- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 759
- Motherboard
- DQ77KB
- CPU
- i7-3770S
- Graphics
- HD4000
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
G4 Cube Inspired Self Build: Core i3-3225 - Intel DQ77KB - HD4000
Components
Intel DQ77KB Slim ITX LGA 1155 Q77 Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Desktop-Motherboard-LGA1155-mini-ITX/dp/B00840BACU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373604165&sr=1-1&keywords=Intel+DQ77KB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121622
Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.30GHz 55W Processor
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i3-3225-Dual-Core-Processor-Cache/dp/B0093H8H8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373604222&sr=1-1&keywords=i3-3225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774
2 x 4GB Kingston DDR3-1333 204pin SODIMM
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Technology-Notebook-KTA-MB1066K2-8G/dp/B001PS9UKW/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373604867&sr=1-6&keywords=Kingston+8GB+SODimm+1333MHZ+DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139482
Dynatron K129 Passive 1U LGA1155 Copper CPU Cooler
http://www.dynatron-corp.com/en/product_detail_1.aspx?cv=&id=190&in=0
60GB OCZ Nocti mSATA II SSD Drive
http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-Technology-Nocti-mSATA-NOC-MSATA-30G/dp/B005G2PHDC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373523565&sr=1-1&keywords=OCZ+Nocti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227746
750GB Western Digital 2.5" Scorpio Blue SATA 3.0Gb/s
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Scorpio-Cache-Notebook/dp/B003D18DM0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373523476&sr=1-1&keywords=750GB+Western+Digital+2.5%22+Scorpio+Blue
Right Hand Side Fan from 17" Unibody MacBook Pro
http://www.amazon.com/Laptop-Right-Cooling-Apple-Macbook/dp/B0051DTKN4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373523425&sr=8-1&keywords=macbook+pro+17+fan
DVD SuperDrive SATA Slot Loading 9.5mm
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Macbook-Superdrive-678-0592D-678-1451C/dp/B00B5L3EH4/ref=sr_1_25?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373523913&sr=1-25&keywords=sata+dvd+9.5mm+slot+macbook
2 x Akasa ProSlim Super Slim SATA Cables
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g/c.../Akasa-SATA_30_Cables-SATA_30_Slim-Page1.html
Broadcom BCM94322HM8L WIFI half size mini PCIe
http://www.amazon.com/Broadcom-Wireless-Internet-Adapter-Netbooks/dp/B002OB0FPI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373524213&sr=1-2&keywords=BCM94322HM8L
Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion @ Mac App Store
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/os-x-mountain-lion/id537386512?mt=12
Tyco WIFI Internal Antennas - Purchased of eBay
G4 Cube Proximity Power Sensor - Purchased Second Hand
Already Owned
DELL PA-19 130 Watt 19.5VDC Power Supply
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Dell-19-5V-adapter-Notebook/dp/B00AW1Y06M/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373602979&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=DELL+PA-19+130+Watt+19.5VDC+Power+Supply
Dell UltraSharp U2311H - 23" FullHD IPS Widescreen Display
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-U2311H-Widescreen-DisplayPort/dp/B003QTKV9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373603077&sr=1-1&keywords=DELL+2311
Apple Wireless Keyboard
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Wireless-Keyboard-MC184LL-B/dp/B005DLDO4U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373603547&sr=8-1&keywords=apple+wireless+keyboard
Apple Magic Trackpad
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC380LL-A-Magic-Trackpad/dp/B003XIJ3MW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373603630&sr=1-1&keywords=apple+wireless+trackpad
IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Bluetooth-Micro-Adapter-GBU521/dp/B007GFX0PY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373603671&sr=1-1&keywords=iogear+usb+bluetooth+dongle
Creative Labs Travel Sound External Speakers - Very old and need replacing
8GB USB Memory Stick - for Installation of BIOS and UniBeast
Misc SATA HDD - for Installation of Fusion Drive
2 x Double Decker USB sockets - Provides 4 USB Ports
SMD Blue Strip Lighting - Power Switch Case Lighting
Parts for Case
2 x Acrylic Main Side Panels Legs - cut and Engraved Professionally
4 x 200mm x 200mm x 1.5mm Aluminium Sheets - Main Case Side Panels
2U rack unit blank panel with hole pattern - Top and Bottom Panels
3mm Grey Tinted Acrylic - Insert for Front and Back Panels
Aluminium Angle 12mm x 12mm x 1.6mm - for Case Corners
Aluminium Machine Rod 8mm - for Custom Made Standoffs
Aluminium Flat Bar 10mm x 3mm - for General Construction
Comments
Overview
When I joined the TonyMac community, i Had a iMac 24 inch circa 2008, which was under performing and needed to be replaced so I purchased a non-working Powermac G5 and converted it, link in signature.
