G5 quad case replacement? Advice please

[Bru90]

Hi all

Powermac G5 quad arrived in the post today - delivered by UPS and it looks like they’ve played football with it. The case is destroyed to such an extent I can’t open the side panel to inspect the insides. The handles on the top and bottom have collapsed.

Thinking out loud - if I were able to get the case open, could I put the internals into another G5 case?

Could it be any G5 case or does it need to be specifically a quad G5 case? this is based on the assumption that the internals somehow survived Including the water cooling system.

My plan would be to get a shell case off eBay, and follow the several videos on YouTube.

Any advice very welcome - hoping I can fix this beast as I’ve wanted one for so long

big thanks in advance.

 

[eyoungren]

Hi all

Powermac G5 quad arrived in the post today - delivered by UPS and it looks like they’ve played football with it. The case is destroyed to such an extent I can’t open the side panel to inspect the insides. The handles on the top and bottom have collapsed.

Thinking out loud - if I were able to get the case open, could I put the internals into another G5 case?

Could it be any G5 case or does it need to be specifically a quad G5 case? this is based on the assumption that the internals somehow survived Including the water cooling system.

My plan would be to get a shell case off eBay, and follow the several videos on YouTube.

Any advice very welcome - hoping I can fix this beast as I’ve wanted one for so long

big thanks in advance.

Any dual core case (2.0DC, 2.3DC, 2.5 2xDC (Quad)) will do. Nothing before that. The DCs and the Quad all share the same Airport/BT combo cards. But the LB is the same, so the standoffs will be the same. Also, only the DCs have the white strip in back (for the WiFi/BT antennas).

I had a 2.3DC arrive in a similar condition and actually got a working replacement with a good case off craigslist. Cost me $50 and the guy was selling two of them then.

Might have a look at your local craigslist.

 

[Bru90]

Any dual core case (2.0DC, 2.3DC, 2.5 2xDC (Quad)) will do. Nothing before that. The DCs and the Quad all share the same Airport/BT combo cards. But the LB is the same, so the standoffs will be the same. Also, only the DCs have the white strip in back (for the WiFi/BT antennas).

I had a 2.3DC arrive in a similar condition and actually got a working replacement with a good case off craigslist. Cost me $50 and the guy was selling two of them then.

Might have a look at your local craigslist.

Thanks for the advice !

The white strip - is that the strip of plastic on the lower left hand side when looking at the rear of the case?

Is that the best way to identify the DC cases? As most listing on eBay don’t mention what the spec of the case or the broken machine is.

 

[eyoungren]

Thanks for the advice !

The white strip - is that the strip of plastic on the lower left hand side when looking at the rear of the case?

Is that the best way to identify the DC cases? As most listing on eBay don’t mention what the spec of the case or the broken machine is.

Yes, that's what I am meaning. Only the DCs (which include the Quad) have that strip. All the G5 models before the DCs use a 'T' connector antenna for BT and have integrated Airport antennas - so no strip.

So, yes, that is the best way to identify them.

Also…since some vendors have difficulty with terms (stuff like PowerMac Pro G5 and so on), the best way to identify whether it's a MacPro or a G5 is the back. MPs have one large fan in back, G5s have two smaller fans.

There's also a way to identify by the ports in front, but I forget. I usually just try to check the back.

 

[Needleroozer]

There's also a way to identify by the ports in front, but I forget. I usually just try to check the back.

The PowerMac G5 has one USB port and one FireWire 400 port on the front, while Mac Pros have two USB ports and two FireWire 800 ports.
The Mac Pros also have two optical drive bays to the G5’s one, which is a little easier to see at a glance (though the dual fans and vertically-oriented rear I/O on the back are also quite distinctive).