Hackintosh 10.5.5 Retail Rig - Starting at $305

[Muadib]

Just curious if any one has used this drive to rip Blu Rays on their hacintosh... I am not looking to pay Blu Rays on my Hac... I would just like to rip them and store them on my drobo...

Any other BD-ROM recommendations?

I'm using the uh08ls10, and saw your post & thought I'd try a rip on the mac side. I'm using some shareware that I found with google. My first rip has about 90 minutes to go.

 

[Kaido]

I need another cheap video card. The 7200GT's are nowhere to be found, not even on eBay. Is anyone running an 8400GS successfully? I remember we had some issues with those awhile back...

 

[litlgi74]

I need another cheap video card. The 7200GT's are nowhere to be found, not even on eBay. Is anyone running an 8400GS successfully? I remember we had some issues with those awhile back...

I am using the Asus 8400GS (256)... It is perfect. I have used it for about 12 builds now.

I have a 512 of the same card that doesn't work so well

 

[mosslack]

I need another cheap video card. The 7200GT's are nowhere to be found, not even on eBay. Is anyone running an 8400GS successfully? I remember we had some issues with those awhile back...

Mine is working fine with my triple monitor setup. I also have a 7200GS in the other slot for the 3rd monitor. I pretty much recommend this card these days as the 7200GS has problems running in 64 bit mode.

 

[vailr]

XFX 8400GS (256 Mb.) works fine with Leopard 10.5.8.
Haven't yet successfully installed SL.

 

[mosslack]

I now have my DS3L updated to 10.6.3. Basically remove SleepEnabler.kext from /Extra/Extensions, make a copy of AppleHDA.kext from /S/L/E on the desktop. Run the 10.6.3 update and once completed, reboot. Once back up, no sound. Use Kext Utility to install the copy of AppleHDA.kext you put on the desktop. Once done, reboot. Sound should be back. You can get a better explanation here if you want:

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=180954&st=2640#

Post # 2649

Also you can find a 10.6.3 compatible version of SleepEnabler.kext here:

http://code.google.com/p/xnu-sleep-enabler/

Good luck!

 

[Zaap]

10.6.3 updated for me without a hitch.

Basically all my systems running SL are set up from the Lifehacker 'no-hacks' guide which seems to work with just a few slight adjustments (board-specific kexts) on just about any compatible Gigabyte board.

 

[mosslack]

I still don't have my UD3P working, only way to get it to boot with a proper display is to use safe mode and even then the resolutions are wrong as well as the display arrangement. But the Asus 1201N has been updated, pretty easy fix there, and I'm presently doing the HP Mini 311. Glad to hear your systems did okay.

EDIT: And as I recall, you don't use onboard sound on yours, correct? That would make things easier I'm sure. Plus if you don't worry about sleep, no need for the SleepEnabler kext either.

 

[scootermaster]

I'm gonna start tinkering with 10.6.3 (main issues are sound, I think I'm going to tinker with some of the different install methods), sooooo:

does anyone have [a link to] quick and dirty instructions for how to make a backup/scratch OS install partition (and how to go back and forth to/from it?) I just want to get things "working", then try and break them, and be able to restore from a stable point with CCC or Superduper or something.

Thanks!

 

[mosslack]

Easiest way is just to have an extra small partition (10-15 GB) on the same hard drive and clone your install once you have it up and running after the initial install. That will give you a place on the same hard drive to try updates before you do your main partition. Once you have the update routine figured out, you can update your main partition.

As for the update to 10.6.3 for the DS3L, it is pretty simple. You can check out my instructions here:

http://groups.google.com/group/hq-a/web/install-guide-gigabyte-ga-p35-ds3l-usb-10-6-x

 

[scootermaster]

Easiest way is just to have an extra small partition (10-15 GB) on the same hard drive and clone your install once you have it up and running after the initial install. That will give you a place on the same hard drive to try updates before you do your main partition. Once you have the update routine figured out, you can update your main partition.

