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Building a CustoMac: Buyer's Guide July 2013

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tonymacx86

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Nov 17, 2009
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Motherboard
Z370N WIFI
CPU
i7 8700K
Graphics
HD 630
Mac
  1. MacBook Air
Classic Mac
  1. Apple
  2. PowerBook
Mobile Phone
  1. iOS
customac.png

When running OS X as your main operating system, supported and compatible components are extremely important. That is why we have created a large selection of pre-configured systems along with a list of options. It is currently a transitional period between Intel's 3rd generation "Ivy Bridge" and 4th generation "Haswell" Core i CPUs and their corresponding new chipset. Because of this, retailers are clearing out old inventory to make way for the new stuff. For those interested in super deals, it is now a very good time to build systems based on our well established recommendations. This month we've added the brand new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 graphics card.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The CustoMac Buyer's Guide has fully compatible parts. Therefore, we are recommending systems based on Intel 3rd generation "Ivy Bridge" components and 7-Series motherboards until there is native kernel support for Haswell. Right now there is no ETA for compatibility. If you're interested in building using bleeding edge parts, check out our Early Adopter's Guide to Haswell CPUs and 8-Series Motherboards.

These might not be the only components that work, but based on our research they're the easiest and best supported options. Use this as a shopping list or as a jumping off point. Either way you'll be supporting the site by purchasing through these links, so thanks in advance!



Table of Contents

Mini-ITX.png
CustoMac Mini (mini-ITX)
Mini-ITX.png
CustoMac Mini Deluxe (mini-ITX)
mATX.png
CustoMac Budget (mATX)
ATX.png
CustoMac Budget (ATX)
ATX.png
CustoMac Pro (ATX)
E-ATX.png
CustoMac Socket 2011 (E-ATX)
mtnlionapp.png
Operating Systems
640.jpg
Graphics Cards
cpu.jpg
CPUs
Mini-ITX.png
Motherboards
hdd.jpg
Drives
h60.jpg
CPU Coolers
650w.jpg
Power Supplies
prodigy.jpg
Cases
logi-mini.jpg
Accessories



CustoMac Mini

The CustoMac Mini is a bare-bones CustoMac in a shoebox sized case featuring a H77 mini-iTX motherboard and a dual-core Ivy Bridge processor. The graphics are integrated, so there's no need for a power-hungry discrete graphics card. The case also includes a power-efficient power supply unit. Less parts, less power, less heat, less cost. Please note that the motherboard's Intel mini-PCIe card includes both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but only the bluetooth features are available under OS X. If you don't use the PCIe slot, we recommend the TP-Link PCIe card below for native Wi-Fi support. Also, there are a few native wifi-only Atheros mini-PCIe replacement card suggestions if you don't need bluetooth.​

cpu.jpg
CPU Intel Core i3-3225 Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Mini-ITX.png
Motherboard GA-H77N-WIFI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ram.jpg
RAM 8GB 1600Mhz DDR3
16GB 1600Mhz DDR3
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
apex.jpg
Case + Power
Supply
Apex MI-008
(w/ 250W Power Supply)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
ssd.jpg
Storage SATA 6Gb/s 120GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 240GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
tplink.jpg
Wifi Card TP-Link PCI Express
Wifi Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



CustoMac Mini Deluxe

The CustoMac Mini "Deluxe" is a no-compromise build featuring a Z77 mini-ITX motherboard and a quad-core Ivy Bridge CPU. The BitFenix Prodigy case is a unique way of thinking about a mini-ITX system, as it's not exactly small. It's about the size of a mATX case, making room for multiple hard drives, and a full sized graphics card. The Z77 motherboard is also capable of overclocking if you use a "K" CPU, and there is even room for a water cooler for the CPU. Please note that the motherboard's Intel mini-PCIe card includes both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but only the bluetooth features are available under OS X. If you don't use the PCIe slot, we recommend the TP-Link PCIe card below for native Wi-Fi support. Also, there are a few native wifi-only Atheros mini-PCIe replacement card suggestions if you don't need bluetooth. If the BitFenix Prodigy is unavailable, we've listed some alternate cases below.​

