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Removing Mac Pro Handles

Icaras said:
Voided warranty: Not fun!!
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Well, there has been mention of using a separate case (mod that one), and keep the original for warranty purposes. It would be a PITA to swap parts back and forth for warranty support, but if they want a modded case bad enough, it's a possibility at least. 😛
 
I did a search on ebay for "MB535LL/A case" and found one for $299 + $45.00 for shipping, 5 available. Not too bad really. I'd go that route.
 
UltraNEO* said:
What happens of the Mac no longer has a warranty? They do expire and not everyone buys the APP for a desktop. no?
Well.. I don't have applecare for desktop.. only for mobile systems.
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Well in that case, carve away if you're feeling adventurous. 😀

And don't forget to post pics if you do. 😛
 
I think the mac pro definitely needs a case redesign. All those holes are from the G5 era, they are not needed anymore.
 
ventro said:
I think the mac pro definitely needs a case redesign. All those holes are from the G5 era, they are not needed anymore.
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Those holes are essential to air intake when the fans are on high.

OP, in the event of a massive failure after the alterations have been done, why don't you just order another case? 2009 link or 2008 link

It would be very tedious to transfer all of the components completely, however it seems favorable over paying for a fried logic board.
 
UltraNEO* said:
Though I wouldn't mind a bit more storage space (as usual).
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You'd have to take matters into your own hands though (ready made or DIY). But mod things like the HDD trays to hold 2x disks where possible sort of thing if you're going to DIY a solution, so no need to mod the actual case. Easier too IMO. 😉
 
I despair...

Just read this thread from start to finish, and to be honest - and sorry about this - I think the OP has got a serious problem:

OP wants to do 'serious' recording, with serious equipment, in a tiny space, and therefore has problems with noise from his Mac Pro. Also has a desk that has 'sentimental value', and thinks the solution is to lop chunks off the Mac to spare the desk, and simultaneously force the machine to operate in a way that it is not intended to.

The space you have is obviously inadequate. The desk is obviously causing more problems than it solves. The Mac is obviously of major importance in the setup and deserves to be given what it needs - air, space and a complete lack of aluminium swarf in its inards.

So...if the space you have is inadequate, a piece of furniture is causing you to make unnecessary choices, and the core of your operation is going to be butchered, cooked in its own juice and ultimately destroyed - it makes me wonder: exactly how serious are you about what you are doing? If you were serious about what you're doing, and I mean proper serious, you wouldn't have come here to ask the question in the first place - the answer is obvious.

So, I wish you luck, but not a lot. I'm sure you'll do the right thing, but only after exhausting all other possibilities.
 
quatermass said:
So...if the space you have is inadequate, a piece of furniture is causing you to make unnecessary choices, and the core of your operation is going to be butchered, cooked in its own juice and ultimately destroyed - it makes me wonder: exactly how serious are you about what you are doing? If you were serious about what you're doing, and I mean proper serious, you wouldn't have come here to ask the question in the first place - the answer is obvious.

So, I wish you luck, but not a lot. I'm sure you'll do the right thing, but only after exhausting all other possibilities.
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If he is willing to go to such extremes to preserve the desk, I think we don't fully understand how important it is. He's said it's "sentimental," and I don't think he need explain more than that.

Who are you to dictate the OP's priorities? Suggesting he isn't serious is childish.
 
fair enough... save the desk, at the expense of everything else. But if you're creative, and serious about what you're doing - serious enough to invest a big hunk of cash, time and effort, then you have to make tough choices at some point. This one is a no-brainer.
 
quatermass said:
OP wants to do 'serious' recording, with serious equipment, in a tiny space, and therefore has problems with noise from his Mac Pro. Also has a desk that has 'sentimental value', and thinks the solution is to lop chunks off the Mac to spare the desk, and simultaneously force the machine to operate in a way that it is not intended to.
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Do you do any recording?

