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Power Mac on side
Hey guys,
Are there any issues (aside from loading discs being a pain) to laying a PowerMac g5 (the big metal one) on it’s side?
I know it’s ok with older Macs (I’ve seen it), but I’m upgrading my Equipment Rack and would love to put the G5 in the enclosure as well.
Thanks Herd!
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7 Replies
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[JNeo25] “I know it’s ok with older Macs (I’ve seen it), but I’m upgrading my Equipment Rack and would love to put the G5 in the enclosure as well.”
Yep it’s fine to lay it on it’s side. But keep in mind you’ll need to hacksaw off the handles to make it fit into a standard 19″ rack unit. Read my article on the high definition for the road and you’ll see how I cut one of my machines.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Wow. I don’t know if I have the balls to cut up my primary source of income, yet. My G5 is still a few more crashes away from ticking me off that much :-).
I think I’ll just opt for the taller rack, go verticle, and save myself the stress. Thanks though!
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It’s really not all that bad. Marathon Computing makes a really nice slide rack for the machine if you wen that route. They actually give the directions on how to cut the machine.
Of course it probably voids all warranties and such, so that may not be the path for you.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Dang. Looks like Marathon Computer went out of biz. I guess I’ll get one from these guys.
https://www.martinandziegler.com/racks.htm
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[walter biscardi] “Yep it’s fine to lay it on it’s side.”
Walter,
I am definitely no engineer. I respect your experience with the Power Mac, and I appreciate your posts at Creative Cow. However, in this instance, your reply to JNeo25 contradicts my understanding from some of the Apple documentation.
Taken from one edition of the Power Mac G5 User’s Guide:
from “Positioning the Computer and Display” (page 5)
…
“Warning:
Apple recommends that you operate your Power Mac G5 in an upright
position with the side panel in place. The computer does not operate properly when
it is placed on its side or when the side panel is removed.”
…from “Important Safety Information”/”Liquid Cooling System” (page 85)
…
“Warning: Always operate your computer in an upright position. In the unlikely event
that coolant leaks in or from your computer, disconnect all electrical power to the
computer and do not restart it. Contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider or
Apple for information about servicing your computer.
After disconnecting electrical power, you can clean up coolant using an absorbent
cloth. Avoid inhaling or direct contact with skin: coolant may cause minor skin
irritation. If coolant contacts skin, wash well with soap and water. If coolant contacts
eyes, rinse thoroughly with water. Dispose of all clean-up materials in accordance with
your local environmental laws, regulations, and guidelines.
Coolant may be harmful if swallowed. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are
available at http://www.apple.com/about/environment/use/lcs.html.”
…I interpret the above references as discouraging horizontal orientation of (at least some) Power Mac G5 computers. Does the second warning listed above imply that liquid cooling system leaks could occur if a liquid-cooled Power Mac G5 were operated on its side? Could it also be possible that the Power Mac G5’s thermal (airflow) engineering and design characteristics depend on a vertical orientation? ???
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Jesus…sounds like that coolant is made of Happy Fun Ball guts.
I just upgraded the rack order to a 70 incher, so I can put it upright. Whew!
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[keyframe] “I interpret the above references as discouraging horizontal orientation of (at least some) Power Mac G5 computers. Does the second warning listed above imply that liquid cooling system leaks could occur if a liquid-cooled Power Mac G5 were operated on its side?”
Could be on the liquid cooled machines, I run the original Dual 2.0 and it has absolutely no issues running on it’s side. You just need to ensure good airflow front to back which we do have in our setup.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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