With your overhead and $$$ for your time and effort, it might raise the price to near or even more than $2000. I'm going to play the devil's advocate here: it would be getting close to the cost of the Mac Pro. We might not be able to rustle up a hundred buyers Then too, other than this forum, tech support could not be offered.
However, if you think it's a possibility, I'd be willing to put in $200 for R&D. If we could get 10 or 12 AI members to do the same, you could make a prototype without it all coming out of your pocket.
BTW, would it be possible to put two DVI ports in this AI-Mac? That's my big (want) need.
Well there's no overhead at the moment since all I've done is make phone calls. And yes, the objective is to get one of the Mac Pro graphics cards to work on the Mini so 2 DVI ports.
Just slooowly but no more slowly than the Magma case will do it.
Quote:
Rui Pereir, Interaction Designer, Media Performer/Artist: "Within and hour of receiving my Magma ExpressBox, I had a realtime video interface and multi-monitor setup working flawlessly. I am running four monitors from my 2nd Generation Apple MacBook Pro. I am using two monitors with independent realtime graphics outputs, one TFT touchscreen and my laptop's TFT screen is used as a preview monitor. It's incredible flexibility and portability made Magma ExpressBox a must have in all my performances and presentations."
What we need is a hardware person that can look at the PCIe specs (I guess that implies working for a company that belongs to the PCI group) to see which pins need power and if we cut the traces on the riser card if we can provide power safely ourselves. This doesn't look too complex to my unknowledgeable eye given that there are some passive PCIe backplanes that kinda do just that.
The Magma guy were just unhelpful...probably because I spoke with a tech support guy and not someone in engineering...he simply repeated "No our product doesn't work with a Mini...only the MacBook Pro". No kidding...I can read your website.
Thanks for the monetary offer though. I will hit up my network and see if any EEs I know are interested in a side project.
Oh as an aside, the Magma guy thought that the mini was too small a market to bother with for such an expansion. Perhaps he's right, I dunno. It sure as heck is for $800 to do one x16 slot that's for sure.
You know what? I'm going to call the Axiotron folks. What will work for the Mini would also work for the ModBook. If they can create a docking station for the ModBook with a single x16 slot to drive a 30" ACD that might increase ModBook sales.
Of course, the ModBook starts at $2300...a mini-tower made by them isn't likely to be all that cheap either.
I think that AI members who want a headless Mac think that it's going to happen and are waiting to see if it does. They can't let go the idea that Apple will field a mid tower.
I've been talking to a couple of local Mac users regarding your DIY mini-tower and got some interesting feedback. They liked the idea, but had reservations. One was the idea of opening or cannibalizing the Mini.
Both users were wary of negating the warranty and no AppleCare. Would there be a way to keep from compromising the Mini?
I've been talking to a couple of local Mac users regarding your DIY mini-tower and got some interesting feedback. They liked the idea, but had reservations. One was the idea of opening or cannibalizing the Mini.
Both users were wary of negating the warranty and no AppleCare. Would there be a way to keep from compromising the Mini?
Not really. Anyone who does this as a DIY will likely void the warranty. Anyone trying to make a business of it needs to offer a 1 year warranty of their own like the ModBook folks do.
You CAN open the mini and do minor things like add memory and swap drives without voiding the warranty unless you break something in the process. That might include swapping out the 802.11 card for something else but I wouldn't bet on it.
PEMINI2X1-F to break out the airport mini-pci-e slot to a standard pci-e 1x slot with...
PEXP16-SX-16/1 to give a wider slot allowing use of...
PEXP8-EX 8x slot extender with external power input (supply +12v, +3.3v, and ground from standard ATX psu) to which you add...
PEXP16-SX-16/8 to adapt back to 16x (or just file out the end of the slot on PEXP8-EX 8x).
Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any additional power lines on 16x cards, just extra signal and ground. If the PEMINI2X1-F isn't rated for 55W, surely the beefier PEXP8-EX could supply it...
Bad News: Even with the external power provided it wont provide enough juice for a x4, x8 or x16 card.
Why not? Where did you get that info? It seems pretty strange to me, considering they would want the adapter to meet the PCIe specs.
