Building my first Hackintosh

[rsilves]

Hi. I am a filmmaking student willing to build a hackintosh.

Some days ago I had an eMac 1,25ghz (G4), but its logic board died, and here in Argentina it is too expensive to replace it (it costs around US$1000, while an used eMac costs US$650).

Anyway, I wanted to replace my computer, and now I'm investigating, in order to be sure that a Hackintosh will be a good choice for me (Apple computers here cost around 1.8x compared to home-built PCs).

 

My career involves editing and such things, currently we work only with DV, and some of HDV. I could do that with my eMac, waiting too much to render, but anyway I could and it was not so bad.

Now that I am getting a new computer, I want to buy good things in order to be able to edit HDV, render fast, and try some new softwares.

Currently, I use Final Cut Express HD 4, and the Adobe design pack (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator). But I also want to be able to use Motion, and later Final Cut Pro and other programs of FCStudio.

 

I need to install the computer quickly, at least for the first days, because I must finish editing some shorts that I have in my LaCie. I will install Tiger first, because I know that it should be easy, and then when I am not in a hurry I'll start to try Leopard. So I want the hardware to be compatible with both versions.

 

I'm thinking on buying these things:

Core 2 Duo E6550 or Quad Q6600 (If my budget lets me)

Is it OK for video editing? I suppose it is... Is the Quad too much for the things I want? My brother says it won't make a big difference for what I want... and I can change in the future if I need more. Should I buy a faster Duo?

Mother ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (Intel 075x, with integrated WiFi)

I heard there's no compatibility problems with this motherboard. Would you recommend another one? (First things I need are FireWire, Sound and Ethernet. It's not really important for me to have WiFi, but I like it).

2GBs of RAM (Do you think I'll need more?)

Should I buy 2x1GB or 1x2GB?

250GB SATA HD

I have a 250GB external LaCie and a 40GB ATA from the eMac. With these, I was starting to have problems with space because I didn't have a DVD recorder, but now I think that 540GBs (total) will be more than perfect.

DVD Recorder: Pioneer 112d 18x

Bought it for the eMac and it died before I could install it.

Graphics card: HELP!

I need to be able to use Motion. But I won't install games (generally I don't play games, maybe I install something but not for too long). Which is good and compatible? Which one do you recommend? Big Doubt: In case I need to make it work modifying drivers or something like that, how am I supposed to do it if the graphic card doesn't work? Or the problem is that it works bad?

Extra FireWire Port?!

The motherboard has one ieee1394a port. I prefer to have two, so I can transfer directly from the camera to the LaCie. But at first I can manage it with one. Will I be able to make a FireWire card work? Any ideas about FireWire 800 cards? (cannot find a card, but my LaCie has 2 FW800 ports).

20" Widescreen ViewSonic

Nothing to say.

Video Editing card?

People with PCs and Adobe Premiere use Matrox and Pinnacle cards to make rendering faster. Is there something like that for Mac? Is it recommendable? I was OK with my eMac... heheh.

 

I hope you can help me, and thanks in advance.

Rodrigo

[weaksauce12]

Hi. I am a filmmaking student willing to build a hackintosh.

Some days ago I had an eMac 1,25ghz (G4), but its logic board died, and here in Argentina it is too expensive to replace it (it costs around US$1000, while an used eMac costs US$650).

Anyway, I wanted to replace my computer, and now I'm investigating, in order to be sure that a Hackintosh will be a good choice for me (Apple computers here cost around 1.8x compared to home-built PCs).

 

My career involves editing and such things, currently we work only with DV, and some of HDV. I could do that with my eMac, waiting too much to render, but anyway I could and it was not so bad.

Now that I am getting a new computer, I want to buy good things in order to be able to edit HDV, render fast, and try some new softwares.

Currently, I use Final Cut Express HD 4, and the Adobe design pack (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator). But I also want to be able to use Motion, and later Final Cut Pro and other programs of FCStudio.

 

I need to install the computer quickly, at least for the first days, because I must finish editing some shorts that I have in my LaCie. I will install Tiger first, because I know that it should be easy, and then when I am not in a hurry I'll start to try Leopard. So I want the hardware to be compatible with both versions.

