Can you build a MAC?

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imported_manchild

Member
Sep 14, 2004
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I'm just curious, do people buy MAC processors & motherboards etc and build their own machines? I've never heard of anyone doing that before but is it because the hardware just isn't available or because I don't hang out with MAC builders? What makes a MAC a MAC anyway as far as hardware goes? I don't have much experience with MAC's anymore other than getting REALLY annoyed at how dumbed-down their OS is anytime I use one.

I assume you can upgrade things in a MAC like the hard drive or video card but is that it?
 
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hagg3rty

Senior member
Mar 16, 2004
347
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From what I understand you can buy Mac g3 and g4 logic boards (Motherboard) and there processors from some sites so yes u can build a mac

Logic board and processor make a mac
 
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MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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Nope, not possible to build from scratch. The Almighty Jobs demands you pay him thrice his raw cost. :p

Edit - Okay, you can build an old Mac, but that's less "build from scratch" and more "cobble together from other people's broken stuff" - there isn't really a "Mac Parts" market other than replacement/repair.

Just going off the "dumbed down OS" thing, you need to play with one again so you can experience OSX.

You can upgrade pretty much everything in a Mac - but again, expect to pay 2-3x for Mac-specific parts like video cards. Drives and RAM is pretty cross-compatible though.

- M4H
 
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GnomeCop

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2002
3,863
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At work, we frequently do business with Foxxconn and they are the OEM who makes all the G5 cases.
At one time we had a container full of brand new G5 cases. I bought one from work for pennies and was gonna see if I can build my own G5, to this day it just sits gathering dust fooling whoever comes into my home that I have a G5.

Maybe I'll try to put a PC in it someday.
 
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omissible

Member
Aug 21, 2004
57
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Most Macs can be overclocked, but few people try...you don't generally fool around with hardware that expensive until its out of warranty.

And the OS isn't really dumbed down if you can see past the pretty colors.
 
C

CE750

Member
Oct 6, 2004
37
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I wish you could! It may have saved me several thousands of dollars over the years.. my last purchase was just over $8K for my latest Dual 2.5... if it were a PC clone, I could have easily halved that cost!

 
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obeseotron

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,910
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Yeah you can't really build a mac, you could cobble one together from spare parts, but that's not really building one. There is no such thing as a retail or even OEM apple motherboard kit, just used motherboards or spare parts from apple. You can buy G3 and G4 chip modules, not so sure about G5s. I remember overclocking my dad's 1st generation Powermac 7100/66 to 80Mhz. That was a PowerPC 601 chip and it involved an overglorified $80 dipswitch module. I think you can probably still overclock macs, G5's seem like very sensitive chips though, I mean they watercool them to get to 2.5Ghz, how much head room would you expect them to have?
 
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Darien

Platinum Member
Feb 27, 2002
2,817
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Originally posted by: GnomeCop
At work, we frequently do business with Foxxconn and they are the OEM who makes all the G5 cases.
At one time we had a container full of brand new G5 cases. I bought one from work for pennies and was gonna see if I can build my own G5, to this day it just sits gathering dust fooling whoever comes into my home that I have a G5.

Maybe I'll try to put a PC in it someday.
Click to expand...

do they sell 'em to the public? i wouldn't mind picking one up :D
 
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