Disclaimer: Do not try this at home. This is by no means a guide. The author of this commentary is by all means not liable for any damages or injury that may occur if the same procedures/modifications are followed. -idiocyinc
Overview
1. In the picture you can see the optical drive (DVD Writer), large video
card (ATI), the strange position of the Power Supply unit. How many
independent fans can you see? Answer. 4. (not counting 2 inside the
PS)
2. DVD-Writer @ left. This optical drive must be less than typical sizes. The one you see here is a Lite-on DVD writer +/-, 4x. Length is 6.69" versus your more typical 7.8" lengths. You must use 6.69" or less since typical sized ones bang against the Video card on the mobo (motherboard).
Below the optical drive is the HDD Housing which has a sliding rail on the ceiling of the housing where the hdd cage (holding 2 hdds) slides into.
3. Asus Micro-atx board. Normal items are visible: Intel P4 chip, ATI Video Card, Hauppauge PVR card, Ultra ATA Card. Observe the black case fan.
4. Another angle of mobo. Observe the left corner screw. Its tightly fit. Underneath the screw is a screw mount, the cheap newer kinds that are rectangular and can squeeze into all sorts of holes. The original mac mobo screw layout varied from the micro-atx design, so I had to drill some new holes.
6. Observe that the door is what holds the mobo. The door is made of 3 layers. 1 metal internal + 1 metal external/case+ 1 plastic skin. The case skin is removable with hex screw drivers and the metal case is connected to its inner sheet by rivets which can be removed with a drill.
Observe another black case fan. Both fans are attached by 3m double sided tape.
7. Note the P/S is in an akward place. The original Apple G4 PS for this case is "different." Its skinny and longer. Well, I didn't want to buy an apple P.S. and rerig the wiring to connect with an ATX motherboard. So, I squeezed this ps into the spot where the former belonged. It doesn't move all the way flush with the rear of the PC, so I opened the PS and relocated the female Power Plug to the case. you can see the switch and what I'm guessing is some kind of capacitor (spool of wire next to yellow rectangle). don't touch that . I accidentally glanced it while the Power Supply was plugged in. It hurt. I screamed. Neighbors checked in to see if I was okay. When the PS, is not plugged in, after 5 seconds it should be okay to touch.
8. Observe, the optical drive. Originally MAC has an optical cage, but its too big. On closing the case door, it will either hit the video card or the P4 fan. I removed the cage and double-side taped it to the top of the HDD housing. Its now taped down on the corners with duct tape too. What you can't really see in this pic is that there is also a ramp right below the front of the drive so it matches the Mirror Drive Door. Without the ramp, the drive would hit the case face and not be able to open.
Underneath the optical drive is the hdd cage. Behind the housing is a rather large Apple fan. It cools the hdd by pushing air away from the hdd's.
10. Mirror Drive Doors. Top Drive cannot be used. It would hit the motherboard or another component. Note the 4 holes that allow air into the case.
11. Mobo is held up from case with plastic stand ups and screw mounts. See diagram.
Only 2 screws are mounted because not all the 4 holes i drilled could fit the mobo at the same time. Plastic standups hold the mobo everywhere else.
12. Open Panel in rear. The original back panel of the mac did not fit the atx style, so I had to unrivet the whole back component. When you close the case the PS/2 sockets are covered. No plb, I use USB keyboard and mouse.
You can see the plastic standoffs in the follwing 2 pics
In this last pic, you can see the hdd cage inside the hdd housing
Summary
last updated: jan. 26, 2004 by idiocyinc