Horne Fisher Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I'm planning my first Hackintosh build with the following parts: Board; Gigabyte G31M-ES2L GFX: Gigabyte 7200GS 256MB CPU: Intel Dual Core E6300 2.8GHz 1066MHz PSU: Corsair 400W CX PSU Case: Antec Mini P180 Black MATX SATA HD and optical PCI NIC (due to reported probs with onboard LAN on the G31M-ES2L rev.2) The G31M-ES2L specs state that it supports 1066MHz RAM with overclocking. To reveal my newbieness, would there be any benefit in fitting 1066MHz RAM over 800MHz here? This review seems to suggest there's an advantage: The spec also specifies 1.8v RAM. Would 2.1v - 2.2v be out of the question? Seems to be more choice in this range, in the UK at least. If successful, the build will be used around 12 hours per day for general graphic/web design, browsing, DVDs, audio etc. Nothing hugely cpu-munching but continuous use 7 days a week. Any likely gotchas? Thanks for reading, HF Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
broken Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I'm planning my first Hackintosh build with the following parts: Board; Gigabyte G31M-ES2L GFX: Gigabyte 7200GS 256MB CPU: Intel Dual Core E6300 2.8GHz 1066MHz PSU: Corsair 400W CX PSU Case: Antec Mini P180 Black MATX SATA HD and optical PCI NIC (due to reported probs with onboard LAN on the G31M-ES2L rev.2) Good looking build overall except that video card. Honestly I would spend another $20 or so and get a 9400GT or 9500GT. Better HD video acceleration, faster 3d and supports OpenCL if you go to Snow Leopard. The G31M-ES2L specs state that it supports 1066MHz RAM with overclocking. To reveal my newbieness, would there be any benefit in fitting 1066MHz RAM over 800MHz here? This review seems to suggest there's an advantage: The spec also specifies 1.8v RAM. Would 2.1v - 2.2v be out of the question? Seems to be more choice in this range, in the UK at least. Honestly, there probably isn't much real world performance difference between 800 and 1066 DDR2 ram. But, typically the 1066 stuff is only a few dollars more so you might as well just buy it. If it was a substantial price difference then that would be a different story. It mentions supporting 1066 DDR2 by oc'ing since you have to go into the bios and bump the voltage on the ram up from 1.8 to 2.1. There is a specific option for raising the voltage up in .1v increments. You will also need to adjust the Memory frequency as well to 1066. Most 1066 ram that I have used will not run a 1066 unless you adjust the voltage to 2.1 volts. It will just default back down to 800 MHz. If successful, the build will be used around 12 hours per day for general graphic/web design, browsing, DVDs, audio etc. Nothing hugely cpu-munching but continuous use 7 days a week. Any likely gotchas? I have got 2 machine running OS X and both are using ES2L boards. One is a 1.x rev and the other is a 2.x rev board. Both are rock solid. You can see the specs of them in my sig. Both boxes run 24/7 and rarely get rebooted for any reason. One of them I have running Leopard 10.5.8 is setup as a file and media server and sets inside a closet with nothing but a power cord and network cable plugged into it. Just add in a decent NIC like the Trendnet TEG-PCITXR and you are good to go. I am using it in both machines and have fantastic gigabit ethernet connection between them. If you use a nic card that has the Realtek 8169SC chipset (such as that Trendnet card) you don't have to install any drivers for it to work perfectly out of the box. Bonjour networking, gigabit, full duplex and all work perfect. You could stick the same card in a real Mac and it would just as well there, too. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1299458 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horne Fisher Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Good looking build overall except that video card. Honestly I would spend another $20 or so and get a 9400GT or 9500GT. Better HD video acceleration, faster 3d and supports OpenCL if you go to Snow Leopard. Good point. Switched to a 9400GT. Honestly, there probably isn't much real world performance difference between 800 and 1066 DDR2 ram. But, typically the 1066 stuff is only a few dollars more so you might as well just buy it. If it was a substantial price difference then that would be a different story. Decided on OCZ 1066MHz at 2.1v (GBP11 cheaper than Crucial's 1.8v). Just add in a decent NIC like the Trendnet TEG-PCITXR and you are good to go. I am using it in both machines and have fantastic gigabit ethernet connection between them. If you use