$295 "PovoMac" — The Cheapest "Hackintosh" Ever!

[zombierau]

off top... works great pc architecture with x on it
off top... my book brow freaks me on the touch in my amp ) ...makes sounds like a mf""
on top... thx for the great work you did for a good software converse you did ... i dont know that knolegde

 

[trs96]

Well, the performance difference between PCIE2 and PCIE3 with current hardware is essentially zero. PCIE3 can have up to a 10% performance increase compared to PCIE2 in certain situations (i.e. triple or quad GPU configurations), but that's about it. PCIE3 isn't a make or break feature inclusion, especially not for "PovoMac" purposes.


For the Intel Celeron G1610, $70 should be the maximum price, as the Intel Pentium G2120 already occupies the $90-100 segment, and the Intel Celeron G1620 will need to slot in between them. Speaking of which, if the Intel Pentium G2120 works for "Hackintosh" purposes, so should the Intel Celeron G1610/G1620. Unfortunately, the Intel Pentium G2120 isn't available in Australia (where as, it has been available in the U.S since September 2012), so I can't test it myself.

No graphics card needed with a non- HD3000 or HD400 cpu! It's possible with the Intel Pentium G2020. It's not as good as the HD4000 or even 3000 for that matter but it will help to know this in a pinch when doing a customac install with a graphics card that is unsupported.

See post #4 http://www.tonymacx86.com/desktop-compatibility/90662-pentium-dual-core-g2020-hackintoshable.html

Just wanted the Povomac thread to know about the results I got with a G2020 and H77N-Wifi combo. I'd like to see others try this and report back the results. TRS

 

[trs96]

Well, that's what "povo" means... "poverty".

The $322 PovoMac Updated for Spring 2013 (For US forum members short on cache) About $270 w/ your old mATX / ATX case and PSU.

This is my version of the $295 PovoMac that will give the most BFYB. As of Spring 2013, for only 27 dollars more you'll get a very fast, quiet Customac. You could go with a 64GB SSD and save 30 dollars but the extra space will be needed eventually.

I used pcpartpicker to search for the lowest prices. I also frequently check Techbargains for great deals too.

I've found the GT610 very easy to get working (1GB version is fine). The only extra step*** to full functioning is to modify the GT610 Nvidia kext. see here for more about that: http://www.tonymacx86.com/graphics/64658-nvidia-gt610-10-8-fix.html
*** 5-26-13 UPDATE: This step is no longer necessary for Mountain Lion. With 10.8.3 the GT610 works OOB with GraphicsEnabler=No boot flag.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-HD3 $63 at Amazon Fully compatible with ML, UEFI bios, compatible Audio and Lan chips.
Has HDMI and DVI outputs

CPU: Intel Celeron G1610 $47.00 at Amazon This is Ivy Bridge and the integrated graphics work to a degree but you'll still need a gfx card. This is not your "fathers" Celeron, these are really good. (Can also get it 12 dollars cheaper at Microcenter, in store only.)

Graphics: Asus GT610 silent $44.00 at Amazon. Great card, use it myself with no issues with ML 10.8.2

Storage: Samsung 120 GB SSD $93.00 at Amazon An SSD will really speed this PovoMac up to 520MB/S reads.

Here's the exact current prices of the 1st 4 items at Amazon
Amazon.com Povomac core components.

If you have a Microcenter close by I highly recommend the I3-3225 in combo with the above mentioned motherboard and SSD. Then no graphics card is necessary, you've got the excellent HD4000 graphics built in.
All three components together only cost $245 Amazing deal even Amazon can't beat.


Ram: 1x4gb 1333 Mhz Kingston value ram $25.00 - You can add another 4GB stick later on.
http://www.macmall.com/p/5685759?dpno=7878807&source=zwb12166

PSU: Corsair CX430 $20.00 AR at Newegg Very reliable PSU. I've bought lots of them.

Case $30 Choose the best case you can get for under 30 dollars, watch for sales and rebates
Newegg is great for deals on PC cases. Better yet reuse an old one and save 30 dollars.