As for the update to 10.6.3 for the DS3L, it is pretty simple. You can check out my instructions here:

http://groups.google.com/group/hq-a/web/install-guide-gigabyte-ga-p35-ds3l-usb-10-6-x

Is it simple to boot into a secondary partition? I think I already have this set up, so all I'll need to do is set to bootable. There's a control panel doohickey for that, no?

And 10.6.3 should be relatively painless, except I handle sound differently than you [I think]. In the Blackosx guide, there's a number of ways (modded kext + DSDT, just kext, DSDT + normal kext, etc) and I think the VoodooHDA method (that has the pref. pane and all that) is easier to update. I use a DSDT + stock kext method which probably won't work. I don't mind switching methods -- as I think your method offers more functionality, but mine was more "stock".

I think. Either way, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle, and even if I had to reinstall completely it wouldn't be the end of the world. I just would rather not waste the hour it'd take.

 

[Zaap]

I still don't have my UD3P working, only way to get it to boot with a proper display is to use safe mode and even then the resolutions are wrong as well as the display arrangement.

Is the problem the video cards or the install method? I highly recommend the LH method for the UD3P if you haven't already tried it- I've installed easily a dozen of them (and other boards) from the same 8GB USB stick. Highly worth it to invest $20 or so on a USB flash drive and keep it as a universal SL installer.

EDIT: And as I recall, you don't use onboard sound on yours, correct? That would make things easier I'm sure. Plus if you don't worry about sleep, no need for the SleepEnabler kext either.

Onboard sound does work on my DQ6 and DS4 boards (also on my wife's DS3L system) ALC 889A (same as UD3P) and ALC888- but I choose to use USB audio on my systems- it just sounds better and works OOB, so it's a win/win.

Also, sleep works on all my systems. The only disparity I notice is that with some of them- the G41 for instance- I have to push the power button to wake the machine. My DQ6 and others wake from a mouse jiggle.

The DQ6 uses the same stock P45 install package (Lifehacker) as the UD3P, so there's only an extensions.mkext in the Extras folder- plus I did a custom DSDT file. Every UD3P I've set up the same way works the same, just with the stock DSDT from the installer- in 10.6.3 everything works with nothing else added. In fact, I've had everyone whose systems I'd previously installed on a UD3P (LH guide) update to 10.6.3 and it's gone without incident. I think the P45 based boards are definitely much more hassle-free than P35 or G31.

My other systems I did have to update SleepEnabler.kext (G41, DS4, DS3L) with the update to 10.6.3.

 

[mosslack]

Is the problem the video cards or the install method? I highly recommend the LH method for the UD3P if you haven't already tried it- I've installed easily a dozen of them (and other boards) from the same 8GB USB stick. Highly worth it to invest $20 or so on a USB flash drive and keep it as a universal SL installer.


Onboard sound does work on my DQ6 and DS4 boards (also on my wife's DS3L system) ALC 889A (same as UD3P) and ALC888- but I choose to use USB audio on my systems- it just sounds better and works OOB, so it's a win/win.

Also, sleep works on all my systems. The only disparity I notice is that with some of them- the G41 for instance- I have to push the power button to wake the machine. My DQ6 and others wake from a mouse jiggle.

The DQ6 uses the same stock P45 install package (Lifehacker) as the UD3P, so there's only an extensions.mkext in the Extras folder- plus I did a custom DSDT file. Every UD3P I've set up the same way works the same, just with the stock DSDT from the installer- in 10.6.3 everything works with nothing else added. In fact, I've had everyone whose systems I'd previously installed on a UD3P (LH guide) update to 10.6.3 and it's gone without incident. I think the P45 based boards are definitely much more hassle-free than P35 or G31.

My other systems I did have to update SleepEnabler.kext (G41, DS4, DS3L) with the update to 10.6.3.

