EFiX: OSx86 gone commercial?

Sure it is an 'patch-a-boo approach of hackintosh'. If it were not, it would be an Mac.

Several gigabytes of static RAM? Very powerful CPU? Just to emulate an EFI and execute boot.efi?

Tsk,tsk,tsk.

At a guess that's a typo and "Megabytes" was meant... and the "Very powerful CPU" part... well, depends on your definitions of "Very Powerful" - to some a pocket calculator is "Very Powerful"

I bought mine from eBay... so it was double-safe (CC through Paypal) - received the unit in 3 days as indicated by the seller - paid barely above MSRP including the shipping - total was ~$160. I had already "vetoed" anything off efixusa.net due to the URL as well as the fact that the official site said that the US distributor was only "In Talks" and not declared.

I can safely say that it took more time and hassle to get my EP45-DS3R from da egg than it did to get my EFiX from ebay! At anyrate, I did finally get my board and do an install - there are definitely some things that need to be declared in a manual (like it states AHCI must be supported, but not that AHCI must be DISABLED for the device to see the DVD drive).

Install went off flawlessly from retail DVD as promised. Afterward I just went into software update and clicked to update everything at one pass... which it did without problems... and voila... trouble-free hackPro. However, I didn't have much fun when trying to install a version of Windows on this board at all! Vista can't even see the hard drives... even if I run them in IDE/Legacy mode!!! WTF!?!?!

I don't really care, as I (just like the EFiX site states) didn't do this to save money - unless you consider the fact that I have a Mac that's 85-90% as fast and upgradeable as a true Mac Pro... but only spent $1000 on it. I don't even care about the no having a second bootable OS on the drives... because I have EVERYTHING from MacOS working fine - including all of my 3rd party software. I now have a headless-quadcore-imac that is O/C'd to 3GHz, 8GB RAM, yadda, yadda...

The only additional cost I consider is the DVI-USB KVM switch I'll have to have in order to share my 24" LCD with a dedicated Windows machine for games... which I've wanted to do for some time, since I can wipe and reinstall regularly without having to be without a computer.

As I get a chance I'll run benchmarks, software tests, etc... however as my only genuine Mac is a 1.86 C2D Mini... it wouldn't be fair comparison. What I can do is compare it to a reasonably comprable PC running software EFI emulation to give you an idea... however, that will take quite a bit of time because I have to get it set up first!

Did I mention that I have a job... that requires 60hrs/week... so it may be awhile for mine... try to be patient if that's possible.

I had already "vetoed" anything off efixusa.net due to the URL as well as the fact that the official site said that the US distributor was only "In Talks" and not declared.

Yep, just because it "says" USA in the URL doesn't mean they are from the US. Probably just working more like a clearing house. When the official EFi-X site lists someone in the US as a vendor, that's when I'll buy one

Yeah, the Swiss company is REALLY good. They kept me up to date with the order status, and when it was shipped they gave me tracking information so I could track the package!

 

Highly Recommended!

Yes, I can confirm! They are very comunicative and kind. My Efi-x should be sent today and they promised to send a tracking number as soon as the parcel ships. Swiss precision!

I am seriously tempted to build a new machine with the e-fix to run Leopard on. It sounds like the product is working really well. The Swiss company will sell and ship the module to the UK for around £100, which isn't too bad considering.

I have briefly priced up components, and found almost a full system for around £600 including the efi-x module.

One question, though, I have found this motherboard

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143228/show_...ectype=extended

listed as 'Gigabyte Ga-EP35 DS3 iP35'

On the e-fix HCL:

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 (rev 2.0)

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 (rev 2.1)

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P (rev 2.0)

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R

Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3 (rev 2.1)

Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P (rev 2.1)

Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4 (rev 2.1)

Does anyone know the differences between the revisions of this board? Should the mb I have linked to work with efi-x?

Does anyone know the differences between the revisions of this board?

If you go to the Gigabyte website you'll be able to compare any two motherboards to discover their differences.

If you go to the Gigabyte website you'll be able to compare any two motherboards to discover their differences.

Thanks for your reply.

I didn't mean the differences between the different model numbers I have posted, I meant in terms of the board version.

I suppose my main question is, if I order this board, and, say, for example, it's rev 1.0, what implications will this have?

Here is my 1st venture in to the world of efix and its so beautiful don't mind the first 20 secs no one's getting rick rolled

my Efix youtube link

I suppose my main question is, if I order this board, and, say, for example, it's rev 1.0, what implications will this have?

If the EFi-X requirements are for version 2, and you buy version 1, then chances are you will have problems. Proceed at your own risk. As to the exact differences between version 1 and 2 you'd have to contact Gigabyte, but they usually don't upgrade to a new version for minor things. Sometimes they even have different BIOS versions for each version, so I'd be careful with version one if it's not listed on EFi-X.

If the EFi-X requirements are for version 2, and you buy version 1, then chances are you will have problems. Proceed at your own risk. As to the exact differences between version 1 and 2 you'd have to contact Gigabyte, but they usually don't upgrade to a new version for minor things. Sometimes they even have different BIOS versions for each version, so I'd be careful with version one if it's not listed on EFi-X.

Thanks again.

I have checked the specifications on the site selling it and tried to match with Gigabytes version 2.1 specs. It looks the same, so I'm hopeful.

I would still take Maxintosh's advice and contact Gigabyte with the direct question about rev differences. Small price for peace of mind

Who cancels their credit card after one mysterious charge anyway? That kind of stuff happens all the time, especially when you buy on the internet. You just call your cc company, say you didn't buy it, and let them figure it out. For Colonel to think it has anything to do with the local reseller, the company, or the product is just ridiculous, and probably based more on distaste for the concept than anything else...

Couple things...

1) I ordered mine from efixusa.>>>COM<<<, not .net. .com let me pay via paypal. If there are concerns about the .net address, check out .com (all of the links on the .net point to .com for forums and info anyway...).

2) I'm new here so I apologize if I ruffle feathers or {censored} in someone's wheaties... but I run forums for other adventures.. and I never... NEVER close a forum/thread without some sort of post explaining why, linking to an alternative thread, or otherwise. What's with just killing it and not posting something referring people to this thread or .. something? Seriously... ?

3) Got my EFIX, and had a post typed out about my experiences with a board NOT on the HCL. Thought people with P5W-DH Deluxe's may want to know how it was working out. But when the thread was closed with no explanation.. figured it was because of the credit card thing, so decided to be patient until it was sorted and then I'd post my experiences there. Since this thread seems to be picking up where that one left off (without most of the views the other thread was getting)... it seems a logical place to post it. I'll round up something and try to post it soon...

...

On a sidenote. I get the feeling that admins here are slighted (for lack of a better word) by the whole EFIX thing. I would like to point out that EFIX is senidng ripples through the OSX on PC enthusiast community. I had heard of OSx86, even tried it on a laptop with little to no success, and thought it was COMPLETELY out of my reach until I heard about EFIX from a friend. Before I invested in EFIX, I used boot123 to set up OSX on my system. I'm keeping that drive around as well... and if/when I build a system that contains a board that's on the HCL.. I will continue to hack and tinker with OSx86 the FUN way... I just hope that I get the opportunity to contribute to the community a little as well...

Anyway, my point being... EFIX, like it or not, isn't going away any time soon. It will bring in new people to the these boards (and/or others), and hopefully a good number of them will discover what's available for free, participate, and maybe, hopefully also contirbute back. Which in my mind is a good thing.

</rant>

-Seph

MBP - work

Mini - my media center front-end

OSx86 box - play

I just checked out efixusa.>>>>COM<<<<<. At the top it says "For international buyers only, for US orders click here." You click on the link and it takes you to efixusa.>>>NET<<<! WTF!!!?? They are now on back order so I couldn't see if the checkout was secure or not. So Caveat Emptor. I think I'll look on ebay or hit up the Swiss dudes.

Bleh, sorry that isn't helpful then, and for inaccurate info.

It's been changed, I believe as of middle of last week or so.

I received my EFIX module yesterday. It took about a week or so....USPS being what it is. However, it really works well!!! It performs as advertised. I have OS X updated to 10.5 working as well as XP Pro.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33 GHz

Memory: Corsair Dominator 4GB DDR2 1066 (2 x 2GB)

Power Supply: Zalman 850W

Graphics: XFX 8600GTS 678MB

HD - O/S: WD 300GB Sata Velociraptor (2 Each)

HD - Data: WD 1TB Sata (2 Each)

DVD: Asus Sata w/ Lightscribe (2 Each)

Case: Lian Li - 343B

Fans: Noctua 120 mm - 5 Each

Noctua 80 mm - 2 Each (In rear HD Holders)

Processor Fan: Zalman CNPS9700 LED

Fan Controller: Nzxt Sentry LX (2 Each)

A 300GB Raptor and a 1 TB Data Disk are used for each operating system.

Question to EFIX owners, was it picky about any bios settings? Are yours default?

...

Have the P5W-DH Deluxe board with EFI-X. I had to install the audio driver (from these forums), but otherwise, worked perfectly.

The only other trouble I've had is with the JMicron SATA on the board, I disabled it, and EFI-X is happy.. but I can't attach more then 3 bootable devices to the intel chipset or EFI-X just hangs... (I can use any combo of 3 of the following: SATA DVD-R, HDD with OSX, HDD with WinXP32, 1TB data drive

If I plug all 4 in, it fails to boot. If I unplug any of them, works fine. Going without the 1tb drive until I can obtain a gigabyte board (have had a bad experience with gigabyte, I always buy ASUS, so not thrilled)...

How can it "worked perfectly" if you can't attach more than 3 devices?

Does Timemachine/AFP/Bonjour/Deep Sleep work?

Good Review here

http://www.teknojunkie.com/technology/efi-...e-and-reviewed/

How can it "worked perfectly" if you can't attach more than 3 devices?

 

Does Timemachine/AFP/Bonjour/Deep Sleep work?

He is not using a Supported EFi-X™ Board, he is using a Asus Board, EFi-X™ only supports Gigabyte Boards.

Ok, so it can't worked perfectly.

