My budget Hackintosh build project

[Digezt]

Thought some people on here might be interested. Before I start I am going to be using a retail OSX CD.

My macbook can no longer cope with my logic files, even after freezing tracks bouncing to audio, So i thought its time to get an Imac. However after seeing a friends Hackintosh running logic pro 9 and how cheap the parts are to build one I have decided to build one and post updates on here, helping anyone else who wants to build one.

The Parts

Gigabyte Motherboard (GA-G31M-ES2L)
Asus nVidia GeForce 9400GT 512MB
Intel Pentium Dual Core E6600 3Ghz
4GB ram
450watt PSU
Sata Harddrive
Sata Dvd drive
Standard Pc Case

Some of the parts I Have already got like HD etc, but the price of the build is around £250 if you were to buy everything new.

The parts have to be compatible for OSX there are many lists on forums.

There isnt much hacking to a hackingtosh these days, Just a boot CD, then the Retail CD, some files have to be installed and saved and thats it. For the set up I have anyways. And OSX will run as stable as it would on any mac.

Update one...Case,Mobo,DvD drive, Hard drive

Notes

Im not an expert and if im wrong then please correct me. Just a guide of how I am doing this

OK.

Today I fitted the Hard drive a Seagate 160GB, 7200 rpm and standard DvD drive into the case, For anyone doing a Hackintosh build its important that they are both SATA and not IDE. There are loads of tutorials on net of how to install these into a case.

Next I put the motherboard (Mobo) in. Your mobo comes with a new back panel which fits around the plugs at the back and the case. Fit this first, it just pushes in. Then the mobo will slide into it and the fittings will aline with the case. After this the Mobo should be seated nicely on the case.




Next I fitted the rear fan to the fan header on the Mobo (The booklet that comes with the mobo shows you how to do all this).



Next was to attach the front USB 2.0 ports I have to the MoBo which in the pictures is the big grey wire ( The other one which is wrapped up is for the front line in and output which i will not be using) This just connects to the USB header. Then plug your front panel (On switch led and all that) to the header marked F Panel.

Lastly use the two Sata cables to attach your HD and DVD drive to the Mobo, they goto the Sata headers one and two (There are four on this MoBo meaning that 3 HDs and one DvD drive can be connected aslong as your PSU has 4 power cables for them)



Update 2 PSU Install

So the PSU is here, 350 watts, and has the two power cables for the Sata drives.

Before you buy your PSU use a wattage calculator online, where you enter your mobo, GFX card, processor etc to work out what watt PSU you need. ( What a mouth full )

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

So here is the PSU in place, it just slides in and clips into the case.



Next just put the screws into the back.



Now plug the main power cable into the mobo.



Then plug the two sata power cables in to your HD and DVD drive.



So now everything should look like this



And one last cable to goto the lower of the Mobo ( Might need an extension for this as it was tight )



Now just got to get the Ram, Processor and GFX card

[samkablaam]

Thought some people on here might be interested. Before I start I am going to be using a retail OSX CD.

My macbook can no longer cope with my logic files, even after freezing tracks bouncing to audio, So i thought its time to get an Imac. However after seeing a friends Hackintosh running logic pro 9 and how cheap the parts are to build one I have decided to build one and post updates on here, helping anyone else who wants to build one.

The Parts

Gigabyte Motherboard (GA-G31M-ES2L)
Asus nVidia GeForce 9400GT 512MB
Intel Pentium Dual Core E6600 3Ghz
4GB ram
450watt PSU
Sata Harddrive
Sata Dvd drive
Standard Pc Case

Some of the parts I Have already got like HD etc, but the price of the build is around £250 if you were to buy everything new.

The parts have to be compatible for OSX there are many lists on forums.

There isnt much hacking to a hackingtosh these days, Just a boot CD, then the Retail CD, some files have to be installed and saved and thats it. For the set up I have anyways. And OSX will run as stable as it would on any mac.

I shall update as I can.

sick. im gonna do one next year once ive got some p. goodluck with yours, ive heard its all pretty simple nowadays if u just get the right components.

[Digezt]

Cheers man, I can see a lot more people starting to do it now. Seeing as you can get it to run 100 % stable and can build something better than a £1000 imac for half the price.

Still buying the parts at the momment so will update this over the Christmas holidays

[Depone]

I Have also thought the same thing over the past few years...

I really want to build one, but I dont have the technical knowledge to do the complex bits.

let us know how it works out... even can you take pictures, or even make a tutorial??? if it works out good, im willing to shell out for the same model you made knowing its def gonna work no problems.

[Digezt]

Hey Depone, Yea i have basic knowledge in making computers but have an experienced friend helping me, and want to share what i learn with everyone else. So basically on the net there are loads of tutorials already but missing information for anyone just starting out with minimal knowledge on macs and building computers. I will document everything, planning on doing videos and pictures for all and making a easy simple step by step beginners version.

Got the motherboard, Dvd drive, Hard drive and case, The rest shall be ordered soon, so will be updating over Christmas and should be done by the new year.

[corpu5]

im personally excited, if it works for you im blowing half my bursary fund to build one too, thailand tickets can wait a few weeks longer ha

[Jak The lad]

I really want to build one, but I dont have the technical knowledge to do the complex bits.

Same here, ive got a 13" Macbook which is 3 years old now, but want to push to something bigger. Hacktintosh price appeals to me more then an iMac. Will look forward to the end product and any tutorials you can make.

[legend4ry]

Fitting components is pretty simple, theres endless tutorials up online and everything only fits into one place, anyways. Its not rocket science!

Ive been interested in building a hackingtosh for a while just haven't got the funds for the parts.

[Depone]

Fitting components is pretty simple, theres endless tutorials up online and everything only fits into one place, anyways. Its not rocket science!

Ive been interested in building a hackingtosh for a while just haven't got the funds for the parts.

Its not the building of the machine, its editing bios and ktexts...
Wouldnt know ware to start

[legend4ry]

From my understanding (like the OP said) Hackingtosh's now are just simply booting 2 CDs, they ain't as nerdy and code-heavy as they used to be.

[Depone]

From my understanding (like the OP said) Hackingtosh's now are just simply booting 2 CDs, they ain't as nerdy and code-heavy as they used to be.

Ah ok. Interesting...

[Digezt]

With the motherboard above everything works from go, there are a couple of files that are needed to be installed. Its when you start adding in firewire pci cards and certain graphics cards that you need the ktexts. Some hardware is easier than others.

[deadly_habit]

which board/resource you using for info
figure next box i make might as well make triple boot if my windows and nix side isn't going to suffer hardware wise

[Digezt]

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

http://www.insanelymac.com/

[Digezt]

Update one...Case,Mobo,DvD drive, Hard drive

Notes

Im not an expert and if im wrong then please correct me. Just a guide of how I am doing this

OK.

Today I fitted the Hard drive a Seagate 160GB, 7200 rpm and standard DvD drive into the case, For anyone doing a Hackintosh build its important that they are both SATA and not IDE. There are loads of tutorials on net of how to install these into a case.

Next I put the motherboard (Mobo) in. Your mobo comes with a new back panel which fits around the plugs at the back and the case. Fit this first, it just pushes in. Then the mobo will slide into it and the fittings will aline with the case. After this the Mobo should be seated nicely on the case.




Next I fitted the rear fan to the fan header on the Mobo (The booklet that comes with the mobo shows you how to do all this).



Next was to attach the front USB 2.0 ports I have to the MoBo which in the pictures is the big grey wire ( The other one which is wrapped up is for the front line in and output which i will not be using) This just connects to the USB header. Then plug your front panel (On switch led and all that) to the header marked F Panel.

Lastly use the two Sata cables to attach your HD and DVD drive to the Mobo, they goto the Sata headers one and two (There are four on this MoBo meaning that 3 HDs and one DvD drive can be connected aslong as your PSU has 4 power cables for them)



Next Update will be when the PSU arrives.

[Digezt]

Also if anyone can tell me how to link the thumbnails to the full size pictures that would be cool.

[Depone]

Also if anyone can tell me how to link the thumbnails to the full size pictures that would be cool.

Nice one so far...

Are you using imageshack??
If so then there should be a 'right click' view direct image, then place the image url between these tags = [img]imageurlhere[/img]

[Digezt]

Cheers Depone, i shall edit the post

[bum robot]

biggles on this, so interesting keep up with the updates man, i think i wanna hop on one of these builds

[tpc_uk]

good luck, i think your gfx & mobo should be ok.

although i installed the original retail and it worked; i had probs with the graphics & a few other things, so i used a hacked disk.

Logic 9 works amazingly well.

prolly said this before somewhere, but check BOTH outputs of the graphx card. if i hadnt done this I may have given up.......also have a usb keyboard & mouse handy if poss.