And FYI, I didn't hack up the mac pro.
 
Actually, yes. I play bass and rhythm guitars, and have recorded in a lot of studios, some big, some small, some home setups. So I know what good looks (and sounds) like. Also do recordings for voiceovers. Anyway... it's up to you of course, but when you put things like that out on a forum you're gonna get opinions. It's just that I'm old enough to know that if I'm serious about doing something, I can't and won't compromise or let sentimentality get in the way. Just my opinion though.

Glad to hear you didn't get the angle grinder out though... 🙂
 
quatermass said:
Actually, yes. I play bass and rhythm guitars, and have recorded in a lot of studios, some big, some small, some home setups. So I know what good looks (and sounds) like. Also do recordings for voiceovers. Anyway... it's up to you of course, but when you put things like that out on a forum you're gonna get opinions. It's just that I'm old enough to know that if I'm serious about doing something, I can't and won't compromise or let sentimentality get in the way. Just my opinion though.

Glad to hear you didn't get the angle grinder out though... 🙂
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I'm a fingerstyle guitarist -- and I've done a fair bit of recording myself -- both behind the console and in the live room in studios on my campus and elsewhere.

I'm surprised that you know what good recordings "look" like. If there's one thing I know, it's that looks don't matter when you're recording. Eyes need not apply. And that was precisely the point I was trying to make about hacking up the mac pro.

But I'm really over this, and I hope this thread dies soon.
 
Do you have your Mac Pro yet? I think you may be underestimating just how much air the Mac Pro needs to suck into the front if you're considering putting it in an enclosed desk.

Under load a few days ago when the AC was out temps inside the house reached about 90 degrees, which is well below what the inside of a desk gets with a beigebox Pentium. I could take an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper and the Mac Pro would suck it right up to its front and hold it there.

I've replaced a G4 power supply that got baked in a similar configuration, even though the back of the desk was 80 or so percent open.

Bottom line... the Pro needs its air intake unrestricted. That's why it has the cheese grater of a front-end that it does.

Have you considered turning it sideways under the desk or other options like that? Perhaps it could go in a neighboring room or closet with longer cables.

You may also have an easier time transporting the Mac Pro's innards to an ATX PC case and selling your case on eBay, as they can fetch quite a bit.

Regards.
 
First, sound recording in an apartment and you're worried about fan noise. Having lived in some apartments, newer apartments are not very sound proof. My concern would be for noise coming through walls or ceiling/floor.

Next, as others pointed out, such a modification would likely void the Apple warranty. Glad you have not cut the handles off.

Also, a single processor? How much memory? My suggestion is at least dual processor and LOTS of memory so the system does not lag.

Good luck with your recordings.


Capt Underpants said:
You must come from a world where good desks are cheap and abundant, and storage space to keep them in (and a means to get the desks there) is as well. I do not live in this world.

You must also be completely ignorant about audio recording and its hardware requirements.

My computers are tools. They are not eye-candy.

I live in a one bedroom apartment, so my recording space and my computer space are one in the same. It's just my situation right now...
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Capt Underpants said:
I've got Logic 9, a Fireface 800, some Adam A7's, and a decently treated (but small) space. I'm thinking about getting some ribbon mics, as my vocals have been overly sibilant in the past -- and instrument recordings have been generally sterile. I'm hoping they'll give me a little more mojo. The only downside is that their figure 8 pattern will pick up more of the sound of my space.

I really don't foresee having to send the thing back to Apple. I've never had to send a computer back to Apple for repairs -- certainly not a desktop that just sits in one spot. I'm getting the single CPU mac pro with one hard drive. Since I'm doing audio recording could care less about a nice graphics card -- so heat from that will be negligible.

Maybe I'm underestimating the cooling requirements of a mac pro. Maybe not. We'll see.
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Can we see a picture of your desk so we all canhave a good laugh,and also if any one's being sentimental its you over your desk
 
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