 

I'm thinking on buying these things:

Core 2 Duo E6550 or Quad Q6600 (If my budget lets me)

Is it OK for video editing? I suppose it is... Is the Quad too much for the things I want? My brother says it won't make a big difference for what I want... and I can change in the future if I need more. Should I buy a faster Duo?

Mother ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (Intel 075x, with integrated WiFi)

I heard there's no compatibility problems with this motherboard. Would you recommend another one? (First things I need are FireWire, Sound and Ethernet. It's not really important for me to have WiFi, but I like it).

2GBs of RAM (Do you think I'll need more?)

Should I buy 2x1GB or 1x2GB?

250GB SATA HD

I have a 250GB external LaCie and a 40GB ATA from the eMac. With these, I was starting to have problems with space because I didn't have a DVD recorder, but now I think that 540GBs (total) will be more than perfect.

DVD Recorder: Pioneer 112d 18x

Bought it for the eMac and it died before I could install it.

Graphics card: HELP!

I need to be able to use Motion. But I won't install games (generally I don't play games, maybe I install something but not for too long). Which is good and compatible? Which one do you recommend? Big Doubt: In case I need to make it work modifying drivers or something like that, how am I supposed to do it if the graphic card doesn't work? Or the problem is that it works bad?

Extra FireWire Port?!

The motherboard has one ieee1394a port. I prefer to have two, so I can transfer directly from the camera to the LaCie. But at first I can manage it with one. Will I be able to make a FireWire card work? Any ideas about FireWire 800 cards? (cannot find a card, but my LaCie has 2 FW800 ports).

20" Widescreen ViewSonic

Nothing to say.

Video Editing card?

People with PCs and Adobe Premiere use Matrox and Pinnacle cards to make rendering faster. Is there something like that for Mac? Is it recommendable? I was OK with my eMac... heheh.

 

I hope you can help me, and thanks in advance.

Rodrigo

 

Why not go with a Bad Axe 2? I have a great guide written up already and you can build a Quad-core, 8-gig machine for $800 shipped:

 

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=571619

 

It has a 256mb 7300GT, which supports 1080p just fine. You can choose to upgrade the hard drive to a larger model if you wish. The Bad Axe 2 currently has support for 4 onboard SATA ports, but does not have Audio. If you're getting into video, I'm sure you'll want a Firewire audio interface anyway. But you can get a cheap USB sound card (search for "SC16") off eBay for about $5 shipped if you just need basic input/output like for stereo speakers, headphones, and a microphone.

[rhalls]

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P (on e FiWi back, 2 internal e.g. for Frontplane of the Case) all exept Audio works well, 8 S-ATA, Audio ins simple to patch

Q6600 (well used by most VideoEditing Software; the CPUs schould get a bit cheaper in the next days/weeks...)

4 GB RAM, PC 800

NVidia 7300GT Videocard (e.g. ASUS silent)

3 x WD AAKS 250 GB Harddrive, 1 for Booting, two as Software Raid. Speed is good for Video-Editing!

S-ATA DVD Burner, any you can get. They are really cheap (sell your Pioneer), dont use IDE ones, cause IDE and S-ATA mixed can cause problems (Kernel Panics from time to time)

 

That would be my advice. Look at my Signature for what i use - works perfect with Tiger and Leo.

[rsilves]

So I won't be able to use my old 40GB HD (from the eMac, ATA I suppose) with a SATA one?

 

In Argentina it's almost not possible to buy from eBay or those sites (too expensive duty and too many processes to do in the customs...). And I wouldn't have warranty. I'll have to buy all here, the things I put in the firse message costs around US$1300.

 

I think that first I'll use the Core 2 Duo and then change it when I can. The same with the RAM. Tried to find a Bad Axe but doesn't seem to exist here.

 

Thanks for the answers,

Rodrigo

[rsilves]

I think it will be better to ask in separate short topics, people is not answering...

[rhalls]

I would not go for the BadAxe, its a bit old.

But the P35/G33/G31 Boards have problems with IDE disks if s-ata is present (my experience).

Maybe thats different with Asus Boards and P35 Chipset, dont know.

So if you want it cheaper, try this:

Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R, Core2Duo 2.2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB WD AAKS (really taka a Western Digital AAKS Harddrive, they are the fastest (normal) disks for OSX!), NVidia Geforce 7200GS Videocard. Samsung S-ATA DVD Burner. Cheapest solution with FireWire. Should work flawless. Alternative Board: GA-G33-DS3R (no Firewire) with an VIA Chip based FireWire Card.

