I'm considering getting a cheap Dell for use in a Hackintosh project. Why use a Dell, you wonder? Why I have a $250 gift certificate to Dell plus an employer discount on Dells. So I'm pretty committed to a Dell box. Based on my limited research on my topic the E520 appears to be my best bet, with price factored in. Here are the specs:
Intel G965 Express Chipset
Pentium D 805 (2.66GHzx2, 533FSB)
1GB Dual Channel DDR2@533Mhz SDRAM
250GB SATA @ 7200 RPM
Intel X3000 Graphics
Integrated audio (no chipset specified)
Integrated network (no chipset specified)
I'm shooting for cheap but functional, with enough HD space for dual-booting.
I don't believe the X3000 graphics are supported, but I intend to drop in a Nvidia 6600GT anyway (I'm assuming this thing will have enough juice for a 6600GT @ 305 watts.) Audio may also be a problem, but I can solve that with a Creative Xmod (it works fine on my current Hackintosh.) Networking has me worried, though.
All input welcome...
Full Version: Best Dell for Hackintosh Project
OS X has a LOT of issues with 965-based systems. You may want to look for something that uses 975.
All the Dell models with an Intel CPU are based on the 965 chipset. Now they do sell e521's with nForce 430 chipsets. Would an nForce 430 actually be a better choice than a 965 system?
QUOTE(imrazor @ Mar 8 2007, 05:57 AM) 
I'm considering getting a cheap Dell for use in a Hackintosh project. Why use a Dell, you wonder? Why I have a $250 gift certificate to Dell plus an employer discount on Dells. So I'm pretty committed to a Dell box. Based on my limited research on my topic the E520 appears to be my best bet, with price factored in. Here are the specs:
Intel G965 Express Chipset
Pentium D 805 (2.66GHzx2, 533FSB)
1GB Dual Channel DDR2@533Mhz SDRAM
250GB SATA @ 7200 RPM
Intel X3000 Graphics
Integrated audio (no chipset specified)
Integrated network (no chipset specified)
I'm shooting for cheap but functional, with enough HD space for dual-booting.
I don't believe the X3000 graphics are supported, but I intend to drop in a Nvidia 6600GT anyway (I'm assuming this thing will have enough juice for a 6600GT @ 305 watts.) Audio may also be a problem, but I can solve that with a Creative Xmod (it works fine on my current Hackintosh.) Networking has me worried, though.
All input welcome...
Intel G965 Express Chipset
Pentium D 805 (2.66GHzx2, 533FSB)
1GB Dual Channel DDR2@533Mhz SDRAM
250GB SATA @ 7200 RPM
Intel X3000 Graphics
Integrated audio (no chipset specified)
Integrated network (no chipset specified)
I'm shooting for cheap but functional, with enough HD space for dual-booting.
I don't believe the X3000 graphics are supported, but I intend to drop in a Nvidia 6600GT anyway (I'm assuming this thing will have enough juice for a 6600GT @ 305 watts.) Audio may also be a problem, but I can solve that with a Creative Xmod (it works fine on my current Hackintosh.) Networking has me worried, though.
All input welcome...
GX620. Everything works with just a little tweaking
I have a Dell 5150, and everything is working great.
Specs -
1.5GB RAM
Intel PD 820
1 80GB HD w/ Windows XP Installed
1 80GB HD w/ Mac OSX 10.4.6 Installed
ATI X300 Radeon PCI-E w/ QE Enabled
Specs -
1.5GB RAM
Intel PD 820
1 80GB HD w/ Windows XP Installed
1 80GB HD w/ Mac OSX 10.4.6 Installed
ATI X300 Radeon PCI-E w/ QE Enabled
^^ what they said.
I got an E520 almost identical specs to the one you're looking at, figured with the GMA graphics I could hack the rest of it together. My ancient Dimension 8200 is still my preferred OS-X machine because that E520 has so many issues, now I just use it to run SUSE and will prob ebay it. Installation is a pain, I don't think any of the hardware works out of the box, you have to piece everything together. It gets there but takes a long time, take another look at some of the more compatible systems others are posting.
