lifehacker.com— Two years ago, I detailed how to build a Hackintosh for under $800 --then covered how to do the same with less hacking. Now that Snow Leopard is out, we're revisiting the Hackintosh, building a Hack Pro from scratch for roughly $900.
Sep 3, 2009View in Crawl 4
QFT. You would be paying 200+ for a beta product. Every firmware update brings as many problems as it attempts to solve.ASEM's management isn't helping matters either. Just hit the EFi-X forums and head to the most viewed and commented on thread to see how ASEM is poorly handling its consumers (registration required):<a class="user" href="http://forum.efi-x.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&amp;t=4366" rel="nofollow">http://forum.efi-x.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&amp;t=43 ...</a>8 days and 200+ replies on.... and still no official statement to be found. ASEM just told its consumers that V1 won't support Snow Leopard and that they have to shell out an extra $100 and send back their old unit in order to upgrade to V1.1 if they desired SL compatibility. They didn't even bother to give a technical explanation for that. They are truly underestimating the intelligence of their consumers.
Try this. Configure a laptop to the specifications you want. One with Blu-Ray, a fingerprint reader or an Expresscard slot for under $2.5k.Perhaps I don't want a 13" screen, a magnetic power adapter or a f**king backlit keyboard. When you don't lock yourself into one manufacturer's design whim, you get a lot more choice.
Win 7 RC is free, OS X was a x86 distro (iPC). 2x2gb sticks (DDR2 800) I already had, so I paid 43 for an additional 2 x 2GB. 2.83Ghz Yorkfield (9550) overclocked actually higher then 3Ghz (3.4) and rock solid. 169 for 24" Acer LCD. All the parts you listed above I purchased for well under $700. DvD burners and such are nominal, 25 bucks max. Why use firewire800 when eSata works perfectly fine and is 4 times faster. Don't use wireless becase nooone who sits at their comp at least 5 hours a day should use wireless on a desktop. Do have a webcam which I did not factor in the price because a webcam isn't really a "given" when it comes to standard desktop configurations.So yes, give or take 50 bucks, it was all "around" 900. For all I care, add another $100,... $200... $500. I could probably purchase all my componetns from the most expensive overpriced retailers on the internet, and still come in with enough left over to build 2. Not really sure why you're trying to "catch" me with nickel and dimes, because it's a moot point. Sorry to dissapoint. I'm glad you got a few fanbois to digg you up, probably made their day to see your post trying to punch a hole through my true story.
I'm not trying to nickel & dime you, merely trying to point out that your comparison is hardly fair when you leave out both OS licenses, overclock your processor saving +$100 without mentioning it, use DDR2 RAM & mobo, and the cheapest 24" LCD money can buy... (24" panels with 1920x1200 resolution start at around $300-350 fyi)even if you personally have no use for firewire800, wireless, bluetooth, etc... they still come stock on every mac in the lineup, and should either be included in a comparison, or at the very least mention that you are leaving them out. I've built hackintoshes before, there's one under my desk right now, another one upstairs, and several more in the hands of friends. I'm no stranger to price comparisons, and I use newegg as it's usually very competitive.As for building 2 machines for the price of one, I assume you know that server parts to match a $3300 Mac Pro are considerably more expensive than consumer grade parts? dual socket Nehalem mobos start around $300, and the processors are $380 each...
I don't think anyone builds a hackintosh mirroring the spec sheet of a specific mac in mind. The whole point from a budget standpoint is to replicate the speed and performance using parts considerably cheaper. I'm aware Mac Pro's use server components. I'm also aware that the 24" displays in the 24" imac is not a great panel, and if it were a stand alone display, it would barely be considered average.Who the hell cares if you use the "cheapest" components? Anyone who's into building systems should recognize that cost is never a reflection of quality. It runs, it runs fast, it runs stable. What comes "stock" on mac is irrelevant as well. The other attraction of any custom build is that you only get what you want, and thats what you pay for. Saying a hackintosh doesn't have this or that compared to an OEM mac is a weak argument. It's all about moving the $$ where you need it. Don't need firewire800? Great, spend it towards a better monitor. Don't need bluetooth? Good. spend it towards a nicer keyboard.You keep trying to compare apples to oranges, when in the end, the only thing its really about, is how fast and stable does this thing run, and how much did it cost to get me there. Nit pick all you want, but you, me, anyone who has a remote idea of how to build a good system can always make OS X rigs just as fast if not faster and just as stable for ALWAYS half price, probably less.
