Contribute
Register

Project: Quicksilver Power Hack G4 (i7 4790K / Z97)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Nov 29, 2011
Messages
22
Motherboard
Power Hack G4
CPU
4.0 GHz i7-4790K
Graphics
Geforce GTX 770 2GB
Mac
  1. MacBook
  2. MacBook Air
Classic Mac
  1. Power Mac
Mobile Phone
  1. Android
Project: Quicksilver Power Hack G4 (i7 4790K / Z97)

The first time I wanted to mod a G4 was after seeing tviolation's Quicksilver project. Lack of space and money meant I had to wait a little. The project has taken about a year, it did however ramp up quickly in the last few months once I had the funds to buy the main components, which of course changed a lot during the project, originally I was planning on a sandy bridge as I didn't envision the project taking so long.

For the most part the project is complete, all internals have been finished apart from some PCI blanking covers which I need to pickup. I'm still debating if I should water cool or not, the case has been modded with water cooling in mind. I even bought an EK radiator to accurately mock up the fitment, for now it's just two exhaust fans on the bottom of the case.

I've not bothered to refinish the plastics, I've not even removed the sticky residue left from the electrical test stickers built up over the years. All that will probably change when I'm finally bored of playing with it though.

Most of what I have done was directly stolen from everyone else's G4 mod's on this site, I highly doubt I would have ended up with what I have if you guys weren't the guinea pigs. I would like to thank a few people though but please forgive me if I've missed you off. So in no real order: tviolation, Minihack, Mörkö, toledo, tonymacx86, jaymonkey, neilhart, I'll stop there but the list could go on. A big credit to this site as I've never been a contributor, I've never needed too as I've always found everything I've needed just from searching, my hat off to tonymacx86 for brining it all together.

So lets get on with the project

Main Components

Apple Quicksilver Computer Case
Intel i7 4790K Haswell Processor
Asus Maximus VII Gene Motherboard
Asus nVidia GTX 770 2GB Video Card
Corsair Vengeance Pro 32GB (4 x 8GB) 2133 Memory
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD x 2
Western Digital Red 3TB Hard Drive x 2
Corsair CX650M Power Supply
Azurewzve AW-CE123H 802.11ac WiFi-BT Combo mini PCIe

Other Components

Corsair SP120 PWM Quite Edition Static Pressure 120mm Fan x 2
Corsair AF120 Quite Edition Case High Airflow 120mm Fan
Akasa 120mm Fan Grills x 3
BitFenix Dual USB 3.0 Front Panel
Akasa ProSlim SATA Cable 15cm (Black) x 2
Akasa Round SATA Cable 100cm (Black) x 2
Cables4PC 24pin ATX Braided Cable Extension 70cm (Black)
Cables4PC 8pin EPS Braided Cable Extension 110cm (Black)
Cables4PC 8pin PCIE Braided Cable Extension 90cm (Black)
Cables4PC 6pin PCIE Braided Cable Extension 90cm (Black)
BitFenix Molex to SATA Braided Cable Extension 45cm (Black) x 2
Miscellaneous Hardware: I/O/Fan Connectors & Pins, Rivets, Standoffs, Screws etc

I'm sure you all know how these systems look stripped down so I won't bore you with those photos. Before I had any hardware I started modding the motherboard tray and I/O panel, I had an old ATX board from work to help with mocking things up.

14790281636_b076b308d2_z.jpg


14810191391_821180f4a6_z.jpg


14626240840_aaed9588d8_z.jpg

After some JB Weld to fill in the holes everywhere, some hydrochloric acid to completely remove all galvanising and finally some body filler to finish things off.

14789946316_3c8e098f19_z.jpg


14812579742_20e2005da9_z.jpg


14810181231_27f38a63c8_z.jpg


14626604429_bc437a2b92_z.jpg


14813262725_69dbdcfdaf_z.jpg

My very small working space, the kitchen floor. On a good day the park down the road.

14626542610_db5d0d9655_z.jpg

Drilled a few 114mm holes for the power supply and case intake fans.

14810155981_18ded5e280_z.jpg


14813243025_37039ca83e_z.jpg


14626602718_2ef0517e37_z.jpg

Drilled a few more 114mm holes for the bottom exhaust fans (and radiator, currently not fitted)

14812942035_c701f89fae_z.jpg


14810852244_128b1a6e17_z.jpg


14626222000_0df2751a20_z.jpg


14810121211_4bfc66dc15_z.jpg

Started some preliminary cable management, I hate cables so hiding everything was probably higher on the priority list than sufficient cooling.

