Will Mac OS X work on any intel motherboard?

[princealfie]

If need to replace a motherboard with Intel processor, will the Mac OS X be compatible for it or do I need a properitary [sic] motherboard with intel chip?

[Lanbrown]

If need to replace a motherboard with Intel processor, will the Mac OS X be compatible for it or do I need a properitary [sic] motherboard with intel chip?

If you have a Mac, then you would need a Mac motherboard for the system. How else would everything get put back together? If you want to install OS X on a regular Intel based system, I suggest doing a search using Google and see what you find.

[Bobdude161]

It's illegal blah blah blah blah blah blah. OK now I got that out of the way. No one else needs to reitirrate, thank you..

[4nr-]

It's illegal blah blah blah blah blah blah. OK now I got that out of the way. No one else needs to reitirrate, thank you..

Its not illegal, or actually nobody really knows... as long as you have a licensed copy of the OS I don't think you'll be in much danger.

[robbieduncan]

Its not illegal, or actually nobody really knows... as long as you have a licensed copy of the OS I don't think you'll be in much danger.

You are definitely 100% breaking the legal agreement you enter into with Apple when you install OSX.

If you get a board close enough to a shipping Mac it might work but beware as there are not platform drivers for non-Mac platforms...

[livingfortoday]

It's illegal blah blah blah blah blah blah. OK now I got that out of the way. No one else needs to reitirrate, thank you..

Boy are you ever wrong! Time for some Priest!

There I was completely wasting, out of work and down
All inside its so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

So much for the golden future, I cant even start
Ive had every promise broken, theres anger in my heart
You dont know what its like, you dont have a clue
If you did youd find yourselves doing the same thing too

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

You dont know what its like

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Breaking the law!

[princealfie]

thanks guys for some interesting responses. I guess it's time to slap a powermac g5 motherboard into a desktop ATX case then... :D

[dkoralek]

Its not illegal, or actually nobody really knows... as long as you have a licensed copy of the OS I don't think you'll be in much danger.

Ummmm... I don't see how the "on a single Apple-labeled computer" can be interpreted differently.

From the end user license...

"2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. This
License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software
available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. If you use Setup Assistant to transfer
software from one Apple-labeled computer to another Apple-labeled computer, please remember that continued use of the original
copy of the software may be prohibited once a copy has been transferred to another computer, unless you already have a licensed
copy of such software on both computers. You should check the relevant software license agreements for applicable terms and
conditions. You may make one copy of the Apple Software (excluding the Boot ROM code) in machine-readable form for backup
purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original."

cheers.

[portent]

Ummmm... I don't see how the "on a single Apple-labeled computer" can be interpreted differently.

From the end user license...

"2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. This
License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software
available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. If you use Setup Assistant to transfer
software from one Apple-labeled computer to another Apple-labeled computer, please remember that continued use of the original
copy of the software may be prohibited once a copy has been transferred to another computer, unless you already have a licensed
copy of such software on both computers. You should check the relevant software license agreements for applicable terms and
conditions. You may make one copy of the Apple Software (excluding the Boot ROM code) in machine-readable form for backup
purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original."

cheers.
Did you read what he asked?

He's talking about replacing/upgrading the motherboard in his Apple-labeled computer! He is not asking about building some whitebox PC.

AFAIK, this would be legal, but would probably not work, since Mac OS X would not recognize the Intel motherboard as an "Apple" motherboard.

[slughead]

The short end of it is: It's possible to install, and if you use supported hardware, it'll all work... mostly.

The install DVD for intel macs wont boot up on a normal PC though.

There's a lot of hacks and trickery to get it to work, but it's possible.

Also, if you already own a Mac, you could probably ignore the law on this one, whatever it says. Apple is just plain not going to sue you.

If you don't own a mac, you'll need a license from somewhere for the exact software you plan to use. I don't think Apple sells Tiger DVDs for Intel, so you'll have to wait for leopard.

[dkoralek]

never mind

[dkoralek]

Did you read what he asked?

He's talking about replacing/upgrading the motherboard in his Apple-labeled computer! He is not asking about building some whitebox PC.

AFAIK, this would be legal, but would probably not work, since Mac OS X would not recognize the Intel motherboard as an "Apple" motherboard.

I would believe that replacing the motherboard of say a power mac with an intel motherboard would probably not be an apple-labeled computer any more. as you said, regardless, without the apple chip, an intel version of os x will not run (other than a hacked version, which would be technically be illegal).

The short end of it is: It's possible to install, and if you use supported hardware, it'll all work... mostly.

The install DVD for intel macs wont boot up on a normal PC though.

There's a lot of hacks and trickery to get it to work, but it's possible.

Also, if you already own a Mac, you could probably ignore the law on this one, whatever it says. Apple is just plain not going to sue you.

If you don't own a mac, you'll need a license from somewhere for the exact software you plan to use. I don't think Apple sells Tiger DVDs for Intel, so you'll have to wait for leopard.

It's almost guaranteed that the install disk will not work as is. I can't imagine that Apple sells Tiger DVDs for Intel since there would be no reason to since any Intel Mac will have come with Tiger.

cheers.

[princealfie]

So theoretically a motherboard can't be reflashed for use with mac drivers and PCI cards?

[dkoralek]

So theoretically a motherboard can't be reflashed for use with mac drivers and PCI cards?

At least on the earlier pcs that apple shipped to developers before they introduced the Intel Macs, there was an additional trusted platform module (TPM) on the motherboard, so OS X wouldn't boot unless it found it. This has been hacked by other users. One needs to modify the kernel to get OS X to work on non-Apple hardware. Obviously, the closer to Mac the hardware is, the fewer modifications needed. One would assume that some additional modifications would need to be made to get OS X to run with a system using BIOS instead of EFI. The real issues are on the software side of things, since OS X is designed for a limited hardware range.

cheers.

[rhpenguin]

This is a topic im interested in as my sig will tell you why. Yes, what im doing is illegal, but im OK with that. Now moving on.

You do need an Apple mobo to run MacOS. Your only option to obtain that is going the ebay route, unless you run a copy with a custom kernel and VERY SPECIFIC HARDWARE. Im not going to say anymore than that because I dont want any fanbois stuck in the rdf jumping all over me.

Edit: Oh and there are teams of people working on getting coppies of OS X to work with EFI present on newer intel produced mobos such as the BadAxe2...

[Bobdude161]

Boy are you ever wrong! Time for some Priest!

<snippy>


Reitirrate you have!

[fasterringo1]

:eek: Mac runs in Intel Desktop Board DG45FC G45 Express and Intel® Desktop Board DG45ID G45 Express. :apple:

[dukebound85]

You are definitely 100% breaking the legal agreement you enter into with Apple when you install OSX.

If you get a board close enough to a shipping Mac it might work but beware as there are not platform drivers for non-Mac platforms...

funny, i didnt think apple wrote the law

you are violating an eula which is not a law by any means. eulas have been turned down in court too. i mean you arent gonna go to jail for breaking it

[QuarterSwede]

Good grief. Talk about a thread resurrection.

[dukebound85]

Good grief. Talk about a thread resurrection.

lol didnt even notice that

[Chaos123x]

i heard you can get life imprisonment from ripping a tag off your own couch cushion.
It's true, your breaking the law!

I say go for it if you want to deal with the issues of owning a Hackintosh, worst comes to worst you can always install another OS on it, (if it's a pain) like Ubuntu or Windows 7.


I would like to build one just for fun to see how it works.

[Brannyh]

I want to make my own Mac, but can't I use someones old motherboard on someones iMac and the screen (iMac with i7, epic!)

[J the Ninja]

I want to make my own Mac, but can't I use someones old motherboard on someones iMac and the screen (iMac with i7, epic!)

No.

-Sent from my iPhone.

[Brannyh]

Can you please explain? It seems possible, but i do not want to do anything illegal. (what about a broken Mac pro (almost said power mac! lol) that someone is selling on craigslist?)

[donw35]

what do you want to do, fix a broken mac or build a mac using non Apple parts ?

[300D]

but i do not want to do anything illegal.

