Kage_ Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Hello Everyone, I'm new to this site, but been around mac's going back to OS 6. My current setup is a Beige G3/333 running a hacked version of 10.3.x since the last 'offical' version was 10.2. Since my current machine is getting really out of date I have been looking into building a new Gray Box Mac (non-apple hardware) to run OS X86 and XP with the main concern with OS X. I would like to go to the AMD side of things due to some recent reviews of how the new AMD dual core chips tromped all over the Intel dual cores including the most expensive Intel dual core. Link to the Dual Core Review on Computer Shopper From poking around the forums and gleaning info from various users it seems that the Gigabyte brand mobo's is the place to start. As for the processor i'm not quite sure which one. I have seen one user here that's running a 2.5Ghz Opteron 165 DC. The next question would be about the video. The main reason for having windows installed at all is for the games. I miss my games since my old machine won't run anything that is even remotely up to date. My preference is nVidia. I like the way the nVidia's does it's texture rendering and such, and since I want to play games in windows I want a nice graphics card. I was heart broken when I had to give up my nVidia to go with an ATI to upgrade my G3 from 9 to X. What graphic card would be the way to go? Are there any nic cards to watch out for? Is there one that's more compatible with X86? Of course USB 2.0 and Firewire if possible. Does X86 support SATA and PCIX? So in summary: MOBO: Gigabyte ???? Proc: AMD ???? Video: ???? Nic: ??? Any other pieces to watch out for? Thanks, Kage_ Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabr Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Any other pieces to watch out for? Kage_ If you're going AMD, you're probably going to need to buy a Network card if you want internet to work (that is if you need to use an Ethernet/LAN port ). I would suggest the 3Com905C-TX (works for me!). Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68206 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protoss Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 Actually if you can find a motherboard with the Marvell 88E8053 (or something like that) it works with the 10.4.4 Marvell OSX drivers. No luck on the 8001 though Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68219 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kage_ Posted March 5, 2006 Author Share Posted March 5, 2006 If you're going AMD, you're probably going to need to buy a Network card if you want internet to work (that is if you need to use an Ethernet/LAN port ). I would suggest the 3Com905C-TX (works for me!). SABR, Do you have any video issues with your setup? Are you able to run higher than 1024 x 768? Do you have any problems with getting the sound to work? Thanks, Kage_ Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68900 Share on other sites More sharing options...
New001 Posted March 5, 2006 Share Posted March 5, 2006 Hello Everyone, I'm new to this site, but been around mac's going back to OS 6. My current setup is a Beige G3/333 running a hacked version of 10.3.x since the last 'offical' version was 10.2. Since my current machine is getting really out of date I have been looking into building a new Gray Box Mac (non-apple hardware) to run OS X86 and XP with the main concern with OS X. I would like to go to the AMD side of things due to some recent reviews of how the new AMD dual core chips tromped all over the Intel dual cores including the most expensive Intel dual core. Link to the Dual Core Review on Computer Shopper From poking around the forums and gleaning info from various users it seems that the Gigabyte brand mobo's is the place to start. As for the processor i'm not quite sure which one. I have seen one user here that's running a 2.5Ghz Opteron 165 DC. The next question would be about the video. The main reason for having windows installed at all is for the games. I miss my games since my old machine won't run anything that is even remotely up to date. My preference is nVidia. I like the way the nVidia's does it's texture rendering and such, and since I want to play games in windows I want a nice graphics card. I was heart broken when I had to give up my nVidia to go with an ATI to upgrade my G3 from 9 to X. What graphic card would be the way to go? Are there any nic cards to watch out for? Is there one that's more compatible with X86? Of course USB 2.0 and Firewire if possible. Does X86 support SATA and PCIX? So in summary: MOBO: Gigabyte ???? Proc: AMD ???? Video: ???? Nic: ??? Any other pieces to watch out for? Thanks, Kage_ Maybe you should look at this review. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68904 Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrunner Posted March 5, 2006 Share Posted March 5, 2006 Are there any nic cards to watch out for? Is there one that's more compatible with X86?Of course USB 2.0 and Firewire if possible. Does X86 support SATA and PCIX?AMD has an edge in performance, but the CPU and support chipset (from nVidia, VIA and SIS) are not well supported. For example, there is yet any support for SATA on the nForce chipset and there are problems with VIA chipset and USB support. There are minor software problems with AMD CPUs (with 10.4.5 for example). The various patches for OSX often also required special AMDenabler patches just to make it run. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68929 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kage_ Posted March 5, 2006 Author Share Posted March 5, 2006 Maybe you should look at this review. Very intersting article. I liked they went at reviewing the processors at there overclocking aspects. It seems that AMD still has the edge, but not by much. This is the first review I have read that makes me want seriously consider an Intel chip. Also, considering what I am wanting to do with the machine I'm going to have to take a closer look at the Intel 920. From my suppliers site where I get my hardware the 920 is about $60 cheaper than the 3800+. AMD has an edge in performance, but the CPU and support chipset (from nVidia, VIA and SIS) are not well supported. For example, there is yet any support for SATA on the nForce chipset and there are problems with VIA chipset and USB support. There are minor software problems with AMD CPUs (with 10.4.5 for example). The various patches for OSX often also required special AMDenabler patches just to make it run. Thanks for the info thrunner. You answered a couple of questions I had about SATA and USB support with AMD. I think I'm going to start consentrating my research to an Intel box. Do you have any recommendataions on addon Graphics cards that are well supported? I'm planning on running OS X as my day to day OS, but have XP loaded for gaming so a good graphics card is a must. Also, how well is PCIX supported? Thanks, Kage_ Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68939 Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrunner Posted March 5, 2006 Share Posted March 5, 2006 an Intel box. Do you have any recommendataions on addon Graphics cards that are well supported? I'm planning on running OS X as my day to day OS, but have XP loaded for gaming so a good graphics card is a must. Also, how well is PCIX supported?newer x1n00 type ATI PCI-E are well supported, this is an example of a video editing setup:(it could be better with a Pentium D (dual core) starting at the 805 for $145 instead of the Pentium 630) MB: Asus P5LD2-VM Processor: Pentitum 630 (3 Ghz) For now... Video: Sahphire x1600 PCI-E (Has mouse tearing, but full 1600x1200 support) SATA2 300 M/b Hard drive Western Digital Memory=1 Gig+(Dual 512) (Ocz Pc2 DDR2 5400) ADS Firewire Card. http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?s=...indpost&p=65012 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-68960 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabr Posted March 5, 2006 Share Posted March 5, 2006 SABR, Do you have any video issues with your setup? Are you able to run higher than 1024 x 768? Do you have any problems with getting the sound to work? Thanks, Kage_ Hey... I can get my resolution to 1280x1024x32@60... There aren't any drivers for nVidia yet, but there will be some soon (i think so anyway). When apple release an intel system with an nVidia GPU, then we'll be well on our way to getting some drivers. Until then, these people are probably our best hope: http://macvidia.plusmediamusic.com/ Onboard audio didn't work out-of-the-box, but it did work after following this guide: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Audio. Also, 10.4.5 thinks my CPU is running at 3Ghz, when infact it's at 2.2Ghz. However, that's no big deal. Other than that, everything is good! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/10858-the-best-amd-combo-for-x86-setup/#findComment-69062 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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