Hackintosh 10.5.5 Retail Rig - Starting at $305

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: sjwaste

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: sjwaste
So would this be a decent platform to work on iphone/ipod touch apps? Basically I'm hesitant to lay out the cash for even a mac mini until I give app development on this platform a test-drive. I like this setup b/c other than the OSX purchase, and I'm happy to give Apple my money for that, it's all upgrade hardware for my existing E2200/DS3L/7900GT system. Bonus that it's currently stable at 3.2 GHz, which would cost quite a bit to buy from Apple, and unknown if I'd stick with the platform.

Thank you for your hard work. This couldn't have been easy.

Yup, it's pretty good. Keep in mind that it's a Hackintosh (i.e. there are quirks, updates sometimes ruin the system so you gotta be careful about them, etc.) and always run a backup. Your E2200/DS3L/7900GT will be perfect for this, just snag another drive to install Leopard on

I think that's definitely something I'm willing to live with, and even have a little bit of fun working on, with the knowledge that I have most of the hardware and a fairly cheap upgrade path ($300 for the HD, an external that I've wanted for a while, SATA DVD drive, the OS, and some cables) to get to a point where it's working well for folks.

Basically, I had an issue w/ downloading a torrent and installing it. I was looking for a way to do it w/ retail because even though it's not exactly what Apple is looking for, it supports their effort by purchasing a license.

If it works out and I like the platform, I have my eye on the new Macbook. But I don't want to spend $1300 on an experiment. The impetus is the ability to write apps for the iphone.

Yup you'll want an all-SATA system. The rest of your system looks 100% compatible, so it should go smoothly. Guide will be out this Saturday.

I agree, I believe in supporting Apple. They put out good software and should get support for that. I like their hardware, but my setup is customized for my needs, which I just love. I couldn't ask for a better machine for my budget

 

[pkarza]

Ok - I'm a little lost, and I admit it -

I used the boot 132 method on my system, and tried chameleon, and had to reinstall without this because it seems that chameleon doesn't work with my p5W DH Deluxe mb.

I have:
Q6600 Core2duo processor
4 gb crucial ddr2 ram
P5WDH deluxe mb
X1900xtx vid card - working with NATIT_edited
on board sound working with kext
haven't yet got on board Rtl 8187 wireless working yet
sleep works with power button
21.6 Dell LCD
Antec Sonata 500 case p/s

How do you get EFI installed?

thanks

 

[sjwaste]

What's Chameleon?

 

[swilso]

Hi Kaido.

Just wondering if you notice the difference with your 8gb ram? (i think it said that in your insanelymac signature). I am considering going from 2x2gb to 4x2gb. Although want to know how your system goes with multi-tasking and general speedyness of applications and if it is a noticeable increase from 4gb to 8gb? I run x64 vista as well as osx so I can utilise all the ram with my OS.
Or if anybody else has 8gb ram if they care to give some input ?

 

[leglez]

Quick time machine question. Can you choose something that you don't want backed up? I am about to purchase my storage drive and a backup drive. I was going to go with (2) 1TB drives, but I want to keep my 150GB Raptor, and I don't have a lot of faith in the 1.5TB drives. So can I choose sections that I do not want to be backed up? If not could I get (2) 1TB drives, 1 for storage, 1 for backup, and then 1 160GB drive for the backup of the raptor. Would that work with Time Machine?

 

[Pneumothorax]

Originally posted by: leglez
Quick time machine question. Can you choose something that you don't want backed up?

Yes, it's in the Time Machine section under system preferences. You can exclude and include by folder in your backups.
BTW, Time machine is the best backup program I've ever used (other than Raid mirroring, which is overkill for most users who only want to backup their system/data files) It's sad that in all the years I've used Windows since 1991, no one on that side has made a program like this.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: pkarza
Ok - I'm a little lost, and I admit it -

I used the boot 132 method on my system, and tried chameleon, and had to reinstall without this because it seems that chameleon doesn't work with my p5W DH Deluxe mb.

This is because you are using the wrong motherboard. This guide is for the Gigabyte P35-DS3L

You'll have to find kexts (drivers) specific to your motherboard, then make a DSDT dump from your board and test it to see if it needs any patching.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
What's Chameleon?

Bootloader. Fakes out Leopard into thinking it's EFI so it will boot. Won't boot without it!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: swilso
Hi Kaido.

Just wondering if you notice the difference with your 8gb ram? (i think it said that in your insanelymac signature). I am considering going from 2x2gb to 4x2gb. Although want to know how your system goes with multi-tasking and general speedyness of applications and if it is a noticeable increase from 4gb to 8gb? I run x64 vista as well as osx so I can utilise all the ram with my OS.
Or if anybody else has 8gb ram if they care to give some input ?

Here is what I'm usually running:

1. XP VM for Work (2 cores + 3gb ram)
2. XP VM for Personal (1 core + 2gb ram)
3. DCC (Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Maya, etc.)

So first off, the RAM is wonderful for running VMware - I can give my VM's all the juice they need to perform well without taking a hit on my system. Even with 5 gigs of RAM tied up in the VM, I still have 3 gigs leftover for OS X.

Second, I do digital content creation, so I'm always running Adobe CS, Final Cut, some 3D app, etc. It's just nice to have the extra RAM available at my disposal. In fact, I have a new board (UD3P) and will be upgrading to 16 gigs of RAM as soon as the price drops

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Pneumothorax

Originally posted by: leglez
Quick time machine question. Can you choose something that you don't want backed up?

Yes, it's in the Time Machine section under system preferences. You can exclude and include by folder in your backups.
BTW, Time machine is the best backup program I've ever used (other than Raid mirroring, which is overkill for most users who only want to backup their system/data files) It's sad that in all the years I've used Windows since 1991, no one on that side has made a program like this.

Oh come - serious users have a mirrored RAID boot array backing up with Time Machine to a mirrored RAID backup drive

 

[pkarza]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: pkarza
Ok - I'm a little lost, and I admit it -

I used the boot 132 method on my system, and tried chameleon, and had to reinstall without this because it seems that chameleon doesn't work with my p5W DH Deluxe mb.

This is because you are using the wrong motherboard. This guide is for the Gigabyte P35-DS3L

You'll have to find kexts (drivers) specific to your motherboard, then make a DSDT dump from your board and test it to see if it needs any patching.

Ok -can you point me to where I would find info on making a DSDT dump?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: pkarza

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: pkarza
Ok - I'm a little lost, and I admit it -

I used the boot 132 method on my system, and tried chameleon, and had to reinstall without this because it seems that chameleon doesn't work with my p5W DH Deluxe mb.

This is because you are using the wrong motherboard. This guide is for the Gigabyte P35-DS3L

You'll have to find kexts (drivers) specific to your motherboard, then make a DSDT dump from your board and test it to see if it needs any patching.

Ok -can you point me to where I would find info on making a DSDT dump?

Right here:

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=133683

Read through the thread and see if someone already has a working DSDT dump. Sometimes you get lucky and it works on the first try, but for many boards it requires constant debugging. Luckily there's a tool for that. You have to test everything - sleep, restart, etc. - to make sure it works properly. Although, do your reading - someone has probably already done this board!

 

[jludz]

Kaido,
I had to register to thank you for your hard work here. Thanks!

Everything works fine on a stock install, but I've been searching around to find a solution to my latest limitation: I can't get my legit copy of Final Cut Studio 2 to run. I receive an error when I try to run any program from that package. Are you running it?

I'm using an 8800GT, and it appears the video drivers could be causing the error: http://forum.osx86scene.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1951

Any thoughts? --jludz

BTW, I broke my video drivers messing with it. Any way to boot and fix it without starting from scratch?

 

[leglez]

Originally posted by: Pneumothorax

Originally posted by: leglez
Quick time machine question. Can you choose something that you don't want backed up?

Yes, it's in the Time Machine section under system preferences. You can exclude and include by folder in your backups.
BTW, Time machine is the best backup program I've ever used (other than Raid mirroring, which is overkill for most users who only want to backup their system/data files) It's sad that in all the years I've used Windows since 1991, no one on that side has made a program like this.

Thanks, is it possible to backup to 2 hard drives? I found a 200GB drive today and so I am just going to get (2) 1TB drives. Could I backup my raptor to the 200GB and the 1TB or the other 1TB?

 

[albert1028]

If i have the earliest retail version of the OS X LEopard CD, i think it is 10.5.0, can i use it to install into one of preconfigured systems?

Thanks.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: jludz
Kaido,
I had to register to thank you for your hard work here. Thanks!

Everything works fine on a stock install, but I've been searching around to find a solution to my latest limitation: I can't get my legit copy of Final Cut Studio 2 to run. I receive an error when I try to run any program from that package. Are you running it?

