Hackintosh 10.5.5 Retail Rig - Starting at $305

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: SpandexAssasin
I was just about to ask about dual-booting with 2 drives. From the time it took me to log in, Kaito had answered my question

What is the big advantage anyway to using 2 drives instead of partitioning? I've read it's easier/better but my smallest hdd I have is 250gb and it sucks if I have to dedicate the entire hdd to vista alone. Oh well I guess...

1. No special bootloader configuration required
2. Easier installation (one OS per drive)
3. Easier backup (no messing with partitions for restoring)

You have a couple options for your Vista drive:

1. Install it on a partiton and use the rest for shared storage
2. Install Paragon or MacFuSE/NTFS-3G to read Windows drives (and Mac Drive on the Windows side to read Mac drives)

 

[SpandexAssasin]

Originally posted by: Kaido


1. No special bootloader configuration required
2. Easier installation (one OS per drive)
3. Easier backup (no messing with partitions for restoring)

You have a couple options for your Vista drive:

1. Install it on a partiton and use the rest for shared storage
2. Install Paragon or MacFuSE/NTFS-3G to read Windows drives (and Mac Drive on the Windows side to read Mac drives)

Thanks for rabbit quick response! I feel a little better now but still feel very noobish at all the possibilities which I don't know about. I've been giving myself a crash course the last few weeks or so but there is just so much information and no way to test things out since the pc i'm building is not up and running yet. Soon though... very very soon

 

[YanniX]

Hi Kaido,
thanks for this amazing guide!! Its a recommendation of a friend.
I am looking forward to build the "VII. Media Center Rig" and when I was ordering all components, I saw that the "Video Card: 256mb 7300GT (1 DVI, 1 VGA)" was out of order. Can i take the "http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187007"
Link: h**p://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187007
or are there any problems? It heard that I works perfectly with a DVI to HDMI adapter.

The other question is, I have bought Elgato Eyetv 310 with DVB-S2, but it needs FireWire. Does the MotherBoard have FireWire, google didn't help me, sry. Should I buy a FireWire-Card, but then i have problems with the case, haven't I?

So as you can read, I am not english, i am german and i want to buy everything from newegg.com, but they don't ship to Germany, can you tell me another good Shop which ships to germany? Thank you very much for your help.

Greetings YanniX

 

[mohkahn]

@yannix, I am using 8400gs 256 mb with Kaido's hack method without a problem. Good luck.

 

[YanniX]

@mohkahn , thx for answer.
can you tell me if i can upgrate firewire with this case, so that i can use eyetv
does newegg.com ship to germany

 

[mohkahn]

Yannix, I live in Asia, so unfortunately I am not able to suggest a good company that can do shipment from US to Germany, but I would suggest that you find the parts you are looking for in Germany, as
you will get better after sales service in Germany and if also the shipping costs from US to Germany might be quite high, but you can wait for other people to give you suggestion from US.

I am using GA-EP35-DS3L mother board and it does not have a firewire, I bought a cheap firewire card locally here and it is working as the system recognize it without any problem, but I have not tried it with any hardware, like camera or eyetv, so I also suggest you wait till someone can confirm if you should buy a separate firewire card and if it will work with EyeTV without a problem. Good Luck.

 

[mohkahn]

Yannix, sorry, my earlier reply seems to have disappeared.

I am using GA-EP35-DS3L, it does not have firewire, but i bought cheap one and leopard system recognizes it, but i have not tested it with anything like a camcoder or eye tv. but I am sure it has been tested on different hardware by other people around here, so i suggest you wait for confirmation on this question from others on this thread...

About shipment from US>Germany, I am not able to give you good suggestion, as i don't live in US.
but I like to suggest that you try some local German company, as these are common computer parts and unless you can get them cheaper from US, then you can search for more US vendors, but to have better aftersales service, i think buying these parts locally will be good in the long run. Good luck either way..

