G4 + G5 = A G4 Cube in a Modded G5 Case

[rick26]

Great project Rossi!

I've seen that G5 cube before and I actually was looking to buy one but never was able to find one.

Looks good so far! It's a whole new way of reusing a G5!

Rick,

 

[rossi1959]

Hi Rick,

I got the G5 cheap($10), and it was incomplete(no door),to do a normal G5 Hackintosh, and the first Cube I purchased had a damaged perspex case, so as you know being a modder yourself, your mind is forever ticking over for new ideas, and when I had the two together, it looked like they could be married to each other, and when I googled it(G4 Cube in a G5 case) I found that Japanese one in the previous post, made from ABS and painted silver,got the mind ticking, so here we go again.
How far have you proceeded in your build? Don't stop now, you must be nearly finished.

Cheers.
Rossi.

 

[kiwisincebirth]

Hi Kiwi, The Cube Chassis will be completely removed from the Perspex case, and installed into the cut down G5 case, it will be removable from it's metal frame that was held by the two screw's in the top of the Perspex case, and is now bolted into the G5 through the front of the G5's mesh panel, with the DVD slot perfectly centred in the G5's DVD bay . It will be a modded cube with a GA-H77tn motherboard(when they finally release them). And it will have to have a fan in the centre sucking air through it. I am also going to do the sensor switch in it's original position as well. I will have some more photo's up tomorrow night, and you will see more detail of what it will look like. Cheers, Rossi.

You may wont to consider a different mounting scheme, bolting through the front of the G5 may place stress on the mesh if only two bolts are used, also harder to conceal. An internal support structure that holds the cube from below would be better to my mind.

Kiwi

 

[rossi1959]

Good observation Kiwi, your spot on about that, and I will be putting some sort of support on the floor plate to support the cube's locking drum.
I have finished the cutting of the main frame and just need to do the floor plate and then the gluing and screwing of all the case sections, then the aluminium paint.

Here's a quick mockup just to show it's form against a full size G5 and my running cube.

 

[MacTester57]

LOL! This project is definitely different!

 

[rossi1959]

OK, the case sections are all cut out and are ready for the assembly which will be secured with countersunk rivets that will be flushed square with good old auto body filler, the case will then be rubbed back and wiped down with solvent so there is a good clean surface for the aluminium paint to adhere to.



I cut the panels with a 4 inch angle grinder with a very thin reinforced steel cutting disk, using hard soap for lubricant on the disk, I would not even contemplate using a dremel for this job, you will see in the photo's the lower feet panels marked with a number "2" are quite buckled, and will need some beating back into shape.

After seeing how easy of a mod this is, I think it would be a good mod to cut the full size case down and install the motherboard in the conventional position and retain the original front panel, switch and ports.
This is one addictive hobby.

 

[neilhart]

OK, the case sections are all cut out and are ready for the assembly which will be secured with countersunk rivets that will be flushed square with good old auto body filler, the case will then be rubbed back and wiped down with solvent so there is a good clean surface for the aluminium paint to adhere to.

View attachment 48478View attachment 48479

I cut the panels with a 4 inch angle grinder with a very thin reinforced steel cutting disk, using hard soap for lubricant on the disk, I would not even contemplate using a dremel for this job, you will see in the photo's the lower feet panels marked with a number "2" are quite buckled, and will need some beating back into shape.

After seeing how easy of a mod this is, I think it would be a good mod to cut the full size case down and install the motherboard in the conventional position and retain the original front panel, switch and ports.
This is one addictive hobby.

Wow! This is very interesting and you have me mentally going over my inventory of Mac Pro, Power Mac and Cube cases.

I would like you to do an independent complete thread on this project with as many in process photos and details that you can manage.

Good luck and fun hacking,
neil

 

[rossi1959]

Hi Neil,
I am amazed it hasn't been done before, I am sure that someone, somewhere, has hacked a Pro or G5 down to a mini before. But googling for it, only brought up the Japanese case in the first post above, which blew me away.

After obtaining this G5 case cheap"$10AU" (because it was incomplete and bent) from an Australian Apple parts Ebay store, for the purpose of doing another G5 mod with the Mountain Mods motherboard tray, that I had purchased from the crew up in Oregon,which I must say is an absolute bargain, even with postage costs to Australia.

I will try and do as you ask with this one in it's own thread,(time permitting when),along with my G5 I had done quite a while ago using my first Hackintosh as the doner motherboard tray and PC components, and hope to have the G5 mini case finished this weekend with staged photo's of the process.

This case is much easier than a Pro or G5 Hacked down to a mini, as far as I could foresee, because it is just completely glued and riveted together,and once completed ,will not be able to be taken apart(easily),whereas a complete functioning mini with working door and cutdown perspex inner door would be a hell of an exercise to undertake,requiring a much more clinical approach, with access to huge resource's called "Time,Patience,Skill & Tools",and of course money .

I always look for the shortest route, and simplest method to do anything, which, as long as the finish is of acceptable working standards,is OK. We call this the "KISS" principal. and is due to our isolation which causes problems with access to tools and materials which would be ideal when constructing anything, Kiwi will know what I am talking about,as the New Zealanders are notorious for the ability to build amazing things with limited resourses caused by isolation.

I am glad you find this mod interesting, as I have done with your projects,to which I have used for inspiration and knowledge on my previous cube build, along with all the other's on this site, And I must say it's refreshing to see so many like minded people doing the same thing, and hope to see your mini hack some time soon.

Cheers.
Rossi.

 

[minihack]

I agree with all the positive comments from others on this - looks like a great project. It's beyond my hand tool skills though I'm sure - if I did it the jigsaw of pieces would "not quite" match (!). Your lines all look to be straight and true.

Looking forward to seeing this develop.

 

[rossi1959]

Thanks minihack, I used a 4 inch angle grinder with a thin reinforced cutting wheel with hard soap for lubrication, I prefer the hard soap over the wax that is normally used. The joins will all be braced and flushed with auto filler and the case painted, I have seen your work and think this would be within your skillset for you to perform, although as I stated in my prior post, if it were an exact miniature version of the G5, it would be quite a challenge, But would be an awesome mod with the main board like the GA-Z77 ITX in the conventional position with graphics card and 450watt ITX PSU, I think the version I am doing is the simplest way to do it. Cheers, Rossi.