Help! Converting from PPC to Intel

[ricke46]

Hey There,

I have an old PowerMac G5 (Thanks Abidubi for that correction!) that I would like to convert to the Intel chipset. Does anyone know what exactly I'll need? Is it a simple motherboard/cpu swap or will I have gut the whole thing out? Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!

Thank you in advance :)

[spinnerlys]

PowerMac G5
http://www.digitaltechnews.com/photos/uncategorized/power_mac_g5.jpg


MacPro
http://images.appleinsider.com/product-wwdc-macpro2.gif

As you can see, both machines are completely different.

You simply can't upgrade to an Intel CPU from a PPC CPU, as the underlying technology (logic board, RAM, ...) is different.

You could build yourself a Hackintosh with the current case, or you buy a new MacPro.

[Dr.Pants]

Well, I'm not a technical expert, but the Power processors and the Intel processors are two very different things - Different instruction set and different physical connectors. So it would be a gutting affair. BUT! If you planned on building your own MacPro, so to speak, you would have to use all EFI hardware to do it legally. I don't want to turn this into a Mac OSx86 thread, but using standard PC hardware (with BIOS) would be against OSX's EULA. People do it, and I have no problem with it; its just that I don't reccomend it. Its a headache.

The only way I really know of to move from Power to Intel was to purchase a MacPro and move your HDD image over via firewire...

EDIT-I bolded my $.02 Spinner beat me to the post.

[Bye Bye Baby]

The mac pro is a real work of art.

[Abidubi]

uhhh, the MacPro IS intel. You have a powermac.

And yes you can upgrade your PPC to an intel. All you have to do is:

- Remove your CPUs, logic board, ram, video card, power-supply and fans.

- Take a jigsaw and cut out space for PCI/graphics card connectors' new position.

- Cut a hole for the new power supply location

- Throw alway all the fans

- Cut out the top platform for the HDs and the optical drive

- Buy a new logic board, processors, ram, video card, fans, power-supply

- Reinstall the above components and ducked-tape them into place.

- Plug everything in and enjoy.

Shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.



Changing processor architecture almost always means a new motherboard. New mother board often means new ram and new layout. New layout means new case.

2004 PowerMac
http://images.digitalmedianet.com/2004/Week_47/mozcyqq4/story/wherearethecables650.jpg

2005 PowerMac
http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/images/05pmg5_open-600.jpg

2006 MacPro
http://www.tevac.com/applehistoryitalia/frames/images/models/mac_pro_open.jpg

2009 MacPro
http://media.obsessable.com/media/2009/03/03/575/apple-mac-pro-2009-tower.png

[Tesselator]

The mac pro is a real work of art.

I think so too! Who ever is doing the system design is guud! reeel guud! :)

[ricke46]

PowerMac G5
http://www.digitaltechnews.com/photos/uncategorized/power_mac_g5.jpg


MacPro
http://images.appleinsider.com/product-wwdc-macpro2.gif

As you can see, both machines are completely different.

You simply can't upgrade to an Intel CPU from a PPC CPU, as the underlying technology (logic board, RAM, ...) is different.

You could build yourself a Hackintosh with the current case, or you buy a new MacPro.

Thanks for the quick reply spinnerlys. Will it cost as much to build a "Hackintosh" system, as it would if I just bought the system from Apple?

[ricke46]

uhhh, the MacPro IS intel. You have a powermac.

And yes you can upgrade your PPC to an intel. All you have to do is:

- Remove your CPUs, logic board, ram, video card, power-supply and fans.

- Take a jigsaw and cut out space for PCI/graphics card connectors' new position.

- Cut a hole for the new power supply location

- Throw alway all the fans

- Cut out the top platform for the HDs and the optical drive

- Buy a new logic board, processors, ram, video card, fans, power-supply

- Reinstall the above components and ducked-tape them into place.

- Plug everything in and enjoy.

Shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.



Changing processor architecture almost always means a new motherboard. New mother board often means new ram and new layout. New layout means new case.

2004 PowerMac
http://images.digitalmedianet.com/2004/Week_47/mozcyqq4/story/wherearethecables650.jpg

2005 PowerMac
http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/images/05pmg5_open-600.jpg

MacPro
http://www.tevac.com/applehistoryitalia/frames/images/models/mac_pro_open.jpg

Gotchya.

[Dr.Pants]

Now that you are building it out of PC parts it really comes down to how much power you want and if you want to use EFI-X (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=EFI-X&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=)

[Pika]

2009 MacPro
http://media.obsessable.com/media/2009/03/03/575/apple-mac-pro-2009-tower.png

Here's the 2009 Mac Pro Nehalem 8-core:

http://www.dvhardware.net/news/apple_mac_pro_nehalem_cebit09.jpg

[ricke46]

Thanks for all the replies and help everyone. It looks as it's a lot more involved than I originally thought it would be. I may just upgrade the CPU and RAM of my current setup and call it a day.

[cherry su]

Don't forget about the 2008 Mac Pro with the upside-down memory riser!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2329/2369329441_ef5e4ac7d6_b.jpg