I want to build a Core i7 hackintosh (help)

[Eric S.]

Yeah I'm talking about OS updates. Don't believe the propaganda, it's not quite as simple as hitting the Software update button.

What are the issues and how did you get around them?

 

[velocityg4]

I've been contemplating building a hackintosh for some time. I've got an MSI Wind that I had OSX on (sent it in for warranty work, so have to reinstall again). I would echo the other comments that building a hackintosh is really for those who love the challenge - which I usually do - but I realized one of my desires for using OSX was in getting rid of compatibility headaches. I just didn't want to have to troll all the forums looking for all the bits/pieces to get and keep the computer running. Also, it seems as if the I7 is still rather new to the community, which spells trouble for someone like me who is not a programmer!

Soooo... ordered a 27" i7 iMac a couple days ago. It was a little hard to do given I could find a similar PC for $1000 (or less, already have a good 24" monitor). I hope I'm happy with my conversion! Although I know I would have loved to build a new PC and get OSX working on it!

From what I have read the i7 works fine without modification though the i5 requires slight modification. The real headaches with hackintoshes are your choice of Video Card and Motherboard. For all other parts you can simply find ones that come with Mac and Windows drivers from the manufacturers.

Well chosen components will have a minimum of difficulty running updates.

 

[justaregularjoe]

Please don't build a hackintosh. Nothing feels worse than going to bed with a computer taunting you with dreams of running Snow Leopard goodness on it. Its a tease. HONEST. IF you get it working, you have essentially won the lottery, even if you hand selected each part. Then, you must hurdle through fun things such as changing your model ID in order to run programs, only getting sound out your audio panel by selecting 'headphones', unrecognizable "About This Mac" screens. So much fun.

Oh, fun fact: ~60% of users who got OS X running admit that they went back to using windows, ~40% citing getting tired of trying to make it 'just work', ~20% experiencing crippling system failures, leading to an admission of defeat. This is from InsanelyMac.

Think of OSx86 as a mental exercise in FUTILITY.

Buy a mac, have no regrets.

(Maybe an empty wallet, but you pay for what you get.)

 

[jayjohnson]

Please don't build a hackintosh. Nothing feels worse than going to bed with a computer taunting you with dreams of running Snow Leopard goodness on it. Its a tease. HONEST. IF you get it working, you have essentially won the lottery, even if you hand selected each part. Then, you must hurdle through fun things such as changing your model ID in order to run programs, only getting sound out your audio panel by selecting 'headphones', unrecognizable "About This Mac" screens. So much fun.

Oh, fun fact: ~60% of users who got OS X running admit that they went back to using windows, ~40% citing getting tired of trying to make it 'just work', ~20% experiencing crippling system failures, leading to an admission of defeat. This is from InsanelyMac.

Think of OSx86 as a mental exercise in FUTILITY.

Buy a mac, have no regrets.

(Maybe an empty wallet, but you pay for what you get.)

THIS is exactly what I am talking about! Couldn't have said it better myself! Seriously get a real mac, you'll have no regrets. Time is money and you only get what you pay for!

 

[Action]

I already own a mbp. The reason I want to do this is I want to build a gaming PC, but still be able to use it as my workstation.

 

[Nano2k]

Oh, fun fact: ~60% of users who got OS X running admit that they went back to using windows, ~40% citing getting tired of trying to make it 'just work', ~20% experiencing crippling system failures, leading to an admission of defeat.

They probably go back to Windows because they realize that OSX is actually nothing special and really not worth the hassle, end of the story...

 

[bikalpapaudel]

Soooo... ordered a 27" i7 iMac a couple days ago. It was a little hard to do given I could find a similar PC for $1000

Grossly misinformed you are, sir.
Similar in what respects? The 27" iMac is one of the best values in Apple history.

You'd have to spend a fortune just to get a screen like that. And I believe there are no comparable all-in-ones in the PC world.

 

[wordoflife]

Just about every game right now does not know how to utilize more than 2 cores beside perhaps one or two video games (all that comes to mind is GTA IV and Crysis). In this case, clocking speed would be more beneficial rather than having more cores. You might want to consider a dual core and overclock it to your likings (the Wolfdale [E] series go [past] to 4Ghz on air) and if you want, get a Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Phenom II just to be a little future proof. Then with the money you save by not choosing the i7 path, you can get yourself a Mac Mini too. Then you have a gaming rig, and a Mac desktop.

The reason I say this is because the overall costs of i7's and i5's are greater than a Dual Core, or a Quad core (not including the i5).

 

[Eric S.]

THIS is exactly what I am talking about! Couldn't have said it better myself! Seriously get a real mac, you'll have no regrets. Time is money and you only get what you pay for!

If Apple offered the midrange tower system that I want, I would have bought one already.

 

[psingh01]

If your MBP is fine as a workstation then just build yourself a PC and never mind the hackintosh part. It'll always be a pain in the butt. Different people are in different financial situations. If you can afford a Mac Pro then it might be worth your time to just get one and not have to deal with all the extra crap.