I have a G4 Graphite Mac with a DVD rom and a vacant bay which upon close examination seems to only accommodate space for a ZIP drive. I wanted to add a DVD burner in the area the ZIP drive bay. Has anyone done such a modification. Regards, Graeme

The zip bay will accomodate a 3.5 inch drive, however it is possible to dremel the aluminum and create a support structure inside to house a 5.25" drive. I have run a hard drive in that slot before (note to self, next time don't fry the drive by not ventilating properly). The extra power and IDE cable is all set up for you. All you need to do is make room. It's very simple, but I haven't seen it done. You may be the first. Can you take pics and make it a guide for others?

Post edited by: krusher117, at: 2004/10/27 23:15

I know I'v seen a mod for this, though after 40 minutes of scouring, I could not come up with it. But using Dremel tool to the metal, dropping a couple pieces of threaded metal down from the top bracket, making sure that they are tight will do the trick. The issue is with the plastic.

With the plastic front cover, you would need to use the Dremel at a slow speed to cut, use fine grade sand paper around the edges. You will not have a nice looking faceplate, unless you can get another plate from eBay or a fellow G4 tower, which could be butchered (a shame, I know). You could then cut that face down to fit where the open slot is, glue it, and you would have a flush faceplate. I would imagine that would work for you.

I can't think of anything else to add. Krusher, you have any suggestions on the plastics that I may have missed, or dropping the metal supports in?

I think the mod will be easy to do. Making it look good may be another story. When I had to cut a shape, I used a drill bit in my Dremel. Do they make a sideways cutting tip? I dont recommend using a drill bit because it will look terrible.

The answer is that you can't.
Take a look at where your RAM is on the board, when the case is shut. There is not enough clearance for a larger bay. Even if you were to dremel a bigger hole, and make a new mount, you wouldn't be able to have any RAM installed, and have the case shut. That is, unless you came up with some sort of crazy scheme to move the RAM (far easier said than done, I don't expect to see it ) :P

Hi. Thanks. It doesn't look impossible but I'd have to be careful not to butcher it. Creating new mountings for both DVD drives would be an issue. Graeme

I repeat....

Try gluing on a piece of cardboard to expand the width to that which it would be when a full size drive is there. Close the case. You prubably will experience difficulties closing it. When you open it, if you closed it fully, you will find your cardboard is all out of place. If you put wet red paint on it, you would find your RAM covered in red paint.

Don't bother cutting. It won't work.

Hi TutanGeek. I had a look and my RAM actually goes above the top DVD Drive however, I see your point as making the bottom (ZIP) bay larger is impossible because it is the heat sink for the accelerator that actually butts against the lower bay. You are right ...it is impossible......Drat.

Many thanks Graeme

On the older, original, G4 towers the ram was centered in the case, and at the top so it goes above the top bay. And on the Graphites I could have sworn they were in the same position, whereas the newer cheese grater G4's had their RAM placed beside the heatsink. If you could send a pic of what your talking about Tutan, I'd appreciate it, but having a hard time visualizing it, since the RAM would hit the original optical drive if it were that low.

I sold it. It's possible that it was the heatsink. Whatever it was, it would still be impossible.