The obligatory NEW PC thread!

[MulletMan13]

Hello all!

Well I've been content using OSX for the last 5 or 6 years, but over the years I've really disliked how Apple leaves a gaping hole in it's product line: an upgradeable tower not for professionals, but for prosumers. I understand the reasons for this (it would eat into their iMac audience and spread resources too thin), but I also really wanted to get my hands wet into building computers again. I really miss doing that from years earlier.

In any case, I'm making something myself which will feature:

Core 2 Quad @ 2.40ghz (Q660)
Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard (Bad Axe 2)
ATI x1950 Pro w/256mb VRAM
4 x 2gb RAM sticks for a total of 8gb
2 x 500gb WD 7200rpm drives
DVD-RW w/LightScribe
500w PSU

... the fact that all of these things work nearly right out of the box for OSx86 is not a coincidence. I kindof miss messing around and dealing with some problems, but from the extensive reading I've done OSx86 has progressed to a point where it is perfectly stable (on the right hardware, mind you). And since most of the things in this computer are actual parts that Apple uses in it's line somewhere, it should be rock solid, and blow away my current 20" Aluminum iMac.

=)

[Wagh]

I had a Bad Axe2. Lots of features but nothing is put forth with much effort. Thing died the second day I had it.

Check out the Evga 680i.

[Stormwatch]

*cough* hackintosh *cough*

[MulletMan13]

*cough* hackintosh *cough*

=)

[Stormwatch]

Mine is mostly rock-solid, but it has a few little quirks... well, better that than Windows.

And be sure to check the compatibility lists at the OSx86 wiki.

[MulletMan13]

Yeah I bought based on those Wikis. What components are you using?

[Stormwatch]

cpu ... Dual Core Pentium E 2140 @ 1.6GHz (overclocked to 1.92)
mobo ... Gigabyte 945GZM-S2
video ... Intel GMA 950 (onboard)
ram ... 2GB
hd ... 250GB, Seagate ST3250310AS
dvd ... LG GSA-H54N

Known issues:
* if I try to restart, the machine hangs.
* "sleep" button on my PS/2 keyboard freezes the machine.
* two keys not recognized (brazilian keyboards are a bit of a hack -- 107 keys, most others have 105).

[SuperMegatron]

The video card is overkill nothing on osx needs it.

[SuperMegatron]

cpu ... Dual Core Pentium E 2140 @ 1.6GHz (overclocked to 1.92)
mobo ... Gigabyte 945GZM-S2
video ... Intel GMA 950 (onboard)
ram ... 2GB
hd ... 250GB, Seagate ST3250310AS
dvd ... LG GSA-H54N

Known issues:
* if I try to restart, the machine hangs.
* "sleep" button on my PS/2 keyboard freezes the machine.
* two keys not recognized (brazilian keyboards are a bit of a hack -- 107 keys, most others have 105).

Did you go under the keyboard settings in system preferences and select a brazilian keyboard. The option is there they list like 4 different ones on mine.

[MulletMan13]

The video card is overkill nothing on osx needs it.

.... perhaps the fact that I will be playing games on the Windows side explains it?

[Roofus]

Unless you use 64-bit operating systems, you'll only be able to use about 3 gigs of RAM.

[MulletMan13]

Unless you use 64-bit operating systems, you'll only be able to use about 3 gigs of RAM.

I am aware of this, and I will be dual booting two 64 bit OS's.

[mariobro]

Stormwatch, I had those same issues. I don't remember well ( I'm no UNIX guru), but I followed some directions on the osx86 forums, and the problems were fixed. Except for the keyboard, wihich sometimes forgets its settings (those who only use English need not worry).

Mulletman, you've come up with some sweet system specs. I believe the 975 Intel chipset is a no-brainer for osx86. With your two drives, I suggest a sweet dual-boot setup. I mean, not with the Darwin bootloader, which works well, but with the boot menu in your bios. You can just install Tiger in the first drive, and say, Windows (gasp!) in the second drive. Then, you just call up your BIOS boot menu at startup, select your boot device, and voila! Two PCs in one. I've tried it, and I have an Audigy card installed, when I boot into OS X, I jsut use the integrated Azalia audio, and when I boot into Windows, the Audigy. same can be done with video. It depends on your BIOS, but I guess we can asume that Bad Axe motherboards can handle this.

On a different note, I feel your pain. I fondly recall the days when using a Mac meant you were doing some serious shit; while now it frequently means someone is syncing their Ipod. The whole "fashion" thing is getting a bit out of hand. Back in the day, I used to be a semi-Mac zealot, now those people terrify me...

Oh, and by the way, on my budget Hackintosh, I've been doing some serious shit (graphic design, HD video editing), and it's been working like a charm.

[Stormwatch]

The video card is overkill nothing on osx needs it.

.... perhaps the fact that I will be playing games on the Windows side explains it?

Hey, the Mac side has games too!