Purple & green mac classic w/pc innerds

[samcat]

I had this Mac plus for a while now, waiting for me to do something to it. First I thought I would make it an Ipod jukebox but I never really got around to it. Since then I acquired a Compaq Brio slow as anything but it worked. So I decided to make a home file server. At first I tried to use an old iMac but…it defeated me, lol. So I decided to use the Brio. I love the way it turned out, but you can be the judge. I'm still treaking the innerds and side windows.

I started a blog about it: http://uberprawn.wordpress.com/ (has pics + work log) No sense posting it all hear as its there already.

Hope you guys like it so far!

--samcat

**edit**

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8103/1001815is9.jpg
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1477/1001785rc8.jpg

[jdbnsn]

Welcome to TBCS samcat,

It would be best for you to start a thread in "your mods" (if it's finished, or here if it's ongoing) as we would definately love to see your work. You will get lots more feedback if you copy your worklogs over for easy viewing. Thanks for sharing!

[samcat]

from my blog:


I had this Mac plus for a while now, waiting for me to do something to it. First I thought I would make it an Ipod jukebox but I never really got around to it. The rectangular holes in the side you see were going to be for the speakers.

Since then I acquired a Compaq Brio slow as anything, but it worked. So last night I decided to make a home file server. The motherboard was a tight fit but I used my rotary tool to grind some grooves to slide it in.

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/bvyrd.jpg

It took me some hours to grind 2 grooves deep enough to fit the motherboard. I finally got it fitted and marked out the spot that I had to cut out so the ports were exposed in the back. I then super-glued the mother board in place and mounted the cd drive and hard drive on the bottom of the case with aluminum tape (its what I had on hand).

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/djhfghjghgh.jpg

The Brio had a small 90 watt PSU and since this was only going to be a file server I thought what the heck, It’ll be plenty. To save space I used a whole tube of super glue to mount it to the back.

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/000_00511.JPG

As you can see I put the wires through the existing holes. The big bunch is going to the motherboard; the smaller bunch going underneath the wireless card is going to the cd and hard drive.
Next I cut some plexi-glass to fit the side window.

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/000_0063.jpg
http://uberprawn.wordpress.com/files/2007/03/000_0063.thumbnail.jpg
I used that aluminum tape to mount them, so I could remove them later for painting the case. Next I mounted the front window

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/000_0059.JPG

The used gum like substance in the corners is construction glue. It took a while to harden but it seems sturdy enough.
The panel now fitted

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/000_0071.JPG
http://uberprawn.wordpress.com/files/2007/03/000_0071.thumbnail.JPG

Finally it was time to power it up and see if I had fried something. I plugged everything in and all was ready and I went to turn it on…only to find that I had neglected to hook up a power switch (I had to laugh). I striped out the switch from the Brio’s old case and glued it onto the back.

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/gyjlotg.jpg
http://uberprawn.wordpress.com/files/2007/03/gyjlotg.thumbnail.jpg

Now it booted up and I proceeded to install windows 2000. I decided not to use XP because the comp is so old. During the install it asked me to name the computer and I, joking with my friend called it UBER PWNGE my friend “pointed out” that my spelling was..lacking... So I said: "forget that!", and proceeded to call it UBER PRAWN (like a shrimp). Hence the name of the project. I then proceded to find a nice prawn desktop pic. Its now file serving like a charm.

Next I plan to paint the box either neon green or purple. Jury is still out. Any-way I plan to mount a 80mm green led fan on the top (see above pic, the space to the left of the power switch). For the front window I would like a decal of a shrimp (or prawn).
This: http://www.speedysigns.com/decals/graphic_colordecal_10392.htm

**UPDATE**

Got some paint at Wal-Mart this week, white Kryon Fusion, and (very) purple regular spray paint. If you don’t already know, Kryon Fusion is paint that bonds with plastic. I masked prawn up and primed it with the white. It was dry surprisingly fast; I then lightly sanded it with fine grit sandpaper so the purple would stick better. Applying the purple I overdid it a bit…I’m currently waiting for this coat to dry so I can sand down some runs and put some more on. I’m also about to order from newegg.com a green led fan and Duel 4in. green cathode kit. So far it’s looking good.

primer:
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/primer1.jpg

purple #1

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/purple1.jpg
**Update march 12th**

Typical, of my projects I screwed up the paint. I had to pant, sand down and repaint the front panel several times.