Anyway, the pinout is availible free online - just google "pcie x16 pinout" and you'll find it. We could quite easily tack a few power lines on to the x1 -> x16 expander! I'd be happy to do it for you if you sent me the various bits and pieces.
Why not? Where did you get that info? It seems pretty strange to me, considering they would want the adapter to meet the PCIe specs.
Anyway, the pinout is availible free online - just google "pcie x16 pinout" and you'll find it. We could quite easily tack a few power lines on to the x1 -> x16 expander! I'd be happy to do it for you if you sent me the various bits and pieces.
From the engineer at the company...I don't mind buying the parts. I've just been busy the last few days.
I was looking for a different 1x to 16x board that took a standard power connector. There are some passive x4 and x8 ones but none that go x1 to x16. Its not like its hard to do but I didn't want to fire up my soldering iron. I haven't done that in two decades...
PEMINI2X1-F to break out the airport mini-pci-e slot to a standard pci-e 1x slot with...
PEXP16-SX-16/1 to give a wider slot allowing use of...
PEXP8-EX 8x slot extender with external power input (supply +12v, +3.3v, and ground from standard ATX psu) to which you add...
PEXP16-SX-16/8 to adapt back to 16x (or just file out the end of the slot on PEXP8-EX 8x).
Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any additional power lines on 16x cards, just extra signal and ground. If the PEMINI2X1-F isn't rated for 55W, surely the beefier PEXP8-EX could supply it...
Thanks for the link and the idea. Heh...I thought I looked for all the possible combos and I was wrong. That looks like it might work.
Heck at this point all I want is a video of the thing running a video card but it seems Sepent has gotten that far already. But yeah, given this is all hobbiest stuff it happens at whatever pace we are willing to push it. Which sometimes leads to fits and starts...
Comments
However, if you think it's a possibility, I'd be willing to put in $200 for R&D. If we could get 10 or 12 AI members to do the same, you could make a prototype without it all coming out of your pocket.
BTW, would it be possible to put two DVI ports in this AI-Mac? That's my big (want) need.
Edit: It worked that time.
Just slooowly but no more slowly than the Magma case will do it.
Rui Pereir, Interaction Designer, Media Performer/Artist: "Within and hour of receiving my Magma ExpressBox, I had a realtime video interface and multi-monitor setup working flawlessly. I am running four monitors from my 2nd Generation Apple MacBook Pro. I am using two monitors with independent realtime graphics outputs, one TFT touchscreen and my laptop's TFT screen is used as a preview monitor. It's incredible flexibility and portability made Magma ExpressBox a must have in all my performances and presentations."
What we need is a hardware person that can look at the PCIe specs (I guess that implies working for a company that belongs to the PCI group) to see which pins need power and if we cut the traces on the riser card if we can provide power safely ourselves. This doesn't look too complex to my unknowledgeable eye given that there are some passive PCIe backplanes that kinda do just that.
The Magma guy were just unhelpful...probably because I spoke with a tech support guy and not someone in engineering...he simply repeated "No our product doesn't work with a Mini...only the MacBook Pro". No kidding...I can read your website.
Thanks for the monetary offer though. I will hit up my network and see if any EEs I know are interested in a side project.
Oh as an aside, the Magma guy thought that the mini was too small a market to bother with for such an expansion. Perhaps he's right, I dunno. It sure as heck is for $800 to do one x16 slot that's for sure.
You know what? I'm going to call the Axiotron folks. What will work for the Mini would also work for the ModBook. If they can create a docking station for the ModBook with a single x16 slot to drive a 30" ACD that might increase ModBook sales.
Of course, the ModBook starts at $2300...a mini-tower made by them isn't likely to be all that cheap either.
Good luck. I hope you're able to make some progress. I curious to see if this is possible and how difficulty it turns out to be.
I think that AI members who want a headless Mac think that it's going to happen and are waiting to see if it does. They can't let go the idea that Apple will field a mid tower.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shanmugan wrote this yesterday:
IMHO next APPLE event has all the answers
whether with Leopard announcement OR MWSF 2008, if we do not see xMac by then forgot about it. PERIOD.
then it left with nVidia/ATI to bring the real Graphic card to iMac (make it thinner and better,less heat)
------------------------------------------------------------
At this point, maybe the idea of a DIY cube or mini tower is premature. January may be a better time.