RE: " .. But the truth is, I would have still bought the Mac if Windows laptops were given away for free like government cheese. I want a significantly lower-hassle experience; my time is more valuable than that."I am a software engineer and have worked for Microsoft for about 7 years and I love the company. I am in the middle of a 17 hour attempt to upgrade my off the shelf HP computer from Vista to Windows 7. Two hours ago, my wife (who is a pianist) got her copy of Snow Leopard in the mail. She pushed the disk into her freakishly old Macbook, and went off to make lunch. 43 minutes later the apple was upgraded and we were eating. (I'm using it to type this post now. Wait... My HP is rebooting again and requires attention)I wish I had my 16 hours and 17 minutes back :(
ahh the case of fanboys... the Apple fanboy vs the PC fanboy. Oh wait! PC's have fanboys? No nevermind, I was wrong: the Apple fanboy vs the Anti-apple fanboy.Please! If you're a PC "fanboy" identify yourselves!As a long time computer user and having seen most every type of computer and operating system out there, to deny there's any merit in paying more for a Mac would be stupidity. But it works both ways, if you're willing to put in the effort, making your own build is a great option and that can't be denied merit either.So please, STFU and stop the flame wars.P.S. Comparing a Hackintosh to an Apple build of any sorts is going to be apples to oranges. Have you looked at the prices of Dells and Sonys compared to Apples???? You'll find the price differences impressively minimal. Truth is, labor and design comes at a premium. Even a DIYer can appreciate the Mac Pro's internal case design, and few people will deny the solid designs of the macbook pro line.So again, please STFU
They're not an OS community.They don't have any OS.It's just a pirate project.Next they'll be telling you, "don't worry - nothing you download is logged".The iPhone jailbreak hackers were telling everyone their softawre was safe to install - until people reported jailbreak lets iPhones get infected with worms.
musoukaSep 4, 2009
QFT. You would be paying 200+ for a beta product. Every firmware update brings as many problems as it attempts to solve.ASEM's management isn't helping matters either. Just hit the EFi-X forums and head to the most viewed and commented on thread to see how ASEM is poorly handling its consumers (registration required):<a class="user" href="http://forum.efi-x.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&amp;t=4366" rel="nofollow">http://forum.efi-x.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&amp;t=43 ...</a>8 days and 200+ replies on.... and still no official statement to be found. ASEM just told its consumers that V1 won't support Snow Leopard and that they have to shell out an extra $100 and send back their old unit in order to upgrade to V1.1 if they desired SL compatibility. They didn't even bother to give a technical explanation for that. They are truly underestimating the intelligence of their consumers.
ocramSep 4, 2009
Try this. Configure a laptop to the specifications you want. One with Blu-Ray, a fingerprint reader or an Expresscard slot for under $2.5k.Perhaps I don't want a 13" screen, a magnetic power adapter or a f**king backlit keyboard. When you don't lock yourself into one manufacturer's design whim, you get a lot more choice.
wussSep 7, 2009
Win 7 RC is free, OS X was a x86 distro (iPC). 2x2gb sticks (DDR2 800) I already had, so I paid 43 for an additional 2 x 2GB. 2.83Ghz Yorkfield (9550) overclocked actually higher then 3Ghz (3.4) and rock solid. 169 for 24" Acer LCD. All the parts you listed above I purchased for well under $700. DvD burners and such are nominal, 25 bucks max. Why use firewire800 when eSata works perfectly fine and is 4 times faster. Don't use wireless becase nooone who sits at their comp at least 5 hours a day should use wireless on a desktop. Do have a webcam which I did not factor in the price because a webcam isn't really a "given" when it comes to standard desktop configurations.So yes, give or take 50 bucks, it was all "around" 900. For all I care, add another $100,... $200... $500. I could probably purchase all my componetns from the most expensive overpriced retailers on the internet, and still come in with enough left over to build 2. Not really sure why you're trying to "catch" me with nickel and dimes, because it's a moot point. Sorry to dissapoint. I'm glad you got a few fanbois to digg you up, probably made their day to see your post trying to punch a hole through my true story.
fury420Sep 8, 2009
I'm not trying to nickel & dime you, merely trying to point out that your comparison is hardly fair when you leave out both OS licenses, overclock your processor saving +$100 without mentioning it, use DDR2 RAM & mobo, and the cheapest 24" LCD money can buy... (24" panels with 1920x1200 resolution start at around $300-350 fyi)even if you personally have no use for firewire800, wireless, bluetooth, etc... they still come stock on every mac in the lineup, and should either be included in a comparison, or at the very least mention that you are leaving them out. I've built hackintoshes before, there's one under my desk right now, another one upstairs, and several more in the hands of friends. I'm no stranger to price comparisons, and I use newegg as it's usually very competitive.As for building 2 machines for the price of one, I assume you know that server parts to match a $3300 Mac Pro are considerably more expensive than consumer grade parts? dual socket Nehalem mobos start around $300, and the processors are $380 each...
wussSep 8, 2009
I don't think anyone builds a hackintosh mirroring the spec sheet of a specific mac in mind. The whole point from a budget standpoint is to replicate the speed and performance using parts considerably cheaper. I'm aware Mac Pro's use server components. I'm also aware that the 24" displays in the 24" imac is not a great panel, and if it were a stand alone display, it would barely be considered average.Who the hell cares if you use the "cheapest" components? Anyone who's into building systems should recognize that cost is never a reflection of quality. It runs, it runs fast, it runs stable. What comes "stock" on mac is irrelevant as well. The other attraction of any custom build is that you only get what you want, and thats what you pay for. Saying a hackintosh doesn't have this or that compared to an OEM mac is a weak argument. It's all about moving the $$ where you need it. Don't need firewire800? Great, spend it towards a better monitor. Don't need bluetooth? Good. spend it towards a nicer keyboard.You keep trying to compare apples to oranges, when in the end, the only thing its really about, is how fast and stable does this thing run, and how much did it cost to get me there. Nit pick all you want, but you, me, anyone who has a remote idea of how to build a good system can always make OS X rigs just as fast if not faster and just as stable for ALWAYS half price, probably less.
ralphbuSep 18, 2009
RE: " .. But the truth is, I would have still bought the Mac if Windows laptops were given away for free like government cheese. I want a significantly lower-hassle experience; my time is more valuable than that."I am a software engineer and have worked for Microsoft for about 7 years and I love the company. I am in the middle of a 17 hour attempt to upgrade my off the shelf HP computer from Vista to Windows 7. Two hours ago, my wife (who is a pianist) got her copy of Snow Leopard in the mail. She pushed the disk into her freakishly old Macbook, and went off to make lunch. 43 minutes later the apple was upgraded and we were eating. (I'm using it to type this post now. Wait... My HP is rebooting again and requires attention)I wish I had my 16 hours and 17 minutes back :(
bedrockoOct 4, 2009
ahh the case of fanboys... the Apple fanboy vs the PC fanboy. Oh wait! PC's have fanboys? No nevermind, I was wrong: the Apple fanboy vs the Anti-apple fanboy.Please! If you're a PC "fanboy" identify yourselves!As a long time computer user and having seen most every type of computer and operating system out there, to deny there's any merit in paying more for a Mac would be stupidity. But it works both ways, if you're willing to put in the effort, making your own build is a great option and that can't be denied merit either.So please, STFU and stop the flame wars.P.S. Comparing a Hackintosh to an Apple build of any sorts is going to be apples to oranges. Have you looked at the prices of Dells and Sonys compared to Apples???? You'll find the price differences impressively minimal. Truth is, labor and design comes at a premium. Even a DIYer can appreciate the Mac Pro's internal case design, and few people will deny the solid designs of the macbook pro line.So again, please STFU
johnnysoftwareNov 16, 2009
They're not an OS community.They don't have any OS.It's just a pirate project.Next they'll be telling you, "don't worry - nothing you download is logged".The iPhone jailbreak hackers were telling everyone their softawre was safe to install - until people reported jailbreak lets iPhones get infected with worms.
johnnysoftwareNov 16, 2009
The iMac has an HD aspect ratio and doesn't get viruses when you use a memory stick or the web.Toys do that.
johnnysoftwareNov 16, 2009
Really? Well, how much did you pay for your Mac OS X, and how did you buy it, considering it is only legal for Apple hardware?
vastawakeningJun 22, 2010
yeah, but the best and quickest guide to getting hackintosh working is still <a class="user" href="http://tech-chimp.com/2009/10/300-macbook-netbook-with-snow-leopard-osx-10-6-1/" rel="nofollow">http://tech-chimp.com/2009/10/300-macbook-netbook- ...</a>