Help Building Hackintosh

[rhelfrey]

I am looking to build a hackintosh from scratch. I have never built any computer in the past so this will be my first one. I really want to build a hackintosh also. I'm not looking for anything crazy. I don't know what parts work the best. I want to go with the kakewalk version of installation as it seems to be the easiest. If there is anyone out there that can help me by giving me some options with parts that would be great. I'm not worried about a hard drive as I already have one, but I will be needing everything else. If you guys can give me a few options while keeping it under $700 that would be great. The less expensive the better.

[rhelfrey]

anyone? i really need some help

[psuedonakian]

For the motherboard, pick one from the list below. The list is taken from another thread:

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

 

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3LR

* Gigabyte EP45T-UD3LR

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3R

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3P

* Gigabyte EX58-UD5

* Gigabyte EX58-UD3R

* Gigabyte EX58A-UD7

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3L

* Gigabyte EP45-DS3L

* Gigabyte P55M-UD2

* MSI P55M-GD45

* Gigabyte G41M-ES2L

* Gigabyte EX58-UD4P

* Gigabyte X58A-UD3R

 

For the rest of the hardware, I would go with whatever Apple used before for the smoothest installation possible. Graphics wise I believe they used a Radeon HD 4670 (you can get a newer one, but I'm just picking out the cheapest aside from Integrated). Processor wise go with Core i3 or i5. You can get i7 if it doesn't break the bank.

[rhelfrey]

okay so the main thing with building a hackintosh is the motherboard? when it comes to the other parts it's just really looking to see what apple uses and go from there? processor wise can i get anything including AMD, or does it have to be Intel for the easiest install?

 

Thanks for your help up to this point. It's greatly appreciated.

 

For the motherboard, pick one from the list below. The list is taken from another thread:

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

 

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3LR

* Gigabyte EP45T-UD3LR

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3R

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3P

* Gigabyte EX58-UD5

* Gigabyte EX58-UD3R

* Gigabyte EX58A-UD7

* Gigabyte EP45-UD3L

* Gigabyte EP45-DS3L

* Gigabyte P55M-UD2

* MSI P55M-GD45

* Gigabyte G41M-ES2L

* Gigabyte EX58-UD4P

* Gigabyte X58A-UD3R

 

For the rest of the hardware, I would go with whatever Apple used before for the smoothest installation possible. Graphics wise I believe they used a Radeon HD 4670 (you can get a newer one, but I'm just picking out the cheapest aside from Integrated). Processor wise go with Core i3 or i5. You can get i7 if it doesn't break the bank.

[psuedonakian]

The motherboard is definitely the most important because if you get one that is difficult to setup, your computer will not function properly in some way or another. The motherboards above are those compatible with the Kakewalk method. Apple does not write drivers for all hardware. Even though a Radeon HD 4350 and Radeon HD 5850 use the same drivers for PC, this is not the case with the mac. Getting a graphics card that Apple uses means that it will be supported to some extent out of the box. If you can get the exact make and model that would be even better.

 

I would stick to Intel CPUs as using AMD CPUs will complicate things a little more. The thing is, you can use anything you want, but the more you deviate from what Apple uses, the harder it will be for you to make the computer work like a normal Mac.

[rhelfrey]

okay if you were to build one, which motherboard would you use and why? also what graphics card would be best for a cheap way? i'm not going to be playing hardcore games, or anything like that. i will probably use handbrake a bit to convert some movies, itunes to play music and sync with my ipod, and maybe burn a few cd/dvd's.

 

The motherboard is definitely the most important because if you get one that is difficult to setup, your computer will not function properly in some way or another. The motherboards above are those compatible with the Kakewalk method. Apple does not write drivers for all hardware. Even though a Radeon HD 4350 and Radeon HD 5850 use the same drivers for PC, this is not the case with the mac. Getting a graphics card that Apple uses means that it will be supported to some extent out of the box. If you can get the exact make and model that would be even better.

 

I would stick to Intel CPUs as using AMD CPUs will complicate things a little more. The thing is, you can use anything you want, but the more you deviate from what Apple uses, the harder it will be for you to make the computer work like a normal Mac.

[psuedonakian]

The thing is, there is no major price difference between LGA 775 and LGA 1156 motherboards, nor are there any significant price differences between a mid range Core 2 Duo vs Core i3, or high end Core 2 Duo vs low end Core i5. I'm going to need some specific information on what you want. Then I can recommend items for you.

 

How many cores would you like? Do you want a more modern PC with latest hardware, or are you just trying to get the cheapest computer possible?

