Hackintosh Pro Build

[GregTheGerg]

Hi guys, I was just wondering what kind of parts I needed to build a comparable Mac Pro.

 

This includes an 8-core build with the standard 2.26 GHz Xeons, but with 32GB of memory, an ATI 4870 512MB, and a 1 TB HDD.

 

If anybody has built a solution that works, please post.

[GregTheGerg]

The only thing I'm really concerned about is the motherboard. Anything will do as long as it is supported by Mac, Final Cut Studio and with everything else I need on it.

 

This includes upgrading HD space.

 

This is a build I have so far... Newegg Wishlist

 

I saved the file on Box.net from the "Print This List" option on Newegg, so if it seems funny, it's not.

[steaky]

 I dont know much about hackintosh myself as I am building my first also, but I think you can get a better video card for less money.  Im eyeing this from ncix.com in Canada:

 

XFX Radeon HD 4870 750MHZ 1GB 3.6GHZ GDDR5 PCI-E 2XDVI HDCP Video Card $139.99 CDN

 

 

 

 

I have also seen cheaper BD drives but maybe Pioneers are higher priced.

[TomCom]

What's the purpose of a clone if you don't even save money? Losing a lot when you sell your components? Getting low perf DDR3? Losing dozens of hours on the software configuration?

Sorry to tell you that, but in my opinion it's completely pointless, like buying a fake iPhone for the price of a real one.

[Zaap]

I don't get it either. Trying to duplicate the actual 8-core MacPro is folly.

 

If you're going to spend 3k, then why not just bite the bullet and get an actual 8-core MacPro for that same price range?

 

Granted, it won't have 32GB of memory at stock- but it begs the question, do you really NEED 32GB of RAM? A lot of people just think 'the more RAM the merrier' without taking into account the actual use of the machine. Final Cut Studio apps are 32-bit; it won't utilize more than 4GB of RAM no matter what system it's running on. I use a 775-based machine with 8GB of RAM to do video editing and it can handle pretty much anything I throw at it. 32GB would only increase the potential multi-tasking performance with multiple apps at once.

 

Personally, I'd say either buy an actual MacPro (which will have full support for OSX and all apps) or build a more reasonable (single) i7 based Hackintosh that's more the point of a Hackintosh in the first place- not trying to duplicate Apple's actual product line, but fill in the gaps.

[TomCom]

A smart very high-end hackintosh configuration would be something like this:

 

• EX58-UD5

• Core i7 960 @ 3,2GHz (600$)

• Noctua NH-D14, Thermalright IFX-14 + 2 fans (or watercooling)

• 12 GB of DDR3 @ 2000MHz

• Intel X25-M Postville SSD drive(s)

• EVGA GTX 285

• Corsair HX 750W

 

And I bet you it would be more powerful than your 8-core Mac Pro at 2,26 GHz, and far more once overclocked.

[GregTheGerg]

You guys all have very valid points, the only reason I'm trying to get an exact copy is because I'd like to do as little hacking as possible.

 

It has come to my attention though that Mac Pro's have a proprietary board though, so I'll still have to do some hacking. My only other thing is, I did a build like I had on the list, but the difference is stark. About a $4400 dollar difference.

 

To answer any other questions, yes, I do NEED the 32GB of RAM because I've done a lot editing for a company that I work for (and no, I can't say which one because they told me not to.) and the 32GB of RAM is the next step I need.

 

Any other success stories with my kind of build would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

[Zaap]

You guys all have very valid points, the only reason I'm trying to get an exact copy is because I'd like to do as little hacking as possible.

Using PC hardware with OSx86 is always going to require hacking. "As little as possible" with Hackintosh means using hardware that's known to work, following step by step a really good guide that has all the kinks worked out already. Otherwise if you pick a mobo no one else has tried yet, you end up blazing a trail. It may work, it may not. Great IF it does- then you're the first and you can be the one to write the guide for everyone else. But spending 3k to roll the dice and find out it doesn't work for OSx86 would suck.

 

It has come to my attention though that Mac Pro's have a proprietary board though, so I'll still have to do some hacking. My only other thing is, I did a build like I had on the list, but the difference is stark. About a $4400 dollar difference.