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: YanniX
Hi Kaido,
thanks for this amazing guide!! Its a recommendation of a friend.
I am looking forward to build the "VII. Media Center Rig" and when I was ordering all components, I saw that the "Video Card: 256mb 7300GT (1 DVI, 1 VGA)" was out of order. Can i take the "http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187007"
Link: h**p://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187007
or are there any problems? It heard that I works perfectly with a DVI to HDMI adapter.

The other question is, I have bought Elgato Eyetv 310 with DVB-S2, but it needs FireWire. Does the MotherBoard have FireWire, google didn't help me, sry. Should I buy a FireWire-Card, but then i have problems with the case, haven't I?

So as you can read, I am not english, i am german and i want to buy everything from newegg.com, but they don't ship to Germany, can you tell me another good Shop which ships to germany? Thank you very much for your help.

Greetings YanniX

Personally I would avoid any 512mb card.

 

[randomlinh]

why avoid the 512MB cards?

 

[SignorPapageorgio]

Maybe a silly question Kaido, but are you releasing new specs (hardware, etc.) as well? I am interested in the monster rig (times 10!) but I thought you were releasing all new specs and info so I am holding off to purchase anything.

Thanks!

 

[leglez]

Originally posted by: SignorPapageorgio
Maybe a silly question Kaido, but are you releasing new specs (hardware, etc.) as well? I am interested in the monster rig (times 10!) but I thought you were releasing all new specs and info so I am holding off to purchase anything.

Thanks!

Here is the monster rid times 10:

Motherboard: GA-EP45-UD3P - $136.99
Processor: Core 2 Extreme QX9770 - $1,399.99
RAM: 8GB OCZ Gold - $109.99
Case: PowerMac Case Converted ~$100 or probably $200 for a premade one
PSU: Corsair 620W Modular - $149.99
Boot Drive: Intel 80GB SSD x2 in RAID $1048
Storage Drive: Samsung F1 1TB x 2 $199.98
Video Card: 8800GTX flashed to Quadro FX 5600 - $220
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 - $18.99
DVD Drive: Lite-on with litescribe - $25.99

Total: $3,509.92

Its only about 3.5 times more than the Monster Workstation. You could probably spend the exta $6,000 on a couple 30" apple cinema's or some software or a badass audio setup.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: SignorPapageorgio
Maybe a silly question Kaido, but are you releasing new specs (hardware, etc.) as well? I am interested in the monster rig (times 10!) but I thought you were releasing all new specs and info so I am holding off to purchase anything.

Thanks!

Yes, rigs have been updated. There are now 6 recipes

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
why avoid the 512MB cards?

They have a history of being problematic. The current drivers are much better, but every now and then someone gets a card that acts funky with 512mb.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez

Originally posted by: SignorPapageorgio
Maybe a silly question Kaido, but are you releasing new specs (hardware, etc.) as well? I am interested in the monster rig (times 10!) but I thought you were releasing all new specs and info so I am holding off to purchase anything.

Thanks!

Here is the monster rid times 10:

Motherboard: GA-EP45-UD3P - $136.99
Processor: Core 2 Extreme QX9770 - $1,399.99
RAM: 8GB OCZ Gold - $109.99
Case: PowerMac Case Converted ~$100 or probably $200 for a premade one
PSU: Corsair 620W Modular - $149.99
Boot Drive: Intel 80GB SSD x2 in RAID $1048
Storage Drive: Samsung F1 1TB x 2 $199.98
Video Card: 8800GTX flashed to Quadro FX 5600 - $220
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 - $18.99
DVD Drive: Lite-on with litescribe - $25.99

Total: $3,509.92

Its only about 3.5 times more than the Monster Workstation. You could probably spend the exta $6,000 on a couple 30" apple cinema's or some software or a badass audio setup.

FYI, the UD3P supports 16gb RAM

 

[leglez]

haha yeah i know couldn't find any 16GB kits in stock though.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez
haha yeah i know couldn't find any 16GB kits in stock though.

That and it's like $450 for 16gb vs $100 for 8gb. "meh"

 

[Kmax82]

Hey is there known compatibility issues with USB drives and Hackintoshes? I have a Maxtor 1TB External that I wanted to copy files to and it keeps getting (Error -36) which is an I/O Error.

