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Building a CustoMac: CustoMac Mini 2012

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Here I am back again after a long struggle to get my system to work. To achieve any success I had to remove the GT-640 graphics card and just go with the Intel 4000 internal system. In this configuration it works spectacularly well with a geekbench score of 11101. But I would like it to have the NVIDIA Graphics working.
I could never get it to boot with the Gigabyte GT-640 in place, either from the unibeast installation thumbdrive or after putting it into the working system set up with internal graphics after Multibeast (non DSDT) as advised. The rotating icon led only to a grey screen with a bitten apple sitting there taunting me.
I tried numerous bios options and boot modifiers e.g. -v -x, GraphicsEnabler=Yes or No. I have not tried the Graphics options in Multibeast as I don't yet quite understand them. The key to making it work might be there - maybe somebody could advise??

MB: Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K
RAM: Corsair memory 16GB Vengence Performance Kit (2x8GB) DDR3
HD: Samsung 250GB SSD and Seagate Baracuda 1TB
Graphics: Gigabyte GT640 (GV-N640OC-2GI)

Edit
Now 2 days later the system will boot with GraphicsEnabler=no. I don't know why it started to work but now it seems OK. Geekbench score is over 12000 (64 bit)
 
Put together the H77n-WiFi with the I3-3225 and 8 gigs of ram. Installed Mountain Lion using UniBeast and an older version of Multibeast. Gray screens are no fun... After downloading the latest Multibeast, reinstalling (30 minute installs I can do a number of times and still be way ahead of Windoz) and selecting the 1080p option, (using DVI interface) it came up and worked like a champ. Follow the masters instructions (tonymac) and you will be up and running. Here are a few things that I found (from others in this forum) that helped and REALLY makes this system purr.

In the BIOS, set the graphics memory to default (64 m) and the other graphics memory option to "MAX" (sorry I don't remember the actual setting name) (In sysinfo the graphic card shows 512m of ram)
In multibeast select "Mac Mini" as the system type (on the H67N it really made a difference with graphics)
In the plist file in /Extra change darkwake from =0 to =no (took care of the auto sleep issue)
I set the hibernate mode to 0 from 1 (don't know if that made any real difference)

Other than an USB issue that I'm not sure whether it was a "oop erator" error or one of the many settings in BIOS that I changed that fixed it and I currently, in sleep, cannot wake from LAN, this system is a jewel. I've (the system, not me personally) been up almost a week now and NO issues.

Anyone having issues just make sure that you are following the directions to the letter (make a check list on paper and mark the items off as you do them) and along with this forum, google and erase and reload you should ultimately have a great learning experience and a wonderful system.

As a side note, I'm glad that Apple is not killing the hackintosh. Because of this string of hackintosh systems that I've built (4 years now), we have purchased an iMac, Apple TV 1 and 2, 3 Iphones, iPod touch, Macbook, 3 iPads and 7 OSX licenses (family pac, upgrades, etc.). I think that Apple has come out way ahead on this one.

Thanks TonyMac for all your hard work and a donation is on it's way!
 
Jet Setter
Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac |  i7 8700K |  Radeon Vega Frontier Edition Air
I'm looking to build a custom mini (my first one) with the following parts :
MB: Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K
RAM: Corsair memory 8GB Vengence Performance Kit (2x4GB)
HD: Samsung 250GB SSD and Seagate Baracuda 1TB


My question is : is it perfectly compatible to run MacOS ? I don't want to have any freeze or something which don't work ?


thanks for your advice
 
The parts that you listed look good but I've not had any experience with the SSD. Also SATA drives usually work be they Baracuda or WD or ...

My suggestion, link182, is that if you are looking for perfection, spend the extra $100 to $300 and buy a mac mini :) and even then you will still have lockups and issues sometimes. Hackintosh adventure is a great opportunity for experience, education, price discount, hardware upgradeability and DIY repair. These systems can be used for "production" but don't "count" on them. Tomorrow Apple could come out with a security patch that has code in it that will kill hackintosh and then you are stuck with the current version.

Build this, learn, have fun, share and show off to your friends what you have accomplished. If it doesn't work like you want, then you have a great Linux system!

2 cents...
 
@blackstaff : yes I'm aware that's an adventure to build a full machine by your own, and there some pleasure to do it :)
I'm aware that we can have some troubles, but I'm looking for a configuration the most standard or with a real community who can helps (thanks Tonyx86). I just wonder to have only some "minors" bug, not blocking for a daily use. I don't want to have a black screen, and to not manage to solve it, and to be stuck forever :(

It's why with this configuration that I've post above, I hope to have an Hackintosh without too much problem (some users seems to have it and are happy with this config)

PS : sorry for my bad english
 
Can you dual screen of the Intel HD 4000 using the Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI ? I am trying to save up for a 660 GTX Ti so in the interim looking to run 2 x 20" screen via DVI & DVI to HDMI adapter.
 
link182;
Thanks for the clarification. Sometimes people are looking for commercial grade at the hobby price. I hear what you are saying about "will this really work". I put together the H67 mini and had issues until the 10.8.2 release, THEN it became a sweet system. I can not help with the Z77 and the i5. My H77 and i3 work great (WD 1TB green drive). No lockups at all and I use sleep not power down. Except for WOL, it is as solid as my macbook. Hope someone else can give you their experiences with the i5 and Z77.
 
Article: Building a CustoMac: CustoMac Mini 2012

[Success] Hi all, I assembled the Custo mini Pro last weekend and managed to finish everything tonight. What I would like to share with you are my lessons learned and in particular, my mistakes ;-). I have never done this before so I am very proud. No matter the challenges, this Forum has the answer.
First of all: follow Tonys guide. If you do that, you will hardly face any difficulties. However, I thought I had a big problem with getting the on board Intel HD 4000 working. I failed and tried a lot of things mentioned in this forum. Some observations:
- I had no difficulties installing OSX Unibeast, but restarting the computer afterwards was difficult. Solution: disable VT-d in BIOS.
- I did not have the graphics right. Mistake 1. I only found out tonight that my display was connected through VGA (previously used with my G4). Changed it to DVI.
- Mistake 2. I did not save the DSDT as DSDT.aml so Multibeast could not install properly.
As soon as I installed everything again through Unibeast and Multibeast and the right cable was used, no problems whatsoever. Happy to answer questions. This forum is really great. Thanks a lot Tony and MacMan and of course, everybody in this community!

I choose this build because of the sheer power. I will use it for Photo editing and making high resolution prints.
This computer has noting to do with 'Mini' in terms of power. I have 1 TB Seagate and two SSD's. Geekbench only in 32-bit mode: 12703

Good Luck!
 

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