SFF HP Elite 8300 W/ Core I7-3770

Glad to hear you got up and running quickly. If HD4000 graphics are good enough you can likely get multi-channel audio with a DP to HDMI adapter. Then you wouldn't even need a 750 Ti. From the displayport.org website:

"DisplayPort supports multi-channel audio and many advanced audio features. DisplayPort to HDMI adapters also include the ability to support HDMI audio."

I've never tried it with an 8300 / HD4000 system but it's worth a try to buy an adapter and see if it works with OS X. Try the HDMI audio automatic script by Toleda:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/new-automatic-hdmi-audio-script-released.184867/
Run it with the DP to HDMI cable connected to your TV/Monitor.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q8ZX1O/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

sweatysumo said:

Worked like a charm (I'm typing on it now). Didn't realize you had to use the DP port for video vs. VGA, but fortunately have a couple of DP monitors. Will plan on getting a 750ti low-profile card or similar eventually for HDMI video/sound.

BTW, I've read these can be picky with RAM, so this is the Crucial 16GB kit I used and can confirm works:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YG9EEW/?tag=tonymacx86com-20.

I'll post my results on pastrychef's thread as well.

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Congrats! I'm sure you will enjoy it. It's a really nice little system.

a little confused by the all the different versions of these things. Should I follow the EZ8000 guide you originally linked to and try to upgrade from there or go with VoiletDragon's El Cap Guide? Any advice would be appreciated.

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To clarify this for other readers of this thread. The main difference between the Elite 8000 and the Elite 8200/8300 is that the latter two models have the newer UEFI firmware. What this means is that you can easily install El Capitan and likely Sierra in the future, on the 8200/8300. The 8000 model will never have UEFI so it is much more complex for installing El Capitan. You need to use the Enoch version of Chameleon for the install of El Capitan first before switching to Clover. The Elite 8000 works great with the Chimera/Unibeast method and older versions of OS X and makes for a quick and easy install of Mt. Lion through Yosemite.

So if you absolutely must run El Cap as your main OS it's best to spend a little more money for one of the newer 8200s or 8300s. The 8300 will also give you 4 rear panel USB 3.0 ports that the 8200 does not.

CPU Mark score for the I7-3770
Here's the numbers from Passmark Software's CPU testing benchmark. (similar to Geekbench testing)



The non-K 3770 still competes very well with the newer Haswell and Skylake parts. Is also 2,000 points higher than the famous gaming chip, I5-3570K which is also Ivy Bridge. Since you can't overclock any CPU in an Elite 8300 there is no need to use the K version overclocking chips. It's also better than the best AMD chips commonly used in gaming rigs. (6 and 8 core versions)

One advantage that the i7-3770 has over the 3770K that's not mentioned often is that the 3770 supports VT-d where the 3770K does not. VT-d is not important to hackintoshing but is a big advantage when virtualizing under vSphere/ESXi.

pastrychef said:

One advantage that the i7-3770 has over the 3770K that's not mentioned often is that the 3770 supports VT-d where the 3770K does not. VT-d is not important to hackintoshing but is a big advantage when virtualizing under vSphere/ESXi.

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+1 The HP 8300 offers the opportunity to still use the I7-3770 even though compatible Ivy Bridge motherboards are extremely rare and very expensive if you can even find one to buy ! I don't think there are more than one or two I.B. OS X compatible Gigabyte motherboards that you could still get on Ebay. On Amazon the few you can buy for $200 + have to be shipped from Asia which makes returns rather complex.

With 1000's of these Elite 8300s coming off lease this year and next, there should be better prices and even more in stock to be purchased. It's probably the most versatile and easy to configure pre-bult desktop that you can buy. Can be used for literally any purpose. OS X/Windows/Linux, a server, an HTPC, for gaming, video/audio editing or just general purpose use like email and internet surfing. If you will just be doing mainly the last two things mentioned, an I7-3770 is probably overkill. One of the I5s like a 3470 would be more than adequate. Just remember to get a compatible discrete graphics card since it has only HD2500 graphics.

trs96 said:

Glad to hear you got up and running quickly. If HD4000 graphics are good enough you can likely get multi-channel audio with a DP to HDMI adapter. Then you wouldn't even need a 750 Ti. From the displayport.org website:

"DisplayPort supports multi-channel audio and many advanced audio features. DisplayPort to HDMI adapters also include the ability to support HDMI audio."

I've never tried it with an 8300 / HD4000 system but it's worth a try to buy an adapter and see if it works with OS X. Try the HDMI audio automatic script by Toleda:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/new-automatic-hdmi-audio-script-released.184867/
Run it with the DP to HDMI cable connected to your TV/Monitor.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Q8ZX1O/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Click to expand...

Confirming that this adapter does work, however it did NOT with the first output I tried it with (a 2012 TCL TV), but did with the 2nd (a somewhat newer Seiki). So keep in mind your mileage may vary, especially if buy cheap TVs...

sweatysumo said:

Confirming that this adapter does work, however it did NOT with the first output I tried it with (a 2012 TCL TV), but did with the 2nd (a somewhat newer Seiki). So keep in mind your mileage may vary, especially if buy cheap TVs...

Click to expand...

Thanks for the report. Are you getting any audio through the DP connection to the TV speakers ?
How did the El Capitan install go ?

Newegg is now selling these HP 8300 / 3770 SFF desktops on their site. Sell for $371 USD shipped.
You really can't build either a Haswell or Skylake I7 system for anywhere near this price point. Just make
sure to remember the limitations of the HP proprietary PSU, rated at 240W. You'll need to get a low profile
graphics card if you want to add one. Also get at least an 8 to 16 GB Crucial Ballistix ram kit to install too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883283392

The current HP Phoenix system with an I7-6700 and 16GB of ram sells for around $900 new. You can get a
decent performing I7-3770 system for much less than half of that.

Hi

My Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H appears to have bitten the dust. Does any one know if the 8300 series will support the unlocked processors? I have a I7-3770K that needs a home.