Dell Optiplex 755 help please?

[Jonesy_sa]

Hi all,

What a great community of people and wealth of knowledge.

 

I am wondering if i could grab some advice, i have:

 

Dell OptiPlex 755 Core 2 Duo CPU E6550 @ 2.33GHz (ram ill upgrade to 2-4gig) ATI Radeon X1300 XT

and would like to install a suitable OSX version on it. I did some searching of the forum and found:

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=142913

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72450

 

The threads are a bit old and i was wondering if much has changed as far as process, drivers, software etc?

What methods would people recommend, obviously there is a few different types and it seems a few years back they had luck with iDeneb but is there a better method now, or should i stick with what they did as that version of OSX may suit my older hardware better?

I am open to suggestions to change video card to better suit osx. With that said it needs to be low wattage as my pc takes low profile cards and i think the pci/16 slot is limited to 20-30watt. Others have ran the hd5450 with windows fine in my pc but i think there is some osx bugs with this card, further the 8400gs requires 71watt which is more than my crappy SFF psu will handle?

Ideally the process i am after will be simply enough for a newbie and work well with my hardware. I should also point out i dont have access to a Macintosh so cant use any method that requires one.

 

Thanks guys!

[Dellmantt]

This search finds more updated links. http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&...0l0l305l305l3-1 There are suggestions about using boot cd, using Lifehacker guide, using iaktos v3. My suggestion [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] CD & retail DVD.

These will help Chameleon.dmg.zip Kext_Utility.zipArchive.zip

If your unsure of how to proceed, then I will write a mini tutorial when I have more time.

 

First two links of this search MAY get your video working http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&...0l1l0l0l91l91l1 Bad luck it is a SFF, I run a 8400GS on the desktop model.

 

10.7 Lion runs well on this system too http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...=256798&hl=

[dothacker]

I've had success using iATKOS S3 V2 on Dell platform (Optiplex GX620, 760 and 780). just FYI.

[Jonesy_sa]

If your unsure of how to proceed, then I will write a mini tutorial when I have more time.

Hi Dellmattt,

thanks for such an informative and insightful post! I have done a fair bit of reading and i guess the more i read the more options and methods become apparent; thus it would be fantastic if you could give me a tutorial based on your pc which seems very similar to my own.

I read this:

http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/04/ibo...ac-os-x-on.html

which seems straight enough but would welcome your method!!

Further i did some research and my pc and it is the desktop, or atleast according to this:

http://www.tricityretail.com/brochures/del...x_datasheet.pdf

I was told the 8400 series needs more power than whats available from my psu etc but then again if it works for you i see no reason not buy a 2nd hand card at some point.

The links for the 5450 were very promising also.

 

Thank you all again for the input.

[Dellmantt]

If you have the Desktop Optiplex it will run the 8400GS it has 75W power to the PCI-E slot as apposed to the SSF at 21W. If you have a full size optical drive, not the laptop type tray drive then you probably have a Desktop, anyway the dimensions are in that link for you to check.

 

Do yo wan't to run the optiplex as just an OS X machine, or dual boot Windows and os x. Or install OS X on an external drive for a start just to try it. I just run OS X on my 755 with windows running on VMWare Fusion (easiest) The bios is different on the 755 than on GX 520 where I did run dual boot. I would suggest that you do a bios update to the latest version anyway.

[Jonesy_sa]

Hi,

 

Yes the whole video card thing has had me a bit confused. I definitely have a 755 Desktop. Wattage wise when i opened up my box, printed on the board is something to the effect of:

Slot 1 PCI e x 16 25W.

I presumed the 25w meant max 25 Watt. Therefore i went with the HD5450. Just to clarify, i have two Dell 755 pc's. One is part way through a HTPC set up with media portal xp install and a 5450.

The 2nd will be my new Desktop as my current p4 2.4 512 XP HE is just to slow and i like the idea of a hackintosh.

Can you confirm if the 25W actually means 25watt? I am happy to upgrade the GFX card if needed however i do have ATI X1200/1300 and maybe a X2400 floating around which i believe iATKOS support.

 

As far as install goes, I like the idea of OS X on my 755 with windows running on VMWare Fusion. I would like Ubuntu or a triple boot but to save time and confusion ill stick with the dedicated OSX system for the moment.

 

So master, what next? :-)

[Dellmantt]

My mistake, yes the DT model is 25W. Seems to handle the "Galaxy nvidia 8400GS DVI/VGA" fine. CPU's & Hard Drives temperatures are fine.

This search shows that other people are using that card in the 755. Its a similar search to what I used when I first got the 755 to see what others were using. http://www.google.com.au/search?client=saf...158&bih=864

 

I had a Mac/Hack to install mine. I am trying different Boot CD's at the moment to get an install where hopefully you won't have to use a DIstro. Will report soon.

[Dellmantt]

Ok quick & dirty install

You will need

- OS X Install (upgrade) disc or an ISO image of same. I used 10.6.3

- This Boot CD BootCD.iso.zip

- Kext Utility & Chameleon (from earlier post)

- And VoodooHDA.kext.zip EDIT & NullCPUPowerManagement.kext.zip

 

Burn Boot CD iso to disk

Set Bios to ACHI

Bott with Boot CD..once booted eject Boot CD and insert OS X DVD press F5 select OS X Install hit enter.

Choose language etc _ AS SOON as you see the "Utilities Menu" at the top pick "Disc Utility" to format drive -One or more partitions Mac OS extended journaled and under options pick GUID partition table. Close Disk Utility. Continue install- Under options uncheck printers, languages etc, leave only base system.

When install is finished restart with the Boot CD in the drive-choose the drive/partition where you installed OS X-Complete OS X intro set up keyboard detection etc.

Now from the finder/desktop open the Boot CD/ open the Extra folder/ open the Preboot.dmg file-copy the Extra folder from the Preboot.dmg to the root of the drive-copy the NullCPUPowerManagement.kext to the Extra/Extensions folder at root.-Now run "Kext Utility" to set permissions.

Drag the VoodooHDA.kext on to Kext Utility to install.

Install Chameleon.

Restart with the boot cd removed from drive-should now get to the Chameleon prompt & start OS X.

You won't have accelerated graphics (not possible with on-board) If you go with the hd5450 can't help you there except for the link I already gave you. If you go for a 8400GS, that easy to do.

[Dellmantt]

Too hard?

[Jonesy_sa]

Too hard?

 

Hi Dellmantt,

I really appreciate the tutorial and im keen to give it a go, it doesn't look to hard and im sure i can get my HD5450 working as well.

Unfortunately due to Government budget cuts i was given notice at my work. I have been spending every second working or applying for a new position. Once i start something i get hooked and i just know ill get distracted once i start so thought best leave it till i get the job applications all finished.

Hopefully within a week or two ill be able to report back. With success or some further advice!

Thanks

[Jonesy_sa]

OK - so happily employed again means i can focus on this.

I worked through the tutorial with some SUCCESS!!!

Big thank you to Dellmantt for this pretty easy install thus far.....

 

I am however having a big issues with the 10.6.8 update.

It is causing Safari to become unresponsive, the APP sotre flickers allot when scolling over with the mouse etc... I tried a few re-installs and but it seems 10.6.8 is causing this issue.

 

Has anyone got this to work on their 755?

 

Some other nigling issues:

 

My current issues:

SLEEP - there is no sleep. When i select it from the Apple icon my PC makes a few clicking sounds disables USB and thats it, everything else stays active????

Audio - only my rear audio line out port works. Im not overly fussed but if there is a way to get them all working please let me know?

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers