Why a kit is needed
The Mac Pro 7,1 was built around Apple's own platform. As Notebookcheck notes, most of its components, including the motherboard and power supply, are proprietary and cannot be swapped for off-the-shelf PC parts. Developer Stefan Bond makes the same point. He says the original internal hardware is proprietary and tied to Apple's platform. The kit is meant to change that.
The timing matters. MacRumors reports that Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in March and has no plans for future models. Owners of the Intel tower have no successor to move to, so reusing the chassis has some appeal.
What the kit does
With the kit, the Mac Pro can take a standard ATX motherboard and an ATX power supply. The conversion is described as reversible, with no permanent changes to the case. The kit also reuses some original parts:
- Front fans: Apple's three front fans are reused through custom adapter boards.
- Controls: the power button and indicator light stay in use.
- Top USB-C ports: an interface for the two top-mounted USB-C connectors supports USB 3.1 Gen 1.
Mezha's report lists more of the contents. It mentions two drive sleds and cables, a motherboard and power-supply mounting plate, fasteners, an internal power cable, and a bracket for the motherboard's rear connections and expansion slots. A processor-cooling cover costs extra.
Fit limits to check before buying parts
These are the reported clearances. Measure your own components against them.
| Component | Reported limit |
|---|---|
| Graphics card | 308 mm long, 140 mm tall |
| Air CPU cooler | 140 mm tall |
| Liquid cooling | A separate mounting accessory supports a 240 mm liquid cooler. |
| Storage | Two SATA drives, 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch |
These are fit dimensions for the proposed design. They don't guarantee that any particular motherboard, cooler or GPU will work. Bond says the conversion is designed around the original chassis geometry. I have seen no independent testing across a range of parts.
Price and the real cost
Notebookcheck says the complete kit costs CA$699 (about $499) during the Kickstarter campaign. That is only the kit. MacRumors says the package supplies mounting hardware and adapters, not a complete computer, so you also pay for the enclosure, CPU, memory, GPU, storage and power supply. Mezha adds that buyers must supply the Mac Pro case and buy the motherboard, processor, graphics card, memory, power supply, storage and cooling separately.
Forum commenters were blunt about the economics. One MacRumors forum poster complained that the tower plus your own components could push the total past $3,000. That is one reader's estimate, not a verified figure. Used 2019 Mac Pro prices were not part of the reporting I could verify, so check the market yourself.
Campaign risk
- Funding is not secured. At the time of Notebookcheck's report, the project had only three backers, far short of its CA$15,000 goal, with 25 days left. Campaign totals change daily, so treat that as a snapshot.
- Delivery is uncertain. Shipping is estimated to begin in March 2027, but crowdfunding pledges do not guarantee delivery.
- It is not for beginners. The kit is aimed at experienced desktop builders, because the Mac Pro has to be taken apart and rebuilt with separate PC components. Mezha says an installation guide will be included.
Who this suits
This is for people who love the "Cheesegrater" enclosure, already have a 2019 tower, and want a modern ATX platform inside it, possibly running Windows or Linux. The reporting doesn't cover operating-system support. It follows from the hardware being a standard ATX PC, but nobody has demonstrated it. If you only want a fast PC, a conventional case will be cheaper and have fewer clearance limits. As one MacRumors forum commenter put it, this is about the look and the fun, not the economics. The comment is a paraphrase of that thread.
The kit is worth watching, especially if the campaign gains backers and builders start posting real-world installs. Until then, it is a clever design on paper.