neilhart
Moderator
- Joined
- May 25, 2010
- Messages
- 2,686
- Motherboard
- ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming - ITX/ac
- CPU
- i7-7700T
- Graphics
- GTX960
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
Edit: 11/17/2016
I have finished this project and posted a summary with photos on page 5 post # 46. However if you want the true flavor of the project you may find it interesting to read down through the whole thread.
Here is a photo of the my final G4 CUbe project.
Good modding,
neil
end edit.
Introduction:
Computers and Apple OS X have been my primary interest for a number of years. I call it a hobby but it is really an addiction. We own three Apple laptops and I have built and collected a goodly number of of systems, where most run OS X. If you are not familiar with my obsession, you can get an idea by browsing this link: http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/neilharts-completed-case-mods.87399/
Background:
The Apple G4 Cube was released in 2000. It was not a great success but was loved by many and scorned by a few. I was not into Apple at that time so I missed the event. I discovered the G4 Cube in 2010 and proceeded to hack one and that project was not a great success as my system ran hot and was just did not meet my (self set) standards.
Then in late 2011 I happened upon the Intel DH61AG “thin” mini-ITX motherboard and took on the project of getting OS X to run. A key feature is the external AC to DC power supply. Long story short, I put that motherboard into a G4 Cube and I was happy with the end result and I maintain that system today in my collection.
The original Apple G4 Cube used an external power supply so the “thin” mini-ITX is not a great leap away from the original design.
Also, along the way sometime in 2013 I picked up a working cube with the external PSU. I maintain this in my collection along with the appropriate Apple display, mouse and keyboard.
Last year I did a survey of available “thin” mini-ITX motherboards and recently discovered several Skylake additions. I was very pleased to find one that is reasonably priced and that has both m.2 WiFi/BT socket and m.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 data socket (bootable).
So what’s up?
The following is a costed list of material to build a compute engine that would “easily” fit into a G4 Cube hack. This system would be able to run El Capitan and macOS with ease and dual boot into Windows 10 , if desired.
One of the key device selections is a low power CPU. The low power consumption lessens the cooling task in the system and make success much more obtainable.
The down side that I see is the Apple OS support of the Intel Graphics HD 530. I own two Skylake systems and I have given up on dual displays when running HD 530 (at this writing I and basing this on El Capitan 10.11.5).
However I am itching to see this system built. I can not justify the expense of another system and will offer advice and support to anyone that takes on this build. Key is finding an intact G4 Cube at a reasonable price (say about $ 100 US or less).
Motherboard: $ 80 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132833
Thin Mini-ITX - uses external wall wart (not included) so no need for internal PSU! Has provision for m.2 WiFi and m.2 data/boot drive!
Intel CPU $ 149 US
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BH4XX74/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Core i5-6400T - low power 4 core 4 thread - 35 watt TDP, 2.20GHz with turbo to 2.89 GHz.
CPU Cooler: $ 20 US
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K8PLRMM/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Low profile cooler - could be a single fan installation…
SODIMM Memory: $ 60 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015HQ9VEM/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Crucial 16GB Kit, 2133MT/s SODIMM DDR4
SSD Drive (m.2 boot & system drive): $ 186 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VELD92U/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
This is the famous Samsung SM951 AHCI that provides near fastest SSD performance. Silly Fast.
WiFi/BT: $ 29 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0156DVQ7G/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Radio card - BCM94352Z in the m.2 configuration = WiFi and Bluetooth (optional as wired Ethernet would be working).
The total is $ 524 US for the compute engine… cube purchase and modding material extra.
- - - - - - - - That is it! - - - - Comments or discussion welcomed.
Good modding,
neil
I have finished this project and posted a summary with photos on page 5 post # 46. However if you want the true flavor of the project you may find it interesting to read down through the whole thread.
Here is a photo of the my final G4 CUbe project.
Good modding,
neil
end edit.
Introduction:
Computers and Apple OS X have been my primary interest for a number of years. I call it a hobby but it is really an addiction. We own three Apple laptops and I have built and collected a goodly number of of systems, where most run OS X. If you are not familiar with my obsession, you can get an idea by browsing this link: http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/neilharts-completed-case-mods.87399/
Background:
The Apple G4 Cube was released in 2000. It was not a great success but was loved by many and scorned by a few. I was not into Apple at that time so I missed the event. I discovered the G4 Cube in 2010 and proceeded to hack one and that project was not a great success as my system ran hot and was just did not meet my (self set) standards.
Then in late 2011 I happened upon the Intel DH61AG “thin” mini-ITX motherboard and took on the project of getting OS X to run. A key feature is the external AC to DC power supply. Long story short, I put that motherboard into a G4 Cube and I was happy with the end result and I maintain that system today in my collection.
The original Apple G4 Cube used an external power supply so the “thin” mini-ITX is not a great leap away from the original design.
Also, along the way sometime in 2013 I picked up a working cube with the external PSU. I maintain this in my collection along with the appropriate Apple display, mouse and keyboard.
Last year I did a survey of available “thin” mini-ITX motherboards and recently discovered several Skylake additions. I was very pleased to find one that is reasonably priced and that has both m.2 WiFi/BT socket and m.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 data socket (bootable).
So what’s up?
The following is a costed list of material to build a compute engine that would “easily” fit into a G4 Cube hack. This system would be able to run El Capitan and macOS with ease and dual boot into Windows 10 , if desired.
One of the key device selections is a low power CPU. The low power consumption lessens the cooling task in the system and make success much more obtainable.
The down side that I see is the Apple OS support of the Intel Graphics HD 530. I own two Skylake systems and I have given up on dual displays when running HD 530 (at this writing I and basing this on El Capitan 10.11.5).
However I am itching to see this system built. I can not justify the expense of another system and will offer advice and support to anyone that takes on this build. Key is finding an intact G4 Cube at a reasonable price (say about $ 100 US or less).
Motherboard: $ 80 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132833
Thin Mini-ITX - uses external wall wart (not included) so no need for internal PSU! Has provision for m.2 WiFi and m.2 data/boot drive!
Intel CPU $ 149 US
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BH4XX74/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Core i5-6400T - low power 4 core 4 thread - 35 watt TDP, 2.20GHz with turbo to 2.89 GHz.
CPU Cooler: $ 20 US
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K8PLRMM/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Low profile cooler - could be a single fan installation…
SODIMM Memory: $ 60 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015HQ9VEM/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Crucial 16GB Kit, 2133MT/s SODIMM DDR4
SSD Drive (m.2 boot & system drive): $ 186 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VELD92U/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
This is the famous Samsung SM951 AHCI that provides near fastest SSD performance. Silly Fast.
WiFi/BT: $ 29 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0156DVQ7G/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Radio card - BCM94352Z in the m.2 configuration = WiFi and Bluetooth (optional as wired Ethernet would be working).
The total is $ 524 US for the compute engine… cube purchase and modding material extra.
- - - - - - - - That is it! - - - - Comments or discussion welcomed.
Good modding,
neil
Last edited: