Building a MacOS X compatible pc?

[kurkosdr]

Hi there,

 

Is it possible to build a MacOS X compatible pc using of-the-shelf compoments?

 

For example, what motherboards are considered compatible (i presume they must have EFI, lol), what sound cards, wifi cards, video cards etc.

 

Any help will be appreciated. Also, why not a start an OS X hardware compatibility topic/list?

 

It would be very nice, as many people would be able to simply print the list and go shopping (no need to search a billion other sites with ambiguous info) and it would allow many people to get a mac for the price of a pc

 

PS: Don't start recommending the OSx86 operating system. I want the real OS X.

[Erigz]

Go buy a mac if you don't want OSx86.

[Kirtay]

OSx86 *is* the real OS X.

[kurkosdr]

Go buy a mac if you don't want OSx86.

Thanks for the answer.

 

But a simple "Yes you can build a mac clone with of-the-shelf compoments" or "No, you can't build a mac clone with of-the-shelf compoments, you will need to go buy a mac if you don't want OSx86" would be much more helpful to a OS X newbie (like me).

 

No intention to offend, but I still haven't got an answer about whether it's possible to build a mac clone with of-the-shelf parts or not. I am buying a new computer, and I don't want to spend a truck load of money for an Apple brand computer if I can build an exact copy using parts I get for much cheaper from newegg.

 

PS: Would the Asus P5Q series be a good start for a mac clone? Asus says it has EFI.

[kalel83]

OSX86 is a term to describe installing OS X on non authentic Apple Hardware. Like someone said, if you don't want OSX86, then buy a mac, otherwise what you ask is literally impossible.

x86 = PC hardware. OSX86 = OS X on PC hardware.

 

"No intention to offend, but I still haven't got an answer about whether it's possible to build a mac clone with of-the-shelf parts or not. I am buying a new computer, and I don't want to spend a truck load of money for an Apple brand computer if I can build an exact copy using parts I get for much cheaper from newegg."

I find it hard to believe that you haven't figured out this answer by yourself, when probably 50% of the hardware related topics on this forum have to do with installing OS X on off-the-shell parts from places like newegg. That's thousands of posts from hundreds of people discussing that very concept, how could you miss it?

Hell, this forum even has an ENTIRE section on Buying Thoughts, Reviews, and Recommendations

 

Tony does a build list every once in awhile, here is one from not too long ago.

http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/06/bui...omplete-pc.html

[kurkosdr]

Tony does a build list every once in awhile, here is one from not too long ago.

http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/06/bui...omplete-pc.html

 

Thanks! This is exactly what I 've been looking for! I had searched for something like this many times in the past, but I never managed to find any usable indo.

 

One more question (please excuse my newbieness): All I have to do is build a pc with the parts mentioned, and then I will just slide in the MacOS X DVD and install the OS (since MacOS X will think it's a mac). No need to use any other obscure software like patches, bootloaders and the like, right?

 

Please answer, I have at least 11 friends who also look for an answer to this.

[The Finale of Seem]

Thanks! This is exactly what I 've been looking for! I had searched for something like this many times in the past, but I never managed to find any usable indo.

 

One more question (please excuse my newbieness): All I have to do is build a pc with the parts mentioned, and then I will just slide in the MacOS X DVD and install the OS (since MacOS X will think it's a mac). No need to use any other obscure software like patches, bootloaders and the like, right?

 

Please answer, I have at least 11 friends who also look for an answer to this.

No on every count. You will have to use some kind of software or hardware hack to get it working, period. Some setups are easier than others, but it is simply impossible to build a PC right now and install OS X on it without some kind of extra processes.

 

The good news is that once you DO get it up and running, it's usually golden for the forseeable future. Be wary of OS point upgrades (ie, 10.6.3 to 10.6.4), and when OS 10.7 comes out at some point, there will doubtlessly be new procedures to get that installed.

[geiman]

Wow, do yourself a favor and read a bit on this board. In short, no. Unfortunately you will not be able to just slide in the DVD and install the OS just like you would on a Mac.

 

You can build some amazing machines that require little hacking to get OS X running, but I assure you any PC you build will need something... unfortunately there is no "custom pc" build that will give you the satisfaction of simply putting the parts together and booting into OS X like magic. If such components existed this site would not. However, that is not to say it is a difficult process. If you buy components with OS X in mind, your PC will (read: can) require very little to run OS X smoothly. Just do your homework. If you don't want to mess with boot loaders, DSDT editing, etc... then you might want to buy a Mac. But trust me when I say you can build a very nice machine with little effort that runs OS X well.

 

And don't be afraid of being a noob; we all start sometime.

[kalel83]

Thanks! This is exactly what I 've been looking for! I had searched for something like this many times in the past, but I never managed to find any usable indo.

 

One more question (please excuse my newbieness): All I have to do is build a pc with the parts mentioned, and then I will just slide in the MacOS X DVD and install the OS (since MacOS X will think it's a mac). No need to use any other obscure software like patches, bootloaders and the like, right?

 

Please answer, I have at least 11 friends who also look for an answer to this.

 

 

If you look around that site I linked to you, you will notice this. http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/

It's the blog of the a few people who maintain a set of tools for installing OS X with the Retail DVD, as well as an awesome forum that is only for installs of OS X with the retail DVD. They put a lot of effort into explain things to noobs, so please take the time to read every single post(and most of the comments) that blog has had from day one, and you will learn a great deal indeed. WHen you have read them all, Go in their forum, and Start HERE http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewforum.php?f=50

 

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Read up on DSDT, Chameleon, so forth

 

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Just look through his blog, watch the public service announcement videos he made, and read read read

 

good luck