Does your Timemachine/AFP/Bonjour/Deep Sleep works properly?

Does Timemachine... work?

LOL Time Machine rarely works on a Mac, so if you got it working flawlessly on a PC then you'd be one step ahead

I received my EFIX module yesterday. It took about a week or so....USPS being what it is. However, it really works well!!! It performs as advertised. I have OS X updated to 10.5 working as well as XP Pro.

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33 GHz

Memory: Corsair Dominator 4GB DDR2 1066 (2 x 2GB)

Power Supply: Zalman 850W

Graphics: XFX 8600GTS 678MB

HD - O/S: WD 300GB Sata Velociraptor (2 Each)

HD - Data: WD 1TB Sata (2 Each)

DVD: Asus Sata w/ Lightscribe (2 Each)

 

Case: Lian Li - 343B

Fans: Noctua 120 mm - 5 Each

Noctua 80 mm - 2 Each (In rear HD Holders)

Processor Fan: Zalman CNPS9700 LED

Fan Controller: Nzxt Sentry LX (2 Each)

 

A 300GB Raptor and a 1 TB Data Disk are used for each operating system.

Hi PoisonApple666, Have you had the opportunity to see if all 8 of the SATA drives are working with efi-x? I'm specifically interested to know if the 2 purple drives (Gigabyte) will operate with 2 SATA DVD-R drives natively (so I can install the OS-X DVD) and recognize all 6 of the orange (ICH9R) SATAs for hard drive space.

 

Hi PoisonApple666, Have you had the opportunity to see if all 8 of the SATA drives are working with efi-x? I'm specifically interested to know if the 2 purple drives (Gigabyte) will operate with 2 SATA DVD-R drives natively (so I can install the OS-X DVD) and recognize all 6 of the orange (ICH9R) SATAs for hard drive space.

Hi BJ

I have nothing hooked up the the 4 purple sata ports at this time. The 2 DVD drives and the 4 hard drives are hooked up to the orange ports. When EFIX boots all 6 items show up on the screen. Then it boots into OS X just fine. Hope that answers it.

Thanks

Ok, so it can't worked perfectly.

 

Does your Timemachine/AFP/Bonjour/Deep Sleep works properly?

So far it's looking like the Time Machine & Sleep issues are limited to the EP45-DS3R board. I've talked to 4 or 5 other users with the same board - and tried 2 myself - and we all have these problems. PoisonApple666's GA-EP45-DQ6 rig seems to be working flawlessly...I'm considering an upgrade, but for $245 at Newegg it's pretty hard to swallow. I'm hoping the October firmware update kills the EP45-DS3R bugs before my return window expires. It's so very close to perfect...just needs a few software tweaks!

LOL Time Machine rarely works on a Mac, so if you got it working flawlessly on a PC then you'd be one step ahead

Huh? I've never had a problem with Time Machine on any of my Macs, real or Hackintosh - iMac, Mac Mini, Macbook, Bad Axe 2, DS3L, and many others. imo it's Leopard's best feature!

I just checked out efixusa.>>>>COM<<<<<. At the top it says "For international buyers only, for US orders click here." You click on the link and it takes you to efixusa.>>>NET<<<! WTF!!!?? They are now on back order so I couldn't see if the checkout was secure or not. So Caveat Emptor. I think I'll look on ebay or hit up the Swiss dudes.

EFI-X sounds like it's pretty backlogged...I want to order more chips but they're sold out for awhile. I read on their forum that there are some hand-made parts of the process, so it takes awhile to get a batch of chips out. Once they get their bugs sorted out (hopefully in the Oct update) and their website smoothed out (manual, bios settings, etc.), I'm willing to bet this will be the best and easiest solution for getting Leopard on a PC available. Despite the quirks, I'm pretty happy with my first chip. I love being able to install updates and not worry about tinkering with it, install apps and not worry about doing funny things to get certain ones to work (like Temperature Monitor), etc. It's just real convenient. $170 worth of convenience. If the convenience is worth that to you, buy it, otherwise, just DIY. I have a mix of Kalyway, Boot-132, EFI-X, and real Macs and if EFI-X works out with the next round of updates, I think I'll be replacing a lot of my machines with it.

I also found a real cool board here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...;Tpk=skulltrail

$630 - the Intel Skulltrail motherboard. Can take dual Xeons or dual Core 2 Extreme Quads and is overclockable. Very cool...would definitely like to see this on the future support list for EFI-X! I'm also hoping the 8-core chips come out this year and are compatible with it...16 cores of overclocked hotness would rock!

I've never had a problem with Time Machine on any of my Macs, real or Hackintosh

Consider yourself lucky! Visit one of the many Apple forums and you'll see many others not so happy with it. Most people rely on SuperDuper anyway so it's not that big of a deal

Consider yourself lucky! Visit one of the many Apple forums and you'll see many others not so happy with it. Most people rely on SuperDuper anyway so it's not that big of a deal

I do both - automatic hourly Time Machine backups and automatic nightly SuperDuper backups. I LOVE SuperDuper, works side-by-side with Time Machine. I can restore my machine in 20 minutes and then grab the latest files up to the last hour with ease!