a nic card that has the Realtek 8169SC chipset (such as that Trendnet card) you don't have to install any drivers for it to work perfectly out of the box. Bonjour networking, gigabit, full duplex and all work perfect. You could stick the same card in a real Mac and it would just as well there, too. Great. A Realtek 8169SC card turned out cheaper than the one I'd earmarked. Thanks for all your helpful advice. Much appreciated. HF Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1300449 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysATiger Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 How's your build going? Thinking of using the same hardware as you are.... I too was going to get a Nvidia 7200 because they're cheap and silent - what does OpenCL provide? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1306280 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horne Fisher Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 How's your build going? Thinking of using the same hardware as you are.... Well, it's up and running 10.5.8 using this guide to a vanilla install with some kexts added and removed. In brief: Boot132 to boot up Leopard installer disk Partition destination HD choosing GUID Partition Table option Boot132 to select the HD id to boot Install Chameleon DSDT Patcher to create the dsdt.aml file OSX86Tools to install kext files [see below] OSX86Tools to create a GFX string and add to the boot file Update to 10.5.8 Install Realtek_ALC883_Audio A serial port keyboard proved useful for entering commands to Boot132. Kexts installed: Supplied with the guide: OpenHaltRestart.kext LegacyIOAHCIBlockStorage.kext LegacyAppleAHCIPort.kext LegacyAppleIntelPIIXATA.kext HDAEnabler.kext IntelCPUPMDisabler.kext AppleSMBIOSEFI.kext ApplePS2Controller.kext AppleDecrypt.kext AppleACPIPS2Nub.kext Additions: SleepEnabler.kext IONetworkingFamily.kext (Time Machine fix) The Asus 9400GT has not yet worked from the VGA output but is fine with the DVI port using a DVI-VGA converter, so don't waste time over VGA unless it's essential. Profiler shows: Core Image: Hardware Accelerated Quartz Extreme: Supported Rotation: Supported I chose a GFX card with a fan as the width of passive cooled models seemed likely to conceal one of the PCI slots, but I suspect that the close proximity of a PCI card will cause the fan to speed up. Even with space below, the fan contributes a fair amount of noise. Anyone needing no more than one PCI slot would be wise to consider passive cooling. I like the Mini P180 case. "Mini" refers to the size of supported mobo rather than the case, which is larger than my G4. Good ventilation and very little vibration. Back panel audio and phones outs are working. No joy with input or front panel in/out. I'm currently using some old Apple Cube USB speakers. Maximum overclock achieved has been 3.5GHz, which seemed stable but failed with the Restart warning during a long backup. Currently using the failsafe mobo settings. Surprisingly, the ES2L (from ebuyer.com in the UK) turned out to be a rev1.1, so the network card wasn't needed. Overall cost: GBP365. Good luck with your build. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1309565 Share on other sites More sharing options...
macusers Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I also have this mobo v1.1. I run Vanilla SL on it and it works awesome, the only draw back on this board is it can't be expanded more than 4GB of Rams, to me, other than that, i think it is one of the most cost effect mobo for Hackintosh on the market right now. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1310147 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horne Fisher Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 Dual monitor support now achieved by adding NVEnabler 0.1.kext. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1310154 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horne Fisher Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Having initially set up using an ancient spare display and paying no attention to video quality, hooking up to my main monitor reveals a ghosting problem i.e. dark pixels casting a faint shadow to the right. It's most noticeable on small text, which looks smudged and blurry. Even unsmoothed Monaco, which I use for code, is soon hard on the eye. By comparison, My old G4/64MB ATI, with same cable, OS and smoothing settings, is crystal clear. Will have to find a fix else the system will be unfit for purpose. Currently Googling. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1310732 Share on other sites More sharing options...
