Hackintosh

[Snickerzz]

Well I want to build a hackintosh and was wondering what parts worked and what others didn't in terms of cpu, gpu, and mobo. I wnat to run Mtn Lion and want the build to be on the low end of things. I'm planning on using a core i3 2100 or 2105 with the integrated gpu and I'm not sure on what mobo. Thanks in advance :)

[Wats]

I'm a bit interested in finding out as well. I wouldn't use it as I'm unsure how to use an Apple, I just want something called a Hackintosh. I'm sure we could just Google it, but lets get some experience flowing in here.

[Glenwing]

Choosing a motherboard is probably the most difficult part of building a Hackintosh. Because installing OS X on a non-Apple branded device is against the OS license agreement (you don't own the software, you're basically renting it for life under the license) hardware manufacturers don't make any OS X drivers for their components because they would be supporting illegal activity by doing so and could get into trouble. Therefore the audio chipset, LAN chipset, USB controllers, etc. must be the same ones that are used in any of the Mac lineups so that OS X contains drivers for them already. Realtek Audio and Broadcom LAN are good bets, and VIA VL800 as a USB 3.0 controller (VL810 is not compatible). Generally GIGABYTE motherboards end up being most compatible. Realtek ALC898 (ALC8XX in general) are compatible I believe as well as Realtek RTL8111E LAN or Broadcom BCM57780 / 81 / 85 LAN chipsets, and of course Intel LAN and some Atheros chips, though I don't know the exact model numbers. As I said VIA VL800 works as a USB 3.0 controller, and ASMedia ASM1042 controllers are compatible as well. For non-native SATA ports, I know the ASMedia ASM1061 is among compatible chipsets, I can't name others right now. The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H is the most compatible board I know of, though it's a bit pricey. The GA-Z77X-UP5 TH is also very good for a hackintosh (has Thunderbolt :D) but is even more pricey. It's little brother the GA-Z77X-UP4 TH is not fully compatible as it uses a VL810 USB controller so you will lose a lot of your USB 3.0 ports, and the board is all USB 3.0 so that's almost all your USB connectivity. Likewise the GA-Z77X-UD4H uses a VL810 chip as well. The GA-Z77X-UD3H and D3H use VIA audio chips rather than Realtek so I'm not sure how well they work, you can look into that further if you like. The GIGABYTE website is great because it lists all the exact 3rd party chips each board uses so you can just Google "Hackintosh ASMedia ASM1042" or whatever the chip is.

EDIT: The GA-Z77-HD4 appears to be pretty good for a budget oriented Hackintosh, it uses Realtek ALC887 audio and some unspecified Realtek LAN chipset. It has 4 native USB 3.0 from the Z77 controller but no addition 3rd party USB 3.0 so nothing to worry about as far as losing USB ports. On one hand you won't have as much USB 3.0 but on the other at least the ports work at 2.0 speeds instead of dropping completely :D

For CPUs any Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge CPUs will work, no AMD chips will. For GPUs the entire NVIDIA GeForce 600 series will work.

[c.pryor2223]

I think if you use a hacked install .iso , the hardware doesnt really matter. Look on pirate bay thats where i got mine. I have mac os installed on a handful of setups ranging from crap (celerons and 2gb ram) to a vmware dual boot install on my main rig (mid-high end gaming rig)

FYI my main rig runs Mtn lion on a 7870

[Snickerzz]

Choosing a motherboard is probably the most difficult part of building a Hackintosh. Because installing OS X on a non-Apple branded device is against the OS license agreement (you don't own the software, you're basically renting it for life under the license) hardware manufacturers don't make any OS X drivers for their components because they would be supporting illegal activity by doing so and could get into trouble. Therefore the audio chipset, LAN chipset, USB controllers, etc. must be the same ones that are used in any of the Mac lineups so that OS X contains drivers for them already. Realtek Audio and Broadcom LAN are good bets, and VIA VL800 as a USB 3.0 controller (VL810 is not compatible). Generally GIGABYTE motherboards end up being most compatible. Realtek ALC898 (ALC8XX in general) are compatible I believe as well as Realtek RTL8111E LAN or Broadcom BCM57780 / 81 / 85 LAN chipsets, and of course Intel LAN and some Atheros chips, though I don't know the exact model numbers. As I said VIA VL800 works as a USB 3.0 controller, and ASMedia ASM1042 controllers are compatible as well. For non-native SATA ports, I know the ASMedia ASM1061 is among compatible chipsets, I can't name others right now. The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H is the most compatible board I know of, though it's a bit pricey. The GA-Z77X-UP5 TH is also very good for a hackintosh (has Thunderbolt :D) but is even more pricey. It's little brother the GA-Z77X-UP4 TH is not fully compatible as it uses a VL810 USB controller so you will lose a lot of your USB 3.0 ports, and the board is all USB 3.0 so that's almost all your USB connectivity. Likewise the GA-Z77X-UD4H uses a VL810 chip as well. The GA-Z77X-UD3H and D3H use VIA audio chips rather than Realtek so I'm not sure how well they work, you can look into that further if you like. The GIGABYTE website is great because it lists all the exact 3rd party chips each board uses so you can just Google "Hackintosh ASMedia ASM1042" or whatever the chip is.

EDIT: The GA-Z77-HD4 appears to be pretty good for a budget oriented Hackintosh, it uses Realtek ALC887 audio and some unspecified Realtek LAN chipset. It has 4 native USB 3.0 from the Z77 controller but no addition 3rd party USB 3.0 so nothing to worry about as far as losing USB ports. On one hand you won't have as much USB 3.0 but on the other at least the ports work at 2.0 speeds instead of dropping completely :D

For CPUs any Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge CPUs will work, no AMD chips will. For GPUs the entire NVIDIA GeForce 600 series will work.

