My budget Hackintosh build project
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:36 pm
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
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