Questions before setting up my Hackintosh

[jafingi]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new here, so I just have some questions about building a hackintosh. Have searched the forums, but couldn't find any answers.

 

I am a long time Macbook-user, but I would really like to have the most up-to-date build, without having to buy a brand new Apple product. If I had the money, there would be no worries, but since it's short with the money these days, I have opened the doors for a hackintosh build.

 

Just to be sure, that I can still work on it, and it fits my needs, I have a few questions that I hope you will answer:

 

1) Is there any problems using WiFi on a Hackintosh? I would prefer a PCI card, but if USB works better, then it's just fine.

 

2) Does hackintosh PC's support Firewire 400/800? I produce music in my spare-time, so I have a firewire-based soundcard, that HAVE to work on the hackintosh.

 

3) Can I update OSX without worries, or should I wait a few months so it is confirmed working? And can an update make my system fail, if the hardware is no longer supported??

 

4) How easy is it to, say, install a new graphics card or CPU in the hackintosh? Is there any difficulties there?

 

5) Multiple hard drives (I had thought about using an SSD for the OS, and a 2TB HDD for files, music etc.)? Any problems there?

 

Thanks in advance! Hope you will help me making my first Hackintosh!

[SubliemeSiem]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new here, so I just have some questions about building a hackintosh. Have searched the forums, but couldn't find any answers.

 

I am a long time Macbook-user, but I would really like to have the most up-to-date build, without having to buy a brand new Apple product. If I had the money, there would be no worries, but since it's short with the money these days, I have opened the doors for a hackintosh build.

 

Just to be sure, that I can still work on it, and it fits my needs, I have a few questions that I hope you will answer:

 

1) Is there any problems using WiFi on a Hackintosh? I would prefer a PCI card, but if USB works better, then it's just fine.

 

2) Does hackintosh PC's support Firewire 400/800? I produce music in my spare-time, so I have a firewire-based soundcard, that HAVE to work on the hackintosh.

 

3) Can I update OSX without worries, or should I wait a few months so it is confirmed working? And can an update make my system fail, if the hardware is no longer supported??

 

4) How easy is it to, say, install a new graphics card or CPU in the hackintosh? Is there any difficulties there?

 

5) Multiple hard drives (I had thought about using an SSD for the OS, and a 2TB HDD for files, music etc.)? Any problems there?

 

Thanks in advance! Hope you will help me making my first Hackintosh!

 

Hi,

 

to answer a few of your questions:

 

1) I don't know about the PCI wireless cards, since mine doesn't work, but as long as you get USB working you can just buy a OS X compatibe wifi adapter.

 

2) My firewire isn't working yet, but I must say I haven't really looked at it yet and I've seen distro's that have kexts for it.

 

3) Depends on the update. If there is a kernel update there might be issues and sometimes kexts might be updated which have to be downgraded after installation.

 

4) Depends on the card. If OS X supports it you should be fine. Else you might have to look for additional kexts, EFI strings or whatnot.

 

5) Multiple drives shouldn't be a problem. It actually makes creating a dual boot system a lot easier, since OS X uses GPT and windows prefers MBR.

 

I hope I've helped to answer your questions.

 

Greets,

SubliemeSiem

[jafingi]

Hi,

 

to answer a few of your questions:

 

1) I don't know about the PCI wireless cards, since mine doesn't work, but as long as you get USB working you can just buy a OS X compatibe wifi adapter.

 

2) My firewire isn't working yet, but I must say I haven't really looked at it yet and I've seen distro's that have kexts for it.

 

3) Depends on the update. If there is a kernel update there might be issues and sometimes kexts might be updated which have to be downgraded after installation.

 

4) Depends on the card. If OS X supports it you should be fine. Else you might have to look for additional kexts, EFI strings or whatnot.

 

5) Multiple drives shouldn't be a problem. It actually makes creating a dual boot system a lot easier, since OS X uses GPT and windows prefers MBR.

 

I hope I've helped to answer your questions.

 

Greets,

SubliemeSiem

 

Thanks for the reply! ;o) Looks good so far.. Just waiting for answers on #1 and #2

[SubliemeSiem]

You might want to check the HCL on the osx86 wiki to see if your hardware is supported. Check http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page under hardware.

 

Greets,

Siem.

[no3tic888]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new here, so I just have some questions about building a hackintosh. Have searched the forums, but couldn't find any answers.

 

I am a long time Macbook-user, but I would really like to have the most up-to-date build, without having to buy a brand new Apple product. If I had the money, there would be no worries, but since it's short with the money these days, I have opened the doors for a hackintosh build.

 

Just to be sure, that I can still work on it, and it fits my needs, I have a few questions that I hope you will answer:

 

1) Is there any problems using WiFi on a Hackintosh? I would prefer a PCI card, but if USB works better, then it's just fine.

 

2) Does hackintosh PC's support Firewire 400/800? I produce music in my spare-time, so I have a firewire-based soundcard, that HAVE to work on the hackintosh.

 

3) Can I update OSX without worries, or should I wait a few months so it is confirmed working? And can an update make my system fail, if the hardware is no longer supported??

 

4) How easy is it to, say, install a new graphics card or CPU in the hackintosh? Is there any difficulties there?

 

5) Multiple hard drives (I had thought about using an SSD for the OS, and a 2TB HDD for files, music etc.)? Any problems there?

 

Thanks in advance! Hope you will help me making my first Hackintosh!

 

1) I haven't experienced a PCI card but if you found one that is Mac compatible, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

2) I got the one from Monoprice.com that works in my Hack.

 

3) I would always wait on system updates. You never know what lurks in them. All other updates I just apply.

 

4) Always check to make sure someone has been successful with theirs. Get more than one success story.

 

5) Make sure you have the latest boot loader. I read that early versions of Chameleon had problems with hard drives larger than 1TB.

 

Good Luck!

[fojerhar]

2) Does hackintosh PC's support Firewire 400/800? I produce music in my spare-time, so I have a firewire-based soundcard, that HAVE to work on the hackintosh.

Hi I'm working with firewire audio interfaces like Motu828MKII, and all the things works flawlessly, while using FW harddrives at same time, without conflicts. Only after 25 restarts one time there is no FW, but 1 restart solves it. No worries. Works with PT HD, LE and DP also.

 

3) Can I update OSX without worries, or should I wait a few months so it is confirmed working? And can an update make my system fail, if the hardware is no longer supported??

Just did all combo updates, only take a look for new kexts before restart, if something new unsure, or you have working own just delete it before restart.

 

4) How easy is it to, say, install a new graphics card or CPU in the hackintosh? Is there any difficulties there?

New GC just change it, if supported, no problem, CPU not tried i7 is strong enough for native audio also.

 

5) Multiple hard drives (I had thought about using an SSD for the OS, and a 2TB HDD for files, music etc.)? Any problems there?

Have 4 HDDs in it, works flawlessly