Ok I have a g5 currently but I really don't want to upgrade to a mac pro I rather get a hackintosh. What configurations are you kind folks running? I am looking for something as fast as the Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon version. 4gb ram and a good graphics card for using motion and apple color. If someone can post there setup they use and what it costs I would really appreciate it. I would love to spend less than $1000. I will be editing hdv most of the time if that helps thanks!

You want 8 cores, 4gb ram and good graphics for less than one thousand bucks? Not happening.

Mobo(intel 5000x): http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;Order=PRICE ($330-600+)

CPUs: Intel E5405 2Ghz Quad Core 1333Mhz FSB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819117151 $252 x2

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819117143 2.83Ghz Xeon Quad core 1333Mhz FSB $734 x 2

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130318 ($250)

RAM: FB-DIMM or DDR2 667(depends on which 5000x you get..): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820220230 (4GB DDR2-667 $111)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820161178 (4GB FB-DIMM $168)

Total price: $2486 at most, $2159 cheapest(with 2.83Ghz CPUs), $1522 at most, $1195 cheapest(with 2Ghz processors)..


If you can deal with quads, however, these 'prototype'(Q9450 is a Penryn, not out yet) specs should work nicely:

CPU: Q9450 2.66Ghz 1333Mhz FSB 12MB L2 Cache $387(according to buy.com on a google search..)
GPU: 8800GT $250 (link above)
RAM: 4GB DDR2 800 $94 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231122
MOBO: Gigabyte P35C-DS3R(or whichever P35 chipset you like, any will work in OSx86 nicely..) $159 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;x=0&y=0
Total cost: $890
Hope that helps.

Thanks that did help. How does your system run? I guess I am looking for something a tad faster than this hackintosh that works. So I guess something like that with a faster graphics card that runs FCP2. Does that sound doable for under $1000.
I just figure if the Lifehacker mac was under $800 I could put up $200 more and get a faster system.

My e4500 system is pretty quick, gets a geekbench score of 4100(first gen mac pros with quad core get the same score), and the 7900 is alright. I don't use apps like FCP though, so I can't say how my rig would perform there. Did you check out the 'prototype' specs I posted? That rig would FLY for $890..

Hey Dax that prototype system does look nice. I don't really want to be the guinea pig so I don't know if I would jump on it. Any idea when it is coming out? Anything else already out that you think will work? How much will you sell me yours for? Newbie question - can the processor be overclocked? Thanks I really appreciate it.

the new mac pro's are very competitive priced, so i don't think you find a much cheaper hackintosh with the same specs.

Competitively priced? Hmmm, a 24" Imac is $2300 canadian. This is with only a dual core, only 2 gigs of mem, and only 1 500 gig drive and the vid card is only a 8800 gs, not a gt but just a gs.

The Hackintosh is definitely the better way to go. That is as long as you can handle building your own system. If money is no object then by all means take a couple hundred out right now and put a match to it.

Ok, that was a little harsh, if you are buying for a business and you are already super busy and can use the expenditure as a tax write off then for sure get a MAC or iMAC.

Anyone have any dual quad setups that they have working?

iMacs aren't the comparison point (since they also come with monitors). hackintoshes compare to either mac minis or mac pros. The mac pro is competitively priced for what it is (as long as you don't buy additional RAM or disk from Apple). However, most people don't need or want octo-core xeons. You can build a very fast quad core hack with good video for under $1000. You can buy a capable hack (low end) for less than $500 if you shop deals and carefully pick parts.

However, it's pretty hard to piece together a dual CPU system with a pair of quad core CPUs (typically xeons) running FB-DIMM ECC memory for less than what Apple wants for a Mac Pro. If you really need/want 8 cores, get a Mac Pro. If you want to save money, can deal with steep learning curves, and only need quad core (or better video options than a mini/iMac), a hackintosh may be for you.

(and if you buy an iMac, have fun 3 years from now when the computer is obsolete, but still embedded in a 24" 1920x1200 display).