MyRightEye Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 All the machines here focus on making comparable machines to Mac Pros. But I need something cheap, preferably something pre-built, that I can just use for simple tasks. A Mac mini replacement perhaps. But it need not be small. I see Psystar selling a $550 box called "Open with Mac OS X". Surely someone is selling something similar for less? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
alltoorobot Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 http://cgi.ebay.com/INTEL-ATOM-DUAL-CORE-M...%3A1%7C294%3A50 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/#findComment-1086176 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick14 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P - $134.99 - I can't say enough good things about this board. Retail vanilla install works perfectly on it, overclocks like crazy and has a ton of connectors/ports and good growth potential. Its not I7, but probably one of the best socket 775 boards available. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128358 PNY Nvidia 9500GT video card - $69.99 - Works great with OS X after installing the Nvidia 9xxx series video drivers and adding the EFI strings for it. Good middle of the road 3d video performance so that you can still play video games and have great 2d acceleration. Both CI and QE work perfectly. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814133230 Intel e5200 2.5 GHz Pentium Dual core CPU - $72.99 - My oh my what a badass little cpu for not a lot of cash. Don't let its "Pentium Dual core" name fool you. Its a Core 2 cpu with a little less cache than its brothers. Out of the box its fast and cool and overclocks like crazy with my motherboard recommendation. Is solid for 3 GHz on the stock cooler and upwards to between 3.5 to 4 GHz on a better aftermarket cooler. Its the current price to performance leader in Intel's Core 2 lineup of cpus. Plus the fact its insanely overclockable is just icing on the cake. Its a junior version of the Core2 Duo e8400. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819116072 OCZ 4 GB DDR2 1066 ram - 47.99 - Great ram that has integrated heat spreaders to run cool. Since its a pair of 2 gigabyte dimms, it leaves you 2 slots open in case down the road you want to add another 4 gigs to the machine. I run 8 gigs of this same memory in my machine so I know its works perfectly with my hardware recommendations. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227362 500 GB Western Digital SATA Hard drive - $64.99 - Plenty of space and pretty cheap too. SATA interface so there won't be any OS X issues. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136073 Samsung 22x DVDRW drive - $24.99 - Works perfectly and has a SATA interface. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827151171 Antec NSK4480B ATX case with 380 watt PSU - $74.99 - Plenty of room and includes a great power supply. Should run quiet and cool. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811129032 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/#findComment-1086370 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyRightEye Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 http://cgi.ebay.com/INTEL-ATOM-DUAL-CORE-M...%3A1%7C294%3A50 Has no FireWire and can't be added on. Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P - $134.99 - I can't say enough good things about this board. Retail vanilla install works perfectly on it, overclocks like crazy and has a ton of connectors/ports and good growth potential. Its not I7, but probably one of the best socket 775 boards available. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128358 PNY Nvidia 9500GT video card - $69.99 - Works great with OS X after installing the Nvidia 9xxx series video drivers and adding the EFI strings for it. Good middle of the road 3d video performance so that you can still play video games and have great 2d acceleration. Both CI and QE work perfectly. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814133230 Intel e5200 2.5 GHz Pentium Dual core CPU - $72.99 - My oh my what a badass little cpu for not a lot of cash. Don't let its "Pentium Dual core" name fool you. Its a Core 2 cpu with a little less cache than its brothers. Out of the box its fast and cool and overclocks like crazy with my motherboard recommendation. Is solid for 3 GHz on the stock cooler and upwards to between 3.5 to 4 GHz on a better aftermarket cooler. Its the current price to performance leader in Intel's Core 2 lineup of cpus. Plus the fact its insanely overclockable is just icing on the cake. Its a junior version of the Core2 Duo e8400. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819116072 OCZ 4 GB DDR2 1066 ram - 47.99 - Great ram that has integrated heat spreaders to run cool. Since its a pair of 2 gigabyte dimms, it leaves you 2 slots open in case down the road you want to add another 4 gigs to the machine. I run 8 gigs of this same memory in my machine so I know its works perfectly with my hardware recommendations. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227362 500 GB Western Digital SATA Hard drive - $64.99 - Plenty of space and pretty cheap too. SATA interface so there won't be any OS X issues. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136073 Samsung 22x DVDRW drive - $24.99 - Works perfectly and has a SATA interface. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827151171 Antec NSK4480B ATX case with 380 watt PSU - $74.99 - Plenty of room and includes a great power supply. Should run quiet and cool. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811129032 Still overkill. This is much higher spec than a Mac mini. I appreciate the comments though. I don't need good video, I don't need 4GB RAM, I don't need 500GB HD, I need a CHEAP machine, not a middle of the road of the road one. Please help if you know something that is like this. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/#findComment-1087654 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaap Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 It helps to do your own research, not expect others to do everything for you. Firewire can be added via PCI. If you don't need something, then for pete's friggen sake- get what you DO need, and in whatever capacity. How obvious is that? There are a bazillion threads here with entry level builds. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/#findComment-1087768 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick14 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Has no FireWire and can't be added on. Still overkill. This is much higher spec than a Mac mini. I appreciate the comments though. I don't need good video, I don't need 4GB RAM, I don't need 500GB HD, I need a CHEAP machine, not a middle of the road of the road one. Please help if you know something that is like this. Well you could always change the setup it's all up to you Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/#findComment-1087933 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyRightEye Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 Well you could always change the setup it's all up to you Ah, thanks, perhaps you should glance over the OP again Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/153977-simple-budget-machine/#findComment-1088376 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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