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The Beginners Journey Into A G5 Case Mod

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Joined
Oct 4, 2012
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43
Motherboard
GA-Z77-DS3H
CPU
i3-3225
Graphics
GT 740
Classic Mac
  1. Power Mac
Mobile Phone
  1. iOS
*The Beginners Journey Into A G5 Case Mod*

Components

Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H Motherboard

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007R21JWC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tonymacx86com-20

Intel® Core i3-3225 Processor
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0093H8H8I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tonymacx86com-20

Corsair XMS3 1600MHz DDR3 4GB Kit (1x4GB)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZDJ42O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tonymacx86com-20

Corsair Builder Series 430W Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2T2TM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tonymacx86com-20

MassCool 80mm Rear Case Fan (2x)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150007



Already Owned


G5 PowerPC Case
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...g5+case&_frs=1

Mountain Mods: G5 To ATX Conversion Mobo Plate
http://www.mountainmods.com/mountain-mods-modular-removable-motherboard-tray-p-56.html

Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 500GB Hard Drive (2x)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TLIEHC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tonymacx86com-20


Comments

I'm fully capable, however, this is my first custom computer build of any kind. I figured that I have the G5 case with a crapped out mobo so why not? I'm setting up Mountain Lion 10.8.2

1. I read everything on this link, a lot. Best resource period: http://legacy.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?t=41145
2. Studied the CustoMac guide to pick my parts: http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/search/label/CustoMac
3. Read through the posts continuously to finalize my preparation

The GA-Z77-DS3H is on bios version F8 and it's a rev1.1 (not the desired rev1.0), so I know I'll have ethernet issues after setting up fml. Anyways, I configured my mobo bios settings and loaded via iBoot following instructions from three sources, not just one.
http://www.tonymacx86.com/61-unibeast-install-os-x-mountain-lion-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
http://lifehacker.com/5841604/the-always-up+to+date-guide-to-building-a-hackintosh
^I used the links above as well as posts from other users who have the same mobo.

Unibeast 1.5.3 is very specific. You can't really borrow any 10.8.0 disk off of a friend or something. You have to purchase the appstore retail version of 10.8.2. Then when it installs itself on your computer, Unibeast is a go to launch and setup your thumb drive!

Multibeast 5.1.3 was the painful part. I recommend starting with the User DHST option, only 1 audio option and 1 network/ethernet option. Once you jump the hurdles and have a self booting HDD, back it up and continue tampering. Btw, I utilized the awesome "Chat" feature here on tonymacx86.com which kept my head above water for general questions, its under the "Resources" tab above. The chat room feature now closed due to resource hogging (tonymacx86).

My HDD boots ML on its own, Sleeps/Wakes'Shutsdown perfectly, the performance is clean, audio works, resolution is nice, but no ethernet/internet period ethernet is working fine now with native access to iCloud and Appstore.
Getting your ethernet to work on the DS3H is as simple as reading this post:http://www.tonymacx86.com/network/7...7-z77-ds3h-rev1-1-not-onboard.html#post498125.

G5 front panel power button and led works flawlessly, very important feature!. However, the front panel headphones and usb input are having issues. Not a big deal since I never use them (until my perfectionist side gets irritated lol).



:mrgreen:Now onto the actual G5 Case itself..... A picture is worth a 1k words.:mrgreen:

IMG_1962.jpg
-Gutted

IMG_2004.jpg
-Mountain Mod conversion plate out of box

IMG_2009.jpg
-Seated relatively low so I wont need to cut into the top shelf where the HDD's are going

IMG_2008.jpg
-Note the power supply square which will be cut beneath the case's release latch

.....MORE TO COME.....

**UPDATE**

...MORE HAS COME....