[ninetto]

I would not go for the BadAxe, its a bit old.

But the P35/G33/G31 Boards have problems with IDE disks if s-ata is present (my experience).

Maybe thats different with Asus Boards and P35 Chipset, dont know.

So if you want it cheaper, try this:

Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R, Core2Duo 2.2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB WD AAKS (really taka a Western Digital AAKS Harddrive, they are the fastest (normal) disks for OSX!), NVidia Geforce 7200GS Videocard. Samsung S-ATA DVD Burner. Cheapest solution with FireWire. Should work flawless. Alternative Board: GA-G33-DS3R (no Firewire) with an VIA Chip based FireWire Card.

 

I would agree with the above, except the choice of Firewire-Card should DEFINITELY be based on TI (Texas Instruments) chips, FCP hates almost everything else. And there is really no reason to stick with IDE-devices anymore so the P35 boards are a good choice, where there JMicron drivers now seem to be working.

 

The OSX86 community (hurrah!) has gotten so advanced with drivers and methods, it is really is not too hard to get an excellent system going with a wide variety of hardware. But if you really are not ready to invest the time/research for the best method/combination of hardware, check THIS out ... 500 bucks.

 

It is in German but this guy has put together a system that works with virtually no complex hacking... and he lists all the software he tested the rig with.

It is a "micro-board" but if you stick to the basic chip characteristics you should be able to get a real nice cheap editing system up and running.

 

good luck,

ninetto

[Skel]

Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R, Core2Duo 2.2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB WD AAKS (really taka a Western Digital AAKS Harddrive, they are the fastest (normal) disks for OSX!), NVidia Geforce 7200GS Videocard. Samsung S-ATA DVD Burner. Cheapest solution with FireWire. Should work flawless. Alternative Board: GA-G33-DS3R (no Firewire) with an VIA Chip based FireWire Card.

 

Will this motherboard work "out of the box" without having to install any additional kexts or hacks for leopard?

[rsilves]

Finally, I went to the store and reserved the computer.

 

This is what I chose:

 

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe

Core 2 Quad Q6600

2x Kingston 1GB DDR2 800

Western Digital 320GB HD (AAKS model)

ASUS EN7300GT 256MB

Case: Vitsuba Master + 550w font.

Pioneer 112dbk 18x DVD-RW.

 

I'll have it on Monday, and they'll install Windows XP on it. I'd like to know what should I ask them to do with partitioning. 3 partitions? (Win / Tiger / Leopard, but not soon).

 

Thanks,

Rodrigo

[rhalls]

Will this motherboard work "out of the box" without having to install any additional kexts or hacks for leopard?

You always will have to tweak a little. In this case, the Audio needs a fix (two kexts to copy, two lines in Terminal, repair permissions in Harddisk tool). All the rest works well.Out of the box would mean out of the box with what? Kalyway 10.5.1 installer installs other fixes then iAtkos, with a real vanilla install you need to add/replace about 7 kexts - it all varies.

Finally, I went to the store and reserved the computer.This is what I chose:ASUS P2W DH DeluxeCore 2 Quad Q66002x Kingston 1GB DDR2 800Western Digital 320GB HD (AAKS model)ASUS EN7300GT 256MBCase: Vitsuba Master + 550w font.Pioneer 112dbk 18x DVD-RW.I'll have it on Monday, and they'll install Windows XP on it. I'd like to know what should I ask them to do with partitioning. 3 partitions? (Win / Tiger / Leopard, but not soon).Thanks,Rodrigo

Hmm... im not a fan of triple booting with ONE harddrive, i have exactly one harddrive per system...I think you would need to erase their windows installation for installing Leo / tiger (depends on what you like to install; vanilla? GUID? MBR?).Maybe it would be best to add a small 80 GB harddrive for windows and use the 320 GB one for Mac.THe good thing about using different harddrives for different systems is, that you can multiboot with the Mainboard-Boot features (here: type F12 while startup, which comes up with a BIOS menu where i can choose with which harddrive i like to boot).Elso you will have to fiddle around with bootmanagers and so on, and when you kill a system partition, it may be a loss of all thgree systems instead of only one...

