Inside The Apple G3 Case

The inside of the Apple G3 case is a very strange design, because it is the complete opposite to how an AT style design would be. At first glance, the choice of motherboards that can fit this case looks limited. The enclosure is for a motherboard that has horizontally situated DIMM memory chips that occupy a 7 cm recess above the CD-ROM drive cage. AT motherboards have vertically situated DIMM memory, which will be in the way of the horizontal shelf that runs through the middle of the case. Low profile memory may work however; it is more cost effective to remove the shelf. The CPU and heatsink will also be in the wrong place and the power supply is going to get in the way. Hence, there are some big challenges here to solve.

Space for the P1 and P4 connectors is also important. When the side panel is closed, the sockets obstruct the CD-ROM cage. An ATX motherboard will never fit in this case. However, my biological and technological distinctiveness will add to the Apple design, so resistance is futile!

The power supply unit (PSU) appears to be a standard one used in PC computers, hence another high wattage PSU should fit on the existing mounting holes. As you can see, this enclosure best works for a motherboard that has horizontally situated DIMM memory slots. Then it will fit in the 7 cm recess between the top of the case and the CR-ROM Drive cage. I will just have to use my Borg cutting laser and remove the bits that are getting in the way.

These look like the standard ATX style expansion card slots. At least there is some good news here.

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