Wow a lot of helpful info, thanks :) I was actually going to use a wifi adapter for the hackintosh, and the integrated gpu on the cpu for graphics (though might upgrade to a gtx 650 or radeon hd 7770 if its compatible)

[Snickerzz]

I think if you use a hacked install .iso , the hardware doesnt really matter. Look on pirate bay thats where i got mine. I have mac os installed on a handful of setups ranging from crap (celerons and 2gb ram) to a vmware dual boot install on my main rig (mid-high end gaming rig)

FYI my main rig runs Mtn lion on a 7870

I don't want to pirate it, i'm going to use a retail mtn lion disc and patches for the hardware if needed. But thanks

[Snickerzz]

I'm a bit interested in finding out as well. I wouldn't use it as I'm unsure how to use an Apple, I just want something called a Hackintosh. I'm sure we could just Google it, but lets get some experience flowing in here.

"...unsure how to use an Apple" you mean osx? X) a only purpose of a hackintosh is to use osx :p

[Glenwing]

Even if you pirate it, the hardware still matters. The drivers for stuff simply don't exist, there's nothing a pirate version will fix about that. Don't get me wrong, you can install OS X on a wide range of configurations (my brother has done it on an ASRock board without much trouble) but specific functions may not work such as various USB 3.0 ports, audio, LAN, the sleep function, or a number of other small things. For the most compatible board, you have to pick and choose carefully. If you're not too worried about those things, then you're not... but it can be inconvenient sometimes. And the older Mac Pros have 5000 Series Radeon HD graphics cards so I guess Catalyst Control Center is compatible. I wasn't sure about the 7000 Series.

[Blade of Grass]

If your really interested in doing this, I suggest reading this guy's

http://www.tonymacx86.com/home.php

specifically his February's buyers guide.

http://www.tonymacx86.com/333-buildi...uary-2013.html

[greenroost1445]

I think if you use a hacked install .iso , the hardware doesnt really matter. Look on pirate bay thats where i got mine. I have mac os installed on a handful of setups ranging from crap (celerons and 2gb ram) to a vmware dual boot install on my main rig (mid-high end gaming rig)

FYI my main rig runs Mtn lion on a 7870

Snickerzz, your going to buy an OS legally to run and illegal system? lol

[Glenwing]

I think if you use a hacked install .iso , the hardware doesnt really matter. Look on pirate bay thats where i got mine. I have mac os installed on a handful of setups ranging from crap (celerons and 2gb ram) to a vmware dual boot install on my main rig (mid-high end gaming rig)

FYI my main rig runs Mtn lion on a 7870

A valid license will allow him to receive updates from Apple.

[Snickerzz]

I think if you use a hacked install .iso , the hardware doesnt really matter. Look on pirate bay thats where i got mine. I have mac os installed on a handful of setups ranging from crap (celerons and 2gb ram) to a vmware dual boot install on my main rig (mid-high end gaming rig)

FYI my main rig runs Mtn lion on a 7870

Yes, plus I don't think Apple could tell if I was running OSX on a non Apple computer

[Snickerzz]

Even if you pirate it, the hardware still matters. The drivers for stuff simply don't exist, there's nothing a pirate version will fix about that. Don't get me wrong, you can install OS X on a wide range of configurations (my brother has done it on an ASRock board without much trouble) but specific functions may not work such as various USB 3.0 ports, audio, LAN, the sleep function, or a number of other small things. For the most compatible board, you have to pick and choose carefully. If you're not too worried about those things, then you're not... but it can be inconvenient sometimes. And the older Mac Pros have 5000 Series Radeon HD graphics cards so I guess Catalyst Control Center is compatible. I wasn't sure about the 7000 Series.

I know that :P but I'm going to buy a legit mtn lion disc :3 What board was your brother useing and what trouvle did he have with it?

[Snickerzz]

If your really interested in doing this, I suggest reading this guy's

http://www.tonymacx86.com/home.php

specifically his February's buyers guide.

http://www.tonymacx86.com/333-buildi...uary-2013.html

Thanks! :)

[Glenwing]

Even if you pirate it, the hardware still matters. The drivers for stuff simply don't exist, there's nothing a pirate version will fix about that. Don't get me wrong, you can install OS X on a wide range of configurations (my brother has done it on an ASRock board without much trouble) but specific functions may not work such as various USB 3.0 ports, audio, LAN, the sleep function, or a number of other small things. For the most compatible board, you have to pick and choose carefully. If you're not too worried about those things, then you're not... but it can be inconvenient sometimes. And the older Mac Pros have 5000 Series Radeon HD graphics cards so I guess Catalyst Control Center is compatible. I wasn't sure about the 7000 Series.

Yeah I was replying to the guy above me :) My brother used an ASRock Z68 Pro3. I don't remember what the issues were but I remember he went back to Windows after a while and was considering a more expensive motherboard to run a Hackintosh again. It did work though. I'll ask him about it next time I get the chance.

[Snickerzz]

Even if you pirate it, the hardware still matters. The drivers for stuff simply don't exist, there's nothing a pirate version will fix about that. Don't get me wrong, you can install OS X on a wide range of configurations (my brother has done it on an ASRock board without much trouble) but specific functions may not work such as various USB 3.0 ports, audio, LAN, the sleep function, or a number of other small things. For the most compatible board, you have to pick and choose carefully. If you're not too worried about those things, then you're not... but it can be inconvenient sometimes. And the older Mac Pros have 5000 Series Radeon HD graphics cards so I guess Catalyst Control Center is compatible. I wasn't sure about the 7000 Series.

Oh XD and ok thanks you should tell him to make an account on here too :D