Budget Hackintosh "lifehacker guide" Snow Leopard Retail Install

[nomoretables]

Hey guys. Big up to all those dudes that slaved away to make this all happen!

 

I want to build a budget hackintosh to test the waters, using the "lifehacker Snow Leopard Retail Install guide". The 2 best supported mobos seem to be GA-EP45-UD3P(expensive) and the GA-G31M-ES2L(budget). I'm going to use it with a Geforce 9400GT amd IntelE5300, which I already own.

 

The lifehacker guide uses a Geforece 9800, but doesn't mention anything specific in the guide and the package he sets up, that makes the guide only compatible with the 9800. The 9400GT is in the HCL, so it should work using the lifehacker guide?

 

In South Africa, where I live I can't get hold of the GA-G31M-ES2L but I can get hold of the GA-G31M-ES2C and GA-G41M-ES2L. The problem is I can't find a "lifehacker" type of guide for these mobos. I spoken to some people and they say that the main chipset is the same so it should work fine, but I don't want to end up struggling and patching left and right.

 

Besides the mobos I mentioned that are available here in South Africa, what other budget boards are good alternatives that will work with the lifehacker SL retail guide?

 

If it comes down to it, I'm prepared to use my savings to buy the GA-EP45-UD3P which is $328 here in South Africa, which is really steep. But I'm desperate to run SL. But I get the feeling it's not really necessary, there must be a cheaper mobo that works great?

 

Also I don't have access to a mac at this stage, so in the mean time I’m looking for guides to install SL without usb install method using retail SL, but even for the GA-EP45-UD3P I can't find a conclusive guide?

 

So then I start to think, screw it, I'm just gonna fork out the $328, but then I check this mobo out on the HCL 10.6 and there's 3 duplicates of this with different comments next to each one and a rev 1.6, so which one do you take, and will it work out of the box following the lifehacker guide? How in sync is the HCL with this forum?

 

So I'm really confused at this stage...Any advice/guidance would really be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Nomoretables

[pdave54]

re " but I don't want to end up struggling and patching left and right."... Unless you get a mobo with the same chipsets, video,audio,network, then you are going to have to patch.

Here is a guide for Leopard (same would work for snow)

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=160113

you just have to LOOK

[NickB_CapeTown]

Hi - I used the GA-G41M-ES2L MB with the Lifehacker install guide for SL. Everything worked ex except for the audio which I got to work after I installed some kexts.

 

I also had to install kexts to get Time Machine and iStat to work.

 

My rig ran great (I recently sold it as I am going overseas).

 

Let me know if you need any pointers in terms of kexts and guides etc.

 

Also, if you can splash the extra cash then go with the MB recommended by lifehacker - it's easier to get it working. The G41M board takes a bit of time!

[backinmac]

In addition to the Lifehacker guide (which I don't reccomed unless you have the EP45-UD3P due to limited support) additional guides for the ES2L are:

 

Kakewalk: (Which you don't need a Mac for)

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=195248

 

A Forum about the G41M-ES2L on Lifehacker Guide:

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=195005

 

Another Mini Guide for the G41M-ES2L:

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=182655

 

Which Directs you to this guide:

 

http://www.infinitemac.com/f57/guide-retai...for-g31m-t3672/

 

And Finally:

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=209359

 

Just search through the guides and pick which one works for you. Kakewalk seems like the best method for you because you don't have access to a Mac. Another thing to look at is community support (i.e. How many posts are there, and how many pages?) to guage how well you will be able to troubleshoot with others should you come upon problems. Also, don't get hung up on using the Lifehacker guide. While an awesome guide, and the one I used; as evidenced by the above, it's not the only one, and certainly not the best one because of your plans to use a different motherboard. Good Luck!

 

EDIT: Wow, I didn't realize how old the original post was. I guess it can help someone else.

[osxdude]

You helped me so much... Thank you so much :-)

 

EDIT: Wow, I didn't realize how old the original post was. I guess it can help someone else.