racerblur
Junior Member
Macs make nice pets!
Posts: 91
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Post by racerblur on Mar 19, 2008 13:08:59 GMT
Kenji and Aquamac -- Geez, that make me almost want to gut out one of my full functional Quicksilvers and make it into a Hack! =) -- Great work!!!!
Since we are talking Motherboard... especially Gigabyte.... Does anyone know if the GIGABYTE GA-945GCMX-S2 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard any good?
And what the difference between the Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2L and Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2C? Actually I can't find the Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2L in the U.S.? I looked at their website... Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2 and Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2C is listed...
Thanks again!
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kenji
Full Member
Posts: 105
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Post by kenji on Apr 11, 2008 12:55:46 GMT
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Post by aquamac on Apr 11, 2008 13:14:57 GMT
Very nice Kenji and very informative too.
The perfect solution for anyone who loves their Quicksilver case but is finding that either Leopard will not run on it as it below the 800MHz threshhold or they just want some more speed or a computer that is completely upgradable!
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Post by danielmramos on May 14, 2008 15:00:41 GMT
Hi Ritalin, Just a few things. I had to nibble a tiny bit out of the top back corner of the main chassis. But it is not noticeable when its done. I had to cut a slight angle on the motherboard at the bottom back, similar to the one on a Quicksilver board, there were no electronics around there. The graphics card fitted in the top available slot, but there was a 1x PCIe slot that is now not usable near the processor as there is no opening for it. Watch out as some boards have 2 of these small slots before the main 16x slot and that might push the second long slot to the bottom exit hole. I also lose the very bottom PCI slot on my board. Here is the layout of my board:  Aquamac, I am impressed that you were able to get a full size ATX board into a quicksilver case. Since the quicksilver and the Blue and White G3 cases are very similar do you think I would be able to fit a full size ATX motherboard into a B&W G3 case without too much fuss? I downloaded the service source manual for the B&W G3 so I am well armed. I have changed my mind about the Mac Pro case as being given a B&W G3 case for free was too good to pass up. Also, were all of those extra fans and holes in the case absolutely necessary? Is it possible to use the stock vent fan mounting system with a better fan and of course a good processor fan to keep the box cool without having to slice it up? Thanks |
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Post by aquamac on May 14, 2008 17:50:07 GMT
Hi Daniel,
The only real difference you may have with the G3 case is that you have 1 less PCI slot than the Quicksilver. Therefore you must choose your Motherboard wisely. I have actually sold the P35-DQ6 board pictured above and replaced with the Asus P5K3 Deluxe which I recon probably would be OK in the G3 case as the PCIe x16 slot is the 3 rd slot down and therefore would line up with the top Slot outlet in the G3 case. You will lose the top 2 PCIe x1 slots and the bottom PCI slot.
Actually the extra fan holes have helped me to overclock the Quad core to 3 gigs on the std fan. I would not have wanted to do that without them as it is pretty tight in there.
You will also need to work out what you want to do with the CD/DVD drive as a Std one will not let you close the side door as the drive interferes with the ram slots. Ritalins idea works nicely, he used a laptop drive. This is what I am going to do, if only I had some time!!! The bit I am not sure of is whether the laptop eject is strong enough to open the Quicksilver front drop down opening as they sort of pop out but do not continue to travel.
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Post by danielmramos on May 14, 2008 20:11:56 GMT
Doh! I'm so dense. I forgot about the difference in the number of PCI slots available in the different cases. I guess I will stick with a mATX motherboard. BTW, I read on the insanelymac forums that a 9.6" x 7.6" mATX board works better, but the ones that I have seen that fit that size really suck. Here is a thought, I know that some memory manufacturers sell sticks that are considered low profile . Do you have any idea if this would allow one to keep from hacking the CD/DVD drives? If worse comes to worse I have an external CD burner that I can use instead of an internal optical drive. Another possibility is this information that suntrace1 provided on the insanelymac forums.
NEC DVD drives are short enough and have open/close button on the same position as G3 case does. No need to buy anything special or to install slim-drives.
I asked him if that was true of all models or particular models of NEC DVD drives. I have yet to verify this information; although, if it is true it would certainly make things much easier.
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Post by aquamac on May 14, 2008 22:21:48 GMT
There is very little room between the door and the board when the door is closed, even the ram slot with no memory installed touches. You do really need a small board if you don't want to mod the DVD drive. Currently I use a Sata DVD drive which is connected via an E-Sata plate that also supplies power, so it can be used externally.
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Post by danielmramos on May 15, 2008 12:37:06 GMT
There is very little room between the door and the board when the door is closed, even the ram slot with no memory installed touches. You do really need a small board if you don't want to mod the DVD drive. Currently I use a Sata DVD drive which is connected via an E-Sata plate that also supplies power, so it can be used externally. Wow, I didn't realize that there wasn't ANY room at all with a normal optical drive installed. I looked at this website that was referenced on insanelymac.com. ichau.com:59/G4/G4openSide.htm#The guy states on that website that the optical drive should be 190mm or less otherwise the optical drive will interfere with the motherboard. I suppose that I need to take out my tape measure and check out the drive before I install it. I also checked out the specs on those short 7.6" motherboards and boy do they suck. If it is going to be worth my time I will have to use at least a regular sized mATX board to get the functionality I want. i also noted that some of the ATX power supplies that people used mounted just fine in a B&W or graphite G4 case without any external modifications. Others had to knock out or file away some of the back plastic. You wouldn't happen to know of a brand and model that works without cutting would you? I also noticed that I can buy a 400w micro ATX power supply for less than a 400w ATX power supply. Any idea if there is a difference other than size? Newegg doesn't list PS dimensions, so I can't verify exact fit. Thanks |
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Post by aquamac on May 15, 2008 21:09:37 GMT
I am still on the lookout for the right DVD drive. If I had a bit more time, I would re-make the two drive covers on the front of the Quicksilver out of polished stainless and cut a slot for a CD with a slot load laptop drive behind.
Most of the more powerful PSU's, don't seem to have the plugs in quite the right place, to avoid slight cutting. Most standard ATX PSU's do have the correct alignment to fix into position with the 3 allen head screws though on the back of the G3/G4.
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Post by danielmramos on May 16, 2008 2:12:40 GMT
The laptop drive is a good solution; however, you lose the original feel of the Mac with the drive bezels opening as they were meant to. I talked to another friend of mine that is a network engineer at the agency that I work for. He said that I would be hard pressed to find the actual optical drive dimensions listed on any site or by the manufacturer. Most places just say standard or laptop etc. I wonder if Newegg's return policy will allow me to return a drive if it doesn't work in my case. My friend, Lance, suggested I ruthlessly attack a Frys Electronics and open up their retail drive boxes and actually measure them before I purchase. I hope pulling something like that doesn't get me kicked out of the store, but I know the sales people wouldn't have a clue.
Hey, thanks for the info about the PS. I may be able to pull the PS out of a couple of spare HP boxes my friend has laying around; otherwise, I will take a traced template and check them out at a local shop before I purchase one online.
If I can get this box running really smoothly I may try and make it my main Mac errrr... hackintosh. I hope it works well. If it isn't sweet my wife is going to be pissed. But then, I would never be able to afford a Mac Pro. This is really the only way to get equivalent performance with my pocket book. Kids are expensive!
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Post by aquamac on May 16, 2008 12:06:24 GMT
Hey Daniel,
I know about expensive kids alright! I have a 14 year old lad! I could use any one of my hackies everyday and do. They are 100%. I use one at work and it gets some serious abuse but nevertheless is working fine. I have a friendly computer shop that I go to with a tape measure.
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Post by danielmramos on May 20, 2008 18:24:06 GMT
Well, I have decided that I need to make sure and keep close consideration of the price/performance ratio. If Apple offered a model such as the one I would like to build for under $900 then I would probably buy one; however, currently they are ignoring the type of customer that wants an expandable conventional type minitower that hits the sub $1000 dollar range with a quad core processor. I like the mini, but I can not justify the purchase as I need something that would allow me to replace parts easily to increase the life of the system. The iMac is a nice computer, but I have never liked all in one designs. AIO make me feel just plain stuck. I am planning for the G3 B&W hackintosh mod; however, I really want to see what Steve says at the developers conference. Personally I think that Steve doesn't give a hoot about coming out with any new products for a customer like me. Hey, I just read that Apple commands a whopping 66% of the $1000 and greater desktop market. I believe everybody else can just eat cake as far as Steve is concerned. I am going to start a new thread for B&W G3 hackintosh mods, since it seems to me to be the best case for a budget Apple branded hackintosh. I guess I can hope and dream that Steve will announce a system that I will want to buy, but I think he is gonig to keep talking iPhones and iPods until my ear falls off.
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Post by B B on Sept 26, 2008 15:48:38 GMT
hello kenji, I posted your picture on insanelymac and someone asked which coolmaster cooler you are using .  edit : I found the answer on your site. Thanks . |
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Post by HackJoe on Jan 13, 2009 1:09:07 GMT
I'd like to re-kindle a little life into this thread. My Hack pro is happy folding 24/7 and my QuickSilver is staring me in the face every day crying out to be modded... so why not. Is there a pin out (is one required) for the power button? (plus lighting) Do i need to consider certain PSU criteria? will a standard sized Hiper 550watt fit? I understand that I'll need to trim the CD Drive bay, thats fine its not going to have an optical drive.
For now i have a DS2R some spare DDR2 RAM and a Quick Silver case.. My hope is to create a simple but effectively cool & quite Quick Silver Mod for more folding...
So to you guys that have done it... share your wisdom please. What should i keep in mind?
Thanks
Joe.
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Post by HackJoe on Jan 13, 2009 1:16:47 GMT
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