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Powermac G4 E-ATX Conversion

MrDavid
By MrDavid
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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.

IMG_20141025_175252_zps8w8zvrfe.jpgIMG_20141016_180952_zpsreolmzxz.jpg

 

This is the G4 that will be converted.

IMG_20141025_140110_zpsfcrihr80.jpgIMG_20141025_134022_zps9umitvvt.jpg

IMG_20141025_163809_1_zpsgvnyovch.jpgIMG_20141025_163749_zpsyz6yxefj.jpg

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How are you going to fit it all in?

 

An mATX conversion is hard enough

Compatible with Windows 95

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dat passive cooler do

I know!

How are you going to fit it all in?

An mATX conversion is hard enough

I'm not sure but I know it'll be a lot of work and modding!

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I know!

I'm not sure but I know it'll be a lot of work and modding!

 

I know!

I'm not sure but I know it'll be a lot of work and modding!

does it have an atx psu slot or what type doe it have

Please follow your topics guys, it's very important! CoC F.A.Q  Please use the corresponding PC part picker link for your country USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, Italy, New Zealand and Germany

also if you find anyone with this handle in games its most likely me so say hi

 

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I'm not sure. It's likely that the PSU will go in the bottom just below the graphics card if I can make it fit. I Haven't measured anything but the side panel that the board is going on. The I/O is going to have to be recessed quite a bit

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EATX?!?!?!

 

Blimey, good luck with that.

 

I had the G3 and getting in a MATX was hard enough.

 

Really making me want to do one of these lol.

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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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.

 

IMG_20141027_203030_zpsivwe2eq3.jpg

 

It fits! And so it will sits!

 

IMG_20141027_200925_zpsqukmupbj.jpg

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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.

 

 

 

 

IMG_20141030_213518_zpsjft0bxge.jpgIMG_20141030_214555_zpsfzxfg5k4.jpg

IMG_20141030_234556_zpsyefgewir.jpg

IMG_20141030_235942_zpshmye5wgj.jpg

IMG_20141030_235948_zpsivmcqksc.jpg

IMG_20141030_235920_zpsqz4xljs7.jpg

IMG_20141030_235915_zpsu8balvtd.jpg

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Huh, i'm impressed.

Gonna work on cleaning up dat back? :P

Specs: 4790k | Asus Z-97 Pro Wifi | MX100 512GB SSD | NZXT H440 Plastidipped Black | Dark Rock 3 CPU Cooler | MSI 290x Lightning | EVGA 850 G2 | 3x Noctua Industrial NF-F12's

Bought a powermac G5, expect a mod log sometime in 2015

Corsair is overrated, and Anime is ruined by the people who watch it

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Huh, i'm impressed.

Gonna work on cleaning up dat back? :P

 

Yes, I have to get the motherboard standoffs in and figure out how to layout the rest of the hardware, then I am going to smooth the cuts, clean the case and paint it. Not sure what colour though.

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Huh, i'm impressed.

Gonna work on cleaning up dat back? :P

you've changed your pic again, also I dislike corsair too. Yay we can finally relate

Also looking great op that motherboard is huge compare to my m atx :o and it sure is gonna be a tight fit. Good job you've only got 1 gpu

Steve

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wow, ambitious!

 

i wonder how thermals will be when the system is under load, g4 conversions tend to run a bit hot...

#killedmywife #howtomakebombs #vgamasterrace

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I am going for a full mesh front and an H100i for the CPU. I plan on having a lot of air flowing through it from front to back.

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