While I was converting the G5 I looked on with envy, people doing PowerMac G4 Cube builds so decided this would be my next build.
I started looking for machine to convert, but G4 Cubes are hard to find and expensive in Australia. So I set about the design of my own Cube that would be built from scratch.
By the time I actually managed to purchase the Cube (took 6 months) I had a very good design of my own. I had spent quite a lot of time on the design and acquiring some of the parts that I would need. So by the time I got the Cube I had already committed to this build.
Goal
The goal is for a minimalist desktop computer inspired mainly by the G4 Cube. The computer should be a small and thin as practical, and preferably silent. Performance was a secondary concern. I think I have done my best to meet these goals.
Design
This design carries the basic elements of the G4 Cube including the top loading DVD, IO ports at the bottom, and a supporting acrylic case that provides the legs that the main chassis will sit on. CPU cooling uses the vertical arrangement similar to the G4 Cube, will the addition of a small fan at the bottom of the heat-sink.
My design includes the reuse an actual G4 Cube power (proximity) switch to turn the computer on. But rather than hiding it, my design was to make it a central feature. Thus it would become a signature of the machine, and to the trained eye who knows the origin of the part, link it to the G4 Cube that the computer was inspired by.
Case Build
The case is effectively made of two large sides, which the main components are secured. These two sides are held in-place by long standoffs, that the sides (including the acrylic) are bolted to. If we remove the right hand bolts. We can remove the acrylic and main outer panel that is really only decorative.
We then expose in inner panel. Removing this panel (and flipping it to the left) we see into the computer.
Looking in more detail at the bottom of the top panel we see the main components mounted to it.
The fan used is a PWM from a 17" MacBook Pro and is powered by 5V. I documented the connection in the following post. http://www.tonymacx86.com/hardware-parts/94545-macbook-pro-unibody-fan-conversion.html I constructed a small shroud that fits of the end of the fan to ensure that air is correctly guided through the Heatsink.
A small board was constructed with 4x USB2 sockets exposed at the bottom of the case. The board extends the main USB headers at the top of the motherboard. USB power comes from the main SATA power cable, and is also used to power the CPU fan.
The HDD is also fixed to this plate. Next to it is an 12V LED lighting strip that illuminates the G4 Cube switch, it is powered from a Fan header.
If we now look back inside the case we see the motherboard.
Disconnecting the cables between the two halves of the computer means we can remove the side (and top) surround.
This is was fabricated from four separate pieces and glued together with supporting corner brackets. The surround is held in place (not screwed) by pressure from the main sides of the case
The top and bottom panels of the surround are cut from steel that had the holes predrilled. The holes are needed, and provide the Only case ventilation. The DVD slot was cut using a Dremel after first bogging the necessary holes. On the bottom panel I used less finesses and simply removed (cut) the necessary IO ports.
The front and rear panel include a light tinted grey acrylic panel that provides the necessary G4 Cube switch visibility and also allow WIFI signals to pass through. Painting was done using black semi-gloss spray can.
Now back to the main computer. If we remove the motherboard, we can see the DVD drive that sit underneath it.
The DVD is not held in by screws. The motherboard provides pressure from the top, with support from guide rails that can more easily be seen once the DVD drive is removed.
You can also see some of the guides that hold the case surround in place, and the standoffs (custom made) that are held by bolts that come from underneath, holding the other acrylic panel in place.
Here you can see the mounting of the G4 Cube switch, with the plastic backing that one of the WIFI antennas is glued to.
Some More Photos
Related Posts
I also have a detailed build log that shows all the details from inception to finish.
http://www.tonymacx86.com/others/90651-g4-cube-inspired-self-build.html
I have also created a post in the user builds section that covers the software side of the build
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...f-build-core-i3-3225-intel-dq77kb-hd4000.html
Please restrict your feedback comments here to case build.