Apple should at least put a better video card in the mini with it's own ram if there is going to be no xMac.
This isn't the thread for it. In any case that is one of the goals. Been too busy to mess with this the last couple days.
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_C...I_Express.html
With PCIe x1 pins outs found on this page:
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_P...1x_PinOut.html
with links at the bottom to all the other versions ( 2x 4x 8x 16x )
I've been talking to a couple of local Mac users regarding your DIY mini-tower and got some interesting feedback. They liked the idea, but had reservations. One was the idea of opening or cannibalizing the Mini.
Both users were wary of negating the warranty and no AppleCare. Would there be a way to keep from compromising the Mini?
Vinea,
I've been talking to a couple of local Mac users regarding your DIY mini-tower and got some interesting feedback. They liked the idea, but had reservations. One was the idea of opening or cannibalizing the Mini.
Both users were wary of negating the warranty and no AppleCare. Would there be a way to keep from compromising the Mini?
Not really. Anyone who does this as a DIY will likely void the warranty. Anyone trying to make a business of it needs to offer a 1 year warranty of their own like the ModBook folks do.
You CAN open the mini and do minor things like add memory and swap drives without voiding the warranty unless you break something in the process. That might include swapping out the 802.11 card for something else but I wouldn't bet on it.
http://www.adexelec.com/pciexp.htm):
PEMINI2X1-F to break out the airport mini-pci-e slot to a standard pci-e 1x slot with...
PEXP16-SX-16/1 to give a wider slot allowing use of...
PEXP8-EX 8x slot extender with external power input (supply +12v, +3.3v, and ground from standard ATX psu) to which you add...
PEXP16-SX-16/8 to adapt back to 16x (or just file out the end of the slot on PEXP8-EX 8x).
Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any additional power lines on 16x cards, just extra signal and ground. If the PEMINI2X1-F isn't rated for 55W, surely the beefier PEXP8-EX could supply it...
(This is also being discussed at http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=297040 and occasionally at http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=55)
Bad News: Even with the external power provided it wont provide enough juice for a x4, x8 or x16 card.
Why not? Where did you get that info? It seems pretty strange to me, considering they would want the adapter to meet the PCIe specs.
Anyway, the pinout is availible free online - just google "pcie x16 pinout" and you'll find it. We could quite easily tack a few power lines on to the x1 -> x16 expander! I'd be happy to do it for you if you sent me the various bits and pieces.
Why not? Where did you get that info? It seems pretty strange to me, considering they would want the adapter to meet the PCIe specs.
Anyway, the pinout is availible free online - just google "pcie x16 pinout" and you'll find it. We could quite easily tack a few power lines on to the x1 -> x16 expander! I'd be happy to do it for you if you sent me the various bits and pieces.
From the engineer at the company...I don't mind buying the parts. I've just been busy the last few days.
I was looking for a different 1x to 16x board that took a standard power connector. There are some passive x4 and x8 ones but none that go x1 to x16. Its not like its hard to do but I didn't want to fire up my soldering iron. I haven't done that in two decades...
How about a combo punch from Adex (product codes from
http://www.adexelec.com/pciexp.htm):
PEMINI2X1-F to break out the airport mini-pci-e slot to a standard pci-e 1x slot with...
PEXP16-SX-16/1 to give a wider slot allowing use of...
PEXP8-EX 8x slot extender with external power input (supply +12v, +3.3v, and ground from standard ATX psu) to which you add...
PEXP16-SX-16/8 to adapt back to 16x (or just file out the end of the slot on PEXP8-EX 8x).
Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any additional power lines on 16x cards, just extra signal and ground. If the PEMINI2X1-F isn't rated for 55W, surely the beefier PEXP8-EX could supply it...
(This is also being discussed at http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=297040 and occasionally at http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=55)
Thanks for the link and the idea. Heh...I thought I looked for all the possible combos and I was wrong. That looks like it might work.
Heck at this point all I want is a video of the thing running a video card but it seems Sepent has gotten that far already. But yeah, given this is all hobbiest stuff it happens at whatever pace we are willing to push it. Which sometimes leads to fits and starts...