• AppleCentral Network:
  • Tech Support
  • |
  • Open Source
  • |
  • Apple News
  • |
  • Register Domains
  • |
  • SSL Certificates
  • |
  • iPod Deals
  • |
  • Mac Deals
  • |
  • Mac Book Shelf
  • AppleCentral Home
  • MacTech Magazine
    • About MacTech in Print
    • Issue Table of Contents
    • Subscribe
    • Risk Free Sample
    • Back Issues
    • MacTech DVD
    • MacTech Archives
    • MacTech Print Archives
    • MacMod
    • MacTutor
    • FrameWorks
    • develop
  • MacNews.com
    • MacNews News
    • Blog
    • MacTech Reviews and KoolTools
    • Whitepapers, Screencasts, Videos and Books
    • News Scanner
    • Rumors Scanner
    • Documentation Scanner
  • Apple Expo
    • by Category
    • by Company
    • by Product
  • MacForge.net
  • Job Board
  • Advertising
    • Benefits of MacTech
    • Mechanicals and Submission
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • Submit Apple Expo Entry
  • User
    • Register for Ongoing Raffles
    • Register new user
    • Edit User Settings
    • Logout
  • Contact
    • Customer Service
    • Webmaster Feedback
    • Submit News or PR
    • Suggest an article
  • Connect Tools
    • MacTech Live Podcast
    • RSS Feeds
    • Twitter
You are not logged in. [Log In] AppleCentral » Forums » Mods and Hacks » Desktop Mods » Case Mods » New Cases
Register User    Forum List        Active Topics    FAQ
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
Hop to:
#455216 - 06/06/04 05:39 AM New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
MarMightyGood Offline


Registered: 05/31/04
Posts: 20
Have many people out there taken the parts out of their macs and put them in entirely different cases? Maybe ATX cases? It would be cool to hear about experiences doing this, especially if you've morphed several macs in to one franken-mac.

Top
#455217 - 06/06/04 06:16 AM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
mark Offline


Registered: 05/30/04
Posts: 69
Anything in specific you want to hear? I've done in a couple times in different ways. Part swapping is ridiculously easy.I've got macs where the only Apple part is the motherboard and its supporting electronics. Most High end PC servers from the mid 90s share parts with macs (50 pin scsi, RAM on occasion) More recent systems (G3's and later) use almost the exact same hardware. I'm typing this message on a system where the only part Apple created is the motherboard and a personality card. Everything else was retail, eBay, or scavenged from a PC graveyard I have access to.

PSUs tend to use the same voltages, so at worst you need create an adapter harness, drives all use the same standards (ATA or SCSI), Firewire and USB are set international standards. Anymore even RAM is fairly compatible. You'll hit driver issues on expansion cards and the occasional device but even those aren't so bad anymore. Many video cards can be flashed to work with a Mac.

Cases create problems but some boards like the Beige G3 MLB comply with set standards (Mini-ATX) Even on those that don't some sheet plastic, zip ties and a set of needle files can make it extremely easy to mod a Mac into a PC case. If thats what you're looking for, try XLR8yourmac for some write-ups (both for converting ATX PSUs to mac boards and for putting mac boards into PC cases)

Top
#455218 - 06/06/04 07:18 AM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
scottk Offline


Registered: 06/05/04
Posts: 90
I"ve seen people at my work put old mac parts in PC cases. I never understand the fascination.

Top
#455219 - 06/09/04 08:31 AM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
Anonymous
Unregistered


I agree. I'm not sure what the point would be, besides just for the hell of it. Now I could see some reasoning if one were to try and build their own dual processor or dual logic board macine. Or maybe an extreme media machine with more crammed in it than can fit in a normal case.

Top
#455220 - 06/09/04 03:31 PM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
mark Offline


Registered: 05/30/04
Posts: 69
You can take it into a PC shop and watch them scratch their heads, at least as long as you can keep yourself from LOLing

Top
#455221 - 06/09/04 03:36 PM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
oojacoboo Offline


Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 1468
LOL!! That would be hilarious! Yea, I am not sure why you would want to do this unless it is a really old mac and you want to make it look newer. I am sure that taking the parts from an old mac and putting them in a case is fairly easy. However, if anyone out there has done this would you mind posting a mod guide for our members. As easy as it may be for one, it may be difficult for another. This would be really great.
_________________________
"Fix it 'til it Breaks."

