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Build a Perfect Mac for less than $250

MrFlooD

By MrFlooD,
in Tutorials (The Genius Bar)

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Italia64
Italia64
Posted
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Questions...

 

1) how can I dual-boot w/ ubuntu if OS X is already installed?

Use Grub. There are numerous posts over in the multi-boot forum, probably best to search there. I just went through this with a re-install of windows in a triple boot setup, and it is a bit tricky but can be done to work well. The SuperGrub CD also helps. You first have to partition and install Ubuntu, then run the Grub installer which creates a boot menu which allows you to choose which OS to boot.

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xrayvision
xrayvision
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Newb here, just ordered this system from newegg and excited to get started. Before I start asking stupid stuff, I thought I'd try to contribute a little. I found this really nice itx case with a 250w PS, should be perfect for this project:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811154091

 

Stupid question#1: Do I need to pick up a cheap keyboard/mouse for the install, or can I use a usb bluetooth dongle and my current apple bluetooth keyboard/mouse for the setup (will they be recognized at install)??

 

Thanks for the excellent info!!

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bibendum
bibendum
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Posted
Newb here, just ordered this system from newegg and excited to get started. Before I start asking stupid stuff, I thought I'd try to contribute a little. I found this really nice itx case with a 250w PS, should be perfect for this project:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811154091

 

Stupid question#1: Do I need to pick up a cheap keyboard/mouse for the install, or can I use a usb bluetooth dongle and my current apple bluetooth keyboard/mouse for the setup (will they be recognized at install)??

 

Thanks for the excellent info!!

 

Nice case!

 

AFAIK, you need a USB keyboard to do the bios settings, etc, before you can use your bluetooth keyboard...

 

Patrick

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xrayvision
xrayvision
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Nice case!

 

AFAIK, you need a USB keyboard to do the bios settings, etc, before you can use your bluetooth keyboard...

 

Patrick

 

Yes! The case looks great online, I'll post some pics when I get it, along with my experience with the assembly (perhaps another thread for itx cases?).

 

Thanks for the info re: keyboards. I see someone previously mentioned a similar topic- that the bluetooth keyboard/mouse will work, but you need a usb or ps2 backup for changes to the base install.

 

I have a general question regarding the install instructions posted at the beginning of this thread: are these installation instructions being dynamically updated as new releases are distributed?? Should I "just start" with 10.5.2 as instructed, and serially update? Has the process changed at all with newer versions, and if so is there a central source of info on it?

 

Final question (for now)- I have my own official Leopard DVD, so do I STILL need to download the entire disc kalaway image, or can I just add certain kernel extensions (or, is there anything like PC-EFI working on this board that allows me to just install from the official DVD)? I obviously need to read more, so sorry in advance if it's a stupid question. Any pointers in the right direction are appreciated!

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maccompaq
maccompaq
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I have reinstalled Kayway 10.5.2 several times now. If I apply the graghic fix (with kext helper) after installation (still 10.5.2) -> I can change resolution but i still have mouse artifacts.

Then i installed the Kayway Combo update to 10.5.3 and i'm again stuck to 1024x768. after i apply the fix again -> same problem (resolution ok but artifacts...)

Then i installed 10.5.4 via software update -> no change, even after applying the fix again...

 

Plz someone help my I don't know what else i can try to get rid of those damn artifacts...

 

Please describe the mouse artifacts.

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gonyr
gonyr
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This is going to be my initial, low-budget osx86 build, but I'm planning to wait a few weeks until the new dual core atom motherboards (D945GCLF2) are released. Does anybody foresee a problem with using the new board in place of the one in the guide? What kind of speed increase will the dual core offer? Also, I've never built a computer, but it seems pretty straightforward - just be careful, read the instructions, and plug everything in the right places. Any hints or suggestions for a first timer? thanks for any help you can offer.

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[idkfa]
[idkfa]
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I've read it is the very same board, just another CPU.

Assembling is pretty straight forward, the board comes with a big, colored manual that shows where all the cable go.

And, as requested, a hint: The stock fan is pretty noisy (at least on the single-core board), so you can either plug it into the case jack (see manual of the board) or buy a better one. I went the second route and got a Scythe Mini Kaze 40mm from a local store for about 4€.

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Zachery
Zachery
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Please describe the mouse artifacts.

 

I bet they're the same as what I'm getting - the easiest way to see it is to select a file in Finder, "get info", and move the pointer into the spotlight comments field. The pointer doubles and a black box overlays the apple in the menu. Office and Photoshop are also affected by similar effects.

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cgreenberg
cgreenberg
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No, no, what you want to do is wait till Q3 2010 for the quad-core Atom. Or maybe wait till Q2 2012 for the 8-core Atom!!! Yeah!!!!

 

Seriously, that 2-core Atom looks very interesting. Should be the perfect Hackintosh bed. I just built 2 vanilla Kalyway systems with the current Intel Atom board and they're great if you want a cheap, quiet, green Mac that's all the computer anyone outside of an A/V editing suite really needs.

 

I have to wonder, though, about leaning too hard on the Atom for raw power. It's not what the Atom is all about. It's minimalist computing, drawing as little power as possible in as small a package as possible for a high quality computing experience. If you need more speed, you should probably be looking at C2D or Quad rigs. I built a Q6600/Badaxe2 Hac Pro for just this reason.