cpu.jpg
CPU Intel Core i5-3570K
Intel Core i7-3770
Intel Core i7-3770K
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Mini-ITX.png
Motherboard GA-Z77N-WIFI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ram.jpg
RAM 8GB 1600Mhz DDR3
16GB 1600Mhz DDR3
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
prodigy.jpg
Case BitFenix Prodigy
(No Power Supply)
White Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Black Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Orange Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Red Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
650psu.jpg
Power Supply Corsair 650 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
ssd.jpg
Storage SATA 6Gb/s 120GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 240GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
670.jpg
Graphics Card
(Optional)
GeForce GTX 670
Full List of Graphics Cards
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



CustoMac Budget mATX

A powerful desktop build with budget-minded parts and no graphics card. This build contains a mATX sized motherboard, a dual or quad core CPU and Intel HD 4000 onboard graphics.​

cpu.jpg
CPU Intel Core i3-3225
Intel Core i7-3770
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
mATX.png
Motherboard GA-B75M-D3P
GA-Q77M-D2H
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
ram.jpg
RAM 8GB 1600Mhz DDR3
16GB 1600Mhz DDR3
32GB 1600Mhz DDR3
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
fractal.jpg
Case Fractal Design
Core 1000
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
apex.jpg
Power
Supply
Corsair 500 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
ssd.jpg
Storage SATA 6Gb/s 120GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 240GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
tplink.jpg
Wifi Card TP-Link PCI Express
Wifi Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
670.jpg
Graphics Card
(Optional)
GeForce GTX 670
Full List of Graphics Cards
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



CustoMac Budget ATX

A powerful desktop build with budget-minded parts and no graphics card. This build contains a ATX sized motherboard, a dual or quad core CPU and Intel HD 4000 onboard graphics.​

cpu.jpg
CPU Intel Core i3-3225
Intel Core i5-3570K
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
ATX.png
Motherboard GA-Z77-DS3H Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ram.jpg
RAM 8GB 1600Mhz DDR3
16GB 1600Mhz DDR3
32GB 1600Mhz DDR3
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
carbide300r.jpg
Case Corsair Carbide 300R Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
650w.jpg
Power
Supply
Corsair 600 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
ssd.jpg
Storage SATA 6Gb/s 120GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 240GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
tplink.jpg
Wifi Card TP-Link PCI Express
Wifi Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
670.jpg
Graphics Card
(Optional)
GeForce GTX 670
Full List of Graphics Cards
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



CustoMac Pro

These full sized ATX builds have quad-core CPUs, maxed out RAM, and lots of expandability. Well suited for any demanding uses. Each has few high-end graphics card options that work in OS X Mountain Lion.

cpu.jpg
CPU Intel Core i5-3570K
Intel Core i7-3770
Intel Core i7-3770K
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
ATX.png
Motherboard GA-Z77X-UP5-TH
GA-Z77X-UD5H
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
ram.jpg
RAM 8GB 1600Mhz DDR3
16GB 1600Mhz DDR3
32GB 1600Mhz DDR3
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
carbide500r.jpg
Case Corsair Carbide 500R Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
650psu.jpg
Power
Supply
Corsair 650 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
ssd.jpg
Storage SATA 6Gb/s 120GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 240GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
tplink.jpg
Wifi Card TP-Link PCI Express
Wifi Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
670.jpg
Graphics Card
(Optional)
GeForce GTX 670
Full List of Graphics Cards
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



CustoMac Pro Socket 2011

These rigs are the most powerful single CPU systems you can build. Warning: Power Management is NOT working, and may not ever work. This means no speedstep, sleep, etc... Socket 2011 CPUs do not come with a CPU cooler- they require a separately purchased CPU cooler.