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/sanding.jpg

Bit of a pain, and it still has some flaws but I had to stop some ware. While I was doing that I found a DVD drive and hard drive enclosure. Painted them up a bit, purple and gold respectively. They look quite hansom.

to left is my cat (-:

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/drives.jpg
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/purplesweetness.jpg
Next weekend: strip off 90w PSU and mount 500w PSU inside. I also want to mount the DVD drive so it opens out the back. The fan, lights, and other goodies should have arrived as well.

**Update march 17th**

Well as you can see, I am THE MAN! Muhahahahah! In other words I’m done (sort of). It turned out better then I ever expected! I decided to use the wire mesh instead of the plexy as to allow better ventilation. I had to paint it gold naturally. The PSU is working fine, this thing booted up right away! The fan is very quiet as well.

The pictures, sadly, don’t de it justice. The lights illuminate the case much, much better than they appear in the photos. Its sweet.
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/fannolight.jpg

http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/glory.jpg
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/back.jpg
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/innerdsfinal.jpg
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/side.jpg
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/100_1815.JPG
http://uberprawn.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/100_1785.JPG
http://uberprawn.wordpress.com/files/2007/03/100_1785.thumbnail.JPG
All comments are welcome!

P.S. sorry some pics are wonky...:neutral:

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

how about a drive door so u can actual access ur dvd drive with ease?
+rep for takin a piece of crap and makin it r0ck

[jdbnsn]

That's not half bad for a home server enclosure, I kind of like it's shape. I agree that some way of drive access is needed, and I would consider a way of blinding that view of the hardware from the front and side grills. I do like that shrimp decal idea, pretty cool!

[Canadian Eh?]

cool mod that purple is sick! +rep

[chaksq]

Good work on the mod. I have a personal attachment to those old macs so it somewhat pains me to see one cut up. It is yours however and I am glad to see it of use to you, so I won't complain.

[samcat]

Good work on the mod. I have a personal attachment to those old macs so it somewhat pains me to see one cut up. It is yours however and I am glad to see it of use to you, so I won't complain.

I know what you mean, I have always loved the old macs since I first used one at my school (quite some time ago). But Its better you use it for this than gather dust only to be trashed by some one elce.

2) I’m thinking of having the DVD go out the back so that the front “lines” wont be broken up.

[progbuddy]

I loved old Macs. I hate the annoying iMacs on up

[samcat]

To be honest I wish I had a NEW Mac I could stuff in it.
I prefer all macs to pcs (so shoot me):p

[progbuddy]

To be honest I wish I had a NEW Mac I could stuff in it.
I prefer all macs to pcs (so shoot me):p

lol. OSX is like Mac in a riced up Geo Metro. Looks cool, slow as hell, and if you crash, well... you get the idea :p.

[samcat]

Interesting analogy, I’ll have you know I’m an excellent driver!
lol, lets kill the mac vs. pc before it gets out of hand;)

[progbuddy]

Interesting analogy, I’ll have you know I’m an excellent driver!
lol, lets kill the mac vs. pc before it gets out of hand;)

XD

[luciusad2004]

Looks good and i love the color. Purple is one of my favorites.

If you looked around on Ebay you could possibly find a logic board or even an old laptop (my g3 ibook runs for around 300 ebay priceing i think. Its painfully slow though.) Im not sure how well it could fit but if you rigged up an old laptop in their it could possibly run OS X. I like what you did though.

[mikesmodshop]

I like it. Congrats...