Project PCG3

[squilliam]

Hello,
I am new to these fancy forums and am in the midst of building my second mod.
My first was the standard new paint job, but this time I feel like stepping it up a notch.

I just purchased a used (Mac)G3 case and I plan on getting my (full)ATX board in there, along with 2 HDDs and at least one Disc drive.
I am in the middle of planning out where I need to cut and will need help with some situations.

My first question is that; the board I am working with, is SLI compatible. I've always had my video card in the first slot (which is orange). Would I be able to move it to the other (blue) slot? It would help quite a bit with positioning of the board if I could.

My second is; What is the best tool to cut through aluminum and plastic?

Thirdly, Has anyone ever done this before?

Thanks for your help.

[Omega]

First: I don't know. All I can say is RTFM. Most of the time that kind of stuff is in there.

Secondly: Jigsaw and a file set. Jigsaws can go through aluminum and polycarbonate with ease, then you file it until it's nice.

Thirdly: Probably, but not that I've seen.

[Drew]

Watching this thread, 'cos sticking a PC in a G3 is a cool idea.

Welcome to the mad house dude ^.^

[Ichbin]

I know him in RL. Hes a good friend of mine. Treat him nicely!

[SgtM]

I know him in RL. Hes a good friend of mine. Treat him nicely!

We usually do.

Welcome aboard squilliam. Best of luck with the mod.

[armadilloben]

Hello,
I am new to these fancy forums and am in the midst of building my second mod.
My first was the standard new paint job, but this time I feel like stepping it up a notch.

I just purchased a used (Mac)G3 case and I plan on getting my (full)ATX board in there, along with 2 HDDs and at least one Disc drive.
I am in the middle of planning out where I need to cut and will need help with some situations.

My first question is that; the board I am working with, is SLI compatible. I've always had my video card in the first slot (which is orange). Would I be able to move it to the other (blue) slot? It would help quite a bit with positioning of the board if I could.

My second is; What is the best tool to cut through aluminum and plastic?

Thirdly, Has anyone ever done this before?

Thanks for your help.

chances are that you can indeed move the graphics card into the second pcie x:16 slot but depending on what mobo you have speed of this card may decrease like for instance on my dfi motherboard i have 4 pci express slots in this format

pcie x16 slot
-------------
pcie x1 slot
----
pcie x4 slot
------
pcie x16 slot
-------------


when in normal single vga or graphics card mode the bandwith of the grphics PCIE card slots are as follows

pcie x16 slot x16 bandwidth
-------------
pcie x1 slot x1 bandwidth
----
pcie x4 slot x1 bandwidth
------
pcie x16 slot x2 bandwidth
-------------
when in sli or dual graphics card mode the bandwidth of the pcie card slots are as follows

pcie x16 slot x8 bandwidth
-------------
pcie x1 slot no bandwidth
----
pcie x4 slot x4 bandwidth
------
pcie x16 slot x8 bandwidth
-------------

so the reason why you shoudlnt use the graphics card in our second pcie x16 card slot is that in my case (i dont know what mobo model you have) my graphics card would only operate at 2x bandwidth and signifagantly decreasing the performance of the card but you can if you want to i just would not suggest it

[squilliam]

It's a 7600gt
This news makes me sad.
Are sure this is true with every SLI mobo?

[armadilloben]

ah 7600gt is what i use except i run sli this is true on many motherboards but their are pelenty of which that run dual pcie x16 bandwidth on both slots not x8 by x8 i really would like to know what mobo it is oh wait it says it in your sig (uh dur)

[armadilloben]

your motherboard handles sli with x8 by x8 bandwidth in both pcie 16 slots so its the same as what i explained before it doesnt really matter all that much i would say to go ahead and try it although id like to know why ou want to do that anyway

[Ichbin]

For the cutting Id tape the plastic bits , so you dont get as many frillys while your cutting. Makes life a lil easier when your sanding/filing. Involving positioning, why would you need to move your card? Where on the case is it ending up if you keep it in the orange?

