Owners of Apple's 2019 Mac Pro could repurpose its enclosure for a custom PC using a conversion kit being crowdfunded by Practical Prototyping (via Hackster).
The project comes after Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in March, confirming that it has no plans for future models. For owners of the 2019 Intel-based tower, the conversion offers a potential way to keep using its distinctive enclosure 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 need to 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 some restrictions. The reported graphics card limit is 308mm in length and 140mm in height, while air coolers can be up to 140mm tall. A separate mounting accessory supports a 240mm liquid cooler, and the design accommodates two SATA drives in either the 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch format.
The conversion is designed to reuse Apple's three front fans through custom adapter boards, along with the power button and indicator light. An interface for the two top-mounted USB-C connectors supports USB 3.1 Gen 1.
Pledges for the kit on Kickstarter start at approximately $500, excluding shipping, according to Hackster. Shipping is estimated to begin in March 2027, although crowdfunding pledges do not guarantee delivery.
