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Mini mac loses virginity and commits suicide!!
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What a vile depicably inhuman thing to do!!!!!
================
Project: mini PC
I�ve seen a ton of articles around the web lately comparing the Mac mini to the near full size desktop PC. What they fail to compare is the amount of computing power per square inch you get with the mini. So, I decided to take it upon myself to create the fastest PC possible with the size constraints of the mini�s small form factor.
Parts needed:
Nano-ITX Motherboard
Laptop IDE HD 2.5� (any capacity)
40 to 44pin IDE converter
Motherboard risers
Sears Tap kit
The motherboard �
The Mac mini is a mere 6.5�x6.5�, so I had to find the smallest (and most powerful) motherboard possible. I decided on VIA�s yet to be released Nano-ITX based boards. Luckily VIA liked the project idea, and were able to ship us a pre-production version for testing.
Feature-wise, the mobo is pretty impressive. It has the VIA 1GHz �Nehimiah� Processor, SATA, Ethernet, integrated audio/video, two SODIMM slots, and most importantly it�s only 4.7�x4.7�.
Modifying the case �
It�s a total of five screws to remove the Mac mini board from the chassis. Once this is done, I was able to cut down the back I/O cover to make room for the new Nano-ITX port layout. For my testing purposes I used a couple simple self-tapping raisers to secure the board. For a more permanent solution, you may want to tap new holes in order to mount it properly.
Putting it all together �
The heat sink that shipped with the Nano board was a bit too large for the case. I had to make a slight modification by removing the heat sink and used a metal handsaw to cut a 3/4� chunk from the side. To compensate for the loss of heat sink, I recommend adding an additional fan to the inside lid to increase airflow.
Now that the heat sink is remounted, I attached the motherboard and hooked up the 2.5� HD. One small problem is that the board doesn�t support 44-pin latop IDE, so you�ll need one of these adapters. Once installed, the hard drive fits nicely (with adequate clearance) over the modified heat sink. Attach the case, and there you have it � your new mini PC.
Additional thoughts: Due to size restrictions, fitting a CD-ROM drive in the mini enclosure would be impossible with this motherboard. Luckily, this motherboard supports pretty much every external bootable device, including bootable CD-ROM and USB thumb drives. Expect to see this VIA board in stores sometime later this year..
+krose
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waky waky!
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Mac Elite
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 No media drive.
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isn't the comparison itself:
mac mini vs. product not invented yet
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Addicted to MacNN
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So basically it goes something like this:
Task: to cram Intel/PC guts into a Mac mini.
Results: Failed.
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When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
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Wow, you know... we should try building a Mac inside a Dell case... actually... why don't we build a Mac mini cluster in one? 
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I'd like to see the opposite really. And I know that's heracy, but a cheap Mac Mini, in an ATX case, a lot more expandability if the Mini can take it (hard drives etc). I'm sure it would be an insanely complex mod, the G3/G4 were at least built with the basic ATX form in mind.
I like having PCI and AGP though, I guess I just want another Cube.
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[img]broken link[/img]
This insanity brought to you by:
The French CBC, driving antenna users mad since 1937.
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Clinically Insane
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Originally posted by yukon:
I'd like to see the opposite really. And I know that's heracy, but a cheap Mac Mini, in an ATX case, a lot more expandability if the Mini can take it (hard drives etc). I'm sure it would be an insanely complex mod, the G3/G4 were at least built with the basic ATX form in mind.
I like having PCI and AGP though, I guess I just want another Cube.
Even better. Since the mini is small enough, how about stick it in a Cube case? (tons of them on eBay.) There'd be enough space to fit a couple more HDDs and second optical drive.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Originally posted by chris v:
So basically it goes something like this:
Task: to cram Intel/PC guts into a Mac mini.
Results: Failed.
on the screensavers the dude actually did have a working pc inside a mac mini case.
Kevin R. was one of the first people to get his hands on the new Mac mini when it was released last weekend. And he�s most certainly the very first person to convert it into a PC. He was able to wedge a pre-release 4.7" x 4.7" Via Nano-ITX motherboard into the mini�s miniature case. The Nano-ITX features a 1ghz processor, SATA, ethernet, and s-video. It also gets really hot in the Mac mini case. But when the Nano-ITX is released by the third quarter of this year, we�ll no doubt see many micro cases built specifically for it, said Kevin R.
