Lifehacker Guide with GA-EP45-UD3P Motherboard

[mrquacker]

Yeah, im not using the suggested case either. The antec 900 was on sale, after rebates it was only $40. So airflow and space isnt an issue

[rainmanjam]

Thank you! I really appreciate this confirmation. Would you mind sharing what video cards you used? Thanks again!

 

I used 2 Evga GeForce 9500 GT 512MB. They were exactly the same in both slots. I believe that just the activation of both pci slots will allow for the use of both video cards reguardless of the cards used.

[MacTech84]

Having issues installing Covenant Eyes with Snow Leopard.

 

Would this be an issue of 32 bit vs. 64 bit? The application needs Rosetta.

 

Only notice that the icon bounces in the dock and no icon appears in status bar.

I am not sure where to find any trace or error messaging on why the application will not load.

 

Any help would be appreciated in helping debug this issue.

 

Thank you

 

ps. I did contact the vendor and there is currently no additional assistance on the tech support side.

Only mentioned that an update will be provided in the future.

 

Pause the boot loader on startup and add in the "-x32" to the startup (without quotes of course) and that will boot you up in 32 bit mode to test the app.

[akilan]

Hello all,

 

I have the exact build except for the memory (corsair xms 1066 x 8gb) and video ( gtx 260). the machine boots into snow leopard fine. I used Stell's v3 installer with no problems. I have not updated to 10.6.2 yet. 

 

The trendnet pci ethernet won't work and even if i enable both onboard lan's in the bios, neither work. I have tried the pci card in both of the pci slots with no luck. the "connection wizard" or whatever doesn't recognize the ethernet even though there is a green light on the pci card.

 

 

 

 

any thoughts?

 

thanks in advance. 

 

 

 

 

-aa

[JL2002]

I apologize for a dumb question, but could you please give me more details how to boot into 32-bit kernel mode?

How do I pause bootloader on startup ?

I have dual boot with windows 7 , so should I just type -x32 at the time of choosing at the boot option screen ?

Regards,

JL

Pause the boot loader on startup and add in the "-x32" to the startup (without quotes of course) and that will boot you up in 32 bit mode to test the app.

[Christian 1985]

Hi!

new here.

Followed this guide to the letter but my build is different(except for the motherboard).

I'm on 16.2 without any issues upgrading.

Time it took to install Snow leopard = 30 minutes.

 

Gigabyte EP45-UD3P motherboard $100

Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz $75(ebay)

OCZ 4GB Dual Channel DDR2-6400 Gold edition ($59.99 from microcenter)

1TB WD Green HD with free case (79.99 from newegg)

El Cheapo Microcenter 19.99 DVD-RW on sale

El cheapo Nvidia 7900 GS videocard for $30

Free USB Keyboard and mouse from microcenter promotion

Total: $365

 

I got everything to work. But there is one bug that will definately not cause a kernel panic but pretty much freeze the whole system. When you go to network to add an interface, the system will not respond at all.

Any advise on a wireless card that will work with airport?

[CoHPhasor]

Hi!

new here.

Followed this guide to the letter but my build is different(except for the motherboard).

I'm on 16.2 without any issues upgrading.

Time it took to install Snow leopard = 30 minutes.

 

Gigabyte EP45-UD3P motherboard $100

Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz $75(ebay)

OCZ 4GB Dual Channel DDR2-6400 Gold edition ($59.99 from microcenter)

1TB WD Green HD with free case (79.99 from newegg)

El Cheapo Microcenter 19.99 DVD-RW on sale

El cheapo Nvidia 7900 GS videocard for $30

Free USB Keyboard and mouse from microcenter promotion

Total: $365

 

I got everything to work. But there is one bug that will definately not cause a kernel panic but pretty much freeze the whole system. When you go to network to add an interface, the system will not respond at all.

Any advise on a wireless card that will work with airport?

 

Waaaaaaaaaay back Stella posted a link to his blog where he outlines compatible hardware choices.

Either search this thread, read it, or google Stellarola blog.

(I don't feel like looking lol, but it's there)

[MacWannaBe]

I apologize for a dumb question, but could you please give me more details how to boot into 32-bit kernel mode?

How do I pause bootloader on startup ?

I have dual boot with windows 7 , so should I just type -x32 at the time of choosing at the boot option screen ?

Regards,

JL

 

 

Just add the following to your com.apple.Boot.plist (in /Extra/)

 

<key>arch</key>

<string>i386</string>

 

Reboot.

 

To go back to 64-bit mode, remove those lines and restart.

[AkronElliott]

Waaaaaaaaaay back Stella posted a link to his blog where he outlines compatible hardware choices.

Either search this thread, read it, or google Stellarola blog.

