• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Complete Hackintosh ready system?

darth maul

Platinum Member
Is there something that will put my wife's core 2 MacBook Pro (from 2010, or was it 2009???) to shame for under $500?

Not looking for a laptop, just a desktop. Don't need a monitor, keyboard or mouse.

So I guess a quad core something? Needs to run Final Cut Pro, with out flaws. And probably run photo shop. Other then, that just want an all in one box complete system.

If I have to build it myself can I do it for $500 buying all the parts? I can build one, I have built computers since Celeron 300 oc'd to 450Mhz days. Soooo, what do you guys think I can/should do?

Thanks.
 
Up your budget to $600, buy a Mac Mini. You will want to get some RAM from newegg for it, but that stuff is cheap as hell these days.

Down the road spend some more on an SSD.
 
Are you willing to tinker with software? I affectionately call my Hackintosh my "research project" 😉
 
Are you willing to tinker with software? I affectionately call my Hackintosh my "research project" 😉

YES, as long as final cut pro works, I will tinker for a week or two, will it take longer then that? I am in a wheel chair as I type from knee surgery, so I have a few weeks here or there for awhile. Found the below threads and yes a place to buy one well under budget so I can get that video card that will do FCP justice. And with this one I could get more memory etc.

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=247792

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/in...l=+final +cut +pro&fromsearch=1&#entry1751362 <---final cut X working on it.

http://www.ascendtech.us/gateway-sx...4gb-ddr3_i_pcgatsx280007w7.aspx?agent=froogle
 
I've had an easy OSX 10.7 Lion installation with a (Kakewalk supported) Gigabyte motherboard.
http://www.kakewalk.se/computer-builds/
http://www.kakewalk.se/compatibility/
This. As a general rule of thumb, if it's kakewalk-compatible, it's ANY method-compatible. (IE: Tonymac, etc.) Plus kakewalk makes it very easy to install. If you want to tinker, better to tinker with fun stuff like apps and settings, not pulling your hair out installing the OS in the first place.

Tonymac's site is another good place to check for compatible builds.

If you really want a reliable Hackintosh, please build it yourself. The main thing is the motherboard and graphics card. The best chance of success/long-term/support from the OSx86 community revolves around good motherboard and GPU choice. With a prebuilt system you're taking a chance that these crucial components will compatible and later supported. It's just too hit and miss to take a gamble, IMHO, unless you're 100% sure of the components used in a given model.

Other components- CPU, RAM, drives just need to be the right type for the board, otherwise you can choose whatever you want. (IE: you can shave off cost by using a compatible board + dirt cheap CPU rather than the one listed in the build, so you can easily get it down to your budget range.)

I use Final Cut Pro 7 every day on my sig system- which is ancient- it runs flawlessly and gets my work done. (I have no idea about Fisher Price X, or whatever that new impostor is, but I digress...) Photoshop CS5 and all other apps I use work perfectly. Generally, if OSX is installed correctly, then all apps work within it correctly. (Exceptions: some things like Apple's App store and Face Time may require a little tinkering with network settings.)

The main problem with your links is that they are older Core2 machines. I'd assume you'd rather have a more modern i3/i5/i7 Hack? Personally I wouldn't invest in older hardware when new hardware is much more cost-effective, and way better performance.

The OSx86 project wiki is an invaluable resource too- scroll down to Hardware Compatibility/version of OSX you'll be using, and click components. You can then browse through lists of components that are known to work, or have problems. I use this a lot for seeing what GPU is likely to work with little effort, and what will have me pulling my hair out- a very easy line to cross if you don't do a little research.

Built correctly, it doesn't have to be an ongoing science experiment. My main sig system -with many upgrades- has been running happily on every single version/update of OSX since about late 2008 with minimal fuss. The tinkering phase was at the start- now I just want a reliable machine, which it still is.

Anyway, with the right hardware, Hack-building is very rewarding, so have at it!
 
Last edited:
This. As a general rule of thumb, if it's kakewalk-compatible, it's ANY method-compatible. (IE: Tonymac, etc.) Plus kakewalk makes it very easy to install. If you want to tinker, better to tinker with fun stuff like apps and settings, not pulling your hair out installing the OS in the first place.

Tonymac's site is another good place to check for compatible builds.

If you really want a reliable Hackintosh, please build it yourself. The main thing is the motherboard and graphics card. The best chance of success/long-term/support from the OSx86 community revolves around good motherboard and GPU choice. With a prebuilt system you're taking a chance that these crucial components will compatible and later supported. It's just too hit and miss to take a gamble, IMHO, unless you're 100% sure of the components used in a given model.

Other components- CPU, RAM, drives just need to be the right type for the board, otherwise you can choose whatever you want. (IE: you can shave off cost by using a compatible board + dirt cheap CPU rather than the one listed in the build, so you can easily get it down to your budget range.)

I use Final Cut Pro 7 every day on my sig system- which is ancient- it runs flawlessly and gets my work done. (I have no idea about Fisher Price X, or whatever that new impostor is, but I digress...) Photoshop CS5 and all other apps I use work perfectly. Generally, if OSX is installed correctly, then all apps work within it correctly. (Exceptions: some things like Apple's App store and Face Time may require a little tinkering with network settings.)

The main problem with your links is that they are older Core2 machines. I'd assume you'd rather have a more modern i3/i5/i7 Hack? Personally I wouldn't invest in older hardware when new hardware is much more cost-effective, and way better performance.

The OSx86 project wiki is an invaluable resource too- scroll down to Hardware Compatibility/version of OSX you'll be using, and click components. You can then browse through lists of components that are known to work, or have problems. I use this a lot for seeing what GPU is likely to work with little effort, and what will have me pulling my hair out- a very easy line to cross if you don't do a little research.

Built correctly, it doesn't have to be an ongoing science experiment. My main sig system -with many upgrades- has been running happily on every single version/update of OSX since about late 2008 with minimal fuss. The tinkering phase was at the start- now I just want a reliable machine, which it still is.

Anyway, with the right hardware, Hack-building is very rewarding, so have at it!

Thanks every one. Went with a i5 750, Gigabyte p55, LG DVD, . Still not decided on video card but probably a 9800GT or there abouts in price. And need RAM, Case, and power supply.

I think when it is all done I will be well under $500. Traded for the LG, processor is old but was only $100, maybe I could have done better, shrug. Mother board was $50. Video, ram, case, and PSU I hope to get for $50 or under EACH.

Of course I need to purchase Snow Leopard yet, as that is what I am planning installing.
 
....Why SL and not Lion?

Because the software (mainly FCP 5 or 6, not sure on the version, as this build is for my wife's video editing work), doesn't play nice in lion. AS FAR AS I KNOW, lol, really I could be wrong on that.

Thanks for asking. If anyone knows different please speak up.
 
Because the software (mainly FCP 5 or 6, not sure on the version, as this build is for my wife's video editing work), doesn't play nice in lion. AS FAR AS I KNOW, lol, really I could be wrong on that.

Thanks for asking. If anyone knows different please speak up.

I've been using FCPX so I can't really comment. Sorry :\ hopefully someone else has something better
 
Because the software (mainly FCP 5 or 6, not sure on the version, as this build is for my wife's video editing work), doesn't play nice in lion. AS FAR AS I KNOW, lol, really I could be wrong on that.

Final Cut 6 and 7 will run perfectly in Snow Leo. I've run both with no problems.

I've only used FC 7 in Lion- also with no problems. (Luckily 6 and 7 are backward/forward compatible via xml export).

If you stick with Snow Leopard, you should have it pretty easy, from install to maximum app compatibility. Even if you want to upgrade to Lion, I'd still recommend doing so on a spare drive or partition, and keep Snow Leo around. I still boot back into SL now and then for older Rosetta compatibility, and peace of mind knowing that I can always go back until I'm 1000% sure I'm happy with going Lion only. (I'm at about 998%!)
 
