Bucket's Lightroom Build: Core i7 3770 - GA-Z77X-UP5 TH - 16GB RAM - HD-4000

bucket772 · Feb 9, 2013

Comments

First off a huge thanks to all the members here for helping me with this build.

I'm a part time photographer. I switched to Mac back in 2007 with a MBP 2.2 C2D. It has been my workhorse through the years with Lightroom and Photoshop. I was working for a company shooting emergency scenes (fire/rescue). The job got me into some light video editing so Premiere Pro was added to the suite. With the acquisition of a Canon 7d and a Hero2 GoPro, I realized the limitations on the MBP (especially with 10.8.2. Ran rally slow and fans were almost always spinning full speed.

So while converting my basement into a digital darkroom/small studio, I kept picturing a 27" iMac on the corner. Then after thinking about the limited storage (not wanting a desktop full of externals), the inability to easily repair it and not wanting to be held hostage to whatever display Apple used I started thinking maybe a Hackintosh was in order. I was skeptical it first remembering all the hoops that had to me jumped through before. I stumbled on this site and It looked easy. After reading and re-reading some of the builds from members doing photo/video work I decided on the above configuration.

THE BUILD

It's been quite a few years since I've put together a system, but I do have basic knowledge and felt as though I could handle the build. I started with attaching a static strap and mounting the board. All the necessary risers were already installed in the case. I installed the power supply fan down and connected it to the board. Next in went the processor. I still have the stock cooler on. This is my first Hack build and figured I should stay away from overclocking for now so it should be fine. There is a ton of room in this case so a larger cooler will not be a problem should I find the need for one. After the processor and the RAM I installed the drives. Both went in the tool-less trays as expected. I installed a third 80gb SATA that I had laying around and this is where VMWare looks for the Windows stuff. All in all the build went fine. The case is nice and the extended sides made for tidy cable routing. No shortage of SATA ports inside. The front ports for FW, USB and sound were connected and now for the power up.

THE BOOT

Here is where the problems started. I plugged in the PS and hit the power button. Result? NOTHING. No fans, no drives, no lights of any kind. Changed power cables, outlets, verified all connections and still no joy. I figured something was DOA. I figured I would start with the PS. All of my builds in the past the fan on the PS would kick right on. I didn't realize this one didn't. I looked on line and found a way to jump a PS to test. I connected an old drive and disconnected everything else. Following the instructions the drive powered up. So now I think the MB is DOA but then after re-connecting everything, the power button on the board started blinking then the system powered up and seemed to be working fine. Couldn't figure it out but it was working so I didn't mind at that point. It boots into the BIOS and I make the following changes:

BIOS and MultiBeast Configuration for Mountain Lion 10.8.2
I followed the builds from BoomR's http://www.tonymacx86.com/golden-bu...core-i7-3770k-ga-z77x-up5-th-16gb-hd4000.html and http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...7-3770k-ga-z77x-up5-th-photography-beast.html

BIOS was up to date from factory. I set the boot option to P0 which is the Samsung 840 under the BIOS Features.

Under the Peripherals tab

I enabled both XHCI and EHCI hand-off to Enabled.
I enabled Intel Virtualization Technology.
I disabled Wake on LAN.
Thunderbolt was set to Wake From Thunderbolt=Disabled

I am using the HD4000 graphics for now and so I made sure the Init Display First was set to IGFX and 64M memory

I have no Thunderbolt devices, and it does not seem to have any effect when using the Thunderbolt as a miniDisplayPort connection to the monitor.

I restart following the UniBeast instructions, and up comes the desktop.

Once on the desktop, I opened Safari and downloaded MultiBeast and followed some others configs from similar configurations.

I left the System Definition as MacPro 3,1.

I reboot, and now I have another issue. The UniBeast boatload would show then the grey Apple bootscreen. Then the display would go dark. If I power cycled the monitor it would display fine. I started to search here for the issue but realized I couldn't get online. All my other network devices showed up. Just no internet. I changed some setting in MB and rebooted. Still having the screen issue and no internet. Tried all kinds of network settings and nothing would work. The plus side is that I had audio.

Since it only took about 10 minutes to install I wiped the drive and reinstalled.

Now I started getting the boot0: error. I followed this guide http://www.tonymacx86.com/25-boot0-error-official-guide.html and everything is back to normal.