[squilliam]

There are only 4 expansion slots and when it(mobo) is positioned
comfortably, the orange slot is covered by plastic and metal.

More of the case would have to be removed if I wanted to use the
orange slot and I would only be able to use 1 of the 3 PCI slots.

If I use the blue, I will have access to 2 of the 3 slots, where as in
the case I use now, I use all 3 slots.

:Edit: It's looking like I am gonna have to do more work than
originally planned. Since what I am using is a full ATX board,
I will have room for 1 disc drive and that will be after making
my own slot at the top of the case. This case is somewhat more
of what would be a micro ATX case.

[Ichbin]

Just liking putting a fat man in size 30s.

Squeeze man Squeeze!

With a lot of mods you have to figure out if you can put stuff in it or not. And you have to look at "Do i reallllly need this".

[DaveW]

My second is; What is the best tool to cut through aluminum and plastic?

Chainsaw ftw!

But you'll get precision cuts with a Jigsaw, like Omega says. ;)

0Dave

[squilliam]

tried the jigsaw and it was either the aluminum or my arm that was moving faster than the blade. :rolleyes:

The Dremel worked perfectly!

[Ichbin]

What cut head were you using

:pics:

[Omega]

tried the jigsaw and it was either the aluminum or my arm that was moving faster than the blade. :rolleyes:

The Dremel worked perfectly!

With a jigsaw, you gotta go slowish but you'll get less resistance than a dremel.

[squilliam]

Pics will come soon. I am in search of a camera.

[squilliam]

CAMERA AHOY!!
Mobo "Tray" closed. Almost every piece of plastic has been removed. The only pieces I haven't removed are the ones that I fear will break if I try too hard :(
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/P1010020.jpg

Tray open
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/P1010022.jpg

Tray open and a closer look. If you notice, a portion of the disc drive tray has been removed. This was done in order to make room for RAM and the power connector.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/P1010023.jpg

An even closer look at the drive tray.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/P1010025.jpg

The tray is ready for me to build the mounts atop it. I just finished drilling the screw holes. the electrical tape is to cover some of the old screw holes for what I am assuming is for the mobo, or a part of it. I didn't feel like cutting them as a Dremel is kinda killer on the hands..
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/P1010028.jpg

Anything you see that is teal will become a dark blue.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/P1010030.jpg

[Ichbin]

OOOO!!! killer idea! You should put a slash through the mac logo or something. Like the "No smoking" signs, make it a "No Mac" sign.

File your cuts will...file your cuts...

[squilliam]

So. I had a bad experience with the painting process...
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Messy3.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Messy2.jpg
couple things I did wrong.
1) I used painters tape. You know the blue tape... bad idea! It rips really easily and stuck inside the grooves of the apple.
2) I obviously didn't cover enough area to stop the paint from touching anything but the apple.
3) I didn't score it before painting. Doh!

questions
1) what tape should I use?
2)Is it a good color?
3)how do I stop bubbling on the paint when I apply the clear-coat? (I am using paint for plastic)

Extra pics:
As you can see the stand-in mobo is mounted
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update1.jpg
Dang serial sticker :mad:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update12.jpg
How's the color?
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update13.jpg
I finally have everything fitting (motherboard and attachments wise)...phew:dead:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update14.jpg
The PSU will take up the red space. Man am I happy that the new C2Ds have a shorter heatsink...
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update15.jpg
One of two places I can put the HDD (any recommendations?)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update16.jpg
My second place for the HDD
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update18.jpg

I hope that was a good enough of an update. Sorry if the pics were too much. I am more
of a visual learner/ viewer, than anything. Till next time guys...:twisted:

[chaksq]

This seems to be a cool idea, the ultimate stealthing mod. The cases seems like it would be better fit for a micro ATX board. A project I am working on might have the HD mounted on the bottom of the case. I plan on using standoffs to raise the HD slightly off the bottom to reduce heat/noise.

[squilliam]

Really wish I had the spare cash for a C2D Micro ATX mobo :(

I will be revealing another Idea of mine soon :D

:Edit:
At the bottom is an Idea I will either implement in this project or my next (all-in-one (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?p=81002#post81002))

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/update17-2.jpg

[chaksq]

Cool, internal power strips are showing up in a lot of mods lately.

