Switching the guts out of a 11,2 Power Mac G5 to a 7,2 or 7,3?

[ww2_1943]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a Power Mac G5 11,2. It’s a dual core 2.3 model. It arrived damaged from shipping. It boots and works fine but the case is just mangled.

I may have the opportunity to get a case from a 7,2 or 7,3 G5. What are the potential problems and pitfalls that I might run into.

For example, I know that the 11,2 has 3 USB ports on the back Vs 2 on the 7,2 and 7,3. Will I have other port alignment issues?

I attached photos of my damaged G5 and one of the case I can potentially get.

 

[eyoungren]

Off-hand, the one thing I can think of is the white strip in the back. If you look at the back of the case you'll see it. Only the DCs (Quad included) have that white strip. It makes it easier for the various antennas (BT, WiFi).

Also, the BT/WiFi card is integrated on the DCs. It's two separate cards on previous G5s. So, IDK if that part will fit or is even present in an older case.

My suggestion is to find a dead DC online and swap in to that.

I know your pain, my first DC was sent to me by a member here and the case arrived damaged (like yours). I found a local craigslist ad though where someone was selling a DC for $50. So the damaged DC became a parts donor for that one.

Hopefully you can find a solution.

 

[DeltaMac]

There's more difference than just USB ports: 2 ethernet ports, in a different location, other ports are located in a different order.
The electrical connection between the logic board and the power supply is very different - other internal parts of the two different models are very different, meaning that the assembly points are very different, too.
My take is that you will find that a 7,2 or 7,3 case will NOT take the internal parts from an 11,2 power Mac.

 

[ww2_1943]

Pretty much what I thought. I’ll keep an eye out for a dual core case.