Jacob - EiC & Director of Technology
Mac Pro Quad 2.66 - 4GB RAM
160 GB SATA RAID 1 - 650 GB Storage
Quad 19" Widescreen LCDs
Accessorized to the Hilt

Top
#455222 - 06/09/04 09:50 PM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
DaleCo2k Offline


Registered: 06/06/04
Posts: 28
Dont worry about porting into an ATX case. go for building a clear case out of Acrylic. Those are SWEET!! and I've never seen a mac one.... hmm I feel a summer project coming on hehe.

Top
#455223 - 06/09/04 09:53 PM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
krusher117 Offline


Registered: 05/30/04
Posts: 1016
:y32b4: pyramac

Post edited by: krusher117, at: 2004/06/09 17:54

Top
#455224 - 06/09/04 10:32 PM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
MarMightyGood Offline


Registered: 05/31/04
Posts: 20
The reason I started this thread was that I have come across some very cool plexi custom builds from the PC side of things and was wondering how you'd do this with a mac.

Check out http://www.bit-tech.net/article/114/ to see what I mean.

The problem might be in acquiring the components, which for me isn't going to mean pulling them out of a working mac (why ruin it?). So it might mean hanging around like a vulture for a dead G3 or something that I can meld with another dead one(dead for different reasons obviously).

As for why bother? Because I can.

Top
#455225 - 06/10/04 01:20 PM Re:New Cases [Re: MattMac112]
GadgetDon Offline


Registered: 06/07/04
Posts: 1
I did a project called Ebony and Ivory, just submitted it, where I put a Mac and a PC in one custom built case. Problem with later models is that the case is designed to be an integral part of the cooling system. I tried using a 1 GHz G4 PowerMac, wound up killing the motherboard. Same with an eMac. Finally got an older Gigabit ethernet PowerMac with a 1.4 GHz upgrade board.

You can see the whole build story at http://www.domesticatedarcades.com/ebonyivory2

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Previous Topic
View All Topics Index
Next Topic

Tweet

Preview

Moderator:  Acumowchek 
Print Topic
Switch to Threaded Mode
Publications, Articles and Industry Discussion
   »MacTech/MacNews Article Discussions
   »Apple World
Marketplace
   »Deals and Special Offers
      »Expired Offers
   »Trading Warehouse
Mac
   »Hardware
   »Software
   »Servers, Security, and Networking
   »Programming, Web Dev & Scripting
   »Windows and Virtualization
   »Cloud and Online Services
Mobile Technologies
   »iPhone Apps, AppStore, and iTunes
   »iPad, iPhone, iPod and Apple TV Hardware
Mods and Hacks
   »General Mods
      »Techniques
      »Miscellaneous
      »Mod Logs
   »Laptop Mods
      »Case Mods
      »Hardware Mods
      »Misc. Mods
   »Desktop Mods
      »Case Mods
      »Hardware Mods
      »Misc. Mods
   »Peripheral Mods
      »iPod Mods
      »Misc Mods
   »Software Hacks & Mods
General Discussion
   »Site Feedback & Issues
   »Stan's Lounge
   »Soapbox
Now Software Support
   »Announcements
   »Now X
      »FAQs
      »Discussion
   »Now Up-to-Date & Contact
      »Community Help
      »Tips and tricks
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
View homepage
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
View homepage
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
Board Rules · Mark all read
Contact Us · AppleCentral · Top

MacTech Only Search:
Community Search:

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
  • SPREAD THE WORD:
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine
  • Generate a short URL for this page:



AppleCentral. www.applecentral.com
Main office: 805-494-9797
Xplain's use of MacNews, AppleCentral and AppleExpo are not affiliated with Apple, Inc. MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. AppleCentral, MacNews, Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corp. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corp. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders.
All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.
Generated in 0.037 seconds in which 0.025 seconds were spent on a total of 14 queries. Zlib compression enabled.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.5.8