Final Cut 6 and 7 will run perfectly in Snow Leo. I've run both with no problems.

I've only used FC 7 in Lion- also with no problems. (Luckily 6 and 7 are backward/forward compatible via xml export).

If you stick with Snow Leopard, you should have it pretty easy, from install to maximum app compatibility. Even if you want to upgrade to Lion, I'd still recommend doing so on a spare drive or partition, and keep Snow Leo around. I still boot back into SL now and then for older Rosetta compatibility, and peace of mind knowing that I can always go back until I'm 1000% sure I'm happy with going Lion only. (I'm at about 998%!)

For ordering Snow Leopard, it is just $29 for a full version from apple.com right? If so how are ebayers charging more?
 
Yes, SL is $29 from Apple or any reputable source, and yes that's the full version.

My guess would be eBayers are probably charging that plus their shipping costs, or if more than a few bucks over $30 are ripping people off.
 
For ordering Snow Leopard, it is just $29 for a full version from apple.com right? If so how are ebayers charging more?

$29 = upgrade version

However, they give you a full (not upgrade) disc for the $29. So a lot of people just buy the cheap one in order to have a clean disc copy.
 
$29 = upgrade version

However, they give you a full (not upgrade) disc for the $29. So a lot of people just buy the cheap one in order to have a clean disc copy.

The upgrade version *is* the full version and you *can* do a clean install off of it.
 
The upgrade version *is* the full version and you *can* do a clean install off of it.

Technically, the $29 disc is an upgrade for Leopard and only for Leopard. As I mentioned, it is a full-version disc, not an upgrade-version disc. Thus people buy the cheap version to get a clean copy. If you have another version of OS X (aka Tiger), you are supposed to buy the Mac Box Set:

http://www.mcelhearn.com/2009/06/09/snow-leopard-29-not-for-everybody/

As detailed here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...c_Box_Set.html

The Mac Box Set from Apple is a cost-saving bundle that includes the full version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, iLife '11, and iWork '09. It is targeted at owners of Intel Macs who are still using the Mac OS X 10.4 operating system, as it is the only way for those users to upgrade directly to Snow Leopard.

However, since most Hackintoshes are built from scratch, most people buy (if they buy a copy in the first place) the $29 disc.
 
Up and running with our hackintosh, had to delete some audio kext stuff so I could boot without the iboot cd. But loving it so far, now I need a working firewire card, one I got doesn't even show up. Could be a bad card, mobo, or who knows. The card is a VIA 6306 chipset.
 
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1152256/

Dell XPS 8300 Intel Core i7-2600 3.4GHz, 8GB RAM, 500GB, 1GB Video Card

add to cart for $1232.99
$270 Instant off
25% off w/coupon ?$QNC1?HSKNR9F (Ends 12/31)
10% off w/coupon ?6WC2NTW?3FBCC

= $650.01
Free Shipping

there are reports of graphics card issues, a replacement may be required.

That deal is dead.


Anyway, I got to say this hackintosh buid is great! This one is for the wife, next one is mine, all mine!
 
Up and running with our hackintosh, had to delete some audio kext stuff so I could boot without the iboot cd. But loving it so far, now I need a working firewire card, one I got doesn't even show up. Could be a bad card, mobo, or who knows. The card is a VIA 6306 chipset.
Firewire 400 or 800? PCIe or PCI?
 
Firewire 400 or 800? PCIe or PCI?

Sorry I didn't see this, I was looking for either....buuuuuut got the VIA 6306 working (it is firewire 400). I think because I slid it down to the PCI slot the furthest from the CPU.

I thought IRQ conflicts were not a problem any more??? And I could stick it in any slot.

Already have another PCI card, or did I order a PCIe 400 card, lol, with a NEC chipset on the way here. So assuming the NEC works, I have my first part for Hackintosh number 2!!! Building hackintosh 2 to be bigger, faster, better, then the first, probably...
 
Back
Top