(I don't feel like looking lol, but it's there)

 

Stell's blog link for compatible hardware. Compatible hardware

 

An update for the link for the latest installer (Version 3). As Stell updates his blog the location of this will shift. Version 3 installer

[Christian 1985]

Stell's blog link for compatible hardware. Compatible hardware

 

An update for the link for the latest installer (Version 3). As Stell updates his blog the location of this will shift. Version 3 installer

thanks!

v2 and v3 keep giving me KP's.

V1 works great.

I can say it's more stable than my new MBP for 1000 dollars less .

[AkronElliott]

Just add the following to your com.apple.Boot.plist (in /Extra/)

 

<key>arch</key>

<string>i386</string>

 

Reboot.

 

To go back to 64-bit mode, remove those lines and restart.

 

I tried using the utility to manipulate:

sudo nano /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist

 

 

manually typed

 

<key>arch</key>

<string>i386</string>

 

 

Since Text Edit would not allow saving changes to the Extra\com.apple.boot.Plist, I referenced the help from another insanely mac post.

 

Won't boot after change. Most likely it is an input error. Since it is an XML Document, possibly I entered a space where tab should have been used.

 

Please use caution, my computer currently will not boot. I will boot from the thumb when I get the chance and see if I formated the entry incorrectly.

 

Thanks

[MacWannaBe]

I tried using the utility to manipulate:

sudo nano /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist

 

 

manually typed

 

<key>arch</key>

<string>i386</string>

 

 

Since Text Edit would not allow saving changes to the Extra\com.apple.boot.Plist, I referenced the help from another insanely mac post.

 

Won't boot after change. Most likely it is an input error. Since it is an XML Document, possibly I entered a space where tab should have been used.

 

Please use caution, my computer currently will not boot. I will boot from the thumb when I get the chance and see if I formated the entry incorrectly.

 

Thanks

 

I use Textmate, they have a free trial. Or you could try TextWrangler (http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/). I think it's free.

[CoHPhasor]

thanks!

v2 and v3 keep giving me KP's.

V1 works great.

I can say it's more stable than my new MBP for 1000 dollars less .

 

Did you make sure to delete the /Extras folder before updating to v2 or v3?

You need to use v3 for 10.6.2, no exception.

 

No one here is having problems with stability when using the proper method

and hardware, and Adam continues to use the hack method/v1 installer.

[MacWannaBe]

Did you make sure to delete the /Extras folder before updating to v2 or v3?

You need to use v3 for 10.6.2, no exception.

 

No one here is having problems with stability when using the proper method

and hardware, and Adam continues to use the hack method/v1 installer.

 

V1 or V3 are both fine to use for 10.6.2. I think having v3 is better as it supports some more video cards etc. I also can concur and state that my build is rock solid.

[AkronElliott]

I use Textmate, they have a free trial. Or you could try TextWrangler (http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/). I think it's free.

 

I was able to use TextWrangler to modify the Extra\*.*.Boot.plist.

 

I got a Kernal Panic when booting the machine. Reinstalled the Mac OS to the Hard Drive from the original thumb drive. Fortunately I did not need to do an additional restore from the time capsule.

 

Rosetta is actually running in the 64 bit environment. I will see if the software provider can provide a patch in a reasonable time frame. I am concerned that the app does not run due to the boot setup.

[jamis2001]

Need some help... I am stuck at the very beginning where I am trying to prep the USB flash drive media.

 

My coworker who has a MacBook with SL installed is helping me with the loaner OSX. I formatted the USB drive, created the new disk image using the SL install disk. When I am at the step to restore the image to the USB drive I run into problems.

 

First, it complains that the image needs to be scanned, we opened the image and mounted it and it passed that step. Then w got the message saying that the source is busy ...?

 

We are stuck there. Can anyone help shed some light into this?

 

Thanks,

 

-Johnny

[Christian 1985]

Need some help... I am stuck at the very beginning where I am trying to prep the USB flash drive media.

 

My coworker who has a MacBook with SL installed is helping me with the loaner OSX. I formatted the USB drive, created the new disk image using the SL install disk. When I am at the step to restore the image to the USB drive I run into problems.

 

First, it complains that the image needs to be scanned, we opened the image and mounted it and it passed that step. Then w got the message saying that the source is busy ...?

 

We are stuck there. Can anyone help shed some light into this?

 

Thanks,

 

-Johnny

Did you partition the drive and format to Max OS Extended (case-sensitive, Journaled) before mounting the disk image?

 

Also, uncheck the "erase destination" box

[MacWannaBe]

Need some help... I am stuck at the very beginning where I am trying to prep the USB flash drive media.

