graphics
- GTX 960
- Mac
- Classic Mac
- Mobile Phone
My First G5 Mod (Wolf in Sheep's Clothing) [Completed]
Hi everyone! I have been at hackintoshing for 6 weeks now and have built 3 systems using all the info and directions here. Thanks to Everyone!!! I decided that now that my system behaves like a Macintosh, it should look like one too. I have owned many Macs in my time, starting with the Lisa, and before that the Apple II. I even have a IIgs somewhere under the stairs. I have been programming on Macs since the Mac 128K. I used a small assembler back then called MacASM and only had 22K of room to program in. Anyway I digress. I currently own a Mac Quad G5 with 16GB of RAM and two huge hard drives that I am in love with it and am keeping it as a working system. My day to day system is a 15" Late 2011 MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and a 750GB 7200RPM HDD, both internal. I connect this bad boy to my 27" thunderbolt display to earn my living. Anyway, enough about me.
The first Hack I put together for my son was a gift for his graduation. He had previously been using a 20" iMac with a 2.0 Ghz Core2Duo and doing some heavy WOW gaming and wanted to move to Diablo. Well he burned his graphics card out on it (I was able to replace it, but that's another story), so I decided that PC hardware was the way to go for him. I decided to build him a system. This would be my first ever ground-up PC build. I chose an i5 quad-core ivy and a GA-Z77-D3H mobo. I know, audio isn't supported - solved with a Sony USB stick. But when I bought it, I only had Windoze 7 in mind for it. I added a Gigabyte Radeon 6850 graphics card and a Corsair 600W PSU, all in a Fractal Design gaming case. After I installed Windoze on it, I thought....Hmmmm maybe it can run Mac OS X. I started reading and reading and after a week or so I tried a UniBeast install of Lion. It WORKED.... and damn... it was FAST! I had to have one of my own!
The second Hack I put together was an i5 quad Ivy on a GA-Z77X-UD5H mobo (based on recommendations here). I added the same Gigabyte Radeon 6850 for graphics and a few hard drives I had laying around. I used the same PSU and decided on a Corsair Obsidian 650. It went smoothly....until I stumbled onto all the stories here about modding G5 cases. I had to build one!
I started by placing an ad in Craigslist which was quickly answered. I picked up a case that was in wonderful condition except for a minor scratch on the top. For a 7 year old case this was minor! Before I gutted it, (it came without a video card, the front fans, and a hard drive) I wanted to see if it powered up the fans. I was hoping for a working power supply to part out. I plugged it in and pressed the power button and it chimed!!! OMG I got a working G5 for $50! Well not so fast. After acquiring some front fans, a video card from a dead G4 and a hard drive I had lying around, It would not stay running reliably. I think the CPU's were overheated to near death. So I was happy to be able to begin gutting the case.
I now have the case all cleared out of parts; the motherboard standoffs are still attached. I have read just about every G5 mod posted on this board and many on you-tube as well. I purchased the dual 80mm Mountain Mods brushed aluminum tray and the Corsair HX650 PSU I plan to use for it and am now in the planning stage just prior to the cutting(gulp!). I have stocked up on dremel cutting disks and also purchased a new cutting disk for my multi-tool. I even cleaned out my garage in preparation for this project.
I have decided to call this mod "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". My goals are to keep the outside modification of the G5 restricted to the rear of the case. From all other angles it should appear like a Mac G5 at first glance. I intend to purchase a 27" Apple Cinema Display, Bluetooth Mac Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Trackpad to compliment it. Inside it, I want it to be future proof. All components should be easily upgradable. I want a minimum of glue, perhaps used for the odd standoff and cable clips only. The inside is to be ascetically pleasing, neat and tidy with good cable management. IT doesn't need to look like the original G5. Kinda like when you pop the hood on a rebuilt car and admire all the chrome pieces. I run my Quad G5 on my desk with the side panel off and the plastic bezel on, and I would like to do the same with this mod. I will probably need a bigger desk, though.
