The Real PowerMac - (56k Warning)

I just finished my new PC build, and I think it's a system that some of you may actually like.















Specs:

Apple PowerMac G5 Case
Zippy H1H-6500P 500w PSU
Asus K8N-DL nForce 4 Professional Motherboard
Dual AMD Opteron 275's (2.2Ghz - Dual Core - 4 Cores Total)
2048MB Corsiar XMS PC3200 REG ECC CAS2-3-2-6 1T (NUMA Enabled - 12.8GB/sec)
ATI Radeon X1900XTX 512MB
Sound Blaster x-Fi Fatal1ty
150GB Western Digital Raptor 10000rpm 16MB Cache SATA
250GB Western Digital 7200rpm 16MB Cache
LiteOn 16X Dual Layer DVD-RW

Apple Keyboard
Logitech MX1000 Mouse
Logitech Z-5500 5.1 Speakers (520w RMS)
Dell 2405fpw 24" LCD 1920x1200

It took me about two weeks to get it all put together. It's nice to have a system with the style of a Mac, and the Power of a PC. It's also quieter than my Dual 2.5Ghz G5 was so that's a big plus. While I see Windows XP as a benifit, most would disagree, but as a gamer it's the only option.

gasp!

You heretic! May the fanboys burn you at the stake! hahaha... well done. Looks better than any PC I've seen

BTW - what'd you do with the guts of the G5? Or did you just purchase the case?

It's so beautiful. *single tear*

Now get that thing to dual boot OS X and we're in business for non-gaming stuff.

Out of curiosity, how much did the whole set-up cost you to build?

The system costed me around $2,605. High end systems are significantly cheaper in the PC world. The case was bought on eBay for $140, but I sold the fans, power supply, air baffle and wiring on eBay to get some of my money back, so the case ended up running me closer to $80.

Very nice build. I have been tempted to build a similar single processor rig with the G5 case but can't seem to fork over the money. Seems very well put together.

Avid6eek said:

The system costed me around $2,605. High end systems are significantly cheaper in the PC world. The case was bought on eBay for $140, but I sold the fans, power supply, air baffle and wiring on eBay to get some of my money back, so the case ended up running me closer to $80.

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I only started using a Mac in August, and a large factor in risking the switch was the fact that it was a laptop, not a desktop. I'm WELL aware of the wonders of building stuff yourself in the PC world, lol. Hm, at that price point... I just may be tempted to do something like this later on. I'll have to bookmark this thread. Well met, dude.

Very nice, may I suggest some air flow channelling here and here.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6018/powerpc29copy1gu.jpg

also, what's the little red button on the back?

looks good just get the thing running os x and you will love it.

Really nice work. Given me a few ideas now. My wifes gonna kill me but heck,too tempting. :dummy:

I am impressed, and it has alot of power too.. now all you need to do is put that thing our folding team. Link in my sig.

well done.

Very good job. How is that Radeon X1900??

Looks good.

I've been toying with the idea of maybe going the other way and popping a Mac Quad into mountain mods' UFO-2 cube case at some point in the future.

Mainly to accomodate a hefty SATA RAID setup 'cause the G5 case looks too cool to change.

But that's way, way in the future.

bfx

How would you go about getting the quad G5 in another case?

dtravis7 said:

Very good job. How is that Radeon X1900??

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The X1900 is a great video card. I ordered it the day they were released and have been messing around with it for quite a while. Nice upgrade from my 7800GTX.

Haha you stole my idea, complete with 2405fpw, dual-core Opterons, and the Raptor 150 Awesome job and congrats on the completion of a sweet project!

kaidomac said:

Haha you stole my idea, complete with 2405fpw, dual-core Opterons, and the Raptor 150 Awesome job and congrats on the completion of a sweet project!

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Thanks. I'm hoping the Intel PowerMac's come with a new case design so I have something more up to date to mod for my next rig.

Avid6eek said:

Thanks. I'm hoping the Intel PowerMac's come with a new case design so I have something more up to date to mod for my next rig.

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Yeah, that would be fun! I broke the bank with my last purchase, a 20" iMac Core Duo for my wife with .Mac, Office, iWork, etc., etc., etc. No more projects for me for a loooong time lol. She just got it for her birthday last night and has been glued to it all night (we watched "Holes" on it) and all this morning. Already set up mail, iTunes, her website, etc. That PhotoBooth thing is way fun.

You know, you should try running that OS X x86 crack on your dual DC Operton once they get it optimized...it'd be neat to see how it compares to the quad G5, heh.

That looks awesome. The whole thing ran you $2600? Why?!

Wow, that's a ton better than the PC I built. On the other hand mine only ran me 700 dollars... but really, mad props.

OT - sorry

PowerBookG4 said:

How would you go about getting the quad G5 in another case?

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Just something I'm kicking around. Haven't had a look at the Quad internals so don't know how feasible it is.

I use cases from Mountainmods UFO case line for the Xeon boxes I build. With careful selection of componants a water cooling system will fit along with a bunch of drives. And lots of fans if needed.

Unless there's something really tricky abiut the Quad physical layout then the transplant should be possible.

If I ever do it it will be with a well used Quad and after the Intel version of the quad is established. Will probably try to incorporate some of the look of the Quad into the appearance as well.

bfx

I'm toying with doing the oppositte: building a Mac (yes; I said BUILD) and putting it an an ATX case.

I don't know if I should do that or get a good display for my PowerBook (obviously I'd need one if I built a Mac, but it wouldn't be nearly the display I'd buy now).