Yeah, the LH guide was the first one I tried, it was a no go. I would always get the You need to restart message when using it with the DSDT provided. However, I am using a form of that guide (Stellarola v3) with 10.6.2, but I had to change the DSDT. Original one put both video cards in the same slot which caused a problem. The one I use now has them arranged correctly and it works just great with 10.6.2, but I did have to patch the audio as it didn't work either at first. I can boot up in safe mode using 10.6.3, but a standard boot will only provide blue screens on all displays.

Do you find it a bit odd that the LH method doesn't use any /Extra/Extensions folder at all? Everything seems to run from the kext cache, but this makes it difficult to make any changes. I did disassemble the Extensions.mkext and tried to set it up as /Extra/Extensions, but it doesn't work that way.

 

[mosslack]

Is it simple to boot into a secondary partition? I think I already have this set up, so all I'll need to do is set to bootable. There's a control panel doohickey for that, no?

And 10.6.3 should be relatively painless, except I handle sound differently than you [I think]. In the Blackosx guide, there's a number of ways (modded kext + DSDT, just kext, DSDT + normal kext, etc) and I think the VoodooHDA method (that has the pref. pane and all that) is easier to update. I use a DSDT + stock kext method which probably won't work. I don't mind switching methods -- as I think your method offers more functionality, but mine was more "stock".

I think. Either way, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle, and even if I had to reinstall completely it wouldn't be the end of the world. I just would rather not waste the hour it'd take.

With the later versions of Chameleon/PC EFI, there is no need to make individual partitions bootable like it was in the 10.5.x days with the text version of Chameleon. Just choose to boot from that partition and it will boot just fine.

As for VoodooHDA vs. AppleHDA, the main difference is when the next update comes out, you should not have to make any changes to audio, it should work with Voodoo, while you would have to reinstalled the older version of AppleHDA (or possibly more). Not sure what you consider stock to be, but if you have to change a kext in /S/L/E with an altered one, how stock is that? That of course is either or, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Let us know how you come out.

 

[scootermaster]

With the later versions of Chameleon/PC EFI, there is no need to make individual partitions bootable like it was in the 10.5.x days with the text version of Chameleon. Just choose to boot from that partition and it will boot just fine.

As for VoodooHDA vs. AppleHDA, the main difference is when the next update comes out, you should not have to make any changes to audio, it should work with Voodoo, while you would have to reinstalled the older version of AppleHDA (or possibly more). Not sure what you consider stock to be, but if you have to change a kext in /S/L/E with an altered one, how stock is that? That of course is either or, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Let us know how you come out.

I'm downloading the update right now. Here's the relevant stuff I was talking about:

To get the audio working under DSDT we need this last touch which was kindly supplied by thiagomorales and tmongkol. The required files are on tmongkol’s thread in an archive called How_to_patch_DSDT_with_LAN_and_HDEF_functions_including_LegacyHDA.
This archive contains various files which might be of interest and also a folder named ‘series of LegacyHDA 888’. In this folder are four LegacyHDA.kext’s which we can choose from.
To use these files in the words of tmongkol..
If you are using DSDT.aml for AZAL, you need patched AppleHDA.kext (or any legacy for GA-ALC888 & unpatched AppleHDA.kext) and HDAEnabler.kext.
If you're using DSDT.aml for HDEF, you need only patched AppleHDA.kext or any legacy for GA-ALC888 & unpatched AppleHDA.kext.

As the whole basis of my retail install is based around using /Extra for any additional drivers, kexts etc. and leaving the main system untouched, I naturally wanted to use the HDEF option beacuse an unpatched AppleHDA is already in /System/Library/Extensions meaning I don’t have to touch it.
So all I needed to activate audio was a LegacyHDA.kext in /Extra/Extensions. I chose to use the grey one in the ‘3out2in HDA headphone’ folder.
If this doesn’t work for you then you could maybe try one of the other LegacyHDA files, and failing that, one of the other options given by tmongkol.

