Wicked Cube

Just got a cube today, after 2 min boot test, the modding began...

Old specs:

450 mhz G4

64 MB ram

20 GB hard drive

Ati pro 128

usb

firewire

10/100 NIC

OS 9.1

New Specs

1.4 Ghz Sonnet Encore/ST G4

1024 MB Ram

120 GB Hard Drive

Geforce 3 Video (PC flashed to mac rom)

Usb

Firewire

10/100 NIC

OsX Panther

Apple Pro Keyboard

Apple Pro Mouse

Stock Cube Speakers /Bubble boys

God damn, This baby rolls in Panther!!!!

If ever a chance to get a cube and use the Sonnet Cpu upgrade kits, Do It!!

Worth every penny!!!

(Y)

#114031

Wow, very nice 'ster.. I hope you have fun with your new baby..!

Be sure to not let anyone touch it. No-one should be allowed to touch such a thing of beauty.. (Insert non-existant Wub smilie here)

Was the modding/upgrading hard?

#114033

Cpu Upgrade took maybe 15 mins, most of the time adding the fan kit to cube.

Other then that everything was pretty smooth and quick, most time was spent on installing the os and making sure everything functioned under "Classic" 9.1 under Os X Panther.

The speed increase is impressive to the point of the system not even feeling like a cube, instant open and closing of apps, no lags, the graphics of panther are as smooth as a new machine.

Overall, the system feels like a new machine, and I get to keep everything in the cube package which is my all time fav apple system which I never got a chance to get until now (if your reading this apple, bring back the cube and make it a G5!!!)

Overall everything modded and installed in less then 2 hours.

#114039

Sweet! How much did you spend on spare parts, and how much did you spend on the old cube itself?

#114041

$439 CPU Upgrade

$28 Fan Kit

Hard drive pulled from PC

Video Card my old card sitting in box

Keyboard/Mouse =$39 , used

Cube, $199 Local bought.

So total

$439

$28

$199

$39

====

$705

And I just sold the orig mem,cpu, and hard drive to a friend for $199!!!

So in total I spent $506 plus some sale taxes!!!!!

You cant even get a stock cube on Ebay for under $650!!!!!

#114052

Wow, you are SO lucky! Great job! :lol:

#114054

that sounds good BUT:

what about the noise...normally a cube is noiseless. Is that cube after the cpu upgrade as loud as a normal pc ???

thx for your reply, cause i also intend to buy the most beautiful computer in the universe

cheers!

#114345

Any chance of a photo?

#114351

Actually, the cube is quieter then it was stock.

The biggest difference is that the original hard drive was replaced, with a maxtor 120 GB 7200 drive, which reduced the sound by at least 80%, no more whiwllll, hummm, whiwill, it has vanished.

The cpu fan kit from Sonnet is very quiet, if you move in close enough, you can can hear a slight whoosh, but who really sits with their ear on the cube. The case fan I added to bottom fan cage area is dead silent.

Overall, the system is 80% quieter then when I first boot it stock, which makes me very happy!!!

#114363

great news !!!

:rolleyes:

i hate noisy computers

cheers

#114841

...make sure that u have enough fans, wouldn;t want ur cube to overheat and melt now would u?

BTW, where do you live? What do u mean by locally? I think i'm gonna pay a visit to ur local store / place, if they still have cubes in stock and u live in america. :lol:

#114861

That sounds really cool, and you did it for a good price too. If I had the money I would too.

#114863

Sorry, I meant locally, as I purchased from a local business that happened to have one and I talked them into selling it to me.

P.S - I amde sure the cube is over ventalated with fans, The cpu fan kit, and bottom cage fan pushing more then enough air. The system has run for over 24 hours, then shut off and cage pulled to check heat, its cooler then stock with no heat spots.

#114910

Originally posted by gnubug@Feb 14 2004, 04:01 AM
Just got a cube today, after 2 min boot test, the modding began...
Old specs:
450 mhz G4
64 MB ram
20 GB hard drive
Ati pro 128
usb
firewire
10/100 NIC
OS 9.1
New Specs
1.4 Ghz Sonnet Encore/ST G4
1024 MB Ram
120 GB Hard Drive
Geforce 3 Video (PC flashed to mac rom)
Usb
Firewire
10/100 NIC
OsX Panther
Apple Pro Keyboard
Apple Pro Mouse
Stock Cube Speakers /Bubble boys
God damn, This baby rolls in Panther!!!!
If ever a chance to get a cube and use the Sonnet Cpu upgrade kits, Do It!!
Worth every penny!!!
(Y)

Schweet!

I am envious- and it's running panther?

Wow!

I'm still saving up to buy a mac...

unless if they release a Mac OS for intel processors... now that'd be nice!

#114972

*Edit*

system is now running a Logitech wheel mouse..LOL

Next mod will be to tear into the Apple Pro mouse and put 2 buttton mouse guts in to it using the little side areas as the buttons. I have the ideas on how to do this, if successful, I will post pics and walkthroughs here.

Apple Pro mouse = great looks...so shiny and pretty, but a I need 2 buttons!!!!

#114993

Niiiice

Did the same thing w/ an old PowerMac G4 (I'm talking 1999 PowerMac man, 350 to 1.2), my first Mac.

Those Sonnett Upgrade cards are awesome, easy to install, and relatively cheap (comparing to a new Mac).

Awesome job man, its nice to hear someone else doing the upgrades, and a nice testimony that you "can" buy a "new" Mac "cheap"

You got a greaaaat deal.

Awesome.

(Who says Apple doesn't "support" er "recommend" upgrades? joke man joke, but it is on their site: )

http://guide.apple.com/action.lasso?-datab...y=50310&-search

#115846

Originally posted by gnubug@Feb 16 2004, 03:20 AM
Apple Pro mouse = great looks...so shiny and pretty, but a I need 2 buttons!!!!

Why not get one of them 2-button MacMice?

#116177

Tried one at local Apple Store, its drivers failed. If the drivers get the little freeze glitch out, and if it comes out to be used on a CUBE, MacMice would be an option.

*note for anyone reading about MacMice*

Requires:

PCI PowerMac using a USB adapter and also having an onboard USB port.

This leaves out Cube users and/or Older Imac (fruity) machines from using the mouse as the drivers use an emulation layer from the pci card to onboard usb port for 100% compatability for Apple guidelines for logo usage.

I wish it were not so....

#116197

i was gonna suggest a macmouse. oh well. maybe i will save up and buy one for my pc.

#116209

gnu...that sounds pretty cool...think you can add a tutorial? I'm thinking about making a switch to Mac and I love the Cube. I've love to get something affordable

#116220

Will do, just have to finish all the updates and mods first. Then I will make up a walkthrough for anyone/everyone.

I just have o get everything exactly the way I want it, otherwise the walkthrough wouldnt have the same impact if things kept changing as I found better ways/or things.

#116234

dude you should totally get one of those powerlogix aftermarket cases--with all that new hardware, it must get pretty toasty inside.

PowerLogix Clear PowerCube

I know it's been posted before, but it looks like it would have better ventilation for your new fans.

Speaking of which, how big are the fans you have now?

#118412