M4 PowerMac Cube

[aliennerd]

I recently bought a refurbished base model M4 Mini and fantastic as it is I do find the design a little dull. The PowerMac G4 Cube has always been one of my favourite designs so I hatched a little plan.

I found a perfect bracket that fits inside the Cube case.

I added some right angled adapters for the front USB and audio ports so I could easily connect things. I also added in an external 2TB SSD.

I hooked it all up with the original peripherals, very pleased with how it looks. Thermals seem to be find, WiFi works but speed is degraded somewhat, however I'm using Ethernet anyway.

 

[davecom]

Perhaps you could hookup the slot loading optical drive via an IDE to USB converter.

 

[aliennerd]

Perhaps you could hookup the slot loading optical drive via an IDE to USB converter.

Yes that would be cool, I'm trying to think of how I could mount it so it lined up correctly.

 

[Project Alice]

Yes that would be cool, I'm trying to think of how I could mount it so it lined up correctly.

Perhaps you could hookup the slot loading optical drive via an IDE to USB converter.

It wouldn't need to be the original cube ODD. Any slot loading ODD would work if you could get it in there. Could probably 3D print something.

 

[aliennerd]

It wouldn't need to be the original cube ODD. Any slot loading ODD would work if you could get it in there. Could probably 3D print something.

I've just bought a used Apple USB Superdrive which I'm going to try to make a bracket for.

 

[CooperBox]

I recently bought a refurbished base model M4 Mini and fantastic as it is I do find the design a little dull. The PowerMac G4 Cube has always been one of my favourite designs so I hatched a little plan.

View attachment 2490256

I found a perfect bracket that fits inside the Cube case.

View attachment 2490257

View attachment 2490258

I added some right angled adapters for the front USB and audio ports so I could easily connect things. I also added in an external 2TB SSD.

View attachment 2490259

I hooked it all up with the original peripherals, very pleased with how it looks. Thermals seem to be find, WiFi works but speed is degraded somewhat, however I'm using Ethernet anyway.

View attachment 2490263

Now this I like. A lot!👍
I reckon it will be one of my next projects to replace an earlier Intel MacMini 'Inside'. So it will now have to be an M4 Mini inside- which should become the ideal companion to my M2Pro G4 iMac.

Incidently, is your MacMini support a commercial 'off-the-shelf' purchase or a diy 3D printed project?

 

[sunapple]

I don't know why I ever thought selling my empty Cube case was a good idea, or any of the Cubes I owned. Oh well..

 

[swamprock]

Very cool! The Cube case is more versatile than one would think; a marvel of engineering and beautiful at the same time.

I have plans to take my 2017 12" Macbook apart and utliize the case and core in my Cube, since Opencore Legacy Patcher can turn off missing battery throttling. My 2017 has a hobbled screen and overheats under certain conditions, so I'm hoping that adding a fan and using the large heat sink will stifle the heat issue and make it usable. This project will start soon.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I recently bought a refurbished base model M4 Mini and fantastic as it is I do find the design a little dull. The PowerMac G4 Cube has always been one of my favourite designs so I hatched a little plan.

View attachment 2490256

I found a perfect bracket that fits inside the Cube case.

View attachment 2490257

View attachment 2490258

I added some right angled adapters for the front USB and audio ports so I could easily connect things. I also added in an external 2TB SSD.

View attachment 2490259

I hooked it all up with the original peripherals, very pleased with how it looks. Thermals seem to be find, WiFi works but speed is degraded somewhat, however I'm using Ethernet anyway.

View attachment 2490263

So cool

Did you 3d print the bracket or buy it online? Also what adapters are you using to get the m4 mini to adc?

Very, very cool.

 

[aliennerd]

Now this I like. A lot!👍
I reckon it will be one of my next projects to replace an earlier Intel MacMini 'Inside'. So it will now have to be an M4 Mini inside- which should become the ideal companion to my M2Pro G4 iMac.

Incidently, is your MacMini support a commercial 'off-the-shelf' purchase or a diy 3D printed project?

I purchased the bracket for the Mini from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DP8KLRWM

 

[aliennerd]

So cool

Did you 3d print the bracket or buy it online? Also what adapters are you using to get the m4 mini to adc?

Very, very cool.

Thanks, I got the bracket from Amazon. Displaywise I have the Apple ADC to DVI adapter and then an HDMI to DVI lead with a female/female coupler.

 

[aliennerd]

The USB Superdrive arrived and I installed it successfully with some plastic sheeting and some velcro, it's all working well.

 

[aliennerd]

 

[aliennerd]

I forgot to say I also upgraded to a 22 inch Cinema Display that I found on Ebay for £45.00. Unsurprisingly the rear leg was broken but I managed to drill it from the underside and screw the mounting screws in that way. I love the look of these displays.