Owners of Apple's 2019 Mac Pro can repurpose its distinctive enclosure for a custom PC using a conversion kit crowdfunded by Practical Prototyping. The project follows Apple's discontinuation of the Mac Pro in March, with the company confirming no plans for future models. For owners of the Intel-based tower, the conversion offers a way to keep using the case with newer PC components.
Mechanical engineer Stefan Bond developed the kit to accommodate a conventional ATX motherboard and power supply inside the Mac Pro 7,1 chassis. The proposed conversion is reversible, with no permanent changes to the case required. Builders must provide their own computer components and remove Apple's existing internals before installing the kit.
The package supplies mounting hardware and adapters rather than a complete computer, so the enclosure, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, and power supply are separate expenses. Space inside the converted enclosure imposes restrictions, including a 308mm graphics card limit and 140mm air cooler height. A separate mounting accessory supports a 240mm liquid cooler, and the design accommodates two SATA drives.
The conversion reuses Apple's three front fans through custom adapter boards, along with the power button and indicator light. Pledges on Kickstarter start at approximately $500, with shipping estimated to begin in March 2027.
Source: MacRumors · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing