So I have read a lot online about hackintosh. I have read that you can build a beast of a computer, running Mac OSX, and better specs than the Mac pro, for less. Is it hard to build hackintosh? I don't like soldering or anything like that.
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Building a "Mac Pro"?
- Thread starter GenosTech
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simsaladimbamba
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No soldering required, just buying compatible parts (Gigabyte motherboard, Intel i5 or i7 CPU, Nvidia GPU), putting them together in a case with a PSU and RAM,using a modified Mac OS X installer and some tweaking and you are good to go.
Have you tried the following Hackintosh specific fora and websites yet?
When I built my Hack, I researched for two weeks what parts to buy and what procedures to use and was good to go after two, three hour of putting it all together. The only hiccup I experienced was with GraphicsEnabler but you will get to that after you have done some research.
Have you tried the following Hackintosh specific fora and websites yet?
- tonymacx86 Blog - very good guides and quite good message board
- InsanelyMac Forum
- InsanelyMac Hardware Database
- Hackintosh.com
- OSx86 Project
When I built my Hack, I researched for two weeks what parts to buy and what procedures to use and was good to go after two, three hour of putting it all together. The only hiccup I experienced was with GraphicsEnabler but you will get to that after you have done some research.
Wow! I thought you had to solder a bunch of wires onto the motherboard. I'm honestly just looking for something powerful, even though I don't game or anything. I'm just tired of having a standard MBP. How much do you think it would cost to make a good Hack pro?
simsaladimbamba
Guest
Depends on your usage and computational requirements. A Hackintosh can be build for 500 to 2000 and more USD, mine cost around 1,300 due to CPU and GPU.
Look here for a current guide for components and rices.
I still have my 2 Quad Core 2.93 Ghz Xeons from when I did my Mac Pro upgrade considering going this route and building a hackintosh as a render node using them ... though the motherboards that would work well seem to be damn expensive
handheldgames
macrumors 68000
I purchased a used gigabyte motherboard from eBay to create a home for my left over Mac Pro upgrades. Running a i7-975, 16gb 1333 ram and a 6870 it's not quite a left over lol. I added a radiator based cooling system to keep it more quiet than the hex pro.
Not at all.
'Building' a PC isn't all difficult at all. All parts are standardized (including motherboards) and they mostly just snap (or screw) in place. Most things are clearly marked for where they go and will only fit a fairly obvious one-way.
As for mobo wiring, about the 'hardest' thing is attaching the wires from the Power Supply Unit and the case to where they go in the motherboard, but it's nothing like soldering, everything just snaps into a slot. In like 15 years of building computers I've never had to solder anything, that'd be ridiculous.
Personally, I think it's something just about anyone interested in tech should try. (Building a PC, and beyond that, one specifically as a Hackintosh.) Once you've done it, you have a better understanding of any computer (Macs included) and how simple they actually are, component-wise. Makes for easier and better troubleshooting as well.
Watch some youtube guides for building a PC, then for Hackintosh info, hit TonyMacx86. That site is IMO the best for helping people new to the concepts of DIY PC- and Hackintosh to do both.
Here's my custom 'Mac Pro'
Specifications
CPU: i7 3770K
MOBO: Asrock Z77M
RAM CORSAIR VENGEANCE 2x4GB
VGA: XFX R7950 3GB
PSU: RAIDMAX 1000W
HDD: 1TB
SSD: 64GB
Specifications
CPU: i7 3770K
MOBO: Asrock Z77M
RAM CORSAIR VENGEANCE 2x4GB
VGA: XFX R7950 3GB
PSU: RAIDMAX 1000W
HDD: 1TB
SSD: 64GB
GermanyChris
macrumors 601