Photo Nov 09, 12 19 42 PM.jpg
Stephan.st was right on post #4 below, but I managed with the fan install

Photo Nov 09, 12 20 39 PM.jpg
Drill into the holes so the screws fit easier. Easy fix

Screen Shot 2012-11-20 at 3.46.05 PM.jpg
Used Epoxy for metal surfaces to attach mobo backplate inside

Photo Nov 10, 11 36 50 AM.jpg
Closeup

Photo Nov 15, 10 47 00 AM.jpg
Labeled G5 front panel cable

Photo Nov 15, 2 28 27 PM.jpg
This was the FW Ground that needed to be dual split according to Figure 2 below

Photo Nov 15, 4 16 15 PM.jpg
Finished product: Post#18, thanks eelhead http://www.tonymacx86.com/case-mods/77208-g5-front-panel-quick-guide.html

Photo Nov 15, 9 59 49 PM.jpg
Pre-Layout

Photo Nov 15, 10 47 42 PM.jpg
Rear, still needs psu chassis

Photo Nov 17, 8 23 32 PM.jpg
Final setup, nothing fancy

Photo Nov 17, 8 24 17 PM.jpg
Wires out of the way

Screen Shot 2012-11-20 at 3.50.54 PM.jpg
Works better than what was previously in the G5 case:p


More...

Figure 1: G5 Front Panel Connector
PowerMacG5FrontPanel_zps3069ccac.jpg
Figure 2: No Firewire on mobo
diagrama.jpg
 
I Love the smell of now parts.:clap:

The smell of hot metal being drilled. YES O YES :thumbup:
 
Just a word of advice, I'm at exactly the same point as you right now and I cut the same way you did and I realised that I couldn't mount the 80mm fans properly on the inside ;)

My advice would be to cut like this, this is what I did to correct mine today.

Screen Shot 2012-11-13 at 21.01.07.jpg
 
Updated and finished! Might add SSD and more RAM in the future but good for now. Special thanks to eelhead for holding down various miscellaneous questions haha.

heretolearn: I love the serial killer vibe you give off lol. Gotta find another project now that I'm done, love this stuff

stephan.st: did you ever workout your fan issue?
 
THANKS very much for all the great details & esp. all the pics. I ordered my own MM tray yesterday! BUT after reading the online instructions that come with the tray/rear panel, my big question was the positioning of the rear panel & exactly what needs to be cut & where. I didn't see any sort of "template" for this; nor did I see any instructions on which holes in the back panel are the ones used to secure the panel to the back of the G5 case.

Your post answers a LOT of that for me, so again thanks very much! :headbang:

PS...just curious - what did you use to do the actual cutting? I was thinking about using either my RotoZip with the cutting wheel, or maybe my Dremel with a cutting wheel. I fear using a jig saw would lead to too many snags & grabs of the G5 case material.
 
THANKS very much for all the great details & esp. all the pics. I ordered my own MM tray yesterday! BUT after reading the online instructions that come with the tray/rear panel, my big question was the positioning of the rear panel & exactly what needs to be cut & where. I didn't see any sort of "template" for this; nor did I see any instructions on which holes in the back panel are the ones used to secure the panel to the back of the G5 case.

Your post answers a LOT of that for me, so again thanks very much! :headbang:

PS...just curious - what did you use to do the actual cutting? I was thinking about using either my RotoZip with the cutting wheel, or maybe my Dremel with a cutting wheel. I fear using a jig saw would lead to too many snags & grabs of the G5 case material.

Do you plan on keeping the HDD's up top like I did with mine or are you going to place your power supply there instead like many others?

The holes don't line up perfectly. Luckily the screws are tough enough to be screwed in after some drilling.. You will need a metal specific drill bit ($3) to make your own holes.

I found a metal cutter nearby who was willing to take a smaller job, which was difficult. If you're in SoCal send me a PM. I had it plasma cut for about $25. A Dremel should work just fine too make sure to wear safety goggles and a long sleeve shirt, sparks everywhere lol.

Whoop look at this timely post: http://www.tonymacx86.com/case-mods/77206-inserting-motherboard-tray-into-g5.html
 
PSU up top where the 2 HD bays used to be. I have 4 drives for this build, so needed more real estate.

I'm pretty confident that my Roto-Zip should do the trick on the back panel cut-out (fingers crossed!!!)

thanks, mate!

--B
 
Simply amazing!
By far the best mod I've ever seen and helped me a lot starting mine :headbang:
Thanks a lot.
 
This is not good for neither my wallet, nor my time. ;)
Your build have giving me the push and inspiration for another build. It's almost impossible to find any decent looking cases (minus Fractal Designs). The G5 case is a beautiful case, and now I simply absolutely have to build another. I'm starting to run out of excuses to the wife of why it's imperative that we must have another computer.
Keep up the great work and hope to see future builds soon.

-p
 
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