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unpapapro

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 30, 2020
22
7
Quebec City, Canada
I own one of these prototypes of miniG that looks exactly like a Mac Pro 2009, made with the same casing and the same proportions... ya know, the model that never touched the market due to copyright infringements... So, i have this one, with everything like-new and working like a charm... but without a purpose... on top of Daddy Mac Pro 2010...

IMG_0189.JPG


Now that i own a Mac Pro 2012, I'd like to use this casing for the best it can... and I need your suggestions to make it shine!

Specs: The casing was built to host a ATA HDD, with output to FireWire 400... nothing more. simple as that. The power-supply is external with the power cable... new one.

IMG_2504.JPG IMG_2507.JPG

We can put anything in this casing, so I'd like to know how... because i'm a noob...

My best bet would be to use it to host SDD cards, but how to do it externally without loosing speed and efficiency? I would drop the HDDs that are in the Mac and use this casing the most I can...

My other idea was to make it a Network hub, where to put a Wifi/BT system, avoiding the update of the airport/bt cards... how? don't know... but i like the idea

The casing is too small to convert into a eGPU, but that would be so great... lol

What do you think of an external cableless Backup drive... The one on this picture can be converted as when we drop the casing, the frame fits in the right spot...
hdd-case-with-external-3TB-hdd-hard-disk-enclosure-hdd-hard-disk-box-sata-3-5inch.jpg

suggestions and tricks are really welcome, i'm not used to do it without guidance... thanks!

edit: I forgot to mention the size of the thing... Internal Space available is inside 10" x 4" x 2.5" ... enough space to put two boxes of that thing above...
 
Last edited:
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adam9c1

macrumors 68000
May 2, 2012
1,890
315
Chicagoland
yeah, eGPU would have been sweet.

1. Secondary PSU for a GPU (internal)
2. External TM (eSata)?
3. NAS

If you are a cMP fan I would at least keep it until you figure out a plan for this.

At some point I was thinking of using a G5 chassis as enclosure for my NAS and router but gave up on that idea a while ago.
 
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amedias

macrumors 6502
Feb 9, 2008
263
289
Devon, UK
Gut it, fit a NUC board and a couple of SSDs, if you use a later (7th/8th/9th gen) you might even get better performance out of it that your Grown Up Mac Pro for most uses where a big GPU isn;t required.

I've got a Macally 350 I'm half way doing the same thing with, but looks like your enclosure has even more room to work with so more scope for fun!

Macally_G_S350SUA_G_S350SUA_eSATA_FireWire_400_and_1233180809_551634.jpg
 

unpapapro

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 30, 2020
22
7
Quebec City, Canada
Gut it, fit a NUC board and a couple of SSDs, if you use a later (7th/8th/9th gen) you might even get better performance out of it that your Grown Up Mac Pro for most uses where a big GPU isn;t required.

I've got a Macally 350 I'm half way doing the same thing with, but looks like your enclosure has even more room to work with so more scope for fun!

Yeah, you got the official slim version of mine... :)

And yes, i have twice the space/room to put things in mine...

actually the interior of it is 10" x 4" x 2.5" ...
 

tommy chen

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2018
907
390
I'd strongly advise against putting in a wifi backup system!

in the exclusive housing i would install a USB3 interface and plug in a SSD
 

unpapapro

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 30, 2020
22
7
Quebec City, Canada
I'd strongly advise against putting in a wifi backup system!

in the exclusive housing i would install a USB3 interface and plug in a SSD

and this strength is related to what argument?!... you lost me there... lol

as for the USB interface, that's exactly my problem... what would be a good one?... i mean i have no idea where to find these...
 

tommy chen

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2018
907
390
the same problems apple had with its time machine airport stations.
data loss and defective backups

I'm not talking about the throughput


for the interface > buy this enclosure and build the inner life
into your housing including back wall

 

ScreenSavers

macrumors 68020
Feb 26, 2016
2,125
1,677
Bloomingdale, GA
I own one of these prototypes of miniG that looks exactly like a Mac Pro 2009, made with the same casing and the same proportions... ya know, the model that never touched the market due to copyright infringements... So, i have this one, with everything like-new and working like a charm... but without a purpose... on top of Daddy Mac Pro 2010...

View attachment 911021

Now that i own a Mac Pro 2012, I'd like to use this casing for the best it can... and I need your suggestions to make it shine!

Specs: The casing was built to host a ATA HDD, with output to FireWire 400... nothing more. simple as that. The power-supply is external with the power cable... new one.

View attachment 911022 View attachment 911023

We can put anything in this casing, so I'd like to know how... because i'm a noob...

My best bet would be to use it to host SDD cards, but how to do it externally without loosing speed and efficiency? I would drop the HDDs that are in the Mac and use this casing the most I can...

My other idea was to make it a Network hub, where to put a Wifi/BT system, avoiding the update of the airport/bt cards... how? don't know... but i like the idea

The casing is too small to convert into a eGPU, but that would be so great... lol

What do you think of an external cableless Backup drive... The one on this picture can be converted as when we drop the casing, the frame fits in the right spot...
View attachment 911027

suggestions and tricks are really welcome, i'm not used to do it without guidance... thanks!

edit: I forgot to mention the size of the thing... Internal Space available is inside 10" x 4" x 2.5" ... enough space to put two boxes of that thing above...

Man I’d love to find one of those things someday! Cute.
 
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