Hackintosh for video editing

[olegi]

I am planning to assemble the following system for video editing (need to run Final Cut Pro or Studio).

 

D945GNTLKR Intel Motheboard

2GB Kingston RAM

Seagate Barracuda 500Gb sata II

Intel 2 Duo 4400

XFX 7300GS 256M DDR2 PCI-E Video Card

DVD LG GSA-H62N SATA

 

 

 

Will this system have any compatibility issues? Specifically, I have not seen people trying the on-board firewire and LG DVD recorder. I am not using Pioneer DVD -112D because I saw a few people could not make it work with os x.

 

Anyone has experience video editing on a similar system? Will it perform well?

[solaar]

As for OSX86 compatibility, the D945GNTLKR is certainly very good (if not one of the best) but I think it only supports Pentium D, definitely not Core 2. The D9XX processors are ok apart from a few thermal problems I had to solve with a bigger CPU HSF.

 

I was always on the safe side with recent NEC DVD writers but I think there are no major issues with the LG.

 

If you want to go Core 2 you might want to look into more recent Intel mobos though.

 

 

FW works flawlessly and video editing is decent with the D945GNTLKR and a D9XX, probably not what a full-blown pro studio would use but ok for home use.

[olegi]

As for OSX86 compatibility, the D945GNTLKR is certainly very good (if not one of the best) but I think it only supports Pentium D, definitely not Core 2. The D9XX processors are ok apart from a few thermal problems I had to solve with a bigger CPU HSF.

 

I was always on the safe side with recent NEC DVD writers but I think there are no major issues with the LG.

 

If you want to go Core 2 you might want to look into more recent Intel mobos though.

 

 

FW works flawlessly and video editing is decent with the D945GNTLKR and a D9XX, probably not what a full-blown pro studio would use but ok for home use.

 

Thank you for your reply. What mobo do you recommend for Core 2 processor that is 100% compatible? D975XBX2 seems to be quite expensive. I need firewire, and I also do not want to fiddle too much to make things work.

[phil a meant]

I just picked up an 'open box' d975xbx2 from Newegg for $99.99. It looks like they still have some available! It's a VERY compatible MB and I've been EXTREMELY pleased with mine (even s/pdif out works, including outputting 5.1!!!). THe only thing about open box is that it doesn't come with all the accessories and there apparently is no factory warranty. I ordered the I/O panel and a EPS12V adapter directly from Intel for about $10.00 (including shipping).

 

I would HIGHLY recommend the d975xbx2!

[solaar]

I've built another hackintosh around the ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI and a Core 2 E6320. Plus I had to add a cheap VIA firewire card as there's no FW on board. It's got GMA950 graphics and comes with an extra DVI out for dual display which works wonderfully.

The ASrock is a cheap mobo but it's very stable once 10.4.9 is installed properly. It has a few quirks as for drivers but the wiki is very helpful in getting everything to run.

Once again there's some fiddling involved and 945 based boards hit the RAM ceiling at 3.25GB in OSX, so 3GB RAM is the max that makes sense to install. HOWEVER, this mobo is well tested and well known for OSX86 so you'll always find enough solid support on this site in case something goes pear-shaped. AND it's very cheap.

 

 

I can't say I would 'highly' recommend it but I wouldn't completely ignore it if your budget is tight.

 

 

EDIT: I just saw that the Conroe945G has been replaced by the ConRoe1333-DVI/H. From the little I've read it seems like it also works fine with OSX86.

[jonokti]

The d975xbx2 is a great board in addition to core2 support it also supports the core2 quad cpu. The D945GNTLKR is good enough I had one with a 805d and ran final cut studio with no problems for short time I used it to edit some television infomercial. I currently have the d975xbx2 and it works flawlessly the difference between the 2 is the render times but I always have auto render off and never render my videos anymore. I just compress via compressor once the video is complete or export to quicktime if I plan to export to tape, and yes it will obviously take longer to compress or export to quicktime with a slower cpu but most folks including myself work on another project and do our export overnight come morning I'll easily will be able to have 6 hours worth of video complete. On some occasion if I have 5-6 video tracks with lots of graphics it will take 10-12 hours to export mpeg2 for 6 hours of video and that's 2 pass. Those times were for the 805d understand that depending on how many video tracks and graphics your render time will vary. My core2 systems cuts that 10-12 hours down to 7-9 hours.