Now, I have no idea what the "grey one in the 3out2in HDA headphone" folder means. I'm wondering if I'm using the "wrong" one. As of now, I have "Internal speakers" (which is actually line out, i.e. this is the one that "works"), Line out, Line out (again, weirdly) and digital out. And, of course, I have no pref pane.

None of this is 100% essential, seeing as I have a HarmonyAudio, but that's not supported in Windows, and if I decided to dual boot, obviously it'd be nice to not have to unplug and plug stuff. (I currently use the HA more for its inputs anyway).

So I'm going to update to 10.6.3 (right now, in fact) and see what happens. But I'm curious about this whole Voodoo thing. Was that in your package? I'm certainly not using it now. And does that have a fancy pref pane? In other words, is it "better"?

(I'd include a diagram that explains the audio options, but I don't know how to attach pics)

Here I go...off to reboot!

Edit: Back from reboot. First time sound didn't work because I copied the 10.6.2 AppleHDA from /E/E, not /S/L/E. Luckily I had my backup partition (which is still at 10.6.2...I'm apparently doing this backwards) and I installed that and everything seems to be working. Manual sleep is working. Haven't tested autosleep, since I think my DVD drive kills that anyway.

So far so good! Now to test bonjour, so I can get my iPhone remote working again (both that and my Airmouse app mysteriously stopped working in 10.5.8. I feel like that's a bonjour issue, although I could be wrong).

Further edit: Hmmmm. Iphone remote still not working. Forwarded a couple of ports I saw from the Internet, but even with the computer in the DMZ it still doesn't work. This is annoying because it used to, and I have no idea why it's not anymore. The iPhone shows up in itunes, and the remote app gives me the 4 digit code, but when I enter it in, nothing happens. Ugh. Help!?

Even Further Edit: Tested on my Powerbook, and it works fine, so it's not a networking issue. :-( I installed the R1000 doohickey that's included in Mosslack's bundle, and nothing. Then installed one that's included in BlackOSX's bundle, and nothing. Is my DSDT screwing something up? Is there some other kext I'm not using? There's nothing R1000 related in /E/E, and there's RealtekR1000SL in /S/L/E. Any hints?

 

[Zaap]

Yeah, the LH guide was the first one I tried, it was a no go.

All part of the 'voodoo' of Hackintoshing. It's why I get wary of saying "hey this worked for me, so do this, this and this..." because even though I may have had it work for me fifteen times in a row perfectly, someone will always come along and say "it didn't work for me!" After a while I just have to scratch my head and concede this isn't an exact science and there's still a lot of trial and error involved.

I'm guessing though, that your non-standard graphic card setup is causing trouble, because the UD3P board itself (in my experience anyway) is the closest hardware to 'bulletproof' that I've yet encountered. I've never seen one screw up or bluescreen like you describe when setup with the various Auzigog, Kaido, or LH guides, so I'm guessing it's something unique to your hardware, probably the graphics setup.

Do you find it a bit odd that the LH method doesn't use any /Extra/Extensions folder at all? Everything seems to run from the kext cache, but this makes it difficult to make any changes. I did disassemble the Extensions.mkext and tried to set it up as /Extra/Extensions, but it doesn't work that way.

I guess I've been under the impression that this is somehow a more 'evolved' way of doing things rather than kexts loose in the Extensions folder, but I have no idea what any actual advantage would be. (Faster loading from a kext cache maybe?)

At any rate, I've had luck using Kext Utility to unpack, revise, and repack an extensions.mkext. Also, I've had great success setting up non-UD3P boards with the LH guide, obviously skipping the UD3P installer that sets up the Extra folder, then just subbing the Chameleon/Extra folder setup as if I did the whole process using a guide for the specific hardware.

But again, as part of the Hackintosh voodoo, I'm never assuming anything I've gotten to work is guaranteed to work for everyone else.

 

[Sophie424]

Will an SSD work on a DS3L hack? If so, any advice or first-hand tips on:
- which SSD
- what OS (I have 10.5.8 currently)
- any specific tips, kexts, etc.

