Gaming PC from old Hackintosh build - graphic card help?

[kilomonk]

I bought a prebuilt Hackintosh about seven years ago and now have an older MacBook Pro. It was a great, affordable into to Mac OS, but was a challenge to maintain - still running Mountain Lion...  I'd like to convert this into a modest gaming PC to use with my grandson. It was a very nice build at the time, but I don't want to throw money away making an underpowered rig. Is this worth putting a better graphic card in? Suggestions? Thanks.

 

Here are the details:
- Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930
- GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
- 80GB SSD - Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2MH080G2R5 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
- 12GB Total - CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D
- ZOTAC ZT-50306-10M GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
- COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
- LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
- Cogage TRUE Spirit 120mm CPU Cooler
- COOLER MASTER ATCS 840 RC-840-SSN1-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case

[kelvinhall05]

Very much worth it.

 

I'd get a used 6c12t Xeon, something like an X5650 or X5675, doesn't really matter. Plop it in, OC the fuck out of it, should easily get 4GHz+. You can upgrade to 24GB of RAM if you'd like, don't have to. Also get a new GPU and maybe new SSD.

[kilomonk]

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't considered upgrading the processor but I ordered a X5675 on your recommendation  Any idea what upper end GPU might be compatible with this?

Edited June 23, 2020 by kilomonk

[kelvinhall05]

On 6/22/2020 at 6:29 PM, kilomonk said:

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't considered upgrading the processor but I ordered a X5675 on your recommendation  Any idea what upper end GPU might be compatible with this?

What is your budget for just the GPU? What power supply and case do you have?

[kilomonk]

13 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

What is your budget for just the GPU? What power supply and case do you have?

 $300 max

 

Current GPU:  ZOTAC ZT-50306-10M GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
 

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

- Cogage TRUE Spirit 120mm CPU Cooler

- COOLER MASTER ATCS 840 RC-840-SSN1-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case

[kelvinhall05]

2 minutes ago, kilomonk said:

 $300 max

 

Current GPU:  ZOTAC ZT-50306-10M GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
 

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

- Cogage TRUE Spirit 120mm CPU Cooler

- COOLER MASTER ATCS 840 RC-840-SSN1-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case

I am going to assume you are in the US. I would look around on /r/hardwareswap and local classifieds to try and find something used. Not sure exactly what, totally depends on what you find and how much it is.

[lukesturr]

3 hours ago, kilomonk said:

 $300 max

 

Current GPU:  ZOTAC ZT-50306-10M GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
 

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

- Cogage TRUE Spirit 120mm CPU Cooler

- COOLER MASTER ATCS 840 RC-840-SSN1-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case

In order of performance, these GPUs would pair well with that older x5675 Xeon you ordered (approx new prices in USD)

1. RX 5600 XT 6GB ~$290
2. GTX 1660 Super 6GB ~$230
3. GTX 1660 6GB ~$210
4. GTX 1650 Super 4GB ~$170
5. RX 5500 XT 4GB ~$170
6. RX 580 8GB ~$160

Used GTX 1070 8GB, GTX 1060 6GB, or RX 580 8GB are decent options as well.

 

[kilomonk]

3 hours ago, kelvinhall05 said:

I am going to assume you are in the US. I would look around on /r/hardwareswap and local classifieds to try and find something used. Not sure exactly what, totally depends on what you find and how much it is.

Yes, and I see you are in Canada. Thanks. I'll check  around.

[kilomonk]

3 minutes ago, lukesturr said:

In order of performance, these GPUs would pair well with that older x5675 Xeon you ordered (approx new prices in USD)

1. RX 5600 XT 6GB ~$290
2. GTX 1660 Super 6GB ~$230
3. GTX 1660 6GB ~$210
4. GTX 1650 Super 4GB ~$170
5. RX 5500 XT 4GB ~$170
6. RX 580 8GB ~$170

Used GTX 1070 8GB, GTX 1060 6GB, or RX 580 8GB are decent options as well.

 

Thanks, lukesturr. Just what I need - an idea of what models would be compatible. Once I swap out the CPU, it will essentially render the old Hackintosh useless, as the custom code that allows it to run OSX is compatible with the existing array components. I do have it set to boot as a Mac or Windows PC. I'm hoping it will be plug and play as a Windows PC with the newer CPU and GPU.

[lukesturr]

20 minutes ago, kilomonk said:

Thanks, lukesturr. Just what I need - an idea of what models would be compatible. Once I swap out the CPU, it will essentially render the old Hackintosh useless, as the custom code that allows it to run OSX is compatible with the existing array components. I do have it set to boot as a Mac or Windows PC. I'm hoping it will be plug and play as a Windows PC with the newer CPU and GPU.

No problem. Windows 10 should work just fine on the new components. Also consider the oldest you can hackintosh with the RX 580 is macOS Mojave and the oldest you can hackintosh with the 5600 XT or 5500 XT is macOS Catalina. None of the Nvidia GPUs will work with macOS.

 

I'd also recommend getting a new SSD since 80GB is pretty small and games will fill that up very fast.

[kilomonk]

On 6/24/2020 at 12:15 AM, lukesturr said:

No problem. Windows 10 should work just fine on the new components. Also consider the oldest you can hackintosh with the RX 580 is macOS Mojave and the oldest you can hackintosh with the 5600 XT or 5500 XT is macOS Catalina. None of the Nvidia GPUs will work with macOS.

 

I'd also recommend getting a new SSD since 80GB is pretty small and games will fill that up very fast.

I put a 500 GB Samsung SSD in there on your advice. X5675 should be here tomorrow. I don't plan on keeping it as a Hackintosh, but very good to know. Thanks again.

[kilomonk]

On 6/24/2020 at 12:15 AM, lukesturr said:

No problem. Windows 10 should work just fine on the new components. Also consider the oldest you can hackintosh with the RX 580 is macOS Mojave and the oldest you can hackintosh with the 5600 XT or 5500 XT is macOS Catalina. None of the Nvidia GPUs will work with macOS.

 

I'd also recommend getting a new SSD since 80GB is pretty small and games will fill that up very fast.

I went with the 5600XT and downloaded the current drivers and got Windows 10 Pro on there and it all boots up. I appreciate all of the help from kelvinhall05 and lukesturr. Now the initial screen is colorfully pixellated as shown in the photo. I've had this in the past with incompatible graphics cards on PCs, but this displays and runs Windows 10 perfectly once fully booted up and all seems well. Is this some sort of bios issue? I changed out the X5675 and the 5600 XT. Everything else is as it was. Thank you.

[kelvinhall05]

On 6/29/2020 at 12:49 PM, kilomonk said:

I went with the 5600XT and downloaded the current drivers and got Windows 10 Pro on there and it all boots up. I appreciate all of the help from kelvinhall05 and lukesturr. Now the initial screen is colorfully pixellated as shown in the photo. I've had this in the past with incompatible graphics cards on PCs, but this displays and runs Windows 10 perfectly once fully booted up and all seems well. Is this some sort of bios issue? I changed out the X5675 and the 5600 XT. Everything else is as it was. Thank you.

Very weird, but if it can run through a stress test fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

[kilomonk]

8 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

Very weird, but if it can run through a stress test fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

Big difference with the new CPU, GPU and SSD. And I learned just enough to be dangerous around a PC  Thanks again.