2013 Mac Pro - My variation

[kenchinito]

Hey John, nice build, it looks awesome, props to you!

I'm considering to make this build and have been researching on and on about all the little details. One thing that has me wondering, is the possibility of fitting a full size GPU in there, what do you say about that?

I currently have a hackintosh that I like very much, but having a trash can hackintosh would be awesome, So I'm thinking about converting my actual build into something similar. It is an ITX GA-h87n-wifi and a r9 290X.

Do you think with some thinkering it could fit? or the GPU is simply too big to even fit on itself?

 

[JuanLobo]

To get a full size GPU in there would require some major modifications. Either you would have to figure out how to extend the trash can and rails to get another few inches, or leave out the power supply and go external. With the design as-is, there is no way a full length card would fit.

 

[MacTester57]

This is clean work! Bravo, very well done.

MacTester

 

[Dannjo14595]

Sure would like to see a watercooled variant. I am considering building this project since I have access to a 3d printer and laser cutter. Unfortunately I would have to buy all of my current components all over agian. I need an itx 760 rather than the full sized one and I've just bought a corsair water cooler for my i5 4670k. Still hasn't stopped me from wanting one of these!

Also, any tips on how you made the rear I/O shield?

 

[JRDN]

Sure would like to see a watercooled variant. I am considering building this project since I have access to a 3d printer and laser cutter. Unfortunately I would have to buy all of my current components all over agian. I need an itx 760 rather than the full sized one and I've just bought a corsair water cooler for my i5 4670k. Still hasn't stopped me from wanting one of these!

Also, any tips on how you made the rear I/O shield?

I was planning a watercooled variant with a custom hardline loop. Ran into a few roadblocks and changed back to air. I have an OEM Mac Pro fan I want to use as an exhaust

A 120mm radiator doesn't fit in the trash can. 92mm radiators are an option, but they're quite thick and not very many options and probably thermally limited to a single gfx card or cpu, both would be pushing it.

Then there's getting a pump/res inside... AIO would be the way to go to get around this but you can't mount it horizontally as an exhaust out the top, it would have to be mounted vertically and the only spot it can go is where you'd have a gfx card and even then, airflow would be horrendous. AIOs I've looked for only come in 120mm flavors, which again, don't fit because of the inlet/outlets

Was thinking a custom loop with an AIO pump/block combo as seen over in the G4 cube forums build using a smaller rad. Still runs into the thick radiator/fan combo.


You'd have to go externally cooled and piped in or externally powered to gain the space IMO. But sacrificing the compact portability and the all-in-one asethetics

 

[vaneea]

Hello guys, after initially hearing about this mod on this forum i decided i should give it a try. So, after 2 years one burned MB and GPU here i am with my variation of the Mac Pro.

The neat part is that i used a single 120mm on the top to cool entire "bin" cpu+gpu+psu, it somewhat mimics the mac pro's thermal core. I used the authentics lunar bin and printed in 3d the base using the model posted on this forum

Specs are:

Asus P8h77 -i
I3-2120 , 3.3Ghz + Passive cooler 79mm high adapted from sk 775
16Gb ddr3
128Gb+240Gb - mSATA SSD in adapter
400W PSU (i used the pcb only with enlarged heatsinks)
1 slot free in the case for a 750Ti (i had one which i burned down because i bent the pci-e extender cable too much and the tin foil touched the power pins, i have the custom heatsink ready when the new gpu arrives.)

The entire build can support cpus with a TDP of maximum 90W, maximum 16Gb ram and 6pin GPUs but i prefer to keep it light untill i am sure the PSU runs at the correct temps.

I will post more pictures of my build if you guys are interested.

Thanks all for posting ideas and pictures, it helped me a lot in finding solutions to my problems.

 

[vaneea]

Stunning, great work Bouly ! Those 3d printed parts look great

 

[tonymacx86]

Hello guys, after initially hearing about this mod on this forum i decided i should give it a try. So, after 2 years one burned MB and GPU here i am with my variation of the Mac Pro.

The neat part is that i used a single 120mm on the top to cool entire "bin" cpu+gpu+psu, it somewhat mimics the mac pro's thermal core. I used the authentics lunar bin and printed in 3d the base using the model posted on this forum

Specs are:

Asus P8h77 -i
I3-2120 , 3.3Ghz + Passive cooler 79mm high adapted from sk 775
16Gb ddr3
128Gb+240Gb - mSATA SSD in adapter
400W PSU (i used the pcb only with enlarged heatsinks)
1 slot free in the case for a 750Ti (i had one which i burned down because i bent the pci-e extender cable too much and the tin foil touched the power pins, i have the custom heatsink ready when the new gpu arrives.)

The entire build can support cpus with a TDP of maximum 90W, maximum 16Gb ram and 6pin GPUs but i prefer to keep it light untill i am sure the PSU runs at the correct temps.

I will post more pictures of my build if you guys are interested.

Thanks all for posting ideas and pictures, it helped me a lot in finding solutions to my problems.

Thanks for posting- could you create a new thread for this build?

 

[steackbeatz]

Hey JuanLobo .
First of all , awesome work, you really did good and it looks impressive.

I've gone through more or less all the pages of this thread but I can't see anything on how did you attached the gpu ?

Sorry if I missed something

Axel

 

[JuanLobo]

The GPU is primarily supported by the slot. The slot is bolted to the rails. Because the GPU just barely fits between the rails, you can just wedge a bit of plastic between the card and the rail for additional support.