Much appreciated!

 

[Kaido]

Will an SSD work on a DS3L hack? If so, any advice or first-hand tips on:
- which SSD
- what OS (I have 10.5.8 currently)
- any specific tips, kexts, etc.

Much appreciated!

Yup. Either Leo or Snow is fine. Which model depends on your budget. I like the OCZ Vertex series for a budget-oriented line. You don't need the more expensive "Mac" version, plenty of people run the normal version just fine on real Macs even. If you have the funds, then OWC's SSD's are the way to go:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/Mercury_Extreme_SSD_Sandforce

 

[mosslack]

@Zaap: Yeah there is a guy on the 1201N thread now having difficulties with the install guide which everyone has used. Of course some things have changed since it was developed, for one thing the BIOS went from 0317, 0318, 0321, 0324 and now is at 0325, so it's likely a new DSDT is needed. Plus board revisions often go unreported by the manufacturers until it is discovered they cause a problem.

The fact that the system will boot up in 10.6.3 with all displays working in safe mode tells me it isn't far off. I just haven't taken the time to google for a proper solution and have posted the problem to a couple of threads in hopes for a lazy man answer!

As for the LH method of using the kext cache instead of the /Extra/Extensions folder, I agree that this is voodoo. But then Stellarola is the king of such non-traditional methods, so perhaps only he can shed light on why he did it this way.

You ever go for a netbook yet? I've been playing around with my HP Mini 311 and now have a working system based on meklort's NBBM/NBI install method. He is considered a true genius in Dell circles and is quickly becoming known the same in netbook circles in general.

 

[mosslack]

Now, I have no idea what the "grey one in the 3out2in HDA headphone" folder means. I'm wondering if I'm using the "wrong" one. As of now, I have "Internal speakers" (which is actually line out, i.e. this is the one that "works"), Line out, Line out (again, weirdly) and digital out. And, of course, I have no pref pane.

None of this is 100% essential, seeing as I have a HarmonyAudio, but that's not supported in Windows, and if I decided to dual boot, obviously it'd be nice to not have to unplug and plug stuff. (I currently use the HA more for its inputs anyway).

Yeah mine uses internal speakers as the main output also. On several systems which I work on we have switched to VoodooHDA.kext instead of AppleHDA.kext. This should hopefully eliminate the need for re-using the 10.6.2 version each time. I haven't yet tested this on the DS3L, but it should work just fine.

Edit: Back from reboot. First time sound didn't work because I copied the 10.6.2 AppleHDA from /E/E, not /S/L/E. Luckily I had my backup partition (which is still at 10.6.2...I'm apparently doing this backwards) and I installed that and everything seems to be working. Manual sleep is working. Haven't tested autosleep, since I think my DVD drive kills that anyway.

So far so good! Now to test bonjour, so I can get my iPhone remote working again (both that and my Airmouse app mysteriously stopped working in 10.5.8. I feel like that's a bonjour issue, although I could be wrong).

Further edit: Hmmmm. Iphone remote still not working. Forwarded a couple of ports I saw from the Internet, but even with the computer in the DMZ it still doesn't work. This is annoying because it used to, and I have no idea why it's not anymore. The iPhone shows up in itunes, and the remote app gives me the 4 digit code, but when I enter it in, nothing happens. Ugh. Help!?

Even Further Edit: Tested on my Powerbook, and it works fine, so it's not a networking issue. :-( I installed the R1000 doohickey that's included in Mosslack's bundle, and nothing. Then installed one that's included in BlackOSX's bundle, and nothing. Is my DSDT screwing something up? Is there some other kext I'm not using? There's nothing R1000 related in /E/E, and there's RealtekR1000SL in /S/L/E. Any hints?

You guys and your gadgets. Someone else with have to help with the iPhone prob.

As for the R1000 kext, are you sure you are installing it properly? I got tricked by this the first time also. The file that is in my install is itself an installer. IOW, you need to double-click the file on the desktop to install the kext. Let me know if that fixes it for you.

