Project Intersect

[balmer]

Hey guys first build post. Thought it would be interesting to build a kick ass little linux machine in an old Mac case. So I decided to try my hand at a Mac G5 mod. 

 

Setting this machine up as a linux desktop but overclocked to 4.6GHz with really chill temps. 20C on idle and 36-40C on load. Just been stress testing with openSSL speed test to verify my overclock.

With the noctua fans on speed controllers and the pump is PWM controlled the whole machine is really quiet. 

 

Sorry guys but I forgot to take pictures during the build but I'll add them later when I change to hard tubing, since the soft tubing is crap and leaking plasticizer.

I used Scatology's post as a great reference for building in the G5 case. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/63934-powermac-g5-mod-update-0215-page-6-104/page-2

 

Specs:

CPU - Pentium G3258

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z97-DS3H MAtx

Graphics - Nvidia Gtx 650 (with noctua 80mm redux fan since stock fan was broken)

Ram - Corsair Dominator 4GB (Upgrade to Kingston HyperX Black 8GB)

Storage - Samsung 840 120GB and WD Scorpio Black 500GB

PSU - EVGA 430W

Case - Apple Powermac G5

 

Cooling:

Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 280mm

2 x Noctua NF-P14s Redux

EK-Supremacy EVO Clear

EK X-RES 140mm

EK DDC pump w/ Heatsink

 

Mod Parts:

Custom Sleeving

Lian Li Motherboard Tray

XSPC 140mm radiator mount 

Laser Cut Parts

2.5in HDD cage

 

The Case

Side Panel Off

Acrylic hard drive case cover

Hard drive mount

Pump res mount and radiator mounting spots.

Radiator is spaced with 10mm of acrylic off the bottom of the case

Laser cut name tag

Front Panel. just led and power button connected since I don't need the USB, firewire or headphones

 

 

[AHaskin14]

Interesting GPU cooler

[DimasRMDO]

Now you can fool people :3

"Hey nice iMac bro!"

"Yeah"

 

*Opens case

 

"What?!"
"Yeah, it's not a mac >:D"

[ANewFace]

You spent double on water cooling, of what you spent on parts

[Sauron]

I think you should get a better cpu before buying a z97 motherboard and making a custom loop, but very nice nonetheless ^^

[RollinLower]

probably the mac wth the most awesome internals i've seen 'till now!

never seen that GPU cooler tough, what is it?

[Mug]

My Powermac mod looks like garbage compared to this, well done.

[EposVox]

This is amazing. You've totally inspired me to try a build like this. Thanks.

[DarkBlade2117]

You spent double on water cooling, of what you spent on parts

Assuming it's not his first water cooled rigs but if I was doing water cooling for the first time I'd get some cheap,parts, not two cheap but something where I could still use or for something like mining and folding. Something like a Pentium g3258 and GTX 750ti with some cheap z97 mobo to overclock the balls out of it ect ect... Maybe it was his first time I dunno

@OP This looks awesome

[balmer]

Thanks for the comments on my build  
This is actually my second water cooled build.

Most of the stuff was spare kit I had on hand. The case, watercooling and the Pentium were the only new parts. The GPU is a old MSI gtx 650 that had a broken fan so i zip tied on a 80mm fan.