[rhelfrey]

it doesn't have to be the best. i was thinking along the line of an i3 or i5 processor. graphic card i was thinking of something 512 or around that. not really sure which one to go with though. i was looking at the video/graphic card section here and i'm so confused. i looked at a few of the motherboards you put on the list earlier. i was on newegg.com and i saw that they have an Open Box of the MSI P55M-GD45 and it's like $65 shipped. not sure if this is a good one or not, but if so i think that's a good price.

 

The thing is, there is no major price difference between LGA 775 and LGA 1156 motherboards, nor are there any significant price differences between a mid range Core 2 Duo vs Core i3, or high end Core 2 Duo vs low end Core i5. I'm going to need some specific information on what you want. Then I can recommend items for you.

 

How many cores would you like? Do you want a more modern PC with latest hardware, or are you just trying to get the cheapest computer possible?

[psuedonakian]

I usually don't trust Open Box items much, but the MSI P55 motherboard is fine. Just note that all the P55 motherboards listed have the SATA ports at a 90 degree angle and only one faces upwards.

 

Processor wise I recommend the Core i5 760. The MSI motherboard supports Core i5 or i7, and the i5 760 is used in the high end iMac. It will cost you about $210. For a midrange graphics, go with the Radeon HD 5670, it costs about $100 and is also part of the newest iMac. I would recommend you get the 512MB model for maximum compatability over 1GB models. You'll also be using DDR3 memory, and you can safely pick out any that suits you.

 

What are you confused about in terms of graphics? Note that apple support for graphics is VERY limited. It is likely you need to get kexts or some other workaround to the get the graphics working. The only way to bypass this is to basically get the exact card they use for the macs...

[rhelfrey]

okay which motherboard would you use if you were to buy an i3 processor? i think that might be along the lines that i might want to spend. i think the i3 is about $115 for it.

 

i guess the main thing i am confused about in regards to the graphics is the kexts. just not sure where to find help on installation. do you install the kexts after you install os x or what? i guess i should probably worry about this after buying the stuff. i guess i just don't want to buy the wrong card.

 

thanks for all the input by the way. i would have no clue how to do anything if it weren't for you.

 

I usually don't trust Open Box items much, but the MSI P55 motherboard is fine. Just note that all the P55 motherboards listed have the SATA ports at a 90 degree angle and only one faces upwards.

 

Processor wise I recommend the Core i5 760. The MSI motherboard supports Core i5 or i7, and the i5 760 is used in the high end iMac. It will cost you about $210. For a midrange graphics, go with the Radeon HD 5670, it costs about $100 and is also part of the newest iMac. I would recommend you get the 512MB model for maximum compatability over 1GB models. You'll also be using DDR3 memory, and you can safely pick out any that suits you.

 

What are you confused about in terms of graphics? Note that apple support for graphics is VERY limited. It is likely you need to get kexts or some other workaround to the get the graphics working. The only way to bypass this is to basically get the exact card they use for the macs...

[Little MacEEE]

Why not buy and make? Why build from scratch? You can keep your spending to about 400 dollars with an Asus 1000he Eee netbook-made hackintosh, for instance.

[rhelfrey]

because i am looking for a desktop, not a netbook. i used to have a Dell Mini running OS X and while it was nice, it was just to slow and to small for the job. we now have a macbook for a laptop and we are looking to build a hackintosh desktop.

 

Why not buy and make? Why build from scratch? You can keep your spending to about 400 dollars with an Asus 1000he Eee netbook-made hackintosh, for instance.

[psuedonakian]

I read some of the review of the Gigabyte P55 on Newegg and apparently a Core i3 works with it. I'm guessing a Core i3 should work with either the Gigabyte or MSI, after all an i3 and i5 use the same socket and the i3 is just a slim version of the i5. As for the MSI, there are no direct sources of people saying it works with the i3 but I found *some* hints that it does based on a google search.

 

For kexts go to Kexts.com or just google something like "Radeon 5670 kexts." http://www.kexts.com/cat/10-ati.html?page=1&sort=

 

What you should do for graphics is just read around the web and see which one is the easiest to setup. Apparently just buying the same model as Apple uses won't solve everything... Also, you can either merge kexts to a custom OS X install disk or install them after with OSx86 Tools.

[rhelfrey]

ok cool what type of setup do you have?

 

I read some of the review of the Gigabyte P55 on Newegg and apparently a Core i3 works with it. I'm guessing a Core i3 should work with either the Gigabyte or MSI, after all an i3 and i5 use the same socket and the i3 is just a slim version of the i5. As for the MSI, there are no direct sources of people saying it works with the i3 but I found *some* hints that it does based on a google search.

 

For kexts go to Kexts.com or just google something like "Radeon 5670 kexts." http://www.kexts.com/cat/10-ati.html?page=1&sort=

 

What you should do for graphics is just read around the web and see which one is the easiest to setup. Apparently just buying the same model as Apple uses won't solve everything... Also, you can either merge kexts to a custom OS X install disk or install them after with OSx86 Tools.

