New member,1st post; build recommendation not to highest spec

[BrianBoyd]

Background;

Built own amplifiers 60 years ago (valves, loose components, solder etc).

Bought 2 Early 2008 iMacs, a 20” & 24”; relaced WD HDDs in both after failures @ years; installed 2TB Seagate Barracudas in each, 6GB RAM in 24”, 4GB in 20”. 24” running OS10.10, 20” still on 10.6.8 (have the DVD).

24” failed on power surge despite using surge protector, replaced PCB but still dead.

Was going to buy 2nd hand early 2008 or 2009 as both models are reparable but prices are too high for machines of 11/12 years old with ugrade limited to OS10.11.

Hate Apple gaffer tape construction making own repairs difficult & more expensive (& environmentally unfriendly), new macs overpriced for standard quality componnts but prefer OS10 to Windows (although still need to use Windows for legacy database (Borland Paradox). Do not need "all-in-one".

Then occured to me that somebody may have built their own machines running OS10 – so here I am !!!
-----------------
I do not need the latest components but would like to be able to upgrade at least to OS10.14, I do not game but do do some video editing, do not need the best display but certainly better than simple office/surfing standard.

I have watched a YouTube video “Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Apple Computer on The Cheap
ANTONIO VILLAS-BOAS, TECH INSIDER ,15 JULY 2016” A good start but a bit confusing on software transfer.
----------------
Request;
Would like to hear from someone who can suggest the best (or optimum) build for this level of need.

Q: Would it be possible to simply insert my existing HDD with OS10.10?

 

[louiefriesen]

Background;

Built own amplifiers 60 years ago (valves, loose components, solder etc).

Bought 2 Early 2008 iMacs, a 20” & 24”; relaced WD HDDs in both after failures @ years; installed 2TB Seagate Barracudas in each, 6GB RAM in 24”, 4GB in 20”. 24” running OS10.10, 20” still on 10.6.8 (have the DVD).

24” failed on power surge despite using surge protector, replaced PCB but still dead.

Was going to buy 2nd hand early 2008 or 2009 as both models are reparable but prices are too high for machines of 11/12 years old with ugrade limited to OS10.11.

Hate Apple gaffer tape construction making own repairs difficult & more expensive (& environmentally unfriendly), new macs overpriced for standard quality componnts but prefer OS10 to Windows (although still need to use Windows for legacy database (Borland Paradox). Do not need "all-in-one".

Then occured to me that somebody may have built their own machines running OS10 – so here I am !!!
-----------------
I do not need the latest components but would like to be able to upgrade at least to OS10.14, I do not game but do do some video editing, do not need the best display but certainly better than simple office/surfing standard.

I have watched a YouTube video “Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Apple Computer on The Cheap
ANTONIO VILLAS-BOAS, TECH INSIDER ,15 JULY 2016” A good start but a bit confusing on software transfer.
----------------
Request;
Would like to hear from someone who can suggest the best (or optimum) build for this level of need.

Q: Would it be possible to simply insert my existing HDD with OS10.10?

So first of all, what is your budget (I do better with CAD, but USD is totally fine)

About that HDD: You could transfer the data from that old HDD onto a new SSD (when I upgraded my HDD in my MacBook Pro to an SSD, boot times went from 7 mintues to 30 seconds) when installing macOS.

Would you want to be updating from Yosemite to Mojave or Catalina by any chance?

 

[BrianBoyd]

W.R.T discs, the plan was to instal the existing HDD initially but with an SSD to boot from (as recommended by just about everybody). I would certainly ugrade but my priority is to get a machine up and running, OS updating can be done later, However, your reply does not tell me if simply installing the existing HDD with 10.10 already installed would boot on the new machine. Or to put it another way, how would this scheme fit in with multibeast and unibeast ?

 

[louiefriesen]

W.R.T discs, the plan was to instal the existing HDD initially but with an SSD to boot from (as recommended by just about everybody). I would certainly ugrade but my priority is to get a machine up and running, OS updating can be done later, However, your reply does not tell me if simply installing the existing HDD with 10.10 already installed would boot on the new machine. Or to put it another way, how would this scheme fit in with multibeast and unibeast ?

I tried booting from an old iMac HDD and an old MacBook Pro HDD on my Hackintosh, and they both didn't work (as they do not have a bootloader on them).

It's kind of a requirement to have kexts and boot arguments (if you don't know what they are, they are basically drivers) in order for a Hackintosh to work.

Also updating can be quite hard on a Hackintosh, so I would just recommend installing the version of macOS onto the SSD that you want to use for some time, then eventually follow an update guide.

 

[trs96]

Then occured to me that somebody may have built their own machines running OS10 – so here I am !!!

Welcome to the party. Even though you're a little late. What kind of a hardware budget do you have ? Do you only want to build it yourself or is a pre-built Dell or HP acceptable ?

 

[BrianBoyd]

I didn't resond to budget as I have not given it much thought but the tatget would be around £1000 ($US 1200). I will price the suggested main components suggested, add the ancilliaries, screen etc and see what that looks like. It would be nice if I could use the existing 24" apple screen - I hate waste !!

 

[louiefriesen]

I didn't resond to budget as I have not given it much thought but the tatget would be around £1000 ($US 1200). I will price the suggested main components suggested, add the ancilliaries, screen etc and see what that looks like. It would be nice if I could use the existing 24" apple screen - I hate waste !!

I think using the Apple screen would kind of be hard unless you can find something that converts it into DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort.

Are you comfortable building a Hackintosh (like putting all the parts together), or have a friend who can help you?


Some channels that I personally watch, and taught me how to build my PC/Hackintosh are (most of them are more-PC oriented, but still have a few videos on Hackintoshes, except Bitwit, which has a really good build guide):

Linus Tech Tips
Snazzy Labs
Bitwit
Austin Evans


Other channels I would recommend, which are also PC oriented, are:

Hardware Canucks
Paul's Hardware

 

[trs96]

I will price the suggested main components suggested, add the ancilliaries, screen etc and see what that looks like.

If you can spend up to $1200 and are fine with running Catalina I'd look at the latest 10th gen CPUs and Z490 motherboards. You can make a build that should last you 8-10 years.

Early Adopters Guide Comet Lake 400 Series

www.tonymacx86.com

 

[louiefriesen]

If you can spend up to $1200 and are fine with running Catalina I'd look at the latest 10th gen CPUs and Z490 motherboards. You can make a build that should last you 8-10 years.

Early Adopters Guide Comet Lake 400 Series

www.tonymacx86.com

But just get a reliable power supply (if you don't want it to blow up), like from one of these brands:

Seasonic (try to go for Seasonic if possible)
Corsair
EVGA

Basically, don't go for a random or cheap brand.

 

[louiefriesen]

@BrianBoyd Do you want the Hackintosh to be really quiet, and what size?