I will take some pics of my empty case tomorrow before I begin cutting the top shelf for the power supply. If that goes well, I may begin laying out the cuts for the Mountain Mods tray.
Hi everyone! I have been at hackintoshing for 6 weeks now and have built 3 systems using all the info and directions here. Thanks to Everyone!!! I decided that now that my system behaves like a Macintosh, it should look like one too. I have owned many Macs in my time, starting with the Lisa, and before that the Apple II. I even have a IIgs somewhere under the stairs. I have been programming on Macs since the Mac 128K. I used a small assembler back then called MacASM and only had 22K of room to program in. Anyway I digress. I currently own a Mac Quad G5 with 16GB of RAM and two huge hard drives that I am in love with it and am keeping it as a working system. My day to day system is a 15" Late 2011 MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and a 750GB 7200RPM HDD, both internal. I connect this bad boy to my 27" thunderbolt display to earn my living. Anyway, enough about me.
The first Hack I put together for my son was a gift for his graduation. He had previously been using a 20" iMac with a 2.0 Ghz Core2Duo and doing some heavy WOW gaming and wanted to move to Diablo. Well he burned his graphics card out on it (I was able to replace it, but that's another story), so I decided that PC hardware was the way to go for him. I decided to build him a system. This would be my first ever ground-up PC build. I chose an i5 quad-core ivy and a GA-Z77-D3H mobo. I know, audio isn't supported - solved with a Sony USB stick. But when I bought it, I only had Windoze 7 in mind for it. I added a Gigabyte Radeon 6850 graphics card and a Corsair 600W PSU, all in a Fractal Design gaming case. After I installed Windoze on it, I thought....Hmmmm maybe it can run Mac OS X. I started reading and reading and after a week or so I tried a UniBeast install of Lion. It WORKED.... and damn... it was FAST! I had to have one of my own!
The second Hack I put together was an i5 quad Ivy on a GA-Z77X-UD5H mobo (based on recommendations here). I added the same Gigabyte Radeon 6850 for graphics and a few hard drives I had laying around. I used the same PSU and decided on a Corsair Obsidian 650. It went smoothly....until I stumbled onto all the stories here about modding G5 cases. I had to build one!
I started by placing an ad in Craigslist which was quickly answered. I picked up a case that was in wonderful condition except for a minor scratch on the top. For a 7 year old case this was minor! Before I gutted it, (it came without a video card, the front fans, and a hard drive) I wanted to see if it powered up the fans. I was hoping for a working power supply to part out. I plugged it in and pressed the power button and it chimed!!! OMG I got a working G5 for $50! Well not so fast. After acquiring some front fans, a video card from a dead G4 and a hard drive I had lying around, It would not stay running reliably. I think the CPU's were overheated to near death. So I was happy to be able to begin gutting the case.
I now have the case all cleared out of parts; the motherboard standoffs are still attached. I have read just about every G5 mod posted on this board and many on you-tube as well. I purchased the dual 80mm Mountain Mods brushed aluminum tray and the Corsair HX650 PSU I plan to use for it and am now in the planning stage just prior to the cutting(gulp!). I have stocked up on dremel cutting disks and also purchased a new cutting disk for my multi-tool. I even cleaned out my garage in preparation for this project.
I have decided to call this mod "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". My goals are to keep the outside modification of the G5 restricted to the rear of the case. From all other angles it should appear like a Mac G5 at first glance. I intend to purchase a 27" Apple Cinema Display, Bluetooth Mac Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Trackpad to compliment it. Inside it, I want it to be future proof. All components should be easily upgradable. I want a minimum of glue, perhaps used for the odd standoff and cable clips only. The inside is to be ascetically pleasing, neat and tidy with good cable management. IT doesn't need to look like the original G5. Kinda like when you pop the hood on a rebuilt car and admire all the chrome pieces. I run my Quad G5 on my desk with the side panel off and the plastic bezel on, and I would like to do the same with this mod. I will probably need a bigger desk, though.
I will take some pics of my empty case tomorrow before I begin cutting the top shelf for the power supply. If that goes well, I may begin laying out the cuts for the Mountain Mods tray.