neilhart
Moderator
- Joined
- May 25, 2010
- Messages
- 2,686
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- i7-7700T
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- GTX960
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The Short Stack
Note: This project has been completed and you can see the final hack in post # 65 found on page 7 of this thread. [edit added 07/06/2013 by neil]
Project Explanation:
The project that Rossi has going in the G4 Cube forum started me thinking about doing one also. The project is a sectioned G5 Power Mac reducing the size to a smaller form factor but retain the Apple G5 Power Mac personality.
Well let's scope out what is worth while doing. I am very happy with the Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH motherboard that I used in "The Black" Prodigy project (and I am using now as my main home machine). However I would like to find an equivalent MB in a MicroATX form factor; so that is one that needs to be addressed sometime before completion of the project. I will plan this project around the MicroATX form factor.
And the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H-TH looks interesting but does not appear to be available in the US.
Also I need to understand the SUNIX "DisplayPort to 2-port DisplayPort Graphics Splitter Adapter-DPD2000" and learn if we have support in OS X.
And maybe this project can be timed where I can use the Haswell i7-4770K CPU that I have read about and one of the yet to be announced motherboards.
Anyway, I asked my son, the Graphic Artist in the family, to produce a Photoshop representation of the sectioned case.
.
.
I may adjust the front to back size a little to regain a little of the original proportions.
Currently thinking about MicroATX with lots of memory, fast CPU, mid-range GPU, SSDs and 2.5" HDDs all running on a small PSU (maybe 350 watts) with air cooling.
Under 5 seconds boot time (goal)…
Maintain the width of the Power Mac chassis.
Modular build on a 12" x 12" aluminum plate (the System Module = aka "the guts").
The System Module to slide into the chassis from the rear… the guts to come free of the chassis with a minimum of effort.
Be able to run the System Module on the bench outside of the chassis with a minimum of support pieces.
Ivy Bridge or newer electronics for lower power, lower heat and lower cooling requirements.
Must be able to run Prime95 torture test indefinitely without issue (with the final MB and CPU).
No requirement for an optical drive.
Front panel to be G5 mesh with the G5 power switch/LED and modified for USB2 and USB3 ports, no Firewire and no audio out/audio requirement.
Retain the right side panel easy removal for service… may give on this one if the System Module is easily removed and does not require right side access for removal.
Schedule:
When can I start on this project? When will I finish?
Well I still have two hacks and a MBA to update to ML 10.8.3. My current inventory of OS X machines is 10 hacks and 2 Apple laptops.
I will plan to start serious work on this project around the first of April. And should be done by late Summer or early Fall.
Of note, I think that this is the most aggressive modding hack that I have ever contemplated.
Comments and questions are welcome,
neil
Note: This project has been completed and you can see the final hack in post # 65 found on page 7 of this thread. [edit added 07/06/2013 by neil]
Project Explanation:
The project that Rossi has going in the G4 Cube forum started me thinking about doing one also. The project is a sectioned G5 Power Mac reducing the size to a smaller form factor but retain the Apple G5 Power Mac personality.
Well let's scope out what is worth while doing. I am very happy with the Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH motherboard that I used in "The Black" Prodigy project (and I am using now as my main home machine). However I would like to find an equivalent MB in a MicroATX form factor; so that is one that needs to be addressed sometime before completion of the project. I will plan this project around the MicroATX form factor.
And the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H-TH looks interesting but does not appear to be available in the US.
Also I need to understand the SUNIX "DisplayPort to 2-port DisplayPort Graphics Splitter Adapter-DPD2000" and learn if we have support in OS X.
And maybe this project can be timed where I can use the Haswell i7-4770K CPU that I have read about and one of the yet to be announced motherboards.
Anyway, I asked my son, the Graphic Artist in the family, to produce a Photoshop representation of the sectioned case.
.
.
I may adjust the front to back size a little to regain a little of the original proportions.
Currently thinking about MicroATX with lots of memory, fast CPU, mid-range GPU, SSDs and 2.5" HDDs all running on a small PSU (maybe 350 watts) with air cooling.
Under 5 seconds boot time (goal)…
Maintain the width of the Power Mac chassis.
Modular build on a 12" x 12" aluminum plate (the System Module = aka "the guts").
The System Module to slide into the chassis from the rear… the guts to come free of the chassis with a minimum of effort.
Be able to run the System Module on the bench outside of the chassis with a minimum of support pieces.
Ivy Bridge or newer electronics for lower power, lower heat and lower cooling requirements.
Must be able to run Prime95 torture test indefinitely without issue (with the final MB and CPU).
No requirement for an optical drive.
Front panel to be G5 mesh with the G5 power switch/LED and modified for USB2 and USB3 ports, no Firewire and no audio out/audio requirement.
Retain the right side panel easy removal for service… may give on this one if the System Module is easily removed and does not require right side access for removal.
Schedule:
When can I start on this project? When will I finish?
Well I still have two hacks and a MBA to update to ML 10.8.3. My current inventory of OS X machines is 10 hacks and 2 Apple laptops.
I will plan to start serious work on this project around the first of April. And should be done by late Summer or early Fall.
Of note, I think that this is the most aggressive modding hack that I have ever contemplated.
Comments and questions are welcome,
neil