# How can I make a thing fit in this thing
**URL:** https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078
**Category:** useful info
**Created:** [November 17, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078 "2015-11-17T18:18:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/1 "2015-11-17T18:18:49Z")
So due to _circumstances_ I have a combination of money and free time coming up, it appears.
SO, I’m considering building a PC, most likely to dual or triple-boot as some combination of:
- Something that will run Skyrim/Fallout (So some version of Windows)
- SteamBox
- Hackintosh (Home-brew Mac OS X machine)
My _first_ idea was to get a small LCD monitor and put the whole thing in a Classic Mac enclosure with the small LCD as a secondary monitor, but that’s running into difficulty finding a source machine cheap.
My second idea is to use a case like [this](http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=10852) from MonoPrice. It’s a 2u case with a wood front bezel, and would look cool in the musician gig rack I use as my primary computer storage. Everyone knows cool-looking cases run 10% faster, right?
**The main question is if/how I can get a semi-powerful modern video card to fit in that 2u rack-mount case. Am I SOL and would need to use on-board or a special selection of video cards?**
I was fiddling with the rest of the build, here: [http://pcpartpicker.com/p/khfCTW](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/khfCTW)
Although that’s by no means final. I’d consider if nothing else adding a second SSD so each OS could have its own.
(Note: I highlighted the main question as I know I am rambling.)
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### Author:  [@CaffeinatedNoms](https://cog.discourse.group/u/CaffeinatedNoms)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/2 "2015-11-17T23:30:16Z")
For a Hackintosh in a derelict Compact Mac case, [here is an (admittedly rather old) example that uses a Mac Mini as internals](http://apptree.net/macsex.htm), I’m sure one of the NUC or Brix machines would be an equally good fit! Some of the larger Brix machines have actual real graphics cards in, or so legend says.
Also for Hackintoshing, even if you’re going to be gaming on a Windows partition, I’d strongly recommend 16GiB RAM. I’m running a 2011 MacBook Pro with 8GiB and I’m starting to find myself running out when I’m working on projects. You can tell it’s the future when 8GiB RAM is starting to show limitations!
As for your **bolded** question, I honestly can’t answer. Neither of those links will open successfully for me – I’m guessing because of region?
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### Author:  [@RoadRunner](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RoadRunner)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/3 "2015-11-17T23:52:15Z")
I did a couple quick searches and didn’t see any remotely current and/or high end video cards that come in low profile.
You’re going to need a bigger case.
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### Author:  [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/4 "2015-11-18T00:01:56Z")
> [@RoadRunner](#):
>
> I did a couple quick searches and didn’t see any remotely current and/or high end video cards that come in low profile. You’re going to need a bigger case.
Ah, well. There goes that idea. I thought there was a way to use a riser that might work, but I’m quite possibly wrong.
I’ve seen the ‘Macintosh SE/X’ and was thinking of something similar, albeit with keeping the shell the original color. May still to it. My plan is to hack the hell out of the rear panel accommodate the cable connections and probably a couple small fans, but even with fitting a small LCD in (which I’ve got tentatively sourced) it’s pretty roomy, actually.
I was essentially replicating the [‘build’ from here](http://www.tonymacx86.com/building-customac-buyers-guide-november-2015.html#CustoMac_Mini_Deluxe) for the hardware. 16 gigs of ram certainly wouldn’t hurt… My 2011 Mac Mini has 8 and it’s getting a little cranky. My wife is still using a 2006-2007 Macbook! I may try to upgrade her machine first as it’s got some ‘concerns’ like being abandoned for upgrades.
Although, I should probably worry about getting my new job rolling first…
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### Author:  [@Darktan](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Darktan)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/5 "2015-11-18T13:15:39Z")
I like this idea for a build. I agree that you might have to bite the bullet and get a bigger case. I think you might be overlooking something though, the onboard video. It’s going to be as great as a dedicated card but maybe you can find a MB with a decent integrated video card. I know my old POS game box motherboard can run Skyrim pretty well on it’s own. The MB runs DDR 2 ram so that should tell you how old it is. It’s due for an upgrade in the coming months.
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### Author:  [@Elloquin](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Elloquin)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/6 "2015-11-18T14:26:29Z")
You just need to find a 2u case that uses a PCIE riser card. I know they make them for 1u configurations.
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### Author:  [@RoadRunner](https://cog.discourse.group/u/RoadRunner)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/7 "2015-11-18T20:30:28Z")
Yeah, but then he would need to find a server class motherboard, or possibly re-purpose one from a SFF chassis from HP or Dell, but that could introduce all new headaches.
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### Author:  [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/8 "2015-11-18T22:01:25Z")
Maybe best to wait and work on the Mac case. That solves most of the problems, as there’s actually quite a lot of space in a Classic Mac enclosure once you dump the CRT in a dumpster somewhere.