You gotta remember, the base model MacPros from Apple are great deals for the actual hardware you get.

 

But no one in their right mind buys much beyond the base-system directly from Apple. That's where Apple really slaps it to the suckers. They make a ton of money off the most dense of Mac fanbois that don't pay attention to what things cost in the real world and that believe everything from Apple is actually made by them, unavailable anywhere else, and personally anointed with magic Apple holy water made from the sweat of Steve Job's brow.

 

For example, to outfit the MacPro with 32 GB of DDR3 1066 ECC (8x4GB) from Apple, they charge idiots (and yes, I truly believe one has to be one to pay Apple's add-on prices) $3700- more than the cost of a SECOND 8-core MacPro! There is nothing in the freakin' universe that 32GB of RAM in one machine will do faster for anyone than a second entire 8-core machine, plus $400 left over!

 

Go to newegg or other online vendors (IE: the real world) and 32 GB of DDR3 1066 ECC (8x4GB) is roughly $1,200.

 

Apple charges $300(!!!) for a 1TB harddrive, and $100(!!!) for a freakin' 18x DVD-R drive- over 3x the going rate of either!

 

So basically, buy the base from Apple for a reasonable price, then upgrade the RAM/drives, etc. as needed from a third party outside the Apple RDF.

 

It is worth it to pay $200 for an Apple-anointed HD 4870 for the MacPro, since it's not that far off from a real world price, and a better graphic card actually would be implemented by FCP to improve video editing performance.

[LogicalUser]

I for one cannot see ANY possible reason that a dual-socket nehalem-based xeon machine could be somehow "easier" to install OSX on than a single socket 1366 i7 build. Hell, I would say the reverse is likely true, what with the huge difference in popularity between single and dual socket motherboards (virtually nobody goes 2 socket), and the corresponding guides & people's experiences to draw upon available here

 

Thinking about it... really, assuming your using a compatible board there are few if any differences between what is required to install on any intel-based build.

 

Regardless of what you pick (socket 775, socket 1366, dual 1366, socket 1156, etc...) to install SL your going to need the same bootloader (chameleon?), an edited DSDT file, and between 3-6 kexts on the volume with your bootloader. About the most difficult; with the P55 board all you need to do is make sure you grab the newest versions of the kexts, oh noes!

[GregTheGerg]

Wow, that's a lot of good info. The only reason I wanted to build it this way is because I wanted to build it for as little money as possible like I've said.

 

If I can get a $7400 dollar Mac for a little less than the base price that would've been a plus, but it doesn't seem like it's a very good option at this point for what I wanna do.

 

Too bad...

[MisterFuzzbuster]

Dear TomCom,

 

Are you aware of any high end Mac's in a similar or exact configuration to the one you created below?

 

A smart very high-end hackintosh configuration would be something like this:

 

• EX58-UD5

• Core i7 960 @ 3,2GHz (600$)

• Noctua NH-D14, Thermalright IFX-14 + 2 fans (or watercooling)

• 12 GB of DDR3 @ 2000MHz

• Intel X25-M Postville SSD drive(s)

• EVGA GTX 285

• Corsair HX 750W

 

I am looking to build a highly compatible high end, single core hackintosh, with dual boot capabilities. I'm looking to run Snow Leopard on one hard drive and either OpenSolaris or Fedora on the other, and I'm basically completely new to all this, but I know what I want so I guess that's half the battle.

 

I have reviewed your compatibility charts and will again, but I'm looking to spend no more than $2000.00 and I want to build the most compatible system possible.

 

I will be using it for CS4 Master Suite, basically all the adobe programs, video editing, and voice recording, with music playback too. I think I might want to add a sound card and a firewire card.

 

Since I will be relying on the help of the members of this board, that is if you want to help me, I will in turn help the community by creating a step by step, with photographs, guide for novices. Maybe you won't have to answer so many questions repeatedly if you have a DIY guide for a higher level functioning system.

 

Oh and this will be my primary computer so it will need to be reliable. Am I asking too much here?

 

Maybe I should have started a new thread.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Oh and I forgot to mention, I am here in the first place because I just returned two iMacs with separate issues.

Sorry but I think I'll take my chances building it myself Apple.