Powerhack i7 EATX (Powermac G4 Sawtooth)

[MrDavid5465]

Hello my name is David.

My first computer ever was a Yosemite Powermac G3. It had a whopping 350MHz G3 processor, 1/2 gig of RAM, a Rage 128 GL and 40 GB hard drive. I got this upgraded computer in 2003 for christmas and was absolutely fascinated by it and its OS X 10.3 operating system. That computer is long gone. After that computer I was on the Windows platform with DELL, eMachined, HP and currently a custom built PC that I built just over a year ago. That PC is called DARKBLOOD and can build log for that system can be found here. I came across a Sawtooth Powermac G4 at my college and was intrigued by it. I googled the Powermac and came across Macbane and I instantly knew what I wanted to do. So I aquired the G4 from the school and I am starting my journey. I am going to put my PC into that case. My PC's motherboard is a Maximus V Formula which is E-ATX. As I'm not in a position that I could buy new parts for this build I'm going to have to work with what I have.

This is the current state of my PC.
i7 3770K 32GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 @ 4.6 GHz and 1866 MHz
GTX 780 3GB Reference
XFX 1050W PSU
120GB Samsung 840 SSD with Windows 8.1
3TB Seagate for Storage
250 GB Seagate with OS X 10.10.0 Yosemite (2TB Seagate Hybrid on the way, will clone it)
Cooler Master Storm Trooper with window.

This is the G4 that will be converted.

 

[MrDavid5465]

Time to do a test fit! Now that I have an idea of how it's going to sit in the case, I can plan how I'm going to approach this. I know that I want to get an AIO for the cpu, probably just a corsair H80i. I also think that I might want to try a flexible PCI-e riser so that I have more flexibility in my GPU mounting. I got that idea from the Sour Apple build on overlock.net. Obviously like I stated before, the I/O is going to be recessed, which leaves me with a couple of options. I could make an extension for the I/O (i.e. 2" extension cables with a shroud) or just deal with the recessed port as they are and maybe make them more accessible by severely modding the back. I do want to maintain the opening side panel though.

Give me your thoughts and suggestions!

It's crazy just how much smaller the G4 case is compared to my current tower.

It fits! And so it will sits!

 

[MrDavid5465]

Went to work on the case for a bit tonight and with a little but of cutting, It fits!! Not only that, but I don't have to sacrifice any ports or the look of the outside of the case!

So, first I drilled the rivets that were holding the shelf and backplate in, Then I used tin snips to cut the backplate. I used the board as a guide. And finally, I cut a bit of material out of the bottom corner so that the board would clear the case.

 

[caster89]

Hi,
Sorry for reviving an old thread, but I was wondering do you have other photos of the build, or some pics of the final result?
I am about to do a similar build and was wondering how you had decided to orgainze the pieces inside, in particular where you had put the PSU.
Thank you
caster89