 

This is going to be my initial, low-budget osx86 build, but I'm planning to wait a few weeks until the new dual core atom motherboards (D945GCLF2) are released. Does anybody foresee a problem with using the new board in place of the one in the guide? What kind of speed increase will the dual core offer? Also, I've never built a computer, but it seems pretty straightforward - just be careful, read the instructions, and plug everything in the right places. Any hints or suggestions for a first timer? thanks for any help you can offer.
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Zachery
Zachery
Posted
Posted
I've read it is the very same board, just another CPU.

Assembling is pretty straight forward, the board comes with a big, colored manual that shows where all the cable go.

And, as requested, a hint: The stock fan is pretty noisy (at least on the single-core board), so you can either plug it into the case jack (see manual of the board) or buy a better one. I went the second route and got a Scythe Mini Kaze 40mm from a local store for about 4€.

 

My fan just started dying and became incredibly noisy. At the moment, I've just unplugged it and it seems to be working okay (fingers crossed). Couldn't find a 40mm fan locally, so I'm just going to order one.

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gonyr
gonyr
Posted
Posted
No, no, what you want to do is wait till Q3 2010 for the quad-core Atom. Or maybe wait till Q2 2012 for the 8-core Atom!!! Yeah!!!!

 

Seriously, that 2-core Atom looks very interesting. Should be the perfect Hackintosh bed. I just built 2 vanilla Kalyway systems with the current Intel Atom board and they're great if you want a cheap, quiet, green Mac that's all the computer anyone outside of an A/V editing suite really needs.

 

I have to wonder, though, about leaning too hard on the Atom for raw power. It's not what the Atom is all about. It's minimalist computing, drawing as little power as possible in as small a package as possible for a high quality computing experience. If you need more speed, you should probably be looking at C2D or Quad rigs. I built a Q6600/Badaxe2 Hac Pro for just this reason.

 

Mostly I'm waiting because I won't have the time to build for a few weeks anyway, so why not hold out for the new board? From what I read, the price is going to be pretty close to the current one. I'm not really concerned with power, but why not buy the better one if it's available? Cheap, quiet, and green is exactly what I need.

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cgreenberg
cgreenberg
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My fan just started dying and became incredibly noisy. At the moment, I've just unplugged it and it seems to be working okay (fingers crossed). Couldn't find a 40mm fan locally, so I'm just going to order one.

 

I already burned up a D945GCLF whose fan died and then took the 950 chipset with it (that's the chip with the fan, not the Atom CPU). If your 40mm fan isn't blowing air over that heatsink, shut down your system and wait till you replace it with a working fan. You've been warned.

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Zachery
Zachery
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Posted
I already burned up a D945GCLF whose fan died and then took the 950 chipset with it (that's the chip with the fan, not the Atom CPU). If your 40mm fan isn't blowing air over that heatsink, shut down your system and wait till you replace it with a working fan. You've been warned.

 

Thanks for the advice, I'm following it - ordered the Scythe fan mentioned above.

 

What symptoms did your fried chipset exhibit?

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xrayvision
xrayvision
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I'm writing from my NEW Hackintosh! This worked FLAWLESSLY so far! Thanks so much for the excellent Tutorial! I'm about to do the 10.5.3 combo update/kernel update, crossing my fingers.

 

2 things: When I'm running under Ubuntu (64 bit install) I have 2 cores recognized, with performance/use curves for each core. My current system profiler in OSX states a single core processor. Can I enable multi-core support?

 

Second question: I didn't see the ability to customize my install during the setup process... I wasn't watching very carefully, will this bite me later? Guess I'll find out in a few minutes... ;)

 

So far everything is working great- no display problems, networking is excellent (INCLUDING timemachine and my networked storage), and my Airport Extreme is streaming to my remote speakers on an Airport Express. My bluetooth adapter is working great for file transfers with my phone, but haven't tried my bt keyboard/mouse yet. Very impressive!

 

Initial Impressions: FWIW, this rig is very responsive under ubuntu 8, and I haven't noticed much (if any) degradation under OSX. The only thing is that 2 core versus 1 core discrepency. A second thing to know is that ubuntu's bluetooth support actually seems better (weird, huh?)- giving the option to open a serial connection and thether my cell phone (which is not available under OSX). I was not able to find my networked hard drive under ubuntu, and I managed to kill my Entire network stack with one *automated* update and no way back. ;) such is linux sometimes...

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supermx3
supermx3
Posted
Posted

i have tried nearly ever flavor out, and did the install listed here to the t and during the 10.5.2 install of kalaway about 1/4 into it my screen gets tons of screwed up scan lines and locks the install, ideneb installs and boots but when i get to transfer my old settings from another mac i tell it no and it restarts the whole intro movie again, iatkos hard locks during install, kinda at a loss here, any ideas?

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Zachery
Zachery
Posted
Posted
i have tried nearly ever flavor out, and did the install listed here to the t and during the 10.5.2 install of kalaway about 1/4 into it my screen gets tons of screwed up scan lines and locks the install, ideneb installs and boots but when i get to transfer my old settings from another mac i tell it no and it restarts the whole intro movie again, iatkos hard locks during install, kinda at a loss here, any ideas?

 

If you have an ethernet cable connected, unplug it during install. That's caused the endless loop for me before. The screen after the transfer screen is about networking - it's crashing as it tries to recognize your connection. Choose "my computer does not connect to the internet," when it asks.

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jWin
jWin
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Hello all,

 

Can anyone confirm that both SATA Hard Disk and SATA DVD Drive will work with this setup? Back around July 7th posts a user named DigitalNinja seemed to be having issues with using 2 SATA devices, can anyone confirm it works or doesnt work?

 

Thanks!

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