14626527238_2d1f3f8105_z.jpg


14810778594_d6877078b6_z.jpg

Re-mounted a dual hard drive caddy to the top the tower and fitted a USB 3.0 front panel

14810097331_f9c6f12753_z.jpg


14626476840_27d2aaa949_z.jpg


14832967553_9192875bf9_z.jpg


14626428100_25994c7c08_z.jpg


14790128196_658bd79eb5_z.jpg

Completed motherboard tray and I/O panel with all required holes pre drilled and primed ready for final painting.

15045773795_7592c6975e_z.jpg


14626437749_e80a578460_z.jpg


14832910773_b59b904863_z.jpg

First real mockup with the very good looking Asus Maximus VII Gene. I ended up not going with the original door opening mechanism and so removed the plastic motherboard tray support. I did the reverse latch thing instead and think it turned out much cleaner.

14812695552_09881db754_z.jpg


14626391049_f9de7e8057_z.jpg

Motherboard and I/O panel painted with majority of hardware fitted for motherboard and SSD mounting as well as more of that cable management stuff.

14832904763_dd76794266_z.jpg


14810702864_3fc987f58d_z.jpg


14832893493_a9f643428b_z.jpg


14810694094_ecb91099c1_z.jpg


14789908336_0bf32eb883_z.jpg

The Cables4PC made to order custom length braided cables for some nice aesthetics which all plugged nicely into the motherboard and Asus nVidia GTX 770 2GB Graphics Card.

14790046446_d08ef12330_z.jpg


14626408818_62a3e04b1b_z.jpg


14809942331_f39232361c_z.jpg


14832855763_152c54f42e_z.jpg

Graphics card just missed the shortened power supply shelf.

14812665462_7ac90f4c28_z.jpg

With the plastics back on.

14626355989_5cbf7e9e85_z.jpg


14810637864_7708eecee6_z.jpg

Memory in.

14810631984_9d6587f7ac_z.jpg

Processor in, also I custom made all the I/O cabling. A whole lot 22 AWG gauge black wire (about 25 meters!) for the front panel buttons, LEDS and power for the 3 fans (radiator is also now removed).

14626182700_a8c05a2756_z.jpg

Up and running.

14626288450_d64e9e6ddf_z.jpg

Final photos of the completed project, with the side plastics off showing the cable management.

14809900361_bd24fe7cb3_z.jpg


14812634242_182c39dd04_z.jpg

Rear photo showing the I/O, I'm not happy with the cutout I've done for the audio connectors, it's a little rough so I'll be cleaning this up at some point.

14812527432_0c5aa80e85_z.jpg

Final touch is a PCIe Wifi 802.11ac & Bluetooth 4.0 combo card

14626332468_3bafe1314f_z.jpg


14812889465_7869d46812_z.jpg

About My Mac. I've not looked into any over clocking just yet, everything still running stock.

14633751219_b41ac447b3_o.jpg


14633709050_9a107765dc_o.jpg
 
nice one!!! good work man thats beastly
 
psycho_rocker you have my attention and I will keep an eye out for the final with the exterior panels. Your work here is top notch and your photo story is as well.

Good modding,
neil
 
psycho_rocker you have my attention and I will keep an eye out for the final with the exterior panels. Your work here is top notch and your photo story is as well.

Good modding,
neil

Neilhart, thanks for the compliments, I only wish the quality of some of the photos was not so poor, I cannot exactly retake them either. That's what you get for using a smart phone in low light.

At the moment I'm just enjoying having a quick computer again so the final mods are way down on the priority list.
 
Unbelievably a very big job!!!!!

despite the lack of space you did it weir well and you was able to use more space than was initially available doing the cable routing outside the case. Does the original plastic cover hide the cable or need to re paint ?

have you some pictures / advise about how to reverse the spring of locking rod.

thanks
 
what is the Benchmark score??
 
Update: I picked up the PCI covers today, think they look quite nice.

14842601032_f0be14e7bf_z.jpg


14656312589_c0d2186328_z.jpg

Also took some better pictures with all the plastics on then a final one of the completed internals

14862809523_0d061df2d5_z.jpg

Get out of the way foot!

14656296229_2e60db1895_z.jpg


14840583984_6a8c31e88b_z.jpg


14656388587_3b1df14ca1_z.jpg


14862813513_8eee883d9d_z.jpg

Unbelievably a very big job!!!!!

despite the lack of space you did it weir well and you was able to use more space than was initially available doing the cable routing outside the case. Does the original plastic cover hide the cable or need to re paint ?

have you some pictures / advise about how to reverse the spring of locking rod.

thanks

valdamgo, original plastics hides the cables completely, no need for re-painting. Also see photo below of how I did the reverse latch

14842576752_202ae664f0_z.jpg

what is the Benchmark score??

No idea!
 
incredible build. I love how you spent the time with your cables - totally worth the effort! I look forward to your custom watercooling setup. I saw the EK rad in the bottom under the corsair fans and got really excited for another WC Hack!

Keep up the extraordinary work!!:headbang::headbang:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top