 

My coworker who has a MacBook with SL installed is helping me with the loaner OSX. I formatted the USB drive, created the new disk image using the SL install disk. When I am at the step to restore the image to the USB drive I run into problems.

 

First, it complains that the image needs to be scanned, we opened the image and mounted it and it passed that step. Then w got the message saying that the source is busy ...?

 

We are stuck there. Can anyone help shed some light into this?

 

Thanks,

 

-Johnny

 

You need to do the following: In disk utility, go to the Images menu and select "Scan Image for Restore" before restoring to your USB drive.

[mrquacker]

The idle temp has been hovering around 60C the whole time.

 

I just added Seti@Home, and with it maxing out the 4 CPUs, temps shot up to 72C.

 

So whats a normal idle/full throttle temp? Is this too high? Did I somehow screw up while I was installing the chip and cooler?

 

I had bought this along with all my other parts for the build, but I cant install it, as parts on the Gigabyte board are in the way.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835207006

 

And one more question. Whats a good/cheap 5.1 or 7.1 sound card that I can install into this build? Stock sound from the Gigabyte board isnt sounding right.

 

Thanks again!

Small update here.

 

So after some gingerly applied brute force, I managed to get this cooler to go in and stay put. The heatsinks for the motherboard were in the way of the clips for the fan. I noticed nothing was under that part of the heatsink so I just forced the clip in. Used a full tube of heat paste under it just to be sure.

 

Idle temps are down to 40° from 60°, full load are down to 55° from 75°. Assuming it holds, this is a great reduction in temps.

 

Now to get the damn video card to quiet down. This thing gets *loud*

[jamis2001]

Thanks. We will give it a try again.

[MacTech84]

I apologize for a dumb question, but could you please give me more details how to boot into 32-bit kernel mode?

How do I pause bootloader on startup ?

I have dual boot with windows 7 , so should I just type -x32 at the time of choosing at the boot option screen ?

Regards,

JL

 

When you see the Hard Drive image come up, you can hit any key on the keyboard to stop the bootloader. Then use the Down Arrow key on your keyboard to see the other options come up. From there choose Verbose to get the text input and you can put in "-x32" (without quotes) to boot your system in 32 Bit mode. As for the other option of adding in i386 to the plist, there is another way of doing it to add in the 32 bit string, I will see if I can find it for you to try.

 

V1 or V3 are both fine to use for 10.6.2. I think having v3 is better as it supports some more video cards etc. I also can concur and state that my build is rock solid.

 

The difference in V1, V2, V3 installers is the underlying bootloader and FakeSMC used to get the computers to work like real macs. The Bootloader updated does allow for many other features such as more graphics cards supported, supposedly large disk compatibility, and auto detection of a lot of the computers components. This is why the temps being registered are slightly higher in V3 since there is a newer version of FakeSMC running.

 

Small update here.

 

So after some gingerly applied brute force, I managed to get this cooler to go in and stay put. The heatsinks for the motherboard were in the way of the clips for the fan. I noticed nothing was under that part of the heatsink so I just forced the clip in. Used a full tube of heat paste under it just to be sure.

 

Idle temps are down to 40° from 60°, full load are down to 55° from 75°. Assuming it holds, this is a great reduction in temps.

 

Now to get the damn video card to quiet down. This thing gets *loud*

 

Ok I really hope you are exaggerating here...

 

Please tell me you really did not put down a whole tube of thermal paste between the heatsink and the processor? If you did, you should be returning the heatsink you bought and look for one that is going to fit better. You should never have to use too much force to put the heatsink on. And if you use too much thermal paste, you are basically insulating your chip with a blanket and it will rise in temp. Having the temps register between 50-60° C is going to be normal depending on the cooler you have. Mine is showing 40° C at Idle since I am using an LC system.

[supermx3]

Just did this install on my new hack build. Everything works.

 

EP45-UD3P

Xeon X3220 @ 3.0GHz

3gig DDR2 800

Geforce 9600GT

[corefile]

I have the same Motherboard, but I have the Geforce 7800 GT, what do I need to do to get that working?

[MacTech84]

I have the same Motherboard, but I have the Geforce 7800 GT, what do I need to do to get that working?

 

Technically your card will work, but you would have to run OS X in 32 Bit mode at all times. The bootloader should detect your card, but its best to have an 8 series or higher graphics card for the build.

[corefile]

Technically your card will work, but you would have to run OS X in 32 Bit mode at all times. The bootloader should detect your card, but its best to have an 8 series or higher graphics card for the build.

I've never heard that before.. So I followed the guide and I everything seems to be working, does this mean I'm running in 32 bit mode? Does it do it automagically?

 

The one thing not working is my sound card, I also tried another guide and had the same problem with the sound card. Is there someplace I can check to see if the hardware is even being detected?