cpu.jpg
CPU Intel Xeon E5 2609
(4 core)
Intel Xeon E5 2630
(6 core)
Intel Xeon E5 2640
(6 core)
Intel Xeon E5 2650
(8 core)
Intel Xeon E5 2690
(8 core)
Intel Core i7-3820
(4 core)
Intel Core i7-3930K
(6 core)
Intel Core i7-3960X
(6 core)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon.com
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
E-ATX.png
Motherboard GA-X79S-UP5 Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ram.jpg
RAM 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3
32GB 1600Mhz DDR3
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
graphite600t.jpg
Case Corsair Graphite 600T Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
650psu.jpg
Power
Supply
Corsair 750 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
ssd.jpg
Storage SATA 6Gb/s 120GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 240GB SSD
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
h60.jpg
CPU Cooler Corsair H60 (Water) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
tplink.jpg
Wifi Card TP-Link PCI Express
Wifi Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
670.jpg
Graphics Card
(Required)
GeForce GTX 670
Full List of Graphics Cards
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



Operating Systems

mtnlionapp.png
OS X 10.8
Mountain Lion
Mac App Store
sl.jpg
Mac OS X 10.6
Snow Leopard
Apple
win8.jpg
Microsoft Windows 8 Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
win8pro.jpg
Microsoft Windows 8
Professional
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)



Graphics Cards

One of the most important components in a custom build is the graphics card. If you're building a CustoMac, it's an especially tricky decision. Not only do you have to worry about what will be a good performer for the cost, but you also have to be informed about what is fully supported, and what is not. The following graphics card examples are all natively compatible without modifying drivers. Each gives a range of port options, install compatibility, and is known to work with minimal configuration. Furthermore, it's now possible to use multiple NVIDIA cards in tandem- dual and triple cards are enabled by default. For a general comparison, check out this performance benchmarks table for recommended NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards.

Note: 6xx/7xx cards do not work in Snow Leopard.

640.jpg
GeForce GT 640 ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
650.jpg
GeForce GTX 650 ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
650ti.jpg
GeForce GTX 650 Ti ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
graphics-650tiboost.jpg
GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
660.jpg
GeForce GTX 660 ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
660ti.jpg
GeForce GTX 660 Ti ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
670.jpg
GeForce GTX 670 ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
670.jpg
GeForce GTX 670
Upgraded with
higher clock speed.
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
680.jpg
GeForce GTX 680 ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
680.jpg
GeForce GTX 680
Upgraded with
higher clock speed.
ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
760.jpg
GeForce GTX 760 ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
770.jpg
GeForce GTX 770 (2GB) ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
780.jpg
GeForce GTX 780 (3GB) ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Gigabyte Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
MSI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
PNY Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Zotac Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
titan.jpg
GeForce GTX TITAN (6GB) ASUS Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
EVGA Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg



CPUs

We recommend these specific Ivy Bridge CPUs for Socket 1155 motherboards because they feature fully working HD 4000 integrated graphics. Each CPU comes with a basic Intel CPU cooler.

cpu.jpg
Intel Core i7-3770K
3.5Ghz
4 Cores / 8 Threads, Turbo
Unlocked for Overclocking
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
cpu.jpg
Intel Core i7-3770
3.4Ghz
4 Cores / 8 Threads, Turbo Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
cpu.jpg
Intel Core i5-3570K
3.4Ghz
4 Cores / 4 Threads, Turbo
Unlocked for Overclocking
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
cpu.jpg
Intel Core i3-3245
3.4Ghz
2 Cores / 4 Threads, Turbo Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
cpu.jpg
Intel Core i3-3225
3.3Ghz
2 Cores / 4 Threads, Turbo Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



Motherboards

We recommend these specific Gigabyte 7-series motherboards because the don't require a DSDT, have native power management and supported network and audio controllers. They are the most compatible with OS X and are the easiest motherboards to get up and running for first time builders.

ATX.png
Gigabyte
GA-Z77X-UP5-TH
ATX, VGA, DVI, HDMI
Dual Thunderbolt,
Bluetooth/Wifi*
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ATX.png
Gigabyte
GA-Z77X-UD5H
ATX, VGA, DVI
HDMI, DP
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ATX.png
Gigabyte
GA-Z77-DS3H
ATX, VGA, DVI, HDMI Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
mATX.png
Gigabyte
GA-Q77M-D2H
mATX, VGA, DVI
HDMI, DP
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
mATX.png
Gigabyte
GA-B75M-D3P
mATX, VGA, DVI
HDMI, DP
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Mini-ITX.png
Gigabyte
GA-Z77N-WIFI
mini-ITX, DVI, HDMI
Bluetooth/Wifi*
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Mini-ITX.png
Gigabyte
GA-H77N-WIFI
mini-ITX, DVI, HDMI
Bluetooth/Wifi*
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg

*Wifi not working in OS X. Native wifi PCIe adapter listed below.



