Building a Hackintosh

[WakiMikoArck]

I've been debating for a while about getting a new computer. With college starting soon and since I'll be majoring in Digital Media, I had highly debated buying an iMac (don't flame me too hard please...). After a lot of reading though, it's looking like I can build myself a hackintosh for half the price of an iMac, yet it'll be a far more powerful computer. I like this quite a bit.

I'm not a complete noob to hackintosh's, I'm writing this post from my inspiron 1525 which is gracefully running 10.6.6 atm. I'd be using iBoot for installing this time though, which seems to be a much better method. Had originally used Kalyway which involved cussing at the computer for a few hours until things started working. So anyways, the important part.

These are the parts I'm looking at using. I've been following a general list from here, and have been checking each part from here as well (there's a few sections where people list working parts).

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500 3.3ghz
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3-B3
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 6850
Mem: Corsair XMS3 4gb
Case: NZXT Gamma
PSU: OCZ ModxStream Pro 500w
Disk Drive: Sony optiarc CD/DVD
HD: Seagate 1TB 7200rpm

The total build is looking like it'll cost me $650, not counting shipping/etc. This is if I order parts off Newegg and Tiger Direct. Also, I'll just be using a cheap USB mouse, keyboard, and an old monitor for a while. May consider getting a new monitor eventually though.

Lastly, I'm looking into all this a bit pre-emptively. With school starting soon and money tight, I'm not planning on buying any parts or starting the build until early December. I figure by then parts will (hopefully) be a bit cheaper, and I'll (hopefully) know what I'm doing.

So here's my question. Are there any parts on here I should look into swapping out? I'd rather not spend more than $800 if I have to, but the cheaper I can make the build, the better.
Also, any other stores I should look into ordering from? I've never had any problems with Newegg, but haven't yet ordered from Tiger Direct.

What do you guys think?

 

[oliverw92]

Major dislike for the case, although at the end of the day that is personal preference. I really wouldn't advise that one though. Have a look at the Fractal Design cases - they are very nice and good on a budget.

Get a different PSU, that one is not great at all. If you can afford one of the newer Seasonic ones, go for it. They are awesome. If not, then the Antec TruePower New is very, very good (make sure it is the 'new' one - they refreshes the series).

Get a Samsung F4 Spinpoint 1TB instead of the Seagate. They are just much better HDDs for not much more money.

If you aren't buying until December, you are looking way too early. That list will be old tech by then and you will definitely be wanting to look at something different.

 

[WakiMikoArck]

Yeah, case kind of sucks. Mostly chose it as it's odd looking, has the panel for cable management, and the ability to add extra fans. Fractal cases are very nice looking, don't know if I want to splurge and get the core 3000 or not.

Only chose the PSU as it's what is suggested for that build, I can be easily convinced into getting another one. Why do you suggest those two?

Yeah, I expect all of this will be old tech by then. The list will probably look completely different by December, which is perfectly fine by me. I mostly have one made up so I have something to build off of when looking for other parts.

My other intention is to make this system dual-boot , so I can also run Windows for games and such. Debating if I should then look into getting two hard drives, or just partition off the one HD for both OS's. I've done the latter before, but never very easily.

 

[oliverw92]

The OCZ ModXtreme is an old design now, and has always been pretty average to say the least. The TruePower New is based off a very good PSU design and is renowned for being a good bit of kit. You can't go wrong with it. Seasonic make their own power supplies (unlike most other companies that take PSUs from people like Seasonic and re-brand them) and they are very good ones (as I'm sure coffeejunky will agree with me on).

I would say get two HDDs if you can afford it - it is always easier with 2 separate drives.

 

[SgtSpike]

+1 on two HDDs.

Seasonics are the best PSU's money can buy, but that's not to say it would be wrong to save a few bucks and go with something cheaper. I'm just sayin... I have an Xclio Goodpower 500w in my main desktop at home, as well as my desktop at work. Both have worked flawlessly for years now. But I do have a 550W Seasonic, a 850w ThermalTake, a 750w Corsair, and a 650w Corsair in various mining rigs around the house as well (and the 650w is in the server we all know and love).

 

[WakiMikoArck]

Resurrecting this thread for the next two weeks (like a boss).

Am going ahead with the build. Here's my final parts list:

Case: NZXT M59
MoBo: Gigabyte Z58MA-D2H-B3
CPU: Intel i5 2500K
GPU: Sapphire HD 6850
Mem: PNY XLR8 8gb (2x4)
PSU: Rosewill Green series 630w
HD: 2 1tb Samsung Spinpoint 7200rpm

I currently have the case, mobo, memory, psu and one of the hard drives sitting behind me assembled. The PSU was highly recommended on overclock.net (which was odd considering rosewill's other products) and newegg was having a sale at the time. Mobo and ram were together in a combo deal, so I splurged a bit to get both. A local microcenter is selling the cpu at $40 off (for no properly explained reason) so I'll be picking it up next week. I'm probably also going to pick up an extra intake fan for the front of the case, and highly considering getting this. If I do, I'll be getting a second fan for that so it can run in a push/pull.

Next week I'll get windows 7 professional on the first hd (I get it for free through my university) and have the actual computer working. At some point in December I'll get the second hard drive and turn it into a proper dual booting hackintosh.