AppleDoc's QuickSilver Hack

[TheAppleDoctor]

Well, it's March and I'm bored. Time to do my SuperDrive + CDR hack... adding a second ATAPI drive to my machine. I am adding an Apple 32x CDROM drive in order to pick up the 33% speed boost for data access, and the ability to burn from one drive to another at the highest speed the burner will support.
I am using the existing bus connection and P6. This could be as easy as popping it in and hooking it up, but Apple has chosen to make it a teeny bit harder than that... So, this hack requires MAJOR case mods, both to metal and plastic.

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS HACK ON YOUR COMPUTER. YOU WILL VOID THE WARRANTY, AND CAN REALLY HOSE BOTH FORM AND FUNCTION.

Seriously, folks. This requires someone with a real eye for how things fit, work, and are fastened. You must have good mechanics' skills.

To get started you will NEED : (1) A 2.5 mm hex wrench (2) a small Phillips screwdriver (3) A small standard screwdriver (4) A pair of needlenose pliers (5) balls

You will WANT : (1) A pair of hemostats (for tiny dropped items) (2) A fine-tipped marker (3) Your favorite recreational mind-altering substance. (While not absolutely necessary, it does add a certain spice to the operation, like skydiving wearing only a blindfold and your primary chute.)

[TheAppleDoctor]

You will have to remove interior supports. Pay attention to how things fit and come out... you will wish you had.

[akuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by TheAppleDoctor

To get started you will NEED : (5) balls

Very nice hack. I'm thinking of doing the same to my Blue and white.

[TheAppleDoctor]

You will need a way to mount the second drive to the first. A dual bay as such will not fit, nor will it align properly.
Who says there's no use for a Windoze machine... a little work with a cutting wheel... once prepped, set them aside... the scary/fun stuff is next... and will be posted once done (probably tomorrow evening... the case work is being done in my buddy's auto shop).

btw... these pics and posts are all coming from my very naked QS.

[TheAppleDoctor]

The work on everything I could take out of the case is done. To do the the stuff shown here you will need a MotoTool with heavy duty cutoff wheels (I went through eight), assorted grinding stones for the metal, and a small high-speed cutter and assorted polishing wheels for the plastic.
Watch your tool speed on the plastic, it WILL melt if your speed is too high, and splinter if its too low!
Tonight (probably) I will start cutting on and in the case.

[TheAppleDoctor]

Quote:

Originally posted by pmg4lktan
Pretty IMPRESSING, Apple Doc ... :eek:

Is it neccessary for me to take out all the plastic on my QS? Why?

Can I recover them without a scratch after the hack done? :?:

Question 1: No. Hell, you can do the whole hack with the system running... if you want .

Please note that the only advice I give is DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS HACK ON YOUR COMPUTER. YOU WILL VOID THE WARRANTY, AND CAN REALLY HOSE BOTH FORM AND FUNCTION. Everything else is simply a report on what I'M doing.

Question 2: Why not? See answer #1

Question 3: I'd say that's entirely dependent on your skill level and luck.

I worked on Apple computers for a living, and I held a Master Electrician's license until I retired. I spent 10 years working on 'robotic' systems for the US Navy, and about 20 building racing VWs from split block on up just for the hell of it. What skills did I learn, and when? I dunno. Do you have a given skill? I dunno.

A hack is a hack is a hack. Not only do you get no guarantees, but you lose the ones you started with. Do it, don't do it... up to you. In the end, as in all of life, you only have yourself to blame or praise.

Quote:

Originally posted by TheAppleDoctor

A hack is a hack is a hack. Not only do you get no guarantees, but you lose the ones you started with. Do it, don't do it... up to you. In the end, as in all of life, you only have yourself to blame or praise.

I can't agree more with AppleDoc, and will offer another perhaps easier to accomplish solution.

Having built a couple of Hackintosh's in the past, if you're really interested in adding a Superdrive to your system without this kind of pain, consider another option.

There are many case configurations available for the PC marketplace. Pick one that doesn't offend your eyesite too much and transfer the guts of your Mac to it. Be sure you select one with the appropriate bays and by all means, prepare yourself properly for a tedious installation.

When you finish you'll have an ugly tower that will hopefully hold everything that you could possibly want to add to your system.

The question is, can you live without the cool plastics that Apple provided in exchange for better cooling and more flexability?

Chris Z.

[TheAppleDoctor]

Well, since they haven't fixed my car yet so I can get to PA, I decided to do some more work on the case. In my first post I warned of major case mods, and here they are:

The first picture shows the precautions taken to protect interior components. A less lazy person would have removed everything from the case instead, but I am using this thing in between bouts of work, so I passed on that one. I got lucky... I'm posting on it right now... but you may not be so lucky.
Note that ALL openings are covered... metal dust and carborundum grit is not good for electrical components. I vacuumed afterwards before removing the sheet, and used a can of air on all components after that.

The second picture is the 'after' shot.

[TheAppleDoctor]

The interior 'shelf' bracket was removed because there were two areas that needed to be cut away, and I found that I could not access one of them without removing the shelf from the case.

However, even Apple is unlikely to put something in the case that has no reason for existence. In this case I suspect that the bracket not only provides interior bracing for case strength, but that it very likely serves as a heat shield. In any event, I chose to replace it when the protruding areas were cut away. Note the small bracket that I added at the small end. This is to provide a way to reattach that end to its' original location.

I did find that the side brackets shown above were unnecessary.

[TheAppleDoctor]

Now it is time to reassemble. Clearances are small, take your time. You will find it far easier to attach the power and bus cables before the drives are entirely in place.

Close the case door very carefully, making sure that all wires are tucked away properly. There is almost no leeway with the second drive installed.

Boot it up. This is where my choice of a 32x Apple drive comes in... native support in OS9 and 10. Any drive should fit, though, so if you want a faster one just find the drivers for it.

Now the hack is almost done... just waiting for the case art...