System Drives

We recommend using a solid state drive (SSD) for your system or boot drive for maximum performance and a traditional hard drive for your data. For these drives, we recommend the Sandisk Extreme as they use toggle NAND flash and Sandforce controllers. This combination provides the highest performance and doesn't require TRIM being enabled. If you don't go with a SSD system drive, choose a 1TB or less hard drive for Chimera/Chameleon to boot from. Also, look for for a boot drive that that uses 512 byte blocks as the Advanced Format 4K drives require workarounds.. The following drive examples have been hand picked to work without issues.

hdd.jpg
SATA 6Gb/s 500GB HDD Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ssd.jpg
SanDisk SATA
6Gb/s 120GB SSD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ssd.jpg
SanDisk SATA
6Gb/s 240GB SSD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
ssd.jpg
SanDisk SATA
6Gb/s 480GB SSD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
msata.jpg
Mushkin mSATA
6Gb/s 120GB SSD
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



Storage Drives

The data or storage drives listed here were chosen for their large capacity and speed. However, we don't advise using them as your boot drive.

hdd.jpg
SATA 6Gb/s 1TB HDD Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
SATA 6Gb/s 2TB HDD Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hdd.jpg
SATA 6Gb/s 3TB HDD Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



CPU Coolers

All Intel Socket 1155 CPUs come with a basic CPU cooler. An aftermarket CPU cooler is recommended for overclocking. If you're unsure whether you need a cooler, see this post.

h60.jpg
Corsair H60 (Water) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
performa.jpg
Thermaltake Performer (Water) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
slimx30.jpg
Thermaltake Slim X3
Low Profile (Air)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
frio.jpg
Thermaltake Frio (Air) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
freezeri30.jpg
ARCTIC Freezer i30
Extreme (Air)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



Power Supplies

apex.jpg
Corsair 500 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
650psu.jpg
Corsair 600 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
650w.jpg
Corsair 650 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
650w.jpg
Corsair 750 Watt Modular Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



Cases

The case is one of the most universal parts, although you need to make sure that your motherboard and chosen parts will fit. Each link refers to the details of the product, where you can see what sizes are recommended.

apex.jpg
mini-ITX Apex MI-008
(w/ 250W Power Supply)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
elementq.jpg
mini-ITX Thermaltake Element Q
(w/ 200W Power Supply)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
sugo.jpg
mini-ITX Silverstone Sugo SG07B
(w/ 600W Power Supply)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
elite120.jpg
mini-ITX CoolerMaster Elite 120 Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
prodigy.jpg
mini-ITX BitFenix Prodigy White Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Black Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Orange Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Red Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
Newegg
fractal.jpg
mATX Fractal Design Core 1000 Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
pso7.jpg
mATX Silverstone PS07 Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hafxb.jpg
mATX/ATX Cooler Master HAF XB Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
200r.jpg
mATX/ATX Corsair Carbide 200R Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
carbide300r.jpg
mATX/ATX Corsair Carbide 300R Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
400r.jpg
mATX/ATX Corsair Carbide 400R Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
carbide500r.jpg
mATX/ATX Corsair Carbide 500R Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
graphite600t.jpg
ATX/E-ATX Corsair Graphite 600T Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
hafxm.jpg
ATX/E-ATX Cooler Master HAF XM Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg



Accessories

These parts are known to work well with CustoMac desktops. If planning to use Bluetooth exclusively, access to a USB keyboard is also helpful to get into the UEFI and to access the bootloader menus.