 

[mosslack]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
30GB for vista? that seems a bit insane... unless you're talking about a full suite of apps too

I've installed it on as little as 15 Gb, but it pops up and says the recommended size is something like 27 Gb. I know I started getting the little pop ups once it was installed that Vista was low on HD space. So 30 Gb seemed like a nice round number.

 

[mosslack]

Originally posted by: Kmax82
Hey is there known compatibility issues with USB drives and Hackintoshes? I have a Maxtor 1TB External that I wanted to copy files to and it keeps getting (Error -36) which is an I/O Error.

I bought an external case and mounted one of those HD rack/trays so I could easily switch drives. My Hack boots from it just fine so no problems here.

 

[mosslack]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: SignorPapageorgio
Maybe a silly question Kaido, but are you releasing new specs (hardware, etc.) as well? I am interested in the monster rig (times 10!) but I thought you were releasing all new specs and info so I am holding off to purchase anything.

Thanks!

Yes, rigs have been updated. There are now 6 recipes

I have a Christmas dinner to attend but will be back shortly thereafter. Hoping for a good word by then so I can play around with it some before bedtime. Think positive, keep a good thought, and all that jazz...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: mosslack

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: SignorPapageorgio
Maybe a silly question Kaido, but are you releasing new specs (hardware, etc.) as well? I am interested in the monster rig (times 10!) but I thought you were releasing all new specs and info so I am holding off to purchase anything.

Thanks!

Yes, rigs have been updated. There are now 6 recipes

I have a Christmas dinner to attend but will be back shortly thereafter. Hoping for a good word by then so I can play around with it some before bedtime. Think positive, keep a good thought, and all that jazz...

Just got home, had some personal stuff come up. Tinkering away

 

[QurazyQuisp]

So where is the latest info for the GA-P36-DS3L? I have all my parts and I'm about ready to jump in using this method. (I currently have the Asus p5w-dh, but I'm going quad and I'm stuck at 10.5.3 )

 

[riker1384]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: riker1384
Has anyone else had trouble with Chameleon? I can't even get the disk image to open. I tried it onmynew Hackintosh, and also on myemac with 10.3.9, and neither will open it.

http://pcwizcomputer.com/weaksauce12/?p=309

I tried that and it worked, but then I used Software Update and it won't boot. It just stays on the gray screen with the apple.

The guide I was using (link) said to install Chameleon, then do Software Update, and then do the video-related stuff. Maybe I should try again with the original Chameleon, since it's supposed to work with this mobo according to the guide. Does anyone know what's wrong with it, why I can't open the disk image? Is there some older version that works?

 

[SpandexAssasin]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
So where is the latest info for the GA-P36-DS3L? I have all my parts and I'm about ready to jump in using this method. (I currently have the Asus p5w-dh, but I'm going quad and I'm stuck at 10.5.3 )

According to a Comment he left on his blog, the video is taking longer than expected.
http://pcwizcomputer.com/weaksauce12/?p=360#comments

It looks like it's going to be a Monday release.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: riker1384

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: riker1384
Has anyone else had trouble with Chameleon? I can't even get the disk image to open. I tried it onmynew Hackintosh, and also on myemac with 10.3.9, and neither will open it.

http://pcwizcomputer.com/weaksauce12/?p=309

I tried that and it worked, but then I used Software Update and it won't boot. It just stays on the gray screen with the apple.

The guide I was using (link) said to install Chameleon, then do Software Update, and then do the video-related stuff. Maybe I should try again with the original Chameleon, since it's supposed to work with this mobo according to the guide. Does anyone know what's wrong with it, why I can't open the disk image? Is there some older version that works?

Here's a link to the whole Download Package with instructions inside.

http://www.mediafire.com/?shar...a335cae1508bd5622028d6

Just download the most recent version from 11/21. Then replace the Chameleon pkg in that ZIP with this one...

http://www.mediafire.com/file/...mmm5uyz/bootloader.zip

And you should be good to go. I have tested and used this method twice and, if you follow the instructions... it works very well.