 

The one thing apple and I also recommend is to have 2 HardDrives 1 for final cut and 1 for your captured files.

I also store my graphics, audio, photos and any other media on the same drive as my OS and Final cut.

I only store the captured files on the 2nd drive.

 

I recommend using /clients/clientsname/jobnameDATE

if you use the same media for multiple jobs for a client

/clients/clientsname/mediafiles

 

I use to just place it anywhere at first and if you ever have to look for something it can become a nightmare sometimes. I use the same system for my home videos as well.

You can use any other organization you like just pick one and stick to it

[olegi]

Thank you everyone for the valuable feedback.

 

In Canada, d975xbx2 costs $300. I do not want to spend that much. On the other hand, I am a bit cautious about buying lower-end boards like ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI.

 

I see some ASUS and Gigabyte boards in the compatibility list ( http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.4.8) but all require some patches especially for sound. I am also not sure how compatible these will be for future versions of Mac OS.

 

D945GNTLKR is not an option anymore since I would like to go with a core 2 Intel CPU.

 

Any suggestions?

[Synaesthesia]

Thank you everyone for the valuable feedback.

 

In Canada, d975xbx2 costs $300. I do not want to spend that much. On the other hand, I am a bit cautious about buying lower-end boards like ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI.

 

I see some ASUS and Gigabyte boards in the compatibility list ( http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.4.8) but all require some patches especially for sound. I am also not sure how compatible these will be for future versions of Mac OS.

Well Asus, Gigabyte, Intel, all make motherboards based on the 945G chipset. All work perfectly. There is no reason not to buy another brand, esp. not good ones like Asus, or Gigabyte, or even the Asrock! Most motherboards need patching of some kind. Even my motherboard, which is really compatible and Intel brand and everything needs patching for sound.

 

There is a 945G based Intel Motherboard for Core 2 Duo, the D945GCNL, but it has no Firewire. Try a firewire add-on card, like solaar said.

 

Also, look into the newer chipsets, like P-35 and G33. They have some pretty compelling options.

[olegi]

OK, so I am considering three boards now: ASUS P5LD2-VM, D945GCNL (I have not found references to this one on the forums), and ConRoe1333-DVI/H.

 

Any preference in terms of compatibility and performance?

 

All these boards (ConRoe1333-DVI/H, ASUS P5LD2-VM, D945GCNL) have an on-board graphics accelerator. Will it be sufficient for video editing apps or I should still get a separate graphics card?

[kle500]

As a P5LD2-VM user, i can give you my P.O.V on my system.

See my sig for details of my system.

Overall the OsX86 feeling is not exactly what i was expecting, meaning that in video editing apps and graphic apps, i feel the system to lag.

Although i have changed from the onboard graphics, to a 7600GS, and by changing the HDD to a WD 500AAKS, i don't see the feeling i get from my old Beige G3.

Please do not make mistake, i don't mean in CPU power, but the snapiness of the Os.

 

To give you an idea, i bought a new LG 24" LCD monitor and i have connected to this machine over the DVI.

I have 2 identical specs HDD, one with 10.4.10 Osx and the other with XP.

Both systems use almost same apps, excluding the FCP2.

Now, whatever application from Adobe CS3 i use in Osx, is sluggish, and stutters.

Same apps in XP, are snappy.

How is that happens i don't know.

 

Until i find a solution (or i must believe that that's howOsx86 is), i can't imagine a real Mac to be sluggish at all, considering a system with 2g memory and a C2D 6400.

 

I wish i could find another board (other brand) to test and see if there is any difference in performance (feeling).

 

But apart from what i mention, the board is almost plug and play with the latest disstros.

I installed yesterday the XxX 10.4.10 dvd image, and i had to check 2-3 patches from the installation options and that's it.

[olegi]

Did you run any benchmarks? How does it compare with other hackintosh systems?

 

So you feeling is that using 7600GS did not give you much of a boost compare to on-board video...