I'm using an 8800GT, and it appears the video drivers could be causing the error: http://forum.osx86scene.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1951

Any thoughts? --jludz

BTW, I broke my video drivers messing with it. Any way to boot and fix it without starting from scratch?

Yes, FCS2 runs fine, as does Adobe CS and all my other apps. What is the error message you are getting?

Yes, just re-install EFI Studio (do both video & ethernet) to fix your video card.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: albert1028
If i have the earliest retail version of the OS X LEopard CD, i think it is 10.5.0, can i use it to install into one of preconfigured systems?

Thanks.

Yes, you can use ANY retail disc - 10.5.0, 10.5.1, or 10.5.4. I don't know what you mean by preconfigured systems...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez

Originally posted by: Pneumothorax

Originally posted by: leglez
Quick time machine question. Can you choose something that you don't want backed up?

Yes, it's in the Time Machine section under system preferences. You can exclude and include by folder in your backups.
BTW, Time machine is the best backup program I've ever used (other than Raid mirroring, which is overkill for most users who only want to backup their system/data files) It's sad that in all the years I've used Windows since 1991, no one on that side has made a program like this.

Thanks, is it possible to backup to 2 hard drives? I found a 200GB drive today and so I am just going to get (2) 1TB drives. Could I backup my raptor to the 200GB and the 1TB or the other 1TB?

Good question, don't know for sure - I would imagine yes. I'll research this question and add it to my guide

 

[leglez]

Ok sounds good thank you.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: Sophie424

Originally posted by: Zaap
Orange hard drives means drives are mounting as "external" drives under AHCI SATA. You can use any icon on the hard drives you wish- including the orange ones in normal ACHI mode- just get info and copy/paste.

Ah, I see. Any idea why booting with "-f" might cause this switch? Anyone else have similar behavior?

My guess: somehow your system is only using the SATA driver from the kext cache (extensions.mkext) which gets deleted after reloading kexts using the -f flag- but it's also rebuilt again, so it must load after a reboot without -f .

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: jludz
Kaido,
I had to register to thank you for your hard work here. Thanks!

Everything works fine on a stock install, but I've been searching around to find a solution to my latest limitation: I can't get my legit copy of Final Cut Studio 2 to run. I receive an error when I try to run any program from that package. Are you running it?

I'm using an 8800GT, and it appears the video drivers could be causing the error: http://forum.osx86scene.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1951

Any thoughts? --jludz

BTW, I broke my video drivers messing with it. Any way to boot and fix it without starting from scratch?

Final Cut Studio 2 (FCP, Motion, DVDSP, etc) runs perfectly on my system, now installed using Boot-132 and retail.

I know for certain that Apple Pro apps won't install or run if you don't have Quartz Extreme and Core Image enabled. Check Graphics/Displays in System Profiler after you get your card working. CI should read "Hardware Accelerated" and QE should say "Supported"

 

[Zaap]

By the way, Kaido, a suggestion for step 4, item C in your guide:
You touch on it, but it might be good to elaborate: at the Install Summary screen, under customize, one can uncheck all the Language Translation files that aren't needed. Also, open printers and uncheck everything but the make of printer(s) you need drivers for. Both of these can cut over 4GB of hard drive space and several minutes off the install time.

I find I always have to remind myself to do this, so thought it might be a good idea to add the reminder for everyone to your guide.

 

[sjwaste]

Seeing some of the posts, I was under the impression that OSX Leopard wasn't a 64 bit OS and therefore limited to 4GB RAM, and that Snow Leopard would the be 64 bit release.

Am I incorrect, or could I use 4 gigs (and have it fully addressable, not losing the ~1gig to the peripheral address space?)

 

[leglez]

You can use 4GBs, I have 8 on my current install and my next will be 16.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
Seeing some of the posts, I was under the impression that OSX Leopard wasn't a 64 bit OS and therefore limited to 4GB RAM, and that Snow Leopard would the be 64 bit release.

Am I incorrect, or could I use 4 gigs (and have it fully addressable, not losing the ~1gig to the peripheral address space?)

Well, considering that they sell the Mac Pro with the option for 16-32GB of RAM...

Leopard is a 64bit OS. It has a 32bit userspace as well as a 64bit userspace. It is a fair amount of Hybridization, and Snow Leopard should be significantly more 64bit, but they probably won't go full 64 bit simply because of Core Duo users.