Apple will release the 2019 Mac Pro on Tuesday, December 10th. For many of us, $5,999 base price is a non-starter. I had this plan to build a Mac tower myself using these components:
- 2018 Mac mini [i5-8500B, 32GB RAM, 256GB SSD]
- Phanteks Shift Evolv X ITX computer case
- FSP 550W SFX power supply
- Mantiz Venus TB3 mainboard + daughterboard
- AMD Radeon RX 5700 graphics card
- Wavelink UTE02 NVMe M.2 TB3 enclosure
- SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB NVMe drive
- 1x 200mm cooling fan
- 2x 140mm cooling fans
- Other miscellaneous cables and accessories
The idea is to insert the Mac mini inside the CPU + Motherboard compartment of the ITX case. As seen below it's almost a perfect fit. The Phanteks Evolv Shift X was designed to have a separate compartment for the GPU which connects to the motherboard through a PCIe extension cable. This works to my advantage because I could simply route the PCIe extension cable to the eGPU board.
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I/O orientation is at the top of the ITX tower. It allows easy access and cable management. The bottom compartment is where the PSU and cooling components reside. I will find a spot for the Thunderbolt 3 mainboard in this space. The R9 Fury X would exhaust hot air through the bottom where its radiator and cooling fan mounted to the case frame. There are space to mount two 140mm cooling fans vertically. I would need a USB fan controller to run them in order to cool the Mac mini better. This is what the final product would look like.
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Can't afford the new 2019 Mac Pro? Me neither. I'm building a Mac tower myself. [2018 Mac mini + ITX Tower + R9 Fury X eGPU + NVMe SSD] pic.twitter.com/nuOQKUnQP0
— Truong Nguyen (@theitsage) December 9, 2019
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2020 15" HP Spectre X360 [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
That is really cool! What are the CPU temps like on the mac mini while it's in there?
Dell XPS 13 9360 Linux + Dell XPS 13 7390 Linux/Windows + AORUS Gaming Box GTX 1080
2019 13" Dell XPS 13 7390 [10th,6C,U] + GTX 1080 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Linux & Win10 1909 [build link]
@sadxps It's not complete yet. Once I have everything up and running I will observe operating temps for sure.
• external graphics card builds
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2020 15" HP Spectre X360 [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
@itsage Thanks for sharing!
It'd be cool to see you include a quad nvme pcie Expansion card in this case. Something like the ASUS Hyper PCIe 3.0 X4 Expansion Card Supports 4 NVMe.
I'm not sure about the compatibility of this exact card but there's gotta be something out there that would work similarly. Would pair nicely with the R43SG-TB3.
Maybe a bit overkill but epic nonetheless.
2018 Mac Mini - ADT-Link R43SG-TB3 - Red Devil RX 5700 xt
I found this AC Affinity fan controller that may fit nicely behind the tempered glass.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 15" HP Spectre X360 [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
@itsage Nice find. Would you be using some USB to PWM adapters as below?
https://www.amazon.com/4-Pin-Sleeved-Power-Adapter-Cable/dp/B071NN5PSL/
It seems like an elegant option would to have your fans controlled by SW if possible... Unless this is just for a case fan
1070 Ti: 2014 Mac mini / 2016 MBP 15"
Mini ITX Build in Dan A4 Case
2016 15" MacBook Pro (RP450) [6th,4C,H] + RX Vega 56 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (ASUS XG Station Pro) + macOS 10.14.4 & Win10 [build link]
Really nice idea!
I guess we will see quite a few of this kind of setup like yours - there is a kickstarter with a modular design as well.
Animaionic - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/animaionic/animaionic-turns-your-mac-mini-into-a-workstation
Present: 2012 Mac mini + PowerColor RX 56 Vega Nano @10Gbps-TB1 + PowerColor Mini eGFX 180F via Apple TB3 to TB2 + macOS Catalina 10.15.4
Previous: 2012 Mac Mini + GTX1070 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder3 via Apple TB3 to TB2 adapter) + macOS
2012 Mac Mini [3rd,4C,Q] + GTX 970 @ 10Gbps-TB1>TB3 (AKiTiO Node) + macOS 10.12.4 [build link]
Great thread, I was wondering if someone will make this concept into a reality and now seeing such things made me quite excited.
@itsage can you put the Mac mini without its enclosure? So the cpu temps will definitely go down. Also, do you think that it can be put into a real sff case like Dan a4 sfx or loque ghost S1?
that Kickstarter projects looks nice also but way expensive.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.@itsage I came across these fan controllers from Lamptron. Not too shabby...
1070 Ti: 2014 Mac mini / 2016 MBP 15"
Mini ITX Build in Dan A4 Case
2016 15" MacBook Pro (RP450) [6th,4C,H] + RX Vega 56 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (ASUS XG Station Pro) + macOS 10.14.4 & Win10 [build link]
@omardesu Thank you for sharing this link. I will check them out. During my test fitment of the Mantiz Venus, I realized the cooling fans could run off the fan connectors of the TB3 mainboard. If that doesn't work well the dedicated fan controller would definitely help.
@ondert The Mac mini internal could definitely be run without the case but I like the way it sits inside with the Apple logo visible through tempered glass. I removed the plastic bottom cover, and will test different airflow arrangements. One of the option is to use a 200mm cooling fan, placed right by the bottom of the Mac mini.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 15" HP Spectre X360 [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]