Which means you can't run OSX on any non-Apple built machine.

[InfoSecmgr]

Ummmm... I don't see how the "on a single Apple-labeled computer" can be interpreted differently.

From the end user license...

"2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. This
License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software
available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. If you use Setup Assistant to transfer
software from one Apple-labeled computer to another Apple-labeled computer, please remember that continued use of the original
copy of the software may be prohibited once a copy has been transferred to another computer, unless you already have a licensed
copy of such software on both computers. You should check the relevant software license agreements for applicable terms and
conditions. You may make one copy of the Apple Software (excluding the Boot ROM code) in machine-readable form for backup
purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original."

cheers.

How can others interpret it any differently? They are the same people who can't distinguish between illegal immigrants and legal immigrants then call us Nazi's for wanting to send them packing.

[300D]

i heard you can get life imprisonment from ripping a tag off your own couch cushion.
It's true, your breaking the law!

Thats just ignorance on your part. The tag is illegal to remove by the retailer, as its there to inform the purchaser of materials used.

Ignorance of the law is not justification to break the law. Putting your fingers in your ears, closing your eyes and saying "LALALALALALALALALALA" doesn't alter reality one bit.

[Brannyh]

Fix a mac technically, buying someones broken Intel mac and replacing every thing I can with it still being a mac.

[goMac]

Its not illegal, or actually nobody really knows... as long as you have a licensed copy of the OS I don't think you'll be in much danger.

For the last time....

Apple only sells full OEM non transferable licenses of Mac OS X with a brand new Apple computer. All retail copies of Mac OS X are either upgrade copies from 10.5, or upgrade for the copy of Mac OS X that came with their hardware.

Apple does not sell retail full license copies of Mac OS X. You cannot buy a licensed full copy of the OS from a store.

[Spanky Deluxe]

For the last time....

Apple only sells full OEM non transferable licenses of Mac OS X with a brand new Apple computer. All retail copies of Mac OS X are either upgrade copies from 10.5, or upgrade for the copy of Mac OS X that came with their hardware.

Apple does not sell retail full license copies of Mac OS X. You cannot buy a licensed full copy of the OS from a store.

The post you're replying to is more than three years old. Only Snow Leopard is an upgrade anyway, nowhere in Leopard's EULA does it mention that it is an upgrade and the system requirements require a compatible computer not a pre-existing installation. Whether the EULA is legally binding is debatable in many countries but it is definitely not legally binding in others whether you want it to be so or not.

[goMac]

The post you're replying to is more than three years old. Only Snow Leopard is an upgrade anyway, nowhere in Leopard's EULA does it mention that it is an upgrade and the system requirements require a compatible computer not a pre-existing installation. Whether the EULA is legally binding is debatable in many countries but it is definitely not legally binding in others whether you want it to be so or not.

It says quite clearly in the EULA that it is an upgrade for an Apple branded computer.

Windows is quite commonly sold the same way. You get an OEM copy on your computer, that is non transferable (and enforced with activation, I might add), and then through the OEM you can upgrade that copy to a later version, again, only for that computer.

Microsoft does offer full retail versions of their operating system, and that is their choice. However, OS X is OEM only.

[Spanky Deluxe]

It says quite clearly in the EULA that it is an upgrade for an Apple branded computer.

No. It doesn't (http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx105.pdf).

Snow Leopard's EULA does in regards to the Leopard Upgrade but Leopard (which was never sold as an upgrade) does not. I think you're getting confused between the two EULAs since only the Snow Leopard one mentions 'Apple branded computers' whereas the Leopard one mentions 'Apple labelled computers'.

[maflynn]

Not every motherboard is compatible, i.e., run OSX. For instance, I have an Asus P6T motherboard and while technically possible to run 10.6, its really too much of a hassle. I found that I can get great performance, and stability with running OSX within vmware.

Some Motherboards can run OSX without tweaking, or messing with kexts. Some require a bit more work and some just can work for one reason or another.

[goMac]

No. It doesn't (http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx105.pdf).

