I'm gonna build my own G4

tigerwoods99tigerwoods99
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Well, I've decided that I'm gonna do something fun and build my own G4. The purpose of this machine will to be replace my beige G3 I have at home. As most of you probably know, I have a DP GHz Q, but I can't lug it back and forth between college and home. So I decided it would be cool to have a nice G4 system at home using some of the parts from my G3.



Proposal purchase list:



Sonnet/Powerlogix 800 G4 (o/c it to 1 GHz)-I'm considering dual processors like DP 500 depending on cost, but I really want RAW speed on this computer



Digital Audio G4 motherboard (AGP4x, PC133, Gigabit)



at least 512 MB RAM



Radeon 8500 - flash a PC version



PSU supply



PC case



fans



USB/Firewire card - I have one on the G3



I have the Lite-On 24x CD-RW, zip drive, and floppy from the beige G3 that I plan on using in there. I also plan to switch out an Audiophile 2496 card that I use on my G4.



I knkow I've seen them before, but for the case I wanna use one of those shiny black aluminum cases. I think something like what Voodoo PC uses for their custom machines.



As far as keyboard and mouse, I've got a spare pro keyboard and 2 pro mice that Apple overnight shipped me.





Anyone got any advice?
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 37
    sonicdude61sonicdude61 Posts: 2member
    I didn't know you could do that, can you do that? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
  • Reply 2 of 37
    smithjoelsmithjoel Posts: 240member
    You migh want to buy one of the G4 rackmount kits. I know it's a little pricey but the result would be clean.
  • Reply 3 of 37
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    Good luck getting the motherboard...
  • Reply 4 of 37
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    <a href="http://www.shrevesystems.com/"; target="_blank">Shreve Systems</a>



    Here's your motherboard. (And other stuff)
  • Reply 5 of 37
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    Yea, a lot are overpriced, but there are a few special deals that may help. The Video card section is hilarious! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 6 of 37
    tigerwoods99tigerwoods99 Posts: 2,633member
    Ok, I found the Radeon 8500 AGP 64 MB retail card for $81 shipped.



    I'm gonna need a hard drive since the beige one is only an 8 GB, so I'm all ears on recommendations. I say I'll go 40 GB and want something that will be quiet. If anything, I'll even go 20 GB right now to bring down costs.



    Biggest problem I see is getting the mobo. That site lists a G4 one at $249, which is pretty pricey. I think I've seen them for more like $150.Plus, I have no way of knowing if thats a Gigabit mobo, Digital Audio, or what. I want the DA G4 mobo for AGP4x and 133 MHz bus.



    I'll also need to know a good place to get fans and other cooling supplies.



    I'm wondering what CPU I should try to get. I wanna keep this thing in the $700-800 range, so I can't spend TOO much on the G4 itself. A dual 500 will run $500 I think, and I've seen a single 700 G4 for around $335. I could honestly do fine probably with a 533 G4 or something and clock it up to 600 or maybe 700 if I'm lucky. Also, if I decide to shell out a bit more there is the 800 G4, which is $400 something. I looked at OWC but they only seem to have the 100 MHz bus versions.



    The case. What I want is one of those shiny black aluminum/metal cases that they use for the Voodoo PCs, or something similar. Anyone know where I can find these online and how much they are going to run me?



    [ 10-24-2002: Message edited by: TigerWoods99 ]</p>
  • Reply 7 of 37
    robsterrobster Posts: 256member
    Hey I was thinking of doing that!

    I'd really like a box to sit in flush with my stereo on it to keep a large MP3 library on connected to the stereo, also I use a 15" Apple TFT Studio Display (the first dark blue one) as a TV as it has composite and s-video inputs, so I could also make it a set-top style box for net access with a wireless kb and mouse.



    Forgot about shreve...might just try and pick up and old biege G3 though and cannabilize it.
  • Reply 8 of 37
    thereubsterthereubster Posts: 402member
    Or go small and pick up a Cube motherboard (the only problem is getting the power supply board AND the AGP riser) I'm going to cram my cube into a Mini PC (eg Shuttle) case so i can get a full length AGP card and full sized DVD burner in there with it. THeres a place here in the UK - <a href="http://www.shaye.co.uk"; target="_blank">www.shaye.co.uk</a> that have DA motherboards, but that may not help you in the UK. Luck..
  • Reply 9 of 37
    macasaurusmacasaurus Posts: 243member
    Are u sure os x would run on your g4? I thought apple made it so that people couldn't do this sorta stuff.
  • Reply 10 of 37
    trevormtrevorm Posts: 841member
    wow! Can this be done???



    Anyhow! If you do this project be sure to post pics etc I would really be interested in seing the end result!



    Good lucK!
  • Reply 11 of 37
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    Of course it *can* be done. It's just usually not economical to build one since it's extremely difficult to find current motherboards and CPUs at a decent price.



    Apple makes the whole widget. So, when you buy a motherboard, you're either going to be geting a used one from another Mac or if you're very lucky you can find a surplus one that Apple sent somewhere as a replacement but didn't get used. Apple is usually very strict about sending out extra motherboards.



    PC folk can build computers FAR easier because they can walk right into any decent computer store, choose from a dozen different motherboards by half a dozen different manufacturers and pick from a variety of AMD and Intel chips. For Apple parts, it's NOWHERE near as easy as this.



    [ 10-25-2002: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>
  • Reply 12 of 37
    outsideroutsider Posts: 6,008member
    I did this with a B&W G3 mobo back in the day.... had a site up on it but i haven't been taking care of it. I imagine the G4 mobo would be no different. the hardest 2 things were making new motherboard mounts and modifying the power supply to work with the motherboard.
  • Reply 13 of 37
    powerpcpowerpc Posts: 109member
    Tiger,



    i suggest reading through this ars thread. And if you look around you'll find a page where someone did build a G4 system. Except they used a sawtooth logicboard.



    <a href="http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=4820959925"; target="_blank">http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=4820959925</a>;



    good luck. Keep us posted



    [ 10-27-2002: Message edited by: PowerPC ]</p>
  • Reply 14 of 37
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    seems to make more sense to just find the cheapest G4 based mac you can find and upgrade it..
  • Reply 15 of 37
    tigerwoods99tigerwoods99 Posts: 2,633member
    No it doesnt. Tell me where I can ge ta n 800 Mhz G4 (or dual 500) w/24x cd-rw, dvd-rom, zip, floppy, Radeon 8500, USB2/Firewire etc. for 600-700.





    I'm looking at what case to get and checking out if I can get a big enough power supply.What I want is a pretty big black aluminum case but I don't know where to find one at. I'm going to make it a really nice finish and possibly customize it with flames on the side and stuff. Then I might make a sticker that says "Altivec Inside" or something.
  • Reply 16 of 37
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    [quote]Originally posted by TigerWoods99:

    <strong>No it doesnt. Tell me where I can ge ta n 800 Mhz G4 (or dual 500) w/24x cd-rw, dvd-rom, zip, floppy, Radeon 8500, USB2/Firewire etc. for 600-700.



    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    show me how you're gonna build one for that price and I'll agree with you... until then it doesn't make sense
  • Reply 17 of 37
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    Yeah, Tiger... how are you gunna get everything for that price?
  • Reply 18 of 37
    tigerwoods99tigerwoods99 Posts: 2,633member
    Alright let's see:



    Radeon 8500 64 MB retail - $81 shipped



    512 MB PC133 - $40 shipped (might be able to go lower from somewhere)



    Sonnet Crescendo G4 800- $381.95



    OR



    ENCORE/ST G4 DUET 500



    Hydraulic Mid ATX Black 300W Case w/Window & Neno- $159



    cooling fan- $30



    IBM 20GB Deskstar 120GXP Bare ATA/100 Hard Drive-$63



    zip drive- free from G3

    floppy drive- free from G3

    Lite On 24x12x40x CD-RW- free from G3

    USB/Firewire card- free from G3

    Audiophile 2496- switch out from my Quicksilver



    The mobo I'm going to find from a friend and might not have to pay that much if anything.



    Total = $754.95





    I'm sure I can go lower.





    Point is this is going to be fun!
  • Reply 19 of 37
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    well technically, since you're getting a lot of the stuff from your beige g3 you should have included that in your total price of the rig... I know you're not really buying em new but as a result your neutering you're old machine... so... yea... still... the price you quoted did not include those items and also doesn't include the most important and likely most expensive component... the motherboard.



    best of luck.... I had though about doing this with a 9600 a while ago to make a BeOS rig but BeOS well... yea... we all know what happened.... my dual 9500 does BeOS justice though
  • Reply 20 of 37
    danielb0101danielb0101 Posts: 50member
    I wish I stil had my Beige G3/300 MT. I sold it two years ago when I needed to purchase my Pismo/400. (I honestly needed a laptop). Now, I wish I had a computer with all those RCA and S-Video ins and outs. What a great machine it was... really. I had designed so many buildings in Boston with that machine... If only Mayor Menino knew what our firm did for the city with our PM Beige G3's, he would give Apple Computer, Inc an award of some kind...



    Oh wait, we did win the Boston Society's of Architects award. And we did it all with 4 persons and Power Mac G3's.



    [ 10-28-2002: Message edited by: danielb0101 ]</p>
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