I got an E520 almost identical specs to the one you're looking at, figured with the GMA graphics I could hack the rest of it together. My ancient Dimension 8200 is still my preferred OS-X machine because that E520 has so many issues, now I just use it to run SUSE and will prob ebay it. Installation is a pain, I don't think any of the hardware works out of the box, you have to piece everything together. It gets there but takes a long time, take another look at some of the more compatible systems others are posting.
QUOTE(user2 @ Mar 9 2007, 12:40 AM)
GX620. Everything works with just a little tweaking
Hmm, the GX620 looks like it's a business machine. Can a mere mortal like me get one? Plus it looks like even a stripped down model runs around $800, and I'm trying to keep it cheap...
Denied, I'll take your advice and skip the E520, but I may have some penny pinching to do to save up for a GX620.
QUOTE(imrazor @ Mar 11 2007, 04:07 AM)
Hmm, the GX620 looks like it's a business machine. Can a mere mortal like me get one? Plus it looks like even a stripped down model runs around $800, and I'm trying to keep it cheap...
Denied, I'll take your advice and skip the E520, but I may have some penny pinching to do to save up for a GX620.
Denied, I'll take your advice and skip the E520, but I may have some penny pinching to do to save up for a GX620.
I picked up a Inspiron 530 in Feb when there was a good sale and it works amazingly well.
It has a Foxconn G33 MB and I got it for $399 CDN. Kalyway installed no problem and all I had to do was patch the audio and buy a video card because the GMA3100 is not supported. Works great as of now with 10.5.2.
Edit: Just realized I replied to a 2007 post. I thought that said 2008.
QUOTE(jeffrey2420 @ Apr 15 2008, 01:22 AM)
I picked up a Inspiron 530 in Feb when there was a good sale and it works amazingly well.
It has a Foxconn G33 MB and I got it for $399 CDN. Kalyway installed no problem and all I had to do was patch the audio and buy a video card because the GMA3100 is not supported. Works great as of now with 10.5.2.
Edit: Just realized I replied to a 2007 post. I thought that said 2008.
It has a Foxconn G33 MB and I got it for $399 CDN. Kalyway installed no problem and all I had to do was patch the audio and buy a video card because the GMA3100 is not supported. Works great as of now with 10.5.2.
Edit: Just realized I replied to a 2007 post. I thought that said 2008.
hahaha lol, i was about to reply too, but saw ur edit first =)
QUOTE(jeffrey2420 @ Apr 15 2008, 03:22 AM)
I picked up a Inspiron 530 in Feb when there was a good sale and it works amazingly well.
It has a Foxconn G33 MB and I got it for $399 CDN. Kalyway installed no problem and all I had to do was patch the audio and buy a video card because the GMA3100 is not supported. Works great as of now with 10.5.2.
Edit: Just realized I replied to a 2007 post. I thought that said 2008.
It has a Foxconn G33 MB and I got it for $399 CDN. Kalyway installed no problem and all I had to do was patch the audio and buy a video card because the GMA3100 is not supported. Works great as of now with 10.5.2.
Edit: Just realized I replied to a 2007 post. I thought that said 2008.
What about his one?
Dell 530 with E8200 2x2,66 and 2600Xt graphics card?
How do i know which chipset is used?
Thanks!
DELL is certainly not the best brand to choose for OSX86, on most cases 2nd CPU core isn't supported.
QUOTE(krazubu @ Apr 18 2008, 12:15 PM)
DELL is certainly not the best brand to choose for OSX86, on most cases 2nd CPU core isn't supported.
Ok, Thanks!
Looking for the Gigabyte P35
QUOTE(krazubu @ Apr 18 2008, 06:15 AM)
DELL is certainly not the best brand to choose for OSX86, on most cases 2nd CPU core isn't supported.
Both CPU cores are recognized on my Dell. I can't vouch for other ones but mine works great.
Isn't "Best Dell" kinda an oxymoron? 
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.