folliclemiracle Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Dear all, thanks for looking at this, I hope this is the right place. I know a lot of people make similar topics but here we are: I'm keen to make something a bit more upgradeable (hard disks, graphics) than my current C2D mac mini and as a Mac Pro is really out of my budget I am thinking of building something for OSx86. Having done some reading, and looked at what is available now I'm thinking of the following: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.5GHz Asus 9400GT 512MB DDR2 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-E Graphics Card Low Profile Plus the usual SATA HDD, 4GB RAM, etc. I am not totally sure if it matters which DVD-RW I pick up, information seems sparse. I was hoping to use http://leopardsoup.pbworks.com/es2l_v10 for the mobo and I have seen that there is a long topic on the 9400GT in which people have got some ASUS or other to work. I really would like to know if this is the best way to proceed with this motherboard, and if there is perhaps a preferable (easier to install?) budget graphics card. I will buy this stuff from ebuyer most likely. I am not looking for anything fancy, working DVI at 1920x1200 would be nice! Thanks so much for all your work and I look forward to a bit of dabbling. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/179551-respectful-request-for-new-build-advice/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khan_Man Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 I don't know about the motherboard. Have U tried searching for it on this board? the processor is not good. try to get a C2D. duel core is not vanilla compatible. I'm not sure about the video card. Can't find 8600GT or 9600GT or 7600gt? Beware LG DVD burners, most work but some don't. Very frustrating that. Khan [edit] Wow, I just had a look at affordable vid cards. Nothing that is Apple compatible. Brutal. I was maybe think'n a nvidia 120, 130, or some of the older ATI... nothing! Everything starts at 100 dollars. 4850? [/edit] Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/179551-respectful-request-for-new-build-advice/#findComment-1224362 Share on other sites More sharing options...
folliclemiracle Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 Ouch! Thanks for the advice. I didn't realise about it having to be a C2D, I just assumed since they were more or less the same thing that a pentium dual core would work. I have searched around on the mobo, I have seen a few people say that it is one of the most compatible (And it's certainly among the cheapest). I can find the 8600GT and the 9600GT. I will have to look around on the versions, I guess some are more compatible than others! Oh, and yes, the 4850 is within my new extended budget... Thanks again. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/179551-respectful-request-for-new-build-advice/#findComment-1224705 Share on other sites More sharing options...
folliclemiracle Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 In the end I decided to risk it as originally planned because I was able to find lots of people with the same CPU, and at least one with that particular graphics card working. On my head (or wallet) be it if it doesn't work out! This should be a lot of fun - stuff arrives tomorrow! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/179551-respectful-request-for-new-build-advice/#findComment-1225281 Share on other sites More sharing options...
folliclemiracle Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 I just thought people might like to know that I got the bits this morning and put them together. I cloned my mac mini's hard disk to the new one, installed chameleon etc and now as far as I can tell everything works. Even the graphics with a bit of jiggery-pokery. Hopefully it will stay that way. The answers are out there on this forum, if anyone wants to know anything specific I'll try and oblige. Edit: Except sleep! (So far) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/179551-respectful-request-for-new-build-advice/#findComment-1226017 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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