Core i3-