A homemade Mac – Part 2

Just some further details I forgot from yesterday post. The case itself (and motherboard) isn’t much wider the back panel on an ATX panel.  Also the photo shows that i added an old firewire card I had (to the right)  and it works perfectly!

Hackintosh back panel

Was checking the Macs today at the local Apple store  and I must say the new Macbook seems a bit of an expensive change from the old Macbook… no firewire, bit more disk and a slightly nicer display and for $$$100s more.  I hope Apple know what they are doing in these financially troubled times.  I cant imagine as many students/parents splashing out fr the new Mac prices compared to the old Mac deals from last month.

A homemade Mac – for $155

This project has been coming for a while.  im a linux guy at heart, but work with Windows much of the day. Well since experiencing Vista on my wifes laptop (thank god my workplace sticks with XP) I know my future for a good GUI lies with either Linux or Apple.   Being too tight to just splash out a couple of Thousand $$ to get into Mac to see if I like it I decided a try before I buy. So browsing the local weekly sale at one my favourite local online computer retailers (http://www.ncix.com) I saw an Intel Mini-ITX board and case/PSU, and some RAM…. Figuring I already had A SATA drive and DVD drive for A total extra outlay of $155 im up and running with OSX…

The machine I built is based on the intel Atom D945GCLF2  Mini ITX Motherboard with a dual core Atom chip.

Intel Mini ITX motherboard

It comes as one complete unit with integrated GMA950 gfx chip.  Only has a space for 1 DIMM, so I added a 2GB stick.  It has 2 SATA and 1 PATA device, onboard sound, graphics, network and USB.  Every thing worked on the OSX install,   the only thing not working is the mic in on the soundcard. I also dropped in an old cheapo firewire card in the single PCI slot and it was supported!

As to how I installed OSX on this device, I used the really handy guide at http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=113623  This guide got me a fully working 10.5.4 install and ive been playing with it ever since.

Doesnt look like an Apple

The case my deal came with was a little bit of a tight fit, but with  patience I fitted everything in.  Noise is low and heat is manageable too. The case is strong  to stand an LCD monitor on. Doesn’t look like an Apple but hey that’s not what this about.

So final conclusions, performance probably way below current Mac standards. Compatibility, so far seems about 99% and it serving its purpose, its slowly convincing me of the merit of Macs without risking a serious amount of hard earned cash on the deal. Do I feel guilty? Not a bit, Apple has a long way to go to earn my trust and my $$$. I had the misfortune to be forced to use Macs a couple of time in the mid to early 90s…..  I’m breaking a lifelong vow NEVER to use a Mac again.  So old bad scars take a long time to mend.  But i’m saving for a Mac Pro now…..