EDIT: I have now switched my DS3L to VoodooHDA.kext and it seems to be working very well. You should notice the ports are identified correctly in the pref pane. If you want to try it, just remember to remove AppleHDA.kext from /S/L/E before installing voodoohda.kext using Kext Utility.

 

[vailr]

Anyone tried the custom OSX bios for Gigabyte P45 boards?
"Custom BIOS Allows for Mac on your Hack without DSDT Patches"
http://www.insanelymac.com/?p=214174&cp=4?#comments

 

[scootermaster]

Yeah mine uses internal speakers as the main output also. On several systems which I work on we have switched to VoodooHDA.kext instead of AppleHDA.kext. This should hopefully eliminate the need for re-using the 10.6.2 version each time. I haven't yet tested this on the DS3L, but it should work just fine.



You guys and your gadgets. Someone else with have to help with the iPhone prob.

As for the R1000 kext, are you sure you are installing it properly? I got tricked by this the first time also. The file that is in my install is itself an installer. IOW, you need to double-click the file on the desktop to install the kext. Let me know if that fixes it for you.

EDIT: I have now switched my DS3L to VoodooHDA.kext and it seems to be working very well. You should notice the ports are identified correctly in the pref pane. If you want to try it, just remember to remove AppleHDA.kext from /S/L/E before installing voodoohda.kext using Kext Utility.

It's not so much the gadget's fault...works fine with my G4, and other things like iTunes sharing won't work without bonjour. And I've tried all sorts of things; the little snow-flakey installer, a different installer that supposedly puts the nic in promiscuous mode, and something else, I can't quite remember. I'll try it again. I'm frustrated because it used to work in my 10.5.8 install, and now magically does not. I have no idea at all why that is. But I'll try again and report back. And I'll certainly try that VoodooHDA.kext. You have a copy of it lying around someplace?

Lastly, what did you do to the DSDT in your installer? I mean, what "features" did you add? Networking? CMOS fix? Audio? Graphics? Something else? I'm just trying to see the difference between what I made and yours. I don't know for sure but I feel like it may be a DSDT issue. Or I may just be crazy. I dunno. =]

 

[mosslack]

Anyone tried the custom OSX bios for Gigabyte P45 boards?
"Custom BIOS Allows for Mac on your Hack without DSDT Patches"
http://www.insanelymac.com/?p=214174&cp=4?#comments

I checked not too long ago and could not find any listed for our boards. If that has changed I would love to know about it as I want to try it as soon as it's available.

 

[mosslack]

It's not so much the gadget's fault...works fine with my G4, and other things like iTunes sharing won't work without bonjour. And I've tried all sorts of things; the little snow-flakey installer, a different installer that supposedly puts the nic in promiscuous mode, and something else, I can't quite remember. I'll try it again. I'm frustrated because it used to work in my 10.5.8 install, and now magically does not. I have no idea at all why that is. But I'll try again and report back. And I'll certainly try that VoodooHDA.kext. You have a copy of it lying around someplace?

Lastly, what did you do to the DSDT in your installer? I mean, what "features" did you add? Networking? CMOS fix? Audio? Graphics? Something else? I'm just trying to see the difference between what I made and yours. I don't know for sure but I feel like it may be a DSDT issue. Or I may just be crazy. I dunno. =]

Just substitute mine for yours and see if it makes a difference. AFAIK, or better yet remember, I got this DSDT from another install guide on Insanely. I'm famous for borrowing others' work and using it for my own No sense in reinventing the wheel if you don't have to. It's not that I can't do it, but I just choose not to if I don't have to!

 

[Sophie424]

Yup. Either Leo or Snow is fine. Which model depends on your budget. I like the OCZ Vertex series for a budget-oriented line.

Any advice on configuration? e.g. install OSX + Apps on the SSD and keep everything else on HDD? vm/swap file? Were you happy with the speedup?

Thanks!