Mac Pro Case COMPLETED....for now.

[eelhead]

Re: Mac Pro Case

I'd recommend getting a motherboard tray but I guess if you mounted the standoffs in the correct position you could use the back of it as a board, however you might not be able to fit the cpu cooler on if you do this.

Just like a G5 you can remove and then reset the logic board standoff and glue them into place with JB weld or the like. You don't truly need a motherboard tray for this mod, especially if you are not cutting out the rear of the case.

As for the CPU cooler you can install it before setting the motherboard into place.

I would then still have to buy a motherboard tray or can I just bolt it in?

See my above comment

I currently have an ATX board, but I would like to do as little modding as possible because I dont have a lot of time. Would it be easier to get a m-atx motherboard? Also do you have to buy the "apple" dvd drive seperate or can you throw in any dvd drive.
Thanks,
Eduard

Sorry I did not answer your other part.
You can use any compatible DVD drive like the Sony Optaric drives or any other that will not break sleep.

 

[KaiserEduard]

Re: Mac Pro Case

Thank you eelhead. I would install my Hyper 212 evo out of the case. As for the M-ATX Motherboard, I was wondering if the P8Z68M Pro would be a good choice? Also, Would a Sony Optaric Blue Ray work?

 

[eelhead]

Re: Mac Pro Case

Thank you eelhead. I would install my Hyper 212 evo out of the case. As for the M-ATX Motherboard, I was wondering if the P8Z68M Pro would be a good choice? Also, Would a Sony Optaric Blue Ray work?

If you find a build with that mobo and a DSDT then you will be good to go on it, I am still running 1366 systems so I haven't been up to date on the 1155 boards.

The bluray drive should work ut just search around to make sure. I do know bluray works in OS X just need to figure out what app is needed and of course what drives play nice in OS X. I think some have even used the LG Bluray ones as well.

Just do your homework and search a lot before investing in items so you know your on the right path and not wasting money.

 

[tom.humphrey]

Re: Mac Pro Case

Right this mod is a real pain in the ass. Anyway nearly finished (sort of) with pictures to follow.

 

[tom.humphrey]

Re: Mac Pro Case

As promised pictures.

Here it is pretty much complete, all that is left remaining to be done is to finish the ports at the front and possibly get a better HDD rack. I plan to add two usb 3.0 ports to the front, hopefully two thunderbolt ports instead of the firewire (when feasible) and also a headphone port. Due to this I haven't used apple's board which I had, but the power button has been converted so is fully functional.

The case is fairly quiet with by whats sounds like the graphics card fans making the most noise. It is also operating at about 27 C whilst I write this.

Photo 29-04-2012 22 40 43.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 00 44 14.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 01 49 08.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 01 50 08.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 01 51 12.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 01 51 39.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 01 51 46.jpg

Photo 30-04-2012 02 56 04.jpg

As always let me know what you think and if you've got any questions I'll try to answer

Thanks

 

[tom.humphrey]

Re: Mac Pro Case

I still don't understand why this forum rotates the pictures I'm afraid.

 

[ectoplasmosis]

Re: Mac Pro Case

The case is fairly quiet with by whats sounds like the graphics card fans making the most noise.

I've got the same XFX 6870 and the stock fans are very annoying. Much quieter than a reference 6870 at load, but the harmonics produced by the two fans and the constant change in pitch depending on load, even when just scrolling in a browser window, made me ditch the whole heatsink and replace it with an Accelero S1 and a rubber-mounted Noctua 120mm fan.

Inaudible, lower temps and no more grating harmonics.

 

[tom.humphrey]

Re: Mac Pro Case

Thanks, thats good to know. Was it easy to make the change? Might have to do it if it's going to be as noisy.

 

[ectoplasmosis]

Re: Mac Pro Case

Piece of ****. Although I went belt-and-braces by epoxying heatsinks to the VRM chips as well. They get fricking toasty under load.

 

[JohnEnglish]

What's the part number of a new Mac Pro case with all the accessories?