I re-run MultiBeast and changed System Definition to iMac 13,1, mainly because of the annoying power cycling of the monitor I have to do. I thought maybe it was because of the lack of Thunderbolt on Mac Pro. I didn't know this for sure, I was just guessing. After reboot I still have the screen issue and now getting the popping in the audio http://www.tonymacx86.com/general-help/88117-plop-sound-audio-gigabyte-ga-z77x-up5-th.html

BUT, I have internet.

So for those keeping score:

1st MB boot was MacPro3,1
No internet, normal sound, screen issue

2nd MB boot (after clean install) was iMac 13,1
Internet, sound popping, screen issue

After talking with DBP and Stork I changed the system def back to MacPro3,1. This was done simply by running MB and making the change. No re-install or anything else needed.

Reboot again and internet works and audio does not pop. SUCCESS!!!

I still have the screen issue and to make a long story short, by editing the org.chameleon.Boot.plist file in the /Extras folder I was able to fix it.

I guess the monitor didn't like the low res bootload and grey Apple boot screen then the high res desktop. So adding

<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>2560x1440x32</string>

forces the system to boot in high res.

Back to the MoBo not powering up. When I took the case apart to add the windows drive, the problem came back of not powering up. Knowing that everything works I knew there had to be a problem somewhere. I disconnected everything from the board and pulled the board out. I hooked up the power and it fired right up. I remount the board and one by one start plugging thins back in. Once I got to the front USB plug, I found the problem. Whenever the front ports are hooked up, it is shorting out.

For now I just have it disconnected until I feel like taking the case apart and seeing what the problem is.

Thanks again to all that have helped and posted similar problems.

Stork · Feb 9, 2013

Great job! I'm glad DBP and I were able to help. :thumbup:

Was the case front panel USB assembly the cause of your short? How did you fix it as you stated "problem solved"?

Solidww · Feb 14, 2013

Very nice build. Congratulations! Enjoy and happy editing.

dsilver · Feb 15, 2013

Hello,
i have one question.
I read that you are using the iogear gbu521 bluetooth dongle. Does everything works fine with this? For example after wake from sleep, your apple bluetooth keyboard and apple magic mouse do reconnect or auto connect?
My iogear gbu521 bluetooth adapter let the hack awake but do not reconnect. Do you have the same problem and any ideas to solve?
Thanks so far.

bucket772 · Feb 16, 2013

It will wake the computer from sleep. Usually the mouse is the first to connect. The keyboard usually later. I don't know how its waking it up but then not connecting right away. I have the dongle plugged into a USB2 port in the back if thats any help

bucket772 · Feb 16, 2013

Stork said:
Was the case front panel USB assembly the cause of your short? How did you fix it as you stated "problem solved"?

The problem solved must have been left over from a cut and paste session.

I am going to call newegg next week and see what my options are. I would rather not RMA the case because of a lousy front panel. Maybe they will let me send them just that or give me different type of front panel at a discount. I would like one with esata, and perhaps a card reader.

I'll keep you posted. However I think it must me something internal with the panel. I took it out so it wasn't connected to the chassis and tried powering the mobo. Same result.

macnb · Feb 16, 2013

bucket772 said:
It will wake the computer from sleep. Usually the mouse is the first to connect. The keyboard usually later. I don't know how its waking it up but then not connecting right away. I have the dongle plugged into a USB2 port in the back if thats any help

I have the same motherboard as you.
I solved the bluetooth connection lag issue after wake by changing a BIOS setting:
DISABLE Internal CPU PLL Over voltage in the BIOS.
(M.I.T. > Advanced Frequency Settings > Advanced CPU Core Features > INTERNAL CPU PLL OVERVOLTAGE)

See my post #5 here

Try it.

dsilver · Feb 16, 2013

Ok sorry,
i think i didn´t describe my problem correctly.
I mean when i wake up my "hack" by the apple keyboard or the apple magic mouse, the keyboard and the mouse don´t reconnect / auto connect !!!

Search

Bucket's Lightroom Build: Core i7 3770 - GA-Z77X-UP5 TH - 16GB RAM - HD-4000

bucket772

Stork

Admin

Solidww

dsilver

bucket772

bucket772

macnb

dsilver

Forum

Guides

Downloads