[Skel]

You always will have to tweak a little. In this case, the Audio needs a fix (two kexts to copy, two lines in Terminal, repair permissions in Harddisk tool). All the rest works well.Out of the box would mean out of the box with what? Kalyway 10.5.1 installer installs other fixes then iAtkos, with a real vanilla install you need to add/replace about 7 kexts - it all varies.

 

Well, it seems like the most important thing when picking out a motherboard is to make sure that it works with as close to a vanilla install as possible. Just gotta keep future compatibility in mind.

[rsilves]

Is it too complicated? I can install Mac OS only, and then when I can, I get another HD for Windows.

Some days ago I found (but did not read) a tutorial (can't find it now) which explained how to install OSX with dual boot in one HD.

 

I have a 40GB IDE HD, but I think it can give me compatibility problems. Should I try using it?

 

Thanks,

Rodrigo

[rtomek]

Just to let you know, they include a header for a second firewire port, so you will have 2 firewire ports. If you need more you will need a hub but 2 is pretty good

 

I use the same mobo with the Q6600 and 7300GT (did you find my post on the compatible hardware topic?), kalyway installs, and everything (including sleep) except onboard wifi works great out of the box so I suggest kalyway wit these optional components selected: vanilla kernel, NVInject (Desktop), P5w dh audio, and efi (guid partitioning).

 

Stick with the SATA drive, an IDE one will be noticably slower. Use the guide for dual-booting and you will be fine. Make sure you get the XP install/recovery CD with your computer in case anything happens during the OSX install you will be safe. You can shrink the partition later, but if they can keep it smaller for you that would probably be easier. I'm not a gamer, so once I switched to OSX I couldn't go back, so you might not even need bloody windows! If you are willing to invest in VMWare Fusion, then you can just use that windows XP CD to install windows and use anything that absolutely requires windows right inside OSX (highly recommended).

 

good luck with the install!

[rsilves]

Just to let you know, they include a header for a second firewire port, so you will have 2 firewire ports. If you need more you will need a hub but 2 is pretty good

 

I use the same mobo with the Q6600 and 7300GT (did you find my post on the compatible hardware topic?), kalyway installs, and everything (including sleep) except onboard wifi works great out of the box so I suggest kalyway wit these optional components selected: vanilla kernel, NVInject (Desktop), P5w dh audio, and efi (guid partitioning).

 

Stick with the SATA drive, an IDE one will be noticably slower. Use the guide for dual-booting and you will be fine. Make sure you get the XP install/recovery CD with your computer in case anything happens during the OSX install you will be safe. You can shrink the partition later, but if they can keep it smaller for you that would probably be easier. I'm not a gamer, so once I switched to OSX I couldn't go back, so you might not even need bloody windows! If you are willing to invest in VMWare Fusion, then you can just use that windows XP CD to install windows and use anything that absolutely requires windows right inside OSX (highly recommended).

 

good luck with the install!

 

Thank you rtomek! Your post causes me relief!! (haha, anyway I'll be trembling until monday when my Hackintosh works!!).

 

I downloaded the JAS 10.4.8 version, but will download the Kalyway too in case it doesn't work.

Do you know something about a problem when using SATA and IDE at the same time? I'm thinking on getting an USB case for my drive.

 

I think I read so much that I must have read your post, but don't remember. The search shows me a topic called Perfect OSX86 Compatible Motherboard.

 

How do I choose "vanilla kernel, NVInject (Desktop), P5w dh audio, and efi (guid partitioning)."? In the installation windows?

 

I'm not a gamer too, but sometimes I would like to have Windows in order to try some new softwares. And thanks for recommending VMWare, I think that it will be perfect for my case. Do you think that it will work "OK" if I use it to try some video edition softwares? (I mean... worse than an eMac running FinalCut Express HD 4?).

 

Do you know if I can make 2 partitions, install Windows in one, then install Mac in the second (with dual boot), and then if everything goes fine, delete the Win partition and join them to make only one? (if it is complicated, as I suppose, I'll try with Mac only...).

 

Have you tried the FireWire Ports?

 

Thank you again!!

