Project: Mac mini Cube

[Me3d]

Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the noob question. What powers the 3.5" drive? I see the power supply from an external drive, but where does that tap into?

[khisayruou]

[Me3d]

[blazer]

[khisayruou]

[serpent]

Anthony, Great Job! I'm glad that I was a part/help in your project. You did a really good job fitting everything in so neatly. I'm wondering tho if there is room in the case for a second slim DVD drive?

@edelmac the adapter/cable I supplied Anthony to convert the jae50 connector from the riser board to ide will allow you to connect a 5.25" cd/dvd drive.

Serpent

[offa_broadway]

That is a truly amazing case mod. You didn't just hack away at the Cube to fit the Mini inside, or hack the Mini to pieces, to the same ends.

I want one.
_________________
~ OffaBroadway~

MacBook Core2Duo 2.0/1Gb Superdrive
MacMini CoreDuo 1.66/Superdrive - Sold
Logitech Z4-i Sound System
iPod Nano 1Gb, Black

[griffga]

Dear Everyone,

First I want to say, excellent work! Second, I have been inspired to create a similar modification creating a Core 2 Duo Intel machine out of a G4 Cube case using the Mini-ITX form factor. The only problem I see in my build layout is the pesky power button. I was wondering does anyone know, possibly the creator of this mod, if I can use the original power button here:

http://www.welovemacs.com/cp19.html

to turn on the cube? I am assuming the power button plugs into the motherboard like a standard PC power button? Perhaps I just might have to cut off that single connector and wire each wire individually. If anyone else has experience with this I would appreciate any help!

Thanks,
Chris

[khisayruou]

Hi griffga,

The original power button has a special connector only found on the original cube. It is not a standard power button. To think of it, I never tried cutting off the connector to see what happens if there was power going through it. If you try it let us know the results.

[griffga]

Dear khisayruou,

Thanks so much for responding. I am really in the dark about how to possibly wire this thing up to use the original touch sensitive power switch. I saw a post here:
http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=2209
where the power switch is shown with its 4 black wires. I think I am having trouble understanding where the wires go. Am I correct in thinking that 2 will go to the Power_LED pins on the motherboard? The last 2 then should go to the Power_Switch pins. I also saw in your modification that you mentioned something about having to connect a wire to an electrode in the case somewhere? I am assuming this was just a piece of metal for circuit closure? The question I think I have is that if I can cut these 4 wires loose from the connector at the end...where do they go? Forgive me but, I am also wondering if that board in the screenshot is even needed? I assumed it was seeing as it might be a similar circuit board to the one you hand created. I also called Digikey corporation myself and spoke with an engineer there. He said that they didn't carry that type of touch sensitive switch. If all else fails and I wasted $40 on buying the original switch, I would love to know how you made yours. I took a look at that diagram for the Q110 switch and couldn't really discern which actual parts to buy and how exactly to assemble it. Indeed, I need to get a certification in electrical circuit building.

[khisayruou]

I am not sure if those wires corresponds to ones that are on pcs.

On my mod, my electrode is the little circular metal piece that is located on the top of the cube, its for the screw to be held into place so the inner metal casing doesn't fall out. The electrode is the touch sensitive portion of the circuit.

On apple's original, the entire board is needed as the electrode sits on top of it.

Go to quantum (www.qprox.com) for a list of their latest or give digikey a call again, they should have a list of part numbers that replaced the one I used. If you want to make one just pm me, but keep in mind, its going to be hard if if not impossible to place the electrode in the original location.

[fishdaddyz]

Killer mod! I'm attempting to do my own, I'm almost there however, I have a question. Where did you get the cable to connect the dvd drive to the ide adapter? I've looked everywhere and I don't have the skill to create my own.

Thanks

[khisayruou]

Thanks fishdaddyz!

The cable was made by serpent, a member on this forum. Just give him a pm about getting one. Good luck with the project and keep us updated!

[aprilfools1993]

[lynx1981]

it's a fantastic mod!!

i am thinking of a macbook-cube marriage.... .....because of a better performance with "plex"

would that fit in a cube ???