PowerMac G5 case mod preparation

[DrMacintosh]

This is a guide to disassemble* a 2005 Apple PowerMac G5. The main reason I am doing this is to mod the chassis to support ATX components so I can transfer my components into this classic case. This guide is preparing my G5 to receive a kit from The Lazer Hive which will allow me to install my current rigs Motherboard, GPU, and 120mm radiator. 

 

Tools you will need: 4mm 9” Ball-Hex screw driver, 3mm Hex screw driver,  T-10 screwdriver, T-8 screwdriver, PH 1 screwdriver, #0 Jewelers Phillips head Screw Driver, 9/32nd- inch nut driver**, 1/4th- inch nut driver**, flathead screw driver (any size or length), pliers

 

This teardown does not include instructions for HDD removal as my G5 had none, this teardown also does not include many visuals as to how to remove the top shelf.

** In the absence of nut-drivers you may use pliers to remove select nuts and screws, especially if you strip them (like I did about 3 times)

 

1. Lay your Mac on its side such that the side panel is facing toward you
2. Open the latch at the rear                                      
3. Remove the side panel
4. Remove the plastic air guard                                 
5. Remove the front fan assembly by pulling directly up on it and the tab
6. Disconnect the front speaker and fan assembly cables
7. Remove the front speaker and fan assembly by pulling directly up on it
8. Remove the plastic dowel and pin keeping the G5 shroud in place
9. Pull the G5 shroud horizontally to the left and lift up to remove it
10. Remove the air guide directing air over the CPU heat sync
11. Disconnect the rear fan header                                 
12. Unscrew the GPU PCIe bracket screw                     
13. Unlock the GPU from the PCIe slot and remove the GPU by pulling directly up
14. Apply pressure to the two tabs on the rear fan assembly and remove it by pulling directly up
15. Remove the screws securing the GPU support bracket and remove it by pulling up (mind the tabs)
16. Remove the screws securing the PCIe divider to the chassis and the logic board
17. Remove the PCIe divider by pulling up after the screws have been removed
18. Remove the RAM by releasing the locks on the modules
19. Remove the 8 3mm Hex screws from the heat sync assembly
20. Remove the dual Philips head screws                     
21. Use the 4mm 9” Ball-Hex screw driver to remove the captive screws in the heat sync
22. Remove the heat sync                                                                                                            
23. Lift the metal bracket for the front fan assembly    
24. Release the clips on the back of the metal bracket and remove the fan cable
25. Remove the fan header from the Motherboard        
26. Remove the screws securing the front panel board to the Motherboard
27. Pull back and away on the front panel board to free it from the chassis
28. Remove all connections from the Motherboard      
29. Use the T8 screws to unscrew the leads from the PSU
30. Undo the sudo-standoffs the CPU heat sync used
31. Use the #0 Philips head to unscrew the 9 screws securing the rear fan grill to the chassis
32. Remove the grill assembly                                     
33. You can now lift up the Motherboard, remove it from the chassis
34. Unscrew the two screws securing the PSU shroud and remove the shroud
35. Remove the 4 T10 screws on the bottom of the chassis securing the PSU
36. Remove this standoff to enable removal of the PSU
37. Remove this nut to allow removal of the plastic liner in the chassis
38. Remove the 5 screws securing the fan and HDD caddy to the shelf of the chassis
39. Unlatch the optical drive and remove it by simply pulling up
40. Remove all the 3mm Hex screws from the top shelf
41. Remove the C-clip and push remove the pin holding the latch mechanism in place
42. Remove the latch mechanism
43. Unscrew the T8 screws on the back side of the shelf and remove the shelf
44. Remove the bottom HDD caddy, mind the PCB.  
45. Remove the two screws securing this fan in place
46. Remove the 7 screws securing the top HDD caddy to the chassis
47. Unravel the WiFi antenna from around the lip of the chassis
48. Remove the 3 screws securing the antenna assembly and use a flathead screw driver to pry the back from the chassis
49. Unscrew the 15 T8 screws                                     
50. Success!                                                                  

After all this I still cannot decide on where to put my PSU. I can put it in the front, in the shelf, or I can cut the bottom shroud and plop in there……..

[Rosinbole]

You could reuse the PSU already in the PC... That is if it can supply enough power  If the cables are all funky colored you can also sleeve them for quite cheap and get a killer result!

[DrMacintosh]

1 minute ago, matias_a_etersen said:

You could reuse the PSU already in the PC... That is if it can supply enough power  If the cables are all funky colored you can also sleeve them for quite cheap and get a killer result!

They defienlty aren’t standard. Step 29 shows this things equivalent of a 28pin connector. 

[Rosinbole]

2 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

They defienlty aren’t standard. Step 29 shows this things equivalent of a 28pin connector. 

