New scratch build

[WARning296]

Hey guys,

 

Im new to the hackintosh world, but not new to computers - just out of touch from the past few years. My Macbook Pro recently committed suicide right after AppleCare ended so I refuse to buy a new one. So after looking into builds for a Hackintosh i became more confused than when i started. I lost touch with the cutting edge tech over the years, and I was wondering if anyone can help me piece together a system.

 

Im a designer, so i need to run CS5, Final Cut, After Effects and all that good stuff. I also have plans to do a little gaming (Diablo 3 = hell yeah!). So I dont need anything crazy, just an extremely solid machine.

[Mackilroy]

Check out this topic, I've linked to some web pages that you should find useful. You should also check out the OSx86 wiki, though it's outdated now.

[imiraj]

If you're a designer, you can do with high specs anyways :/

 

Get an X58A-UD7 mobo, i7-930, 6 GB RAM @ 1600 MHz (Kingston HyperX 3x2GB), 2x2TB Hard drive, GTS-250 1 GB, Gigabyte Superb 720W and a samsung B083L Blu-Ray Drive

 

You can substitute UD7 with UD5 or UD3R. The RAM can be downgraded to 4 GB if you really want (and get something with lower clock if you're really strapped). Go for 1x1TB Hard drives or lower since I'm not sure about your needs exactly. You can also downgrade the graphics card to GTS-250 512 MB, however, you'll need a 700W+ PSU.

 

Ok, price checking for you, USD 1365 (O__O my eyes are popping out of my head - I paid ~250 USD more for my /inferior/ system >: [ ... ), or ~USD 1040 with the UD3R,4GB-1600MHz RAM (Kingston HyperX 2x2 GB), 1x1TB, GTS-250 512MB (though the price difference between the 512MB and the 1024MB is ~$30 so you may want to make that investment).

 

The blu-ray drive is ~$80 in case you want a DVD Drive instead which will cost you ~$20 :/

[Mackilroy]

I disagree with your PSU requirement, I've got an EX58-UD5, Core i7-930, 6 GB of RAM and three hard drives all powered by a 500W PSU.

[imiraj]

I've started using PSUs with excess power after my 550W blew up in 08. Guess what I added ... 1x LED fan and 1x Cathode tube

 

it's not like you're compromising anything with slightly more power to spare.

[Mackilroy]

No, but it'll be more expensive.

[alex_cutter]

If you're a designer, you can do with high specs anyways :/

 

Get an X58A-UD7 mobo, i7-930, 6 GB RAM @ 1600 MHz (Kingston HyperX 3x2GB), 2x2TB Hard drive, GTS-250 1 GB, Gigabyte Superb 720W and a samsung B083L Blu-Ray Drive

 

You can substitute UD7 with UD5 or UD3R. The RAM can be downgraded to 4 GB if you really want (and get something with lower clock if you're really strapped). Go for 1x1TB Hard drives or lower since I'm not sure about your needs exactly. You can also downgrade the graphics card to GTS-250 512 MB, however, you'll need a 700W+ PSU.

 

Ok, price checking for you, USD 1365 (O__O my eyes are popping out of my head - I paid ~250 USD more for my /inferior/ system >: [ ... ), or ~USD 1040 with the UD3R,4GB-1600MHz RAM (Kingston HyperX 2x2 GB), 1x1TB, GTS-250 512MB (though the price difference between the 512MB and the 1024MB is ~$30 so you may want to make that investment).

 

The blu-ray drive is ~$80 in case you want a DVD Drive instead which will cost you ~$20 :/

 

First time poster here.

 

Thanks for this info. I'm looking to build a similar system, and as a first-time builder, had some questions.

 

1) No Firewire?

 

2) I'd love to find a resource where the user could plug in what they required out of a hackintosh system (CPU, Firewire 800, 6 USB 2 ports, etc.), and the "resource" could spit out configurations, mixing and matching compatible components. Anything like that exist?

 

3) By posting this configuration, does that imply that everything is working perfectly -- as in, works exactly like a Mac (no sound or networking issues)?

 

4) Sorry for being vague, but how sophisticated/complicate is the OSx86 installation process for this setup?

 

Thanks again.

[Mackilroy]

1. X58 motherboards have Firewire.

 

2. No such thing exists.

 

3. It should all work very well, but there are no perfect guarantees, unless you use hardware other people have already used and confirmed to work.

 

4. With Kakewalk or [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] installation is extremely easy.

[WARning296]

I pieced together this build, it runs about $750 all said and done which isnt bad. If you can let me know what you think, or if there are any issues you guys know about it id appreciate it.

 

 

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel mobo

 

Radeon HD 4870 1GB Video Card

 

Rosewill Xtreme Series RX750-S-B 750W PSU

 

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz

 

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel RAM

 

Plus a 1TB WD HD, and a disc drive.

[Mackilroy]

$750 for a Core 2 Duo machine is overpriced. You can build a Core i5-750 machine for over $100 less than that.

[Zaap]

Getting audio working on the EP45-UD3L is an exercise in pulling your hair out. I've vowed never again to futz with this board if I can help it. (Recently had to to hack a friend's system who has one and I'm fully convinced this board is FAR inferior to the EP45-UD3P which works perfectly and is infinitely more forgiving during setup). You might do yourself a huge favor and buy a USB audio adapter. Or better yet, as advised, drop socket 775 altogether and go with an i5 build.