Core i7 hackintosh, Gigabyte vs. EVGA?

[apple pie]

I was originally looking at the gigabyte mobos but I think I'm going to go with the EVGA E760. I basically want to build an overclocked i7 system as a cost effective alternative to a real mac pro.

 

Gigabyte seems to be the way to go to save a little $$, but EVGA seems more solid. Reading reviews on newegg, it seems more Gigabyte mobos are DOA.

 

Does this sound correct? What's your input?

[isirpaul]

GIGABYTE X58 UD5.. can't go wrong.. IMHO

[g4sho]

I was originally looking at the gigabyte mobos but I think I'm going to go with the EVGA E760. I basically want to build an overclocked i7 system as a cost effective alternative to a real mac pro.

 

Gigabyte seems to be the way to go to save a little $, but EVGA seems more solid. Reading reviews on newegg, it seems more Gigabyte mobos are DOA.

 

Does this sound correct? What's your input?

I have built all of my systems for at least the last 10 years. I currently have 5 custom built, and 2 macs. But I bought a ready made system from a big name retailer, that runs 10.5.8 flawlessly, via apple update, from 10.5.7. Iatkos, as well as snow leopard 10a432, with some caveats. It came with an asus rampage 2 gene motherboard, corei7 920, 9gig ddr3(1066)ram, 1 terabyte sata 7200rpm drive,GTX 260 video/w 898meg ram,20xdvdrw,8usb,1esata,spdif out,gig-e ethernet, sli/or crossfire ready, keyboard and mouse. Model # is Asus CG5290. Bought at bb. I could not build an x58 system this good at this price. Can you say vanilla install? By the way it is overclocked to 3.5 ghz on cooler that came with it, stable. Ram overclocked to 1600mhz. I like it alot. All of this for less than half the price of a slower Mac Pro.

 

My geekbench score http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/149765

[apple pie]

I have built all of my systems for at least the last 10 years. I currently have 5 custom built, and 2 macs. But I bought a ready made system from a big name retailer, that runs 10.5.8 flawlessly, via apple update, from 10.5.7. Iatkos, as well as snow leopard 10a432, with some caveats. It came with an asus rampage 2 gene motherboard, corei7 920, 9gig ddr3(1066)ram, 1 terabyte sata 7200rpm drive,GTX 260 video/w 898meg ram,20xdvdrw,8usb,1esata,spdif out,gig-e ethernet, sli/or crossfire ready, keyboard and mouse. Model # is Asus CG5290. Bought at bb. I could not build an x58 system this good at this price. Can you say vanilla install? By the way it is overclocked to 3.5 ghz on cooler that came with it, stable. Ram overclocked to 1600mhz. I like it alot. All of this for less than half the price of a slower Mac Pro.

 

My geekbench score http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/149765

 

Are you using a stock fan/heatsink for your overclocked i7? I read people overclock their 920s to 3.8ghz using a "Cooler Master V8", and claim stable temps even under heavy load.

 

Also, what's your system's make/model, and where can I buy one?

 

I just want a system with an 920 (which will be overclocked) and the ability to allow a vanilla install of snow leopard!

 

I usally always make my systems (PCs), but I'm a newb to the hackintosh scene. I never thought of buying a premade system, I'll definitely look into going that route. Thanks!

[isirpaul]

Are you using a stock fan/heatsink for your overclocked i7? I read people overclock their 920s to 3.8ghz using a "Cooler Master V8", and claim stable temps even under heavy load.

 

If your case is big you can take Prolimatech Megalehms or the Thermalright IFX-14 with Noctua/Nanoxia fan(s), these heatsinks are the best for air cooling. Another alternative would be the Noctua NH-U12P.

If your case is too thin then go for the Noctua NH-C12P, good overclock and slow profile.

[apple pie]

If your case is big you can take Prolimatech Megalehms or the Thermalright IFX-14 with Noctua/Nanoxia fan(s), these heatsinks are the best for air cooling. Another alternative would be the Noctua NH-U12P.

If your case is too thin then go for the Noctua NH-C12P, good overclock and slow profile.

 

WOW, I just read some reviews on those heatsinks and the "Megahalems' really stands out from the rest. Thanks for the recommendation!

[mrjoeboo]

I have built all of my systems for at least the last 10 years. I currently have 5 custom built, and 2 macs. But I bought a ready made system from a big name retailer, that runs 10.5.8 flawlessly, via apple update, from 10.5.7. Iatkos, as well as snow leopard 10a432, with some caveats. It came with an asus rampage 2 gene motherboard, corei7 920, 9gig ddr3(1066)ram, 1 terabyte sata 7200rpm drive,GTX 260 video/w 898meg ram,20xdvdrw,8usb,1esata,spdif out,gig-e ethernet, sli/or crossfire ready, keyboard and mouse. Model # is Asus CG5290. Bought at bb. I could not build an x58 system this good at this price. Can you say vanilla install? By the way it is overclocked to 3.5 ghz on cooler that came with it, stable. Ram overclocked to 1600mhz. I like it alot. All of this for less than half the price of a slower Mac Pro.

 

My geekbench score http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/149765

 

@g4sho

 

I too have a CG5290 and would love to know how you got vanilla install in place (bios settings, configs, etc.)

 

Thanks in advance.

[tatertot]

@g4sho

 

I too have a CG5290 and would love to know how you got vanilla install in place (bios settings, configs, etc.)

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I just got my CG5290 up and running with Snow Leopard. Here are the instructions to how I did it:

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...t&p=1417499

 

Send me a PM if you have any questions! I'll be glad to help!

[jvolkman]

I could never get my EVGA to boot with MacPro4,1. The Gigabyte did it no problem.

[Jocelyn84]

I could never get my EVGA to boot with MacPro4,1. The Gigabyte did it no problem.

 

If I may ask, which method did you use to install on the X58A-UD5? I'm thinking baout upgrading to 1366 and would love to know!

[Hangten]

EVGA motherboards are enthusiast driven

EVGA DUAL socket 1366

This is a dual socket 1366 thats completely overclockable goodness they had at CES 2010 with full 6 x 16 lanes of PCI-E

 

And they are excellent at customer service.

There RMA department is right here where i live.

This is why i buy stuff from them.

There Classified stuff is untouchable if your a bencher with full digital power supplies on there hi-end gear.

EVGA own forum members seem to go for extreme overclocks like extremesystems forums do, already posted in the forum is a i7 980x hexacore running at 4.8ghz can't wait till he uses LN to see what it can do.

 

As for Hackintosh? I would trade in my EVGA board for a GIGABYTE because of developing support by members here. Its easier to share and work as a group. i have started doing my own DSDT edits and its time consuming.

 

On life without Hackintoshing my EVGA. Go baby let it all hang out EVGA is King replacing DFI and there Lan Party clan of overclocking maniacs with hardware voltage wiring. Using pots on voltage rails and by passing motherboard parts to feed x amount right into the mosfets and the firsts to putting copper heat-sinks because the chips and diodes would cook under the agony of ramming voltage. Man i had fun those late 90s early 2000s days on computers.Also connecting bridges to get a overclock on your CPU. And the pencil to connect and change voltage potential.

In my opinion that if it wasn't for these people breaking barriers your GIGABYTE would not be what it is today.

[thinkpadius]

It was gygabite all the way for the simple reason that it mixes well with other hi-end hardware and most of the guides are available for it.

 

I was pretty new at this whole thing. But I got a good video of the whole construction so you can see the mobo up close.

 

My Gygabite Mobo on my Core i7 Rig