macusers Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 It seems to work better with EFI Studio than NVEnabler.kext. At least in my case anyway. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1311076 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvvY Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Thanx for the above links to the guides re this mobo. I'm also about to build with this board my first hackintosh/server, and provided that goes well, I'll probably build another rig with much the same specs for regular usage. I was looking at another guide and they suggested the Asus En8400GS graphics card. I like it since it is silent (a bit plus for a server) however at the end of the day, it will see very little usage. Should I do as suggested above and look into a 9400GT? Also, from what I've read to succeed in building a hackintosh, you need to use a C2 cpu or above right? I ask since I was looking into TPD usage, and Celeron chips are much lower at 35W, but I don't think they use the required instruction sets as the C2 and above do. Cheers for your help Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1315625 Share on other sites More sharing options...
broken Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Also, from what I've read to succeed in building a hackintosh, you need to use a C2 cpu or above right? I ask since I was looking into TPD usage, and Celeron chips are much lower at 35W, but I don't think they use the required instruction sets as the C2 and above do. Cheers for your help Any of the current Celeron chips will work fine as they are part of the Core 2 family. I am using a single core Celeron 430 in my server and Leopard works with it great. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1315724 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvvY Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Any of the current Celeron chips will work fine as they are part of the Core 2 family. I am using a single core Celeron 430 in my server and Leopard works with it great. Fantastic. The 430 is the same one I was wanting to get. That will slash $100 off my build. Thanx for confirming that! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1316132 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystree Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Having initially set up using an ancient spare display and paying no attention to video quality, hooking up to my main monitor reveals a ghosting problem i.e. dark pixels casting a faint shadow to the right. It's most noticeable on small text, which looks smudged and blurry. Even unsmoothed Monaco, which I use for code, is soon hard on the eye. By comparison, My old G4/64MB ATI, with same cable, OS and smoothing settings, is crystal clear. Will have to find a fix else the system will be unfit for purpose. Currently Googling. Did you ever find a solution to the Asus 9400 card smudging your text ? I'm looking to do a very similar build to yours (ebuyer again), and am probably looking at using the same card as you. For my purposes, I won't be using both outputs, I'll just want to use the DVI output to my iiyama 1280x1024 lcd. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1320795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horne Fisher Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share Posted November 6, 2009 Did you ever find a solution to the Asus 9400 card smudging your text ? I'm looking to do a very similar build to yours (ebuyer again), and am probably looking at using the same card as you. For my purposes, I won't be using both outputs, I'll just want to use the DVI output to my iiyama 1280x1024 lcd. The display in question is an ageing Samsung 1280x1024 VGA LCD, which my eyes are tuned in to for both pre-press and web work. Juggling with display settings and colour profiles has brought the smudging down to a tolerable level for general viewing purposes, though dark text on light-mid grey or darker or coloured backgrounds looks a bit "bleedy". I wouldn't trust it for small scale work. A closeup look shows a column of brighter pixels three pixels to the right of any dark pixel, giving a faint halo effect similar to JPEG compression of a sharpened image. A similar Samsung monitor with built-in sharpening controls shows no sign of the problem, so maybe it's due to a particular combination of display and card. Two other bugs have surfaced since migrating my accounts to the machine. Mail quits spontaneously every few hours Windows occasionally become undraggable (though remaining resizeable). Has affected several different apps as well as the Finder. Quitting and restarting the app restores drag. Fixed - bug due to "Minimise Desktop" setting enabled in Onyx. Bugs may be due to the migration so, when time allows, I'll try a clean Leopard install and gradual installation of apps to compare. Good luck with your build. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/192243-first-build-g31m-es2l-ram-queries/#findComment-1321379 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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