[squilliam]

I found a work-around thanks to luciusad2004 (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4861).
The apples are now out of the panels. I will end up dying the frosty pieces black.
As soon as I get some time (this weekend and some of next week) I will be getting
some rubbing alcohol and I will clean it all. I will then repaint most of the teal plastic pieces.

As far as the hard drive mounting goes, I will be buying an old case and raping it of
it's hard drive mount virginity :twisted:

[squilliam]

I've learned a lot today. Main thing: Dye and I do not go together well :hurt:
A good pair of pants and a good shirt later I get two purple side panels.
I used masive amounts of water and only one package... you need one package per two cups of water... DOH! Nice how they put that part in small lettering on the inside.

I decided to give in and just spraypaint it. I am on about my 3rd to 4th layer per piece. I must admit. It is starting to look good. Pics soon to follow.

[squilliam]

I finished painting most of the pieces this morning.
After work (in about an hour or so) I will put the
pieces on and see how it looks. I may have it done
in the next week or even less.

[squilliam]

Pics!
Just before I put the beast together.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Update25.jpg
Tha side.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Update23.jpg
Put together.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Update29.jpg
Closer.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Update201.jpg
Me with my almost done case! 8)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c38/N00d13/PCG3/Update27.jpg

All I have to do now is get a mount for the hard drives (stupid computer hobby shop
closing just b4 i got there..), create the area for my disc drive, and paint the front.

[Crimson Sky]

Looks great man, I love when PC's wear the apple coat. Hack that bitch, baby!

[SgtM]

That looks great man! I'm a BIG fan of black and blue, esp being all shiney 'n stuff. +rep

[TheGreatSatan]

That looks great. +Rep for you!

[Tale Gunner]

Great Job. Love taking an that case to a higher level (LOL).

[squilliam]

Thanks guys. I shall be buying the hard drive rack today (buying an old case and ripping it out).

I wont be working on it anymore till tomorrow. I have to work for a couple hours and then write a 3 page paper due tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[progbuddy]

Great job. I have a few suggestions:

-Glowing Apple logo (or pwn the heck out of it and put a windows logo :))
-Make the apple a window (its all about the plexiglass, baby XD)
-Fans
-Fun


Caution: This may happen during modding- :hurt: Wear safety **** :D

Good luck on your first mod. +rep for great paintjobs.

[squilliam]

It's actually kinda my second, but thanks for the stuff!

[progbuddy]

It's actually kinda my second, but thanks for the stuff!

Oops. lol Just looked at your post count and started thinkin something else.

[squilliam]

Np

I went to my local computer hobby shop and they are pretty sweet.
Since I bought my case there and it didn't come with a power switch,
nor a HD rack, he went and dug me out a HD rack, and let me gut out
a different case for the power switch. I was looking through his old
cases and found a black one, which looks really cool (I'll post pics later).
I walked out of there with all that for free!

:edit: Idea! Blue Cathlode lights between the black plastic panel and the metal side.
It will look SWANK

[Ichbin]

Lol, those guys are sweet. Try and talk to adam or John, theyre the coolest of the bunch

[squilliam]

Mounting the hard drive rack today.

[squilliam]

I added my own personal touch for the power button...
you'll see when I get the time this weekend to take pics.

[squilliam]

Wow!
Has it been a while.
I've been very busy! School, work, blahh, blahh, blahh
I haven't even had time for gaming!

Well I am back... sort of. I still have school & work,but both will be moving outta my way in a couple days

[Noobkiller]

Mod featured on Pariah's Guild ^

URL can be found here
http://pariahs-guild.blogspot.com/2007/06/mods-pcg3.html

[squilliam]

After a 3 year hiatus I will be returning to this project.
It is finally time to revive my modding hobby.
I will finally have the workspace to start working on my projects again.

[jiggiwiddit]

Phewwww nice to know Im not the only one to return to projects after a big pause... good luck :up: