Project: Citrus G5

I'm building a HTPC. Im not sure what i want my project name to be but Bad Apple or Rotten Apple seems appealing to me since i will be using an Apple G5 case for an IMB clone. Im still debating the operating system but i'll probly go with Linux MCE.

[edit] name changed to Citrus G5!

The initial parts list:
Proc: AMD Athalon X2 4200+
Mobo: Biostar TA690GAM2 (one of the best htpc mobo's)
Ram: 2Gb Kingston HyperX pc2-6400
HDD: 20Gb Fujitsu IDE (i will upgrade this later)
PSU: Dont have one yet but i'll probly get a 300-400watt generic
CD: Sub standard 40x cd reader ( i will upgrade this to a LiteOn dvd-RW later on)

I managed to get this case from someone on thies forums a long time ago. I cant remember who but if they are still around, speak up plz. It was in a flood and the internals were damaged so i bought the case. I need to get some batteries for my cammera but i have two old pics on photo bucket.

Possible Layout:

Fan mod & I/O problem:

There are some problems i face with this build.
#1 Mounting the mobo. The mobo tray is also the exterior of the case so protruding stand off's are unacceptable. I'm thinking that i'll have to epoxy plastic stand off's to the mobo tray.

#2 The I/O area on the back of the case. What im thinking here is to cut a rectangular hole and put an aluminum plate moulding over it to cover any mistakes. I wont be able to use the I/O plate as the mobo will be resesed compared to the back of the case. It will be a big hole around all the connectors but im looking into ways to make this better.

#3 Painting. This will be a challange, the case cannot be dissassembled. I think i'll leave the center perforated strip its normal color and paint just the exterior wrap around aluminum shell. I think black & silver will give a nice contrast. I havent decided wether or not to put back the apple logo. It might be cool to have a decal of a rotting apple or possible calvin pissing on the apple logo.

I havent desided if i want to install a 3.5" rack to hold 2 HDD's or build the case for a single drive.

As for the PSU... If i can get one with a fan of the top or bottom (depending which way its orientated) i'll place it so the intake is pointed towards the front of the case and the exhaust is pointed down and out of the case. If i do this, i'll have to mod the psu. I'll remove the power plug and soldier in a power cord so i can redirect the cord out the back of the case.

I have some other mods in mind too. I'll be adding USB ports to the front bottom of the left side of the case. I need to add a power & reset button to the front of the case aswell. I hope to get somthing cool like a Vandal switch but im not holding my breath for a $20 switch. I'm adding a window to the removable side pannel which i've allready gave it a rough cut.

Later, i want to install an Imon Ultra Bay to the front of the case for the look and functionallity of a true HTPC.

if you dont have a need for all the back ports on your biostar, you could probably find some port extenders and mount the ones you want on the origional i/o panel, then just grab an old graphics card pci slot cover (if you have one) and wire up the vga out to that

:pics:

*Edit: MORE pics.*

:pics:

Ditto.

For the sake of pete! Tomorrow guys, i'll take a bunch of pics of the empty case since i havent got my hardware yet.

Oh, my brother is going to bring me some metal files tomorrow so i can touch up and finish the window that im putting in. I talked with Tybrenis the plexi guru and he reassured me and gave some helpfull tips for flush mounting the window in the thick aluminum panel. Its a good thing i have an abundance of plexi to play around with incase i get the forming temps wrong.

Well my hardware is ready to be picked up which i'll do on my way home from work tomorrow.

Here are some pics of the case.

This one shows the window i'll be putting in it.

Here i'll have to come back and touch this up with a file. My brother was supposed to get me some today but his lazy arse forgot!

This is how i plan to mount the PSU.

This is the front with a half assed overlay of the proposed Imon Ultra Bay and the location of the power / reset switches.

And this is a consept paint scheme, i might change it up a bit but it looks pretty cool now that i can "see" it.

I'll upload some pics of the hardware when i get it home tomorrow.

Nice work so far dude! I've always liked these cases, but despise macs. +rep

Heh heh I have always thought about taking an apple case and windowsing. This should be cool, rep.

I sold one of those cases to someone on the forums about a year and a half ago I think.... If it was full of dried mud, then that's the one lol.

Dude, your the man! Yeah that was i who bought your case. Under the nick CanaBalistic.

I got the hardware i order'd in today. My lazy ass good for nothing brother hasnt brought me any files. He offered to take the side pannel into work today and trim it up for me but he didnt do that either. Familly, cant live with them, go to jail if you kill them.

Here's the new hardware

And a quick mock up of the mobo, i used stand off's to hold the board at the correct hight and used an network card to allign the pci slots.

I think im going to try forming the window with some scrap stuff i have laying around to get a general idea of the temps and techniques.

I'm also thinking of changing the paint. Slytherock is doing another apple case and he had a georgous orange picked out but he desided to go with black insted. I want to be unique so i think i should go with an orange/silver scheme. It fits in with the colors of the mobo too. I also have some orange plexi that i can use for the window.