flash.jpg
USB Flash Drive (8GB) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
flash.jpg
USB Flash Drive (16GB) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
optical.jpg
Sony DVD Optical Drive Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
bluray.jpg
LG BluRay Optical Drive Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
app-wired-kb.jpg
Apple Wired Keyboard Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
app-wireless-kb.jpg
Apple Wireless
Keyboard (Bluetooth)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
logi-wireless.jpg
Logitech Wireless
Keyboard K750
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
logi-mini.jpg
Logitech Wireless Mini
Keyboard K760
(Bluetooth)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
magic-trackpad.jpg
Apple Magic Trackpad Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
magicmouse.jpg
Apple Magic Mouse Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
bt4.1.jpg
IOGear Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter
(10.8 Mountain Lion
Only - Wakes from Sleep)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
bluetooth2.1.jpg
IOGear Bluetooth 2.1 Adapter
(10.6+ - No Wake from Sleep)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
tplink.jpg
TP-Link PCI Express
Wifi Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
rosewifi.jpg
Rosewill PCI Express
Wifi Adapter (US only)
Amazon US Newegg
accessories-webcam-1080p.png
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920
(1080p, Native Microphone)
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
Newegg
tbtofw.jpg
Apple Thunderbolt to
Ethernet Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
tbtofw.jpg
Apple Thunderbolt to
Firewire Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
tb-sata.jpeg
Seagate GoFlex FreeAgent
Thunderbolt to SATA Adapter
Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
tbcable.jpg
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0m) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)
tbcable.jpg
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (0.5m) Amazon US
(CAN UK DE ES FR IT)


Remember, when building and configuring your own computer, it's easy to get frustrated- don't give up! There are users with similar specs here at tonymacx86.com to help you out if you get stuck.

Oh, and don't forget, if you end up buying anything, click through one of the links here. That way, you'll be supporting the site, as well as getting the best prices. Thanks in advance! Good luck, and let us know how it goes!​

customac.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Can wait for the day when we get the '87 chipsets in the Buyer's Guide.

I need a mATX board for my hack, and have my eyes on the Gigabyte GA-Z87M-D3H ... just waiting for compatibility confirmation from someone wiser than me ;-)
 
Im anxiously waiting for '87 to be supported im still sitting on my old 1366 Core i7 920. Badly need an upgrade :D
 
Thanx for the new Guide.

It seems that there are 2 different revisions of the GA-Z77-DS3H Motherboard. Rev. 1.1 has Ethernet issues as far as i know. Correct me if i am wrong.
 
Hey Tony, please fix the "Mini Deluxe" build. I believe the power supply on the list won't fit in the case. Someone else on another "Buys Guide" has confirmed this. I recommend the Corsair CX 500 or the other higher wattage variations of it. I use it for my build and I know for sure they fit, and without a doubt reliable.
 
Article: Building a CustoMac: Buyer's Guide July 2013

Hey Tony, please fix the "Mini Deluxe" build. I believe the power supply on the list won't fit in the case. Someone else on another "Buys Guide" has confirmed this. I recommend the Corsair CX 500 or the other higher wattage variations of it. I use it for my build and I know for sure they fit, and without a doubt reliable.

There is no reason that PSU should not fit. I have an AX750 in my Bitfenix Prodigy and that has the same dimensions. You will have to push a little more than necessary. IF you want to be certain you can look at the silverstone 140mm PSU, though with the cables it comes with it will only be a *tiny* improvement is what most say.
 
There will be no issue with that motherboard, these are just recommendations. :)
 
This might be a stupid question, but couldn't I use a 500W on the Mini Deluxe? I've built one already with the 650W, but don't understand why the "CustoMac" only uses an 500W? I just feel that the 650W is a bit overkill. :/
 
Sadly, I can't seem to find a GA-Z77X-UP5-TH in the UK for love nor money. Unless I choose to import one. The suppliers tell me its being discontinued?

I bought a GA-Z77X-UD5H instead, but they're getting a little thin on the ground also...
 
Article: Building a CustoMac: Buyer's Guide July 2013

Hey Tony, please fix the "Mini Deluxe" build. I believe the power supply on the list won't fit in the case. Someone else on another "Buys Guide" has confirmed this. I recommend the Corsair CX 500 or the other higher wattage variations of it. I use it for my build and I know for sure they fit, and without a doubt reliable.

I have a TX650M in my prodigy and it seems to being doing just fine.
 
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