I see... That'll be somewhat of a pain in the ass to sort out how to hook all of the pins up to the right connectors... It still shouldn't be that hard tough... You do you! I'd give it a try

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, matias_a_etersen said:

I see... That'll be somewhat of a pain in the ass to sort out how to hook all of the pins up to the right connectors... It still shouldn't be that hard tough... You do you! I'd give it a try

Even if it was possible, that PSU is from 2005, and I don’t think it could power my system anyway under load  

[mrchow19910319]

Wow... you realllllyyy love apple's stuff dont you... otherwise you wont provide such a detailed explanation of how to do all these steps.

 

Thanks for the quality post! 

 

 

[mrchow19910319]

This kind of post will blow up in forum like tonymac86 

here? nah.... 

[captain_to_fire]

Nice! 

[DrMacintosh]

Yeah not to many people here care about the Mac. Even a Mac like this which was essentially a normal PC at the time. 

 

 

[Anaconda101]

If you take the guts out of the stock power supply you can put the guts of a modern one right inside with a little standoff modification and some soldering to use the original power plug.   

[DrMacintosh]

4 hours ago, Anaconda101 said:

If you take the guts out of the stock power supply you can put the guts of a modern one right inside with a little standoff modification and some soldering to use the original power plug.   

Which I am not willing to do lol 

[MagicWok]

Excellent detail - have been musing to do my own attempt at this for some fun.

 

Made an account just to say thanks, and look forward to more updates and see what you put in there - also your feedback on The Laser Hive kit.

[Anaconda101]

14 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

Which I am not willing to do lol 

Fair enough. Thank you though for posting such a detailed guide. Even IFixit's guide is less detailed than this. 

 

The laser hive has a kit that has a power supply mount built in. Though I'm not sure how original you are going for. 

 

[DrMacintosh]

1 hour ago, MagicWok said:

also your feedback on The Laser Hive kit.

It’s a nice little kit. Mine arrived two days ago.

 

The seller emails you a guide on pretty much everything you need to do and the kit has everything that you need. 

 

I wont be able to comment more on how I like it until after it’s built but everyone else seems to like the LazerHives stuff pretty well. My only complaint is how expensive it was T.T 

 

Its ok tho, it’s all for the aesthetic. 

[DrMacintosh]

1 hour ago, MagicWok said:

have been musing to do my own attempt at this for some fun.

If you do ask if you need help removing the top shelf, I wasn’t too clear in my guide I think. I was so caught up figuring out how to get it out that I forgot to take some pics of it. 

[DrMacintosh]

2 hours ago, Anaconda101 said:

The laser hive has a kit that has a power supply mount built in. Though I'm not sure how original you are going for. 

I considered the PSU bracket modle but decided against it because it would require me to cut out the drive caddy in the top shelf. 

 

 

[Guest]

Torx screws really are the best 

[Bananasplit_00]

heh bit of a necro but i got a Powermac G5 + kit from a guy who was going to throw it away but i 1: cant figure out what kit i have because it dosent seem to match any of the laserhive kits 2: how to mount the kit in the case, i assume i have to cut like 80% of the back off with a dremmel but i have all these mounts and stuff in a bag idfk what to do with and the dude only left two mobo standoffs in the screws bag

 

got anything? have you finished it and how was the install of your kit? for the PSU mount im putting it right in the middle of the floor with some tape and an extention to plug it in at the back because i dont have a PSU bracket in my kit

[Zando_]

Wait... they sell kits? To convert a PowerMac G5 to an ATX case?

 

 

now I just need to settle ripping out the perfectly functioning internals of my piece of Apple history with my conscience...

[DrMacintosh]

52 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

heh bit of a necro but i got a Powermac G5 + kit from a guy who was going to throw it away but i 1: cant figure out what kit i have because it dosent seem to match any of the laserhive kits 2: how to mount the kit in the case, i assume i have to cut like 80% of the back off with a dremmel but i have all these mounts and stuff in a bag idfk what to do with and the dude only left two mobo standoffs in the screws bag

 

got anything? have you finished it and how was the install of your kit? for the PSU mount im putting it right in the middle of the floor with some tape and an extention to plug it in at the back because i dont have a PSU bracket in my kit

I have a build log here

[DrMacintosh]

40 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

Wait... they sell kits? To convert a PowerMac G5 to an ATX case?

 

 

now I just need to settle ripping out the perfectly functioning internals of my piece of Apple history with my conscience...

Yes, and you should do it

 

[Zando_]

Just now, DrMacintosh said:

Yes, and you should do it

 

heck yee. Just what do I do with the internals? They're in perfect condition and I'd hate to throw them away. 

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, Zando Bob said:

heck yee. Just what do I do with the internals? They're in perfect condition and I'd hate to throw them away. 

Yeah, I have a working G5 Quad Air cooled mobo and CPU just laying around. I've considered selling them on eBay or something. idk