The next step was to install the Mac mini inside the shell of the old G3. Instead of disassembling the modern mini PC, he just mounted it directly inside, trimmed its power supply to fit neatly inside the AIO, and then created a modular power system that will power all the components within the M4 iMac G3 through the original power cable. Since Apple charges an arm and a leg for extra storage, Zac added a dock with a built-in SSD slot to expand the computer’s capacity without paying hundreds of dollars for it.
With the brains of the build in place, he then added a pair of new speakers mounted on 3D printed enclosures to replace the old broken ones. They were then connected to a 200-watt digital amplifier, as the Mac mini’s 3.5 mm audio output is not powerful enough to drive them natively. He then installed it in such a way that the adjustment knobs are still easily accessible through the old RAM access door of the G3.
Of course, Zac had to 3D-print brand-new ports as he could not reach the Mac mini inside the case without removing the screen. He added a Thunderbolt port, a USB-C port, a couple of USB-A ports, and an Ethernet port, ensuring that he still had some of the functionality of the original computer despite being placed in the case. There’s no 3.5mm jack, though, as it’s already in use by the built-in speakers he added to the iMac. So, if he wants personal audio, he’ll have to stick with one of the best wireless gaming headsets .
With everything in place, the YouTuber installed a 14-inch 4K portable monitor with a custom 3D printed interposer that fills in the gap between the rounded front face and the flat display. And with that, we now have a fully working M4 iMac G3. This computer gives anyone who’s ever used the G3 back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s a hit of nostalgia, while remaining usable in modern computing. You can also catch a glimpse of the Mac mini powering the entire thing at the back, along with the clutter of wires that connect it all together. It probably would’ve been nicer if Zac cable-managed the internal spaghetti, but that’s just a minor detail in this certainly interesting build.
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Key considerations
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/intrepid-modder-builds-an-m4-powered-4k-imac-g3-with-3d-printed-parts-guts-90s-all-in-one-and-replaces-internals-with-a-mac-mini-and-an-oled-screen#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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