 

Also, do you have instruction for installing 10.4.10 and patching it?

[kle500]

I haven't been able to test another hack personally. but benches are quite good on that board.

 

Look as for the 7600gs, i am happy with it, cause FCS2 actually uses gpu, so if you are mostly interested in FCS2 and Motion, you will need as much gpu power as possible.

 

If you go for the P5LD2-VM board, there is a dedicated topic for that board from our very good friend Diabolik.

As for image amd instructions, nowdays is very very simple, cause the latest 10.4.10 images have all the patches needed as an option during install.

 

For the problem i describe above, it mostly seems to me as the luck of dedicated video card drivers.

I remember allmost the same feeling when i haven't install drivers on XP and have a generic driver.

What's more interesting is that not many people complain on this, and also say that hacks are as fast and snappy as real mac pro's.

That's realy hard for me to beleive

[A Nonny Moose]

Why do you neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to run Final Cut Pro?

 

i.e. If it's because you're a professional, then there is no way we should ethically help you.

[Synaesthesia]

@kle500, sounds like your PC has issues, if you say your G3 feels snappier than a Core 2 duo hack... OSX86 runs great on my system, if anything it's faster than Windows XP. It's quite a bit faster than my mom's G4.

 

Look as for the 7600gs, i am happy with it, cause FCS2 actually uses gpu, so if you are mostly interested in FCS2 and Motion, you will need as much gpu power as possible.

Agreed.

[kle500]

I made a visit to our Apple store (it isn't a real apple store, bur a reseller) 2 hours ago, and had a new iMac 20".

Well, it was snappier than my Hack for sure.

Next week they told me they will have FCS2 installed so i can test it in both iMac and macPro.

I am looking forward for that day, cause i actually see for my self what's happening.

 

In Applications topic, i continued a topic i had mede a will ago, concerning performance in my machine on CS3.

 

@Synaesthesia

It was too much to compare my G3 with the C2d indeed.

But my hack now reminded me the time i had my G3 on a 21" Mitsubishi CRT with 1600X1200, and my G3's Ati card had really hard time.

In my hack, as long as the resolutions come up (now is 1920X1200), the feeling gets slower.

If anyone is interested i made a sample file in illustrator that describes exactly what problem i have on my hack.

 

Maybe i will start a new topic on ........ (i am not sure where to start it) maybe Post-Installation or Applications, where i can give exact details of how to mirror the problem i have.

[Synaesthesia]

It's wierd, bcoz you have a very nice rig, which should do 1920x1200 no problems...Since I upgraded my graphics from GMA950 to 7600gs, Mac OS X feels so snappy, expose and dock animation is instant and everything is pretty fast.

 

I would be interested in trying that file you mentioned. I have Illustrator. CS3.

[kle500]

Excellent my friend.

Here is the file in rar. It's a very very simple file, having a blue background (big enough) and a small white circle in the middle.

Now, zoom at 400%, pick the hand tool and place it in the center of the white circle.

Now, having your left button clicked, pan the circle (it actually pans the whole page), left - right - up - down fast.

Also try to create (virtually) a big circle having the little circle grabbed.

 

In my hack, whatever i do, the hand always moves first and the circle follows later (delay).

On the XP on same machine, there is no delay at all, the hand is almost locked to the circle.

 

I really like to hear from anyone.

 

Regards

test.rar

[Synaesthesia]

It also lags a little on my system. mmm...

 

But overall, OS X still "feels" fast.

[kle500]

A little ???

And remember that my CPU is better.

You see that it lags?

On Xp it dosen't lag at all.

 

On heavy illustrator files, the lag is very very bad.

 

What resolution you are at?

In my tests, lowering the resolution (plugging a CRT 17") at 1024X768, it lags a lot less, even less on 800X600 LOL, but that's not an option, as it seems that the problem is with the Graphics and OpenGL.

 

I will try to make a video of that test and compare it with yours.

[solaar]

Just fyi, on my hack it doesn't lag perceivably...

[kle500]

Just fyi, on my hack it doesn't lag perceivably...

Can you please take a look at this page, where i explain the situation, and also i have posted 2 videos that show exactly my problem

 

Regards