Rodrigo

[rtomek]

Haven't tried the firewire myself, but considering the firewire patent is owned by apple, ALL firewire ports automatically work under OSX. I ran a test install of FinalCut Pro HD on my machine to test it for a friend, it worked great for the few days I had it before I uninstalled. I also have my vmware disk on a different drive, just personal preference, but I had it on an IDE disk while my boot disk was SATA. I have since switched to 2 SATA drives, but my experience with the motherboard is that everything (minus wifi) just works with Kalyway

 

When you are installing OSX with Kalyway... after you select the disk you wish to install on, there is a tab that says 'Customize'. In there you can select 'Additional Software' which is basically just a list of drivers. When you are doing the install, you will see those options, see here ->

 

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6108/screen2qr7.png

 

(include the ACPI fix with the vanilla kernel)

[schmiede]

If you are looking to build a cheap fast machine, you need only look as far as the Intel 915 GAVL motherboard. This is identical to the board used on the original Apple development platform, but does not have an Apple TCM chip.

 

Equipped with an Intel 670 (3.8GHZ) processor and 2 Gigs of ram, a system using this board will yield benchmarks equal to a late model dual PPC 2.* Ghz G5.

 

Buy hardware as close as possible to the same stuff Apple uses, and you can't go wrong.

 

System costs and equipment.

 

Intel 915GAVL motherboard - about US $125 (includes integrated 900 graphics card - Intel network, and HD sound all work well out of the box).

 

2GB PC400 DDR Ram - about $90 US from NewEgg.com

EVGA 7600 GT 256MB Video card - about $70 (with rebate) from NewEgg.com

Ralink USB wireless G card (about $10 plus shipping). Old Broadcom based PCI wireless G cards are good too.

Get an extra PCI USB + Firewire card, or PCI Firewire card (about $30 $40)

Sony 20x DVD CD + - DL drive (about $35.00)

ATX PC Case (about $50 with power supply).

Good CPU cooling fan, IMPORTANT! (add $50)

7200 RPM 300 GB HDD ($70

 

That should do it. For about $500 in hardware (give or take) this system will run with the big boys.

 

You can buy Leopard for as little as $109 from sites like Mac Mall.

 

For a business applications suite (as good or better than MS Office Professional but FREE) go to NeoOffice.org and download their world class office suite (or is that spelled "SWEET"?).

 

OSX86 10.4.8 (W/Semthex 8.8.1 Kernel or better) should see all of the hardware right out of the box, and Leopard 10.5 absolutely flies on this system. You may need a patched SMBIOS to run some of your software, but it shouldn't be hard to find on an X86 Forum.

 

If you want to run windows as well, install XP (not Vista) as a VMware virtual machine with VMware Fusion (about $50 after rebate). The huge bonus of a VMware installation is that you will never have have to have two separate PC's, Macs (whatever), to run Mac, Windows, Linux, and just about anything else in unison on the same system. It rocks!!!

 

As soon as you can afford it, spend the money you have saved on a brand new dual quad core Mac Pro.

 

Off the topic Post Script:

 

I honestly believe Apple should offer OSX as a standalone OS for PC's and Macs alike. No disrespect to Mr. Gates and Microsoft, but there is literally nothing out there that even comes close to OSX, and I think Apple could OWN the OS market, online movies and music business, and damn near everything else worth seeing or hearing within three to five years.

 

Oh yeah, one other thing. Mr. Jobs should buy AMD now that it's a fraction of the cost of Intel, capture a huge chunk of the PC hardware market from the bottom up (classic pincers maneuver), flank by acquiring VMware and weaving it into OSX - and make Windows just another OSX compatible application.

[rsilves]

Before I go to the Installation forum, I want to define if it is better for me to start with Leopard (will audio, FireWire and ethernet work?) or to start with Tiger (downloading Jas 10.4.8).

 

Can I make 2 partitions, install Tiger in the first, Leopard in the second, without problems making the dual boot? (as it is only Mac).

 

Thanks,

Rodrigo

[rsilves]

Finally, my new Hackintosh is here!

 

(I'm writing from it! Can't Believe IT!)

 

Thanks to everyone who gave a part of their times to try to help me.

 

I tried to install Kalyway 10.5.1, but had problems during installation (froze, or showed an error at the end). Then I read that the zipped torrent has problems, so I installed Tiger (Jas 10.4.8), then updated to 10.4.10, but lost the audio... Will talk about that in another topic.

 

Thank you again!!

Rodrigo