Snow Leopard's EULA does in regards to the Leopard Upgrade but Leopard (which was never sold as an upgrade) does not. I think you're getting confused between the two EULAs since only the Snow Leopard one mentions 'Apple branded computers' whereas the Leopard one mentions 'Apple labelled computers'.

"This License allows you to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time."

It's an upgrade for any Apple computer. The same is done with Windows. Dell will sell you a copy of Windows 7 if you have a Dell computer running Vista. The copy of Windows 7 is only licensed for Dell computers. In fact, this is enforced by activation.

Apple does not sell full retail copies for any computer.

The only part of that I see that is extremely questionably enforceable is the part about not being able to use Mac OS X to crack OS X. Otherwise, it looks like an industry standard OEM license.

[CaoCao]

"This License allows you to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time."

It's an upgrade for any Apple computer. The same is done with Windows. Dell will sell you a copy of Windows 7 if you have a Dell computer running Vista. The copy of Windows 7 is only licensed for Dell computers. In fact, this is enforced by activation.

Apple does not sell full retail copies for any computer.

The only part of that I see that is extremely questionably enforceable is the part about not being able to use Mac OS X to crack OS X. Otherwise, it looks like an industry standard OEM license.

buy someone's large Apple sticker and slap it on your machine bam it now has an Apple label and as such is Apple labeled!

[nanofrog]

buy someone's large Apple sticker and slap it on your machine bam it now has an Apple label and as such is Apple labeled!
Someone could locate a derelict G5 or newer for example, gut the case, and use it to build a system from.

Should look much better than a sticker. :p

[donw35]

Someone could locate a derelict G5 or newer for example, gut the case, and use it to build a system from.

Should look much better than a sticker. :p

dead power mac G5, not worth replacing the motherboard and power supply, so I removed the bad parts and installed a newer MB and PS.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~neoncross/don/powermac/Welcome_files/pm1case.jpg

[nanofrog]

dead power mac G5, not worth replacing the motherboard and power supply, so I removed the bad parts and installed a newer MB and PS.
That's what I had in mind (non Apple boards, PSU,...). :D

[CaoCao]

dead power mac G5, not worth replacing the motherboard and power supply, so I removed the bad parts and installed a newer MB and PS.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~neoncross/don/powermac/Welcome_files/pm1case.jpg

pretty awesome looking, plus it's Apple branded

[Spanky Deluxe]

"This License allows you to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time."

It's an upgrade for any Apple computer. The same is done with Windows. Dell will sell you a copy of Windows 7 if you have a Dell computer running Vista. The copy of Windows 7 is only licensed for Dell computers. In fact, this is enforced by activation.

Apple does not sell full retail copies for any computer.

The only part of that I see that is extremely questionably enforceable is the part about not being able to use Mac OS X to crack OS X. Otherwise, it looks like an industry standard OEM license.

?? I don't understand, your quote proves my point. The EULA doesn't mention anything about an upgrade. The only EULA that does is Snow Leopard's since that was specifically sold as an upgrade. Read what you're quoting. Saying it isn't so doesn't make it so. The only OS in recent years sold by Apple as an upgrade is Snow Leopard. That's why it mentions upgrading from Leopard specifically in Snow Leopard's EULA.

Someone could locate a derelict G5 or newer for example, gut the case, and use it to build a system from.

Should look much better than a sticker. :p

That's one way to get around the EULA. Hell, if you have the original install disks then even those falsely claiming that all OS licenses are upgrade licenses couldn't get past that. Of course, that's if the EULA is even valid in your country.

[OZMP]

Which means you can't run OSX on any non-Apple built machine.

but its easy...

dead power mac G5, not worth replacing the motherboard and power supply, so I removed the bad parts and installed a newer MB and PS.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~neoncross/don/powermac/Welcome_files/pm1case.jpg

wish i had a spare case when i built mine.

I would of bought a new MacPro if apple had of updated the Mac Pro 1,1 EFI... I no longer trust them enough to drop close to 5kAUD on a computer.
So I made a "Hack Pro"... Closest thing to what suits my needs(mac pro).