Head on over to Viatech.com for more info.
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http://www.mafia-designs.com
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Well... maybe if the PC motherboard had a 32MB Radeon (not shared) and at least a 2GHz processor. That's just really, really stupid.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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$185 - Motherboard
$10 - Risers
$10 - Sears kit (which one?)
$10 - ATA Cable
$40 - 512MB SODIMM
$40 - 40GB 2.5" Drive
$110 - Windows XP Pro
$40 - Nano ATX Case
$40 - 32MB Radeon (assuming it'd fit)
$80 - Slim 8x DVD+/- R/RW Drive (assuming it'd fit)
$565
$525 with an external DVD drive.
$485 if using just the shared video memory and an external DVD.
I'd say the Mac mini is very competitive for that particular form factor. Anyone have experience with the Via C3 processor? How would a 1.25GHz G4 compare to a 1GHz C3?
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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I often think about putting my Blue and White G3s inside PC cases. You know, so I can be a closet Mac user.
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Originally posted by i_rooster:
Project: mini PC
-t
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Originally posted by olePigeon:
I'd say the Mac mini is very competitive for that particular form factor. Anyone have experience with the Via C3 processor? How would a 1.25GHz G4 compare to a 1GHz C3?
VIA CPUs suck in ways wich you propably never thought possible, a 800Mhz G3 will whup the behind of a 1GHz C3.
(
Last edited by MrSundberg; Jan 31, 2005 at 02:34 PM.
)
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally posted by Mafia:
on the screensavers the dude actually did have a working pc inside a mac mini case.
Same guy's blog:
"Additional thoughts:_ Due to size restrictions, fitting a CD-ROM drive in the mini enclosure would be impossible with this motherboard._"
Failed
RIP poor mini. Gave its life for nothing.
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When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
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Admin Emeritus  Join Date: Oct 1999
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It didn't "give" its life, it was murdered!
I like one of the comments on that page, that the reason he didn't put in a CD-ROM drive was because they don't make drives small enough to fit in a mini. (I guess they didn't notice Apple putting combo and DVD-R drives in them. :sigh: )
tooki
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally posted by tooki:
It didn't "give" its life, it was murdered!
I like one of the comments on that page, that the reason he didn't put in a CD-ROM drive was because they don't make drives small enough to fit in a mini. (I guess they didn't notice Apple putting combo and DVD-R drives in them. :sigh: )
tooki
You are right about that. That poor Mac Mini.
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"Evil is Powerless If the Good are Unafraid." -Ronald Reagan
Apple and Intel, the dawning of a NEW era.
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Mac Elite
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Originally posted by chris v:
Same guy's blog:
"Additional thoughts:_ Due to size restrictions, fitting a CD-ROM drive in the mini enclosure would be impossible with this motherboard._"
Failed
RIP poor mini. Gave its life for nothing.
ya i was just saying it turned on and had windows running. but your right they couldn't get a cd-rom in there so building a "fully" functional pc = failed.
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http://www.mafia-designs.com
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Originally posted by Kenneth:
oh.. it's from Kevin.
LOL! Isn't he the guy who hacks food processors and such?
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/mal
"I sentence you to be hanged by the neck until you cheer up."
MacBook Pro 15" w/ Mac OS 10.8.2, iPhone 4S & iPad 4th-gen. w/ iOS 6.1.2
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Yeah...but it still runs windows.
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Originally posted by andreas_g4:
Posts: 1
Zero Karma, baby.
Originally posted by malvolio:
LOL! Isn't he the guy who hacks food processors and such?
He sure had a lot of free time.
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Addicted to MacNN
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Hey, don't knock they guy! He's got a point, and if he keeps his hat on, nobody will notice it.
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Why is there always money for war, but none for education?
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Professional Poster
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Originally posted by i_rooster:
What a vile depicably inhuman thing to do!!!!!
It rubs the lotion on its skin... 
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Mac Elite
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I wanna cram a Mac mini into a Color Classic.
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