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### Author:  [@CaffeinatedNoms](https://cog.discourse.group/u/CaffeinatedNoms)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/9 "2015-11-19T14:37:01Z")
Why dump the CRT when you can have infinite fun turning it into an oscilloscope?
Or just overvolt it and watch it implode! 😃
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### Author:  [@Woodman](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Woodman)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/10 "2015-11-19T22:36:29Z")
KY Jelly…
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### Author:  [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/11 "2015-11-20T12:33:45Z")
> [@CaffeinatedNoms](#):
>
> Why dump the CRT when you can have infinite fun turning it into an oscilloscope?
>
> Or just overvolt it and watch it implode! 😃
One of my delays for this build is finding a host case cheap. I’ve _got_ an old Mac Classic on the shelf and only a few remaining threads of nostalgia about it: It theoretically works (did last time I tried!) and so there’s a few people who’d actually want the thing (check on reddit’s /r/vintagemac) even if I find anything without a proper modern ethernet or wifi interface to be beneath my interest. I’ve missed the peak period for availability for these, as schools got rid of their 80s PCs years ago. Also, did I mention yard sales make me break out in disinterest?
So it looks like I’m putting this on hold as I wait for money to come in and look for a suitable enclosure. I figure once I find a ‘host’ I’ll toss the guts and make an acrylic rectangle to act as a non-conducting base for the motherboard, and build everything else off of that.
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### Author:  [@CaffeinatedNoms](https://cog.discourse.group/u/CaffeinatedNoms)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/12 "2015-11-20T19:53:01Z")
I’ll buy the Classic off you for the price of shipping 😃 I grew up with one but it died about a decade ago, I miss the lil bugger.
I think it’s strange you’re having trouble finding a broken one to salvage, eBay UK is packed full of broken ones for ~£50. And working ones from between £50 and £5000… some people don’t understand comparing prices before they sell things hehe
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### Author:  [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/13 "2015-11-20T20:30:08Z")
I’d sell it, but shipping these is a huge pain, especially overseas!
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### Author:  [@ClockWorkXon](https://cog.discourse.group/u/ClockWorkXon)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/14 "2015-11-20T20:49:36Z")
Can’t you just email it?
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### Author:  [@Force10](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Force10)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/15 "2015-11-20T20:57:36Z")
Sure, if you want to reactivate the MCP to digitize it into the system. That didn’t work out so well last time though.
End of line.
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### Author:  [@ClockWorkXon](https://cog.discourse.group/u/ClockWorkXon)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/16 "2015-11-20T21:03:58Z")
It’s **computer** stuff. You can **email** computer stuff!
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### Author:  [@CaffeinatedNoms](https://cog.discourse.group/u/CaffeinatedNoms)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/17 "2015-11-20T22:40:00Z")
With these new-fangled 3D printers, I’m sure you probably could email _some_ of it…
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### Author:  [@balance](https://cog.discourse.group/u/balance)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/18 "2015-11-30T14:59:25Z")
I got a Classic off eBay, so it looks like I may actually try to do this early next year. I think the next challenge is to get the LCD panel I’m using for the secondary (small) monitor and start working on how to fix that in the case.
I’ll have to start taking pics as I work. I think what I’ll do is replace the Mac motherboard with a piece of acrylic that is as thick as will fit in the provided slots, and drill to mount the modern (but tiny) motherboard to that. Even with some of the ‘heavy’ stuff in a modern DIY PC, I’m thinking it’ll be a net loss of weight.
Definitely a net loss overall: The CRT itself is probably 6+ pounds of the roughly 16 a Classic is rated at. After that the biggest chunk is probably the power supply, which will remain hefty, but I think a modern ‘mid range’ supply is lighter than the combined analog board (power supply and feeds the CRT) in the origional-style one-piece Macs.
One issue I’m considering is what to do with the floppy slot. Putting a slot-style optical drive in would make the most sense, I think. I have zero interest in a working floppy drive…
Once the machine comes in I’ll strip it of old hardware and start documenting. No need to rush here.
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### Author:  [@Woodman](https://cog.discourse.group/u/Woodman)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/19 "2015-11-30T15:10:23Z")
> [@balance](#):
>
> One issue I’m considering is what to do with the floppy slot. Putting a slot-style optical drive in would make the most sense, I think. I have zero interest in a working floppy drive…
Install a cup holder.
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### Author:  [@MikeP](https://cog.discourse.group/u/MikeP)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://cog.discourse.group/t/how-can-i-make-a-thing-fit-in-this-thing/1078/20 "2015-11-30T19:40:34Z")
> [@balance](#):
>
> I have zero interest in a working floppy drive…
In a what?
(I haven’t had one of those for a good number of years - I suspect that when I buy my next PC I’ll be tossing up whether to include a DVD drive 😄)
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