Mac Pro/G5 Rack Alternatives/Options

[gsilbers]

id like to have 2 mac pros racked (sideways) along with a 192.

besides sawing off the handles...
(to fit a 19 inch rack)_
what is there?

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by gsilbers

id like to have 2 mac pros racked (sideways) along with a 192.

besides sawing off the handles...
(to fit a 19 inch rack)_
what is there?

Didn't a company called Marathon make a rack for this.

[BDWillis]

Unfortunately, Marathon went out of business years ago. The two current rack solutions I'm aware of are from Redco & Cadlock.

http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=876

http://activatethespace.com/cadlock.html

Warmest Regards,
Brian

[gearhead2010]

Unfortunately, if you want it horizontal, you must cut off the handles or find a new case to place the MacPro's innards into as a standard rack is 19"... I chose the first option.

It was very easy, just remove the RAM and HD's and then tape off the machine's holes and grills with blue painters tape. This tape comes right off,and leaves no sticky stuff, but stays in place well while doing the cutting.

Then get a fine hack saw blade in your jig saw and cut straight across the handles.

The hard part was making the custom brackets used to mount the MacPro into the standard rack. I wound up using the old Marathon G4 rack mounting hardware. I found the spots where I could use bolts and nuts on the inside of the MacPro without disturbing anything and then drilled the holes.

It looks great and is really sturdy. I'm glad I did it.

I actually did this to a G5 first and then sold it for way more (2x) than what unmodified G5's were selling for at the time when I upgraded to PCIe.

-gH

[TommyT]

I'd go even 1 farther.... if you have 2 sliding rack rails like the Marathon rails, you could conceivalbly mount the rails into the top & Bottom handles just before they curve horizontal that way you have the mac attached at the top & bottom vertically & still be able to slide it out & open it... even the right side mac that would have it's access hatch located on the rail side .. the rails should be above & below the hatch so that mac's interior would be accessible as well,..

Just my 2 cents..

Cheers , Tom.

[mspence]

Originally Posted by gearhead2010

I wound up using the old Marathon G4 rack mounting hardware. I found the spots where I could use bolts and nuts on the inside of the MacPro without disturbing anything and then drilled the holes.

Any chance of seeing pics of this mod? I still have my old G4 Marathon rack mount pieces, and have no aversion to whacking the handles off a Mac Pro

[studiojimi]

Originally Posted by mspence

Any chance of seeing pics of this mod? I still have my old G4 Marathon rack mount pieces, and have no aversion to whacking the handles off a Mac Pro

just be careful

investigate thoroughly before cutting

some macs aren't meant to fun horizontally....especially the water cooled ones like mine...

i loved my marathon G4

great for on location recording when i did a church gig on sunday's

i gave it to a young kid i thought had promise

[Michaels]

Originally Posted by studiojimi

....especially the water cooled ones like mine...

I remember some models of the liquid cooled G5 didn't like going horizontal. My understanding is that the Mac Pro's should be fine with it. I have seen the Redco vertical mount kit, and although I could fit two of the 192's and the Sync I/O next to the Mac Pro, I would still be giving up valuable space in my remote rig. Besides, there's something about taking a hacksaw to a gorgeous Mac Pro that might be cathartic on some level....

Just ran across this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=263602_263622

A wee bit pricey, I must say.

[Keith Moore]

Originally Posted by Michaels

I remember some models of the liquid cooled G5 didn't like going horizontal. My understanding is that the Mac Pro's should be fine with it. I have seen the Redco vertical mount kit, and although I could fit two of the 192's and the Sync I/O next to the Mac Pro, I would still be giving up valuable space in my remote rig. Besides, there's something about taking a hacksaw to a gorgeous Mac Pro that might be cathartic on some level....

Just ran across this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=263602_263622

A wee bit pricey, I must say.

Has anyone tried this?

[the dude]

that eBay thing-a-ma-jig is only for a G5 and only one model of g5
no 2 models of the G5 or Macpro had the same internal mountings and hardware, so unless you modify a case of your own computer you could very well be wasting a bunch of time and money

cutting the handles off is really easy if your able to use tools correctly
I've done this 12 times at least, once the handles are cut the computer will fit on a 4 space shelf and if you mount anything above the computer it gets locked in really tight... no need to drill and attach rack ears at all

If you chosse I can do it for bit cheaper than the dumb eBay thing

also if the internal rack dimensions are 20" across replacing the rack rails with ones 6u shorter or cutting the rails, the computer will fit sideways without cutting anything

I have drawings available