Hackintosh 10.5.5 Retail Rig - Starting at $305

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Gymnae

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Apr 8, 2009
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I had some troubles with the onboard sound, it distorted when there was CPU load. I updated the BIOS to the newest (or last) Beta 9f and now the problems seems to be gone.

This applies to the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Rev. 1.0
 

Eastwind

Member
Mar 4, 2009
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@ mosslack- Work is killing me at the moment. Or at least any time to show up places like here for a few minutes!

@ Zaap- The OS X HTPC is exactly that- a guilty pleasure. I can't explain how f-ing awesome it is. The bad part is the often excellent weather in SoCal which doesn't leave me indoors much. Dinner with friends and I used music in party mode. Awesome.

...and now I have to jump again.
 

mosslack

Senior member
Nov 16, 2008
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Originally posted by: Kaido
10.5.7 is nearly out:

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/15...-5-7-release-imminent/

Good timing with the new thread :)

I'll say, I just got a new USB switch for my backup HD so I can be backing up my DS3L while using the my UD3P or the other way around. I presently have both systems on a USB KVM switch at the same desk which is nice. BTW, both of the new installs from the latest kit/packages seem to be working just fine, so I assume it will be okay to now use these same installs for 10.5.7 testing? At least that seems the best course of action to me.
 

DarkAmeba

Senior member
Jun 13, 2004
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Has anyone heard anything about GTS 250 support? Pricing for the rebrand 1gb versions is more competitive than the 9800GTX+. I've looked around, 1 user at insanely who claims to have it fully working, and its basically a 9800GTX+, so I don't see why it wouldn't work. Looks like the best option as far as a fully working card goes at the moment, but..

I'd rather use a 48xx card... more power less money, so I'll probably wait to see what 10.5.7 brings. Anyone heard what the chances are for support? I know that the 50/70 cards work, but you need to do some wacko DVI to VGA adapter mod which would kill my dual DVI monitor setup. Hopefully 10.5.7 brings fully working 48xx cards.
 

Gymnae

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Apr 8, 2009
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I just switched from the onboard LAN to a Realtek based card that works out of the box. The onboard Performance is nice enough for browsing, but beyond that I need full-duplex and flow control.

Another question: I overclocked my Q6600 to 3GHz by raising the FSB to 333 and lowering the Mutliplier to 3.2. During Bootup the BIOS reflects this, but Netkas CPU-Z doesn't and Hardware Monitor neither. The System Profiler says it is a 3GHz, but it seems it never goes beyond it's stock 2.4GHz. Can I fix this or is it just a mistake in the numbers.
 

Ninjakat

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Jun 23, 2000
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The parts for my Hack build should be coming in today or tomorrow, but my Leopard disk won't be here for about a week. I do have my old retail Leopard disk from 2007. Will this work, or would it be best to wait and use the newer disk?
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: Ninjakat
The parts for my Hack build should be coming in today or tomorrow, but my Leopard disk won't be here for about a week. I do have my old retail Leopard disk from 2007. Will this work, or would it be best to wait and use the newer disk?

Works fine - while you have time, download the big combo update for 10.5.6 (668mb or so), then install that and Uinstaller :)
 

Ninjakat

Member
Jun 23, 2000
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Okay, I was wrong and got lucky.....Leopard 10.5.6 just showed up with my parts. Hopefully I'll have it going this weekend. Thanks!
 

Gymnae

Member
Apr 8, 2009
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I fixed my Overclocking Bug - the Board didn't really overclock. It appears that the GA-P35-DS3L Rev.1 might have a bug when you use it to overclock: My System halted and reset at the POST screen all the time when there where USB Storage Devices attach. As soon as I took those out, all was fine. Interesting bug I'd say. But now the Q6600 is running smoothly with 3.0Ghz. Hmmm yummy.
 

shagmwp

Junior Member
Dec 15, 2008
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I'm trying to install Parallels 4.0 and it gives me an error: "Parallels Desktop can be installed only on systems supporting hardware virtualization." I have a intel Q9550 which is supposed to support virtualization. Is there a setting I have to change to show the installer that I have hardware virtualization? Maybe using ATMM or anywhere else? Thanks.
 

metzler555

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Apr 18, 2009
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Sorry if this has been answered. I searched the topic for 1080p, mkv, h264.. Is the stock q6600 fast enough for downloaded mkvs at 1080p and high bit rate or should I get the e8400 instead? Is there anyone with the q6600 and some 1080p mkvs at high bitrate that can answer this? I would probably clock the q6600 to 3.0ghz if I have to but I would prefer stability. An example of a 1080p mkv which drops frames on my MBP 1.83ghz C1D is Ironman, it is about 8gb. Thanks guys.
 

Gymnae

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Apr 8, 2009
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Originally posted by: metzler555
Sorry if this has been answered. I searched the topic for 1080p, mkv, h264.. Is the stock q6600 fast enough for downloaded mkvs at 1080p and high bit rate or should I get the e8400 instead? Is there anyone with the q6600 and some 1080p mkvs at high bitrate that can answer this? I would probably clock the q6600 to 3.0ghz if I have to but I would prefer stability. An example of a 1080p mkv which drops frames on my MBP 1.83ghz C1D is Ironman, it is about 8gb. Thanks guys.

I will try to get a sample file in this resolution and try it for you. I use a Q6600 @ 3.0 Ghz
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: shagmwp
I'm trying to install Parallels 4.0 and it gives me an error: "Parallels Desktop can be installed only on systems supporting hardware virtualization." I have a intel Q9550 which is supposed to support virtualization. Is there a setting I have to change to show the installer that I have hardware virtualization? Maybe using ATMM or anywhere else? Thanks.

It's probably disabled in the BIOS (VT-x), check there and report back! :D
 

Tyranicus

Senior member
Aug 28, 2007
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Originally posted by: metzler555
Sorry if this has been answered. I searched the topic for 1080p, mkv, h264.. Is the stock q6600 fast enough for downloaded mkvs at 1080p and high bit rate or should I get the e8400 instead? Is there anyone with the q6600 and some 1080p mkvs at high bitrate that can answer this? I would probably clock the q6600 to 3.0ghz if I have to but I would prefer stability. An example of a 1080p mkv which drops frames on my MBP 1.83ghz C1D is Ironman, it is about 8gb. Thanks guys.

You should be more than fine with a Q6600, my Allendale C2D plays 1080p mkvs smooth as butter.
 

sindows

Golden Member
Dec 11, 2005
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Has there been any newer more compatible motherboards to install OSX on? The one listed on OP is still quite expensive and the chipset is aging...
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
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Heads up for anyone who needs a cheap yet good mid-range performance graphic card that definitely does dual monitors with DVI. Don't hesitate to get this card:

8600GTS $45 after rebate from newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130394

I've used several of these on recent hack builds for friends, and it's a solid card. A lot of other cards in this price range, even with dual DVI ports, only support dual monitors with one being a VGA-adapted connector. This includes the 8600GT.

The only thing to consider with this card- it has a 6-pin PCI-E connector that if used (it will work without it, but not at full potential) requires a combined 22A on the 12V rail(s) to work properly, OR if using the supplied molex to 6-pin adapter, it requires an additional 22A overhead on the 5V rail. Basically, if a PSU has one 12V rail, make sure it's rated over 22A, or if it has dual 12V rails (better) that the combined total is over 22A. This is by the way, a good rule of thumb for any graphic card requiring a PCI-E connector, unless you enjoy having random, near impossible to track down, graphic-related problems. ;)

Twin 24" monitors, both DVI, at 1920 x 1200 worked great.

Also a couple of friends are using these with the 21" Wacom Cintiq, in addition to a 24" monitor- both work great via DVI at max resolution. For anyone who might have been wondering if the Cintiq works with a Hackintosh, the answer is a resounding: yes, beautifully!
 

mohkahn

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Nov 8, 2008
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How does one get a newly added HD installed in Mac. It's simple in windows, right click on my computer, Manage, then go to Storage and Disk Management, format disk as NTFS or whatever and give it a drive letter, b, d;/ whatever and the disk is ready.

Mosslack and Kaido, I remember you guys wrote somewhere that Initially hackintosh does not recognize extra sata drives. But once the system is up and running they can be added easily. Can you let me know the procedure again. Thanks. I need to do a clean install in a few days, and bought this new disk to save all the files to , but the new disk does not show up anywhere, so I can format it as mac format.

Do i have to format it in windows using some mac programs and then put it back again in the mac machine? :( is there no easier way?
 

Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
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Try Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.

Generally, I've found that OSX (Hackintosh or otherwise) sends up a dialogue asking to format any new disks added to the system.
 

mohkahn

Member
Nov 8, 2008
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Thanks Zaap. Nothing shows up in diskUtility. Just now I booted MiniXP from a CD called Hiren'sBootCD. Via MiniXP I formatted this new disk as ntfs thinking that mac/hack at least will see it and I can thereafter format it as hfs. but still nothing. I guess I will have to find some program for windows which can then format this disk for me as mac compatible and then put the disk back in the hack system.

man these compatibility issues are killing me. There are just 3 major operating systems and all 3 believe they got the biggest dick, so people should give their file format system the priority. Real pain in the ass, these insecure feelings of theirs. Why can't they just get along and use one file format system.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
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Sep 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: metzler555
Sorry if this has been answered. I searched the topic for 1080p, mkv, h264.. Is the stock q6600 fast enough for downloaded mkvs at 1080p and high bit rate or should I get the e8400 instead? Is there anyone with the q6600 and some 1080p mkvs at high bitrate that can answer this? I would probably clock the q6600 to 3.0ghz if I have to but I would prefer stability. An example of a 1080p mkv which drops frames on my MBP 1.83ghz C1D is Ironman, it is about 8gb. Thanks guys.

What bitrate are the files? You can install Perian and load the videos in Quicktime. Once it starts playing you can hit Cmd+i to get the bitrate.

My 1GB TV rips at 720p res are 3-4 Mbps.
Apple 720p movie trailer for Half Blood Prince is 6 Mbps.

I don't have any 1080p on my laptop since it only has a 1280*800 screen which of course doesn't do 1080p.

As I said though, bitrate is what is important, not just resolution. Pretty sure that BluRay is about 35+ Mbps. Depending on what player you are using, 1080p should play back just fine. VLC is quite good, but Quicktime will play them as well so long as you have Perian installed. The main difference between the 2 is that Quicktime has to preload the video whereas VLC will start playing immediately. However, Quicktime will scrub through the videos better as well as jump position better if you want to skip around. I use Quicktime for everything but MKVs due to the preloading issue.
 

mosslack

Senior member
Nov 16, 2008
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Originally posted by: mohkahn
Thanks Zaap. Nothing shows up in diskUtility. Just now I booted MiniXP from a CD called Hiren'sBootCD. Via MiniXP I formatted this new disk as ntfs thinking that mac/hack at least will see it and I can thereafter format it as hfs. but still nothing. I guess I will have to find some program for windows which can then format this disk for me as mac compatible and then put the disk back in the hack system.

man these compatibility issues are killing me. There are just 3 major operating systems and all 3 believe they got the biggest dick, so people should give their file format system the priority. Real pain in the ass, these insecure feelings of theirs. Why can't they just get along and use one file format system.

Just like Zaap said, each time you hook up a drive that OS X doesn't recognize it should pop right up on the desktop and ask what you want to do with it. If it doesn't show up that way then perhaps the system is not recognizing it. I forget whether you have the DS3L or UD3P and which ports are you hooking it up to? I've never tried the purple eSATA ports on my UD3P, so I'm not sure if OS X recognizes these or not. HTH
 

mohkahn

Member
Nov 8, 2008
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Yup. you guys were right, tried all different kinds of formats, nothing worked. Eventually resorted to pulling the old working HackDisk out (250gb). Put in the new disk (500gb - mind you it was on # 3rd sata on the Motherboard, which is in black colour and then installed kalyway on it. After booting into Kalyway Hack, reinserted the old (250gb) into sata port 1 and initialized it, formatted it, partitioned it 2 and now restoring 10.5.6's image to that partition.

after that will boot with bootcd and installed system on the bigger size harddisk? do you guys think it will work? Here is the question again. if there are 2 separate Harddisks A AND B. And A has 2 partitions, 1 and 2. Partition 1 have leopard's image on it. Will i be able to use that image to install leopard on harddisk B? Well gonna try it now and let you guys know.. though i have a feelings it's not possible.

 

metzler555

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Apr 18, 2009
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The bitrate of the Ironman 1080p mkv is about 833kbits/s. I am looking to play these files in VLC or Quicktime. Not Plex, as Plex does play them fine, but I like VLC much better.
 
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