[rhelfrey]

which video card would you recommend out of these 2? i believe they are the 2 most recent ones used by apple for the imac's.

 

Video card

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...2-870-_-Product

 

video card

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...2-820-_-Product

[psuedonakian]

The setup I had was an Intel Atom D945GCLF desktop computer. Setup was extremely straighforward, but because certain aspects of OS X failed to work (e.g 1024 x 768 max resolution) and the fact I was stuck on 10.5.2, I reverted it back to Windows. I'll just stick to buying macs from now on rather than make my own.

 

Since you won't be doing gaming, I suggest you go with the Radeon HD 4670. None of the graphics items you listed (e.g. handbrake) require a powerful video card, and a 4670 is already overkill for those tasks, so its perfect for your needs. I recommended the 5670 previously because 1) I didn't realize they still sold the 4670 and 2) The ones I saw for sale were ~$80. The 5670 is only $15 more for a faster GPU. You won't notice the difference unless you game, so personally I would get the 5670, but since you are looking for something thats modestly priced and suits your needs, the 4670 is perfect.

[rhelfrey]

okay so let's say i go with the i5, the radeon 4570, and either the MSI or the Gigabyte p55m. what case would be good to get for it and what power supply?

 

The setup I had was an Intel Atom D945GCLF desktop computer. Setup was extremely straighforward, but because certain aspects of OS X failed to work (e.g 1024 x 768 max resolution) and the fact I was stuck on 10.5.2, I reverted it back to Windows. I'll just stick to buying macs from now on rather than make my own.

 

Since you won't be doing gaming, I suggest you go with the Radeon HD 4670. None of the graphics items you listed (e.g. handbrake) require a powerful video card, and a 4670 is already overkill for those tasks, so its perfect for your needs. I recommended the 5670 previously because 1) I didn't realize they still sold the 4670 and 2) The ones I saw for sale were ~$80. The 5670 is only $15 more for a faster GPU. You won't notice the difference unless you game, so personally I would get the 5670, but since you are looking for something thats modestly priced and suits your needs, the 4670 is perfect.

[psuedonakian]

So you've decided to go with the Core i5 after all? Also, I hope you mean the Radeon HD 4670 cause the 4570 is a laptop graphics card!

 

The motherboards are micro-ATX so you will need an micro-ATX compatable case. Either get a micro-ATX Mid Tower or an micro-ATX compatable ATX Mid Tower (check the item specifications). I suggest you get a compatable ATX Midtower because they have more room inside and because there are more PSU options for them. Good companies for cases are Thermaltake, Cooler Master, Antec, and Lian Li.

For the power supply you'll need about 400W. Here's a website that can tell you what PSU rating you'll need:

 

http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

 

The quad core i5 and the graphics card will drain the PSU good under full load. Even though you won't be at 100% usage the whole time, you should buy a PSU with that in mind. Companies that make high quality PSUs are: Antec, Thermaltake, BFG, Cooler Master, OCZ Tech, and XFX. When buying a PSU, please make sure you consider the quality vs the cost. A cheaper PSU rated at 400W will most likely not operate smoothly at 400W while a higher quality one will. Also, a cheaper PSU will be louder.

 

Note that just because I didn't list a company dosen't mean they don't make a quality PSU. I would read the reviews and decide.

[rhelfrey]

Only reason I decided on the Core i5 is b/c neither of the motherboards accepted the i3. They both said they accept i5 and i7.

 

So you've decided to go with the Core i5 after all? Also, I hope you mean the Radeon HD 4670 cause the 4570 is a laptop graphics card!

 

The motherboards are micro-ATX so you will need an micro-ATX compatable case. Either get a micro-ATX Mid Tower or an micro-ATX compatable ATX Mid Tower (check the item specifications). I suggest you get a compatable ATX Midtower because they have more room inside and because there are more PSU options for them. Good companies for cases are Thermaltake, Cooler Master, Antec, and Lian Li.

For the power supply you'll need about 400W. Here's a website that can tell you what PSU rating you'll need:

 

http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

 

The quad core i5 and the graphics card will drain the PSU good under full load. Even though you won't be at 100% usage the whole time, you should buy a PSU with that in mind. Companies that make high quality PSUs are: Antec, Thermaltake, BFG, Cooler Master, OCZ Tech, and XFX. When buying a PSU, please make sure you consider the quality vs the cost. A cheaper PSU rated at 400W will most likely not operate smoothly at 400W while a higher quality one will. Also, a cheaper PSU will be louder.

 

Note that just because I didn't list a company dosen't mean they don't make a quality PSU. I would read the reviews and decide.