Building a hackintosh. Anyone else done this?

radforChrist

<div class="IPBDescription">MacPro for under $1K</div>Well, I'm tired of my late-2008 macBook not being able to handle NS2, and decided to dive in and build a new PC. I've come to love the simplicity and craftsmanship of OSX, but not interested in a $3000 price tag for a Quad core desktop with a decent graphics card. So, I decided to build a Mac Pro of my own.

I must admit I've built two other hackintosh's using the LifeHacker builds, and they've run well for the places I built them for (multimedia in non profits).

A Mac Pro 2.8GHz Quad Core, with 8GB ram and a 1GB HD5870 runs around $3000, and I'm spending only 630 dollars total for my build. Granted I only need to purchase the MB, CPU, Memory, and video card, but it's still a darn sight cheaper. Had I needed storage, case, etc, I still feel I'd be under $1000 US.

When finished, I'll have the following: 2.8GHz quadcore i5-760, 8GB PC3 12800 Ram, 2GB Sapphire HD5870, and a Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H MoBo, 3 TB (total), on a 20.5" monitor.

I was wondering if anyone else in the NS community has done this, or is interested?


And as an aside, I'll be getting a SSD drive for laptop, any opinions on the best one for performance/reliability?

Thaldarin

I've always wanted to create a hackintosh but shy'd away from it as I read a long time ago it's not so great for AMD users. If it's changed now, let me know =]

Insane

Sounds interesting, you should keep us posted.

dux

I've and OCZ vertex 2.5inch ssd in this PC and it ain't half bad. Not too sure if it was worth the price tag, though. But it boots up windows in under 18 seconds and launches photoshop in 2. I looked at the Intel ssd's and they are just like their cpus. Overpriced.

radforChrist

Thaldarin, AMD support is better, but I've just decided to stick to Intel for compatibility sake. I will install off of a standard Snow Leopard disc, which means in theory I can update it without worries.

I'll update once the build arrives, but if you are interested in reading about/doing it, I recommend checking this site: <a href="http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com</a>.

I installed OSX on a Dell mini 9 a while back, and since then, I'm hooked. I'll dual boot of course, but I much prefer OSX or *nix to Windows.

dux, Thanks! I agree Intel's SSDs seem high, but I don't want to end up getting some "budget" brand that causes issues/fails on me. I figure on keeping my macBook for a year or two more, and an SSD shoudl breathe a little life into it.

spellman23

mmm hackintosh.

I have a friend who has several, and really it's guesswork if your hardware will take properly.

I tried on a toughbook, and it didn't go so hot. Then again, toughbooks are notorious for using weird proprietary hardware that screws with stuff, so not really that surprised.

whynot

@radforChrist: I am currently on a hackintosh that I built about a week ago.. here are my specs:


PLANAR PX2710MW Black 27"

NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis

Sony Optiarc Black DVD+RW

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R Motherboard

Rosewill USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card

Intel Core i7-970 Gulftown 3.2GHz Six-Core CPU

ZOTAC ZT-40201-10P GeForce GTX 470 1GB

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W Power Supply

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3 1600

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB Internal Hard Drive

OCZ Vertex 2 80GB (SSD)

everything is working great with it. There seems to be some Fermi/CUDA issues now, I guess because MAC dropped all nVidia cards..works fine, just the drivers are out-dated and you lose some horse power with it.. I'm not sure.. anyway, I have a 2GB 5870 that will be here tomorrow that I'm swapping out. I've read on a few forums that people have issues with the 2GB version.. I'm still searching around for solutions before I open/install this new card. If you come across anything, let me know and I will do the same for you.

Thanks,
Tony.

whynot

@rad: Hey, it looks like the card should work fine. Check out this forum:

<a href="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=189646&st=380" target="_blank">http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...9646&st=380</a>

and follow bb2b's threads. He is working with a 5870 2GB card.. looks promising.. I'm excited for my card to show up tomorrow now!

radforChrist

Awesome! I know on reddit/r/hackintosh they recommended the Sapphire HD5870, I went with the Gigabyte (a little cheaper). According to the tonys86 site, Multibeast shoudlload any nVidia kexts, so it's a moot point if you're going to the ATI, but maybe try that.

I forgot to order a wireless card, gotta do that today, but I can just use the ethernet until that arrives.

Nice looking build, though, are you dual booting, and if so, using the SSD for both OS, or only one?

Drfuzzy

<img src="http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/one-pedal-car-mac-yo-dawg.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
someones gotta troll a mac thread :D

That_Annoying_Kid

aaand Fuzzy wins

Konohas Perverted Hermit

Seconded.

<img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn191/pepazdepa/scruffycopy.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

radforChrist

OK guys, everything came in today, and it's up and running.

Overall pretty simple. There is a bootloader that allows the ATI to run natively, and in 64bit. I used the instructions on the tonymac site, and within minutes it's all up. Bummed that 1 of my 2 sticks of RAM is bad, so I'm only at 4GB right now, but the RMA number is in hand and I'll ship it back in the manana.

I'm installing Windows 7 on it now, so I can load up NS2 and see if it will work, but so far, I'm EXTREMELY pleased. I'll probably set up all my software and such tomorrow, but basically copying over my home directory from my macbook.

Thaldarin

Nice. I might have a go at putting this on an Acer Aspire laptop, although I know laptops fit out at lots of things.

That_Annoying_Kid

isn't in the redundant when using manyana?


fit == fits == stutters and starts

ah you quaint UK lot, with your tardis and all