You can get a original MacBook for $600.
I wish apple would sell a motherboard that would take generic pc parts.
I wish apple would sell a motherboard that would take generic pc parts.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iBook G4 replacement: Used Mac or hackintosh?
- Thread starter iMpathetic
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think it depends on your usage. If you are a specs-and-ports kind of guy, then go Hackintosh but don't be surprised if you end up sinking a fair amount of time into making it work perfectly. If you are just looking to get work done, you can't go wrong with a new White MacBook.
Being 15 years old, I am not responsible for getting any work done, so...
Looks like I'm going to build a budget Hackintosh and spend about $100 on a new battery and HDD for the iBook.
My parts list, for anyone who knows what works well...
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Western Digital Caviar SE 160GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
EVGA GeForce 8600GTS Superclocked
Intel Core 2 Duo E4600
And a Cooler Master case and power supply that my friend is giving me until I sell enough to get an Antec 300 and a decent power supply.
What do you guys think of this build?
Only thing I'd look into is a different graphics card and mobo, you can get a decent Gigabyte XX-PXX-DS3L mobo for less than a hundred and I wouldn't be surprised if you could find ant 8800GT for <100 also.
Other than that, that seems like a relatively solid build.
My budget is $275. That is literally all I can spend.
However, I should be buying the Three Hundred and a decent PSU soon.
It's a start though.
I'm gonna start downloading the OS now... should I use iDeneb? Leo4All? Which is the absolute easiest?
However, I should be buying the Three Hundred and a decent PSU soon.
It's a start though.
I'm gonna start downloading the OS now... should I use iDeneb? Leo4All? Which is the absolute easiest?
OK, thanks, I'll look into that.
Are you really determined to rain on my parade no matter what I say? Just because the card is an 8600GTS doesn't mean it's prone to failure. Who made your brother's card?
basically my setup you have there, apart from my 8500GT. mobo and CPU are equal. the CPU can easily hit 3.0GHz on air (what i have it at).
iATKOS is what i use, easiest IMO.
Sweeettt.... can't wait to get going!
Thanks for your help, everyone. I will keep you posted in this thread as events transpire.
Thanks for your help, everyone. I will keep you posted in this thread as events transpire.
Why not use a boing-boing recommended netbook and go straight to installing os x on it
Functional mini macbook for 2-300 bucks that's light and ultaportable? C'mon, you know you want to do it!
Functional mini macbook for 2-300 bucks that's light and ultaportable? C'mon, you know you want to do it!
Why not use a boing-boing recommended netbook and go straight to installing os x on it
Functional mini macbook for 2-300 bucks that's light and ultaportable? C'mon, you know you want to do it!
How do you like your Ideapad?
Fancy posting a pic of it running OS X?
He's right, a netbook may be a good option. Almost all of them run atom which is near perfect for OS X
Updated geekbench score, between
http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/112988 Now 4727
http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/64806 Then 4647
Looks like my CPU speed went down while the 6gb of memory made my memory speed go up =/ Will have to look into that more. Although my overall speed went up.
http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/112988 Now 4727
http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/64806 Then 4647
Looks like my CPU speed went down while the 6gb of memory made my memory speed go up =/ Will have to look into that more. Although my overall speed went up.
How do you like your Ideapad?
Fancy posting a pic of it running OS X?
I love it. It's small, light, portable, nice ibm style and build quality and completely up to browsing, word processing, email, itunes, videos, etc.
I'll have to upload some pictures at a later date.
Okay, sorry I haven't kept you all posted. I've jumped the gun
I will probably be ordering next week.
Here's what I'm getting:
- Antec Three Hundred case
- Corsair 400W PSU
- Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Micro ATX motherboard (suggestions under $75? I prefer 4 RAM slots.)
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
- Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 CPU
- Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS24G6400LLK
- Samsung DVDRW
- EVGA GeForce 8600GTS
- XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
All for about $550 shipped.
Any part change suggestions?
MacBook Pro's, core duo, on eBay are selling for over $1,000.00 or more. I think it will be hard to get one that is working for under a $1,000.00, but as you say, you can probably repair or rebuild a MacBook Pro.
Suggest avoid CoreDuo stuff. My brother has a CD Macbook, and in my opinion, OSX doesn't really mesh with the CD Intel stuff well. Stutters a lot. I avoided buying one myself when they came out as it was too new and experimental for me.
PPC - rapidly approaching obsolescent. If you still have an iBook, fab, if not, avoid sinking more money into it if possible. I look after 3 iBooks, all with 1.5GB and Leopard (for Time Machine compatibility). Good for word, email, light internet etc but not much else. Hard drives approaching end of life, and will fail soon. Two other iBooks have already failed (HD, video card) and replacing HDs is a beast on them.
C2D onwards - works fab. Love my year-old C2D whitebook, 2.2ghz, 4GB RAM and still faster than any whitebook Apple sells now. Integrated video doesn't bother me - still lightning fast for photochop, FCE, iMovie etc.
Cheapo hackingtosh - good idea if you have lots of time to experiment. Tempted myself, but don't have time or the space for any desktops now.
Home desktops are the past, laptops are the way forwards for home computing.
Netbook - good idea again if you have time to get it working. Ultraportable OSX is wonderful.
Not keen on Macbook Pro. I have a powerbook 15'' (bought it when it was new) - too big and heavy to carry round much. Wonderful screen, but still big and heavy. My Macbook is almost the same size and weight, but 100x more portable. Easier to replace HD on Macbook. Mine sings with a 320GB.
If you have a friend at university, whitebook with university discount is very cheap, plus the 3 years free applecare makes it the bargain of the century.
PPC - rapidly approaching obsolescent. If you still have an iBook, fab, if not, avoid sinking more money into it if possible. I look after 3 iBooks, all with 1.5GB and Leopard (for Time Machine compatibility). Good for word, email, light internet etc but not much else. Hard drives approaching end of life, and will fail soon. Two other iBooks have already failed (HD, video card) and replacing HDs is a beast on them.
C2D onwards - works fab. Love my year-old C2D whitebook, 2.2ghz, 4GB RAM and still faster than any whitebook Apple sells now. Integrated video doesn't bother me - still lightning fast for photochop, FCE, iMovie etc.
Cheapo hackingtosh - good idea if you have lots of time to experiment. Tempted myself, but don't have time or the space for any desktops now.
Home desktops are the past, laptops are the way forwards for home computing.
Netbook - good idea again if you have time to get it working. Ultraportable OSX is wonderful.
Not keen on Macbook Pro. I have a powerbook 15'' (bought it when it was new) - too big and heavy to carry round much. Wonderful screen, but still big and heavy. My Macbook is almost the same size and weight, but 100x more portable. Easier to replace HD on Macbook. Mine sings with a 320GB.
If you have a friend at university, whitebook with university discount is very cheap, plus the 3 years free applecare makes it the bargain of the century.
what? really? 3 years free applecare?? i wonder if we have taht in australia.. :|
Pretty sure that this is only through the United Kingdom H.E. Store - it's actually three years parts and labour warranty and only about £45 to upgrade to the full AppleCare.