So there you have it for $322.00 US a very fast, quiet and capable Customac. Everything from
Amazon.com qualifies for free shipping. Newegg is usually free too.

Good luck on your build and remember to buy Mountain Lion from the App Store

Enjoying the new Customac you just built yourself.....Priceless

 

[trs96]

Hey Guys! So I just started getting into this whole PovoMac idea, and it is really awesome! Thank you very much, Domo! Anyways, I was messing around a little bit on Newegg, and I pieced together a computer that seems to be better then the original PovoMac, and for a price of couple dollars more. 297 CAD. I want you guys to let me know what you think.

These are the links-

----------------------------------

Case: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168111

ODD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

GPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121475

CPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116405

RAM: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394

Mobo: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128527

PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817553013

IMHO it's way better to go with an Ivy Bridge CPU and Motherboard and you can do it for about the same price or less.

See the previous post #143 for all the details. All components should be available in Canada.

 

[armadaskier4123]

IMHO it's way better to go with an Ivy Bridge CPU and Motherboard and you can do it for about the same price or less.

See the previous post #143 for all the details. All components should be available in Canada.

Thanks a lot for your post about the revised parts!! I just ordered the Gigabyte GA-B75M-HD3 from NCIX.ca for 69.99. I also upgraded the processor form the Pentium to a Core i3 3220. I also bought an Asus GTX 650 for upgraded graphics performance. Quite a price difference but the performance I hope is going to be worth it. I'll be sure to post results once the motherboard and other parts arrive. Thanks again!!

 

[trs96]

Thanks a lot for your post about the revised parts!! I just ordered the Gigabyte GA-B75M-HD3 from NCIX.ca for 69.99. I also upgraded the processor form the Pentium to a Core i3 3220. I also bought an Asus GTX 650 for upgraded graphics performance. Quite a price difference but the performance I hope is going to be worth it. I'll be sure to post results once the motherboard and other parts arrive. Thanks again!!

Looks like it will be a very nice build. I really like the newer, easier to navigate UEFI bios that all the
Ivy bridge boards have. A DSDT is then unnecessary. In the US those lucky enough to live near a Micro
Center store can get that GB board for 25 dollars in an I3 combo deal. WOW

http://www.tonymacx86.com/deals-day/95017-ga-b75m-hd3-24-99-microcenter.html

 

[armadaskier4123]

So I've got a little bit of bad news as far as the motherboard goes. So it arrived today, and I got my rig all setup and was getting excited to have a hackintosh, but when I loaded up the USB drive that i have my lion installer on, the whole system reboots whenever I try and get into the installer. Like, I don't even get the grey apple loading screen. I load up the USB drive, and when I press 'enter' to load Mac OS X, the screen goes black for a few seconds, flashes the grey apple logo and the whole computer restarts. I have tried bootflags galore, but to no avail. No combination I tried would work. I even removed the graphics card and just tried loading the installer with the onboard HD 2500 graphics. This is getting pretty frustrating. And I have also followed all of the proper UEFI motherboard preparation settings, and still no luck. Much help would be appreciated!! I don't know what else to do.
Tanner

 

[macmodifier]

What motherboard and processor are you using? I was thinking about doing this build but after reading your post I am nervous.

 

[trs96]

So I've got a little bit of bad news as far as the motherboard goes. So it arrived today, and I got my rig all setup and was getting excited to have a hackintosh, but when I loaded up the USB drive that i have my lion installer on, the whole system reboots whenever I try and get into the installer.

If you are installing Lion and not Mountain Lion from the unibeast usb either read the following:
http://legacy.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=59052

Or make a ML unibeast installer and try that.

 

[armadaskier4123]

Update: Thank you so much trs96, I was nearly pulling my hair out from frustration. Anyways, I read the article you posted about installing Lion on Ivy Bridge systems, and I guess the behaviour I was experiencing was due to an incompatible kernel. I have started downloading Mountain Lion on my friends iMac, and will use the latest version of Unibeast to make a bootable USB drive. I'll have to wait until I'm done school and work to continue my work with this. After all, I'm but a grade 10 student I'll post updates later tonight!