A few questions.

[xfisjmg1]

I've been looking at building a Hackintosh for quite a while now, and I've got the resources to buy everything to put it together. I've only ever replaced parts here and there in a PC, never built one, so this experience is definitely a little daunting. Even so, it's something I want to do, and soon.

 

I know how annoying it is when someone joins a forum asking questions that have been answered 100 times, so I've done my best to research everything ahead of time. I just have a few questions and concerns that hopefully some of you can put to rest.

 

I'd like to use a retail version of Leopard. From what I understand, I should use the boot-132 method, where you load the boot CD first, switch to Leopard, let it do its thing, restart with the boot CD again, then finish installation. To avoid having to use the CD again you also install Chameleon to your hard drive. I downloaded the unmodified boot-132 iso and burned it to a CD. From what I understand, I also need to include kext files based on my particular setup (particularly the motherboard) in the CD. Is this correct? I'm a little sketchy on exactly how all of that works, where to get the kexts and where they go inside of the CD.

 

I haven't decided on any parts because I'm a complete noob when it comes to things like that (especially compatibility issues), and I know this isn't the forum to ask for help choosing components, but if anyone has a successful setup that has little to no issues, I'm all ears on what you've got inside. I'm looking to spend about $1200 at most (give or take), and would like to get the most bang for my buck. If you're running a Hackintosh that flies like the wind and hasn't had any problems, please let me know what parts you used and the method of installation.

 

I'm pretty dead set on using the retail version of Leopard since I want the updates (and to avoid worry with things not working); does all hardware support the boot-132 method? I'm not even sure it's what I should be using, but after looking around a bit it seems to be the easiest way to get OSX up and running.

 

Another question I couldn't find the answer to was dual-monitor support. I would just assume that using two monitors wouldn't be an issue with the hackintosh, but I figured I'd check to make sure.

 

The last question is the order of operations needed for installing Windows. Ideally I'd like to boot into OSX natively and have the option of also running Windows, either through boot camp or Parallels (or both, if that's possible). Once I have the hackintosh up and running, is creating a separate partition for Windows and running boot camp easy/possible? With the amount of money I plan on spending for the computer (mainly for HD video editing), I'd also like to be able to play some PC games.

 

Hopefully these questions can be answered, I'm just a little confused on some things.

[eris0xff]

I've been looking at building a Hackintosh for quite a while now, and I've got the resources to buy everything to put it together. I've only ever replaced parts here and there in a PC, never built one, so this experience is definitely a little daunting. Even so, it's something I want to do, and soon.

 

Great. You and me both. I'm in the middle of my retail install. Doing some post install tweaking to get sound and Chameleon working. Since no one answered you yet, I thought I'd answer what I could.

 

I know how annoying it is when someone joins a forum asking questions that have been answered 100 times, so I've done my best to research everything ahead of time. I just have a few questions and concerns that hopefully some of you can put to rest.

 

Hey, we all start as beginners. No worries and thanks for doing the background work.

 

I'd like to use a retail version of Leopard. From what I understand, I should use the boot-132 method, where you load the boot CD first, switch to Leopard, let it do its thing, restart with the boot CD again, then finish installation. To avoid having to use the CD again you also install Chameleon to your hard drive. I downloaded the unmodified boot-132 iso and burned it to a CD. From what I understand, I also need to include kext files based on my particular setup (particularly the motherboard) in the CD. Is this correct? I'm a little sketchy on exactly how all of that works, where to get the kexts and where they go inside of the CD.

 

Yes. See if someone has made a custom version for your motherboard. That's what I did and it was mostly successful. Have you chosen a MB yet?

 

I haven't decided on any parts because I'm a complete noob when it comes to things like that (especially compatibility issues), and I know this isn't the forum to ask for help choosing components, but if anyone has a successful setup that has little to no issues, I'm all ears on what you've got inside. I'm looking to spend about $1200 at most (give or take), and would like to get the most bang for my buck. If you're running a Hackintosh that flies like the wind and hasn't had any problems, please let me know what parts you used and the method of installation.

 

With the retail version (at least in theory) you shouldn't have to worry overmuch about total compatibility. There's ways of installing retail on nearly everything now, but my feeling is "don't push your luck". If you have a choice, pick something you believe Apple may already have a driver for. Drivers for most common video and audio equipment is available. The more exotic the system, the longer you'll be hunting for drivers though.

 

I'm pretty dead set on using the retail version of Leopard since I want the updates (and to avoid worry with things not working); does all hardware support the boot-132 method? I'm not even sure it's what I should be using, but after looking around a bit it seems to be the easiest way to get OSX up and running.

 

My feelings exactly. I lived with Kalyway 10.5.2 for several months and it worked well, but the hacking you have to do to apply updates got the best of me and eventually hosed my install. That's when I decided to go retail. I only know a bit more than you, but I think your major compatibility issues are going to be AMD vs Intel. Even then all the works been done for you. You just have to hunt around.

 

Another question I couldn't find the answer to was dual-monitor support. I would just assume that using two monitors wouldn't be an issue with the hackintosh, but I figured I'd check to make sure.

 

Can't comment on that, since I haven't tried it. I'm pretty sure someone has it working though.

 

The last question is the order of operations needed for installing Windows. Ideally I'd like to boot into OSX natively and have the option of also running Windows, either through boot camp or Parallels (or both, if that's possible). Once I have the hackintosh up and running, is creating a separate partition for Windows and running boot camp easy/possible? With the amount of money I plan on spending for the computer (mainly for HD video editing), I'd also like to be able to play some PC games.

 

This *can* get tricky. The biggest issue is the GUID partition scheme vs the standard MBR scheme. Since Apple switched to the GUID partition scheme (in 10.5.4 I think) its created no end of headaches for dual-boot partition setups. I think the function of Boot Camp was to allow dual booting by syncing the partition maps on these two different systems.

 

When I was running 10.5.2 I ran dual boot without any problems. Now that I'm on 10.5.4 I'm still working on multi-disk dual boot and booting onto my OSx disk from the boot132 disk. I hope to fix that today by using Chameleon.

 

 

eris

[xfisjmg1]

Thanks, I appreciate all of the answers. I looked around and it seems that dual monitor support exists, I'll just have to be careful of the particular card I purchase.

 

Is there a place on the forum where people can just post their working setups? I'm interested more in the end result rather than the adventure of choosing parts, and if I could just choose the same things someone else used I would be absolutely fine with that.

 

I don't want to run into any major problems (mainly because I'm not minded toward this sort of thing), so selecting a premade rig with little to no problems would be excellent. I see people posting their parts all the time, but I'd love if someone gave me a list with the message, "it was easy and required little to no fixes", etc.