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Skinning an Apple for beginers Last modified: 04/03/23 10:03:58 PM
  FrankenMac
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    Apple mainboards follow the ATX spec... kinda. Slot placement and the back IO space are roughly standard, but mounting holes and expected standoff length are not. To stuff one of these in a standard case you're going to need to do some customization to the case.

    The best way to start is with a case that requires the least work. Technically that'd be the matching Apple case, but those are a bit spendy. Enlight cases and a few others with LONG motherboard standoffs work well for a first try. The extra space under the motherboard lets you tweak it's placement in the case. Normal standoff length cases result in the motherboard sitting up too high, putting excess strain on the mobo when you try to screw down PCI cards.

    So, assuming you're like me and choose the easy way... you've got a case with long standoffs. Remove all of them so you have a bare motherboard tray. Now, get a nice thin piece of lexan, the size of your motherboard. Home Depot has them. Place the plastic in the case, and mark where the threaded holes in the tray are. Drill the plastic so you can screw it down using those holes.

    Secure the plastic sheet in the case with a screw or two (Again, Home Depot is a good supply of longer screws, etc.) and posistion the Apple mobo over it. I put a pci card in the bottom slot, and an agp card in as well to help guarantee placement. Mark through the mobo onto the plastic the mobo mounting holes. While you don't need them all, be sure to include the 3 (or 4 for Quicksilver or later motherboards) cpu mounting holes. Remove the plastic from the case and drill the new holes.

    Get long screws, washers, and matching nuts. Push the screws up through the bottom of the plastic in the Apple holes. Use a nut to lock them in place. Put the plastic back in the case, and screw it down so the long screws are pointing up. Add a second nut to each long screw, but don't tighten them. These will be used to set your depth. The motherboard goes ontop of the screws, using a third nut on each post to lock it in. Be sure to use thoes washers where appropriate.

    Congratulations, you now have a universal adapter plate that will let you drop an Apple motherboard in a standard ATX case. The hard way to accomplish this requires you to drill the motherboard tray on your donor case, tap the holes, and use washers to adjust height. To move to a new case, you have to repeat the process. If your case uses normal length standoffs you may not have a choice though.

    Unfortunatly, while the IO space lines up with the ATX spec, Apple, being Apple doesn't use a standard port layout. The IO plate from their machines isn't a direct fit to an ATX case... so you get to design your own. Personally, I've just left it open.

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