Best Mac Mini Equivalent Hardware

[maximilian298453]

To add some structure and direction for people considering building new hackintosh systems, I was thinking that figuring out the best equivalents to Apple's offerings would be useful. Might as well start at the low end: the mac mini.

 

1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor

Apple Remote with Front Row

Up to 2GB memory4

Intel GMA 950 graphics processor

Built-in Gigabit Ethernet

Analog and digital audio

Four USB 2.0 ports

Firewire Port

Slot-loading optical drive

Up to 160GB hard drive

Built-in wifi

 

Unfortunately, I'm not very experienced (still in the process of building my first hackintosh), so I hope others can chip in with suggestions. Thanks in advance.

 

I'm using the ASUS P5GC-MX 1333 motherboard for my current system (albeit with a nvidia graphics card). For about $60 it seems like a decent match to the mac mini owing to its on-board intel GMA 950 graphics. Alas, the onboard LAN seems not to work, but compatible LAN cards are extremely inexpensive so that's not much of an issue. No wifi, firewire, or remote of course. Maybe a better (or cheaper) MB match exists? It's also an ATX micro so a smallish (though not like the mac mini!) case is possible. Any good suggestions for an ATX micro case?

[Zaap]

I'd be curious if an AOpen miniPC could run Leopard. I have a feeling it will, due to the Intel 945+ICH7 chipset, and GM 950 graphics. (Even CI/QE should work.)

 

If so, it could totally pass for a Mac Mini, and even an iMac once VESA-mounted to the back of a monitor. Of course, I'm also thinking it costs just about as much, if not more than a Mac once spec'ed out beyond the most basic config.

 

One of the things I love about the OSx86 project is getting away from the strict limitations of Apple's designs and being able to spec out mid-range, expandable Macs that there's no Apple equavalent to. But it is fun to come up with ideas for small-ish Hackintoshes, though personally I draw the line at funky laptop hardware in a desktop.

 

Here's a <$400 mATX spec I'm currently working on as my next for-someone-else (who wants a small form factor Mac) build:

 

Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2C (onboard GM950 graphics) $50

 

Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale $120 (the stock HSF is very low-profile)

 

2GB Mushkin DDR2 800 $37 (after $12.50 rebate)

 

250GB Seagate SATA $60

 

LiteON 20 SATA DVD Burner $26

 

Low Profile FireWire PCI card $16

 

IN WIN IW MicroATX Case w 300W PSU $50

 

Total: $371 before death and taxes.

 

 

The case/PSU I'm a little nervous about- it's small-ish, but usually I avoid micro ATX cases like the plauge for their tiny, often noisy, underpowered PSUs, and crappy small case fans. But this one looks pretty good + doesn't have an abundance of terrible reviews, so I'm going to give it a shot.

 

Mac Mini-ish things left on the cutting room floor: slot loading DVD- a mostly useless embellishment. I call the one in my Powerbook the "Dust Grinder-2000".

 

Built-in Wifi- personally don't need it for this build, but an OSX compatible USB wifi adaptor might work fine.

 

Analog, but no digital audio.