[nanofrog]

That's one way to get around the EULA. Hell, if you have the original install disks then even those falsely claiming that all OS licenses are upgrade licenses couldn't get past that. Of course, that's if the EULA is even valid in your country.
:D

As per the EULA's validity, it's not been challenged on the actual language here in the US from what I recall of the Psystar mess (i.e. reviewed point per point). So no way to really know what would/wouldn't hold up, and IMO, software vendors don't want their EULA's in that position anyway and will fight such a suit tooth and nail.

[Spanky Deluxe]

:D

As per the EULA's validity, it's not been challenged on the actual language here in the US from what I recall of the Psystar mess (i.e. reviewed point per point). So no way to really know what would/wouldn't hold up, and IMO, software vendors don't want their EULA's in that position anyway and will fight such a suit tooth and nail.

I'd guess Apple would rather not take people to court for violating the EULA in the US unless they're the likes of Psystar who were trying to make money off of it. The number of people that actually bother building hackintoshes are relatively small and chances are they've actually increased profits for Apple long term. For one, a good proportion of them actually go out and buy licensed copies of OSX and for another a good number of them go on to purchase one or more genuine Mac laptops later on. If you look through the Insanelymac forums a very large number of hackintosh users also have genuine Mac laptops. I remember trying out the Tiger Transitional Development Kit years ago. Back then things like graphics acceleration didn't work etc but the overall experience and the taste of things acted as a serious catalyst to me switching to OSX. Apple has since received many many thousands of dollars worth of cash from me and from loads of people that I've convinced to switch to Mac.

[nanofrog]

I'd guess Apple would rather not take people to court for violating the EULA in the US unless they're the likes of Psystar who were trying to make money off of it.
Even in the case of Psystar, the EULA wasn't evaluated over it's actual language IIRC (Copyright infringement, not contract language). They primarily got nailed for using a cloned copy of a single license.

But as PearC isn't in the US, and is in a country that doesn't acknowledge the EULA as valid, they haven't been able to touch them.

The number of people that actually bother building hackintoshes are relatively small and chances are they've actually increased profits for Apple long term. For one, a good proportion of them actually go out and buy licensed copies of OSX and for another a good number of them go on to purchase one or more genuine Mac laptops later on.
Exactly.

And that's held true for other software products as well (i.e. students/enthusiasts using professional software licenses they didn't pay for), but went out and bought them once they had the funds, or were in positions that recommended or actually made the final decision of what was purchased. With such relationships lasting years, not just a single license one time.

Draconian EULA's, particularly when combined with some sort of DRM, can hurt future purchases for the above reason. If they don't get to use a vendor's software while learning, they're less likely to want to use it than something they're already familiar with using from what I've seen and heard over the years.

Most vendors that seem to realize this, offer inexpensive student versions (possibly cut down from the full professional versions), and free trials (usually contain time limits).

[Spanky Deluxe]

Even in the case of Psystar, the EULA wasn't evaluated over it's actual language IIRC (Copyright infringement, not contract language). They primarily got nailed for using a cloned copy of a single license.

But as PearC isn't in the US, and is in a country that doesn't acknowledge the EULA as valid, they haven't been able to touch them.


Exactly.

And that's held true for other software products as well (i.e. students/enthusiasts using professional software licenses they didn't pay for), but went out and bought them once they had the funds, or were in positions that recommended or actually made the final decision of what was purchased. With such relationships lasting years, not just a single license one time.

Draconian EULA's, particularly when combined with some sort of DRM, can hurt future purchases for the above reason. If they don't get to use a vendor's software while learning, they're less likely to want to use it than something they're already familiar with using from what I've seen and heard over the years.

Most vendors that seem to realize this, offer inexpensive student versions (possibly cut down from the full professional versions), and free trials (usually contain time limits).

Exactly. Some companies get this. One that springs to mind is Intel. Their compilers cost an absolute fortune yet you can get the Linux compilers for free if you're a student and you can get the OSX and Windows licenses at a snip of the cost that the full versions cost. The student licenses are feature complete but cannot be used for commercial purposes. Because of this, I've now grown accustomed to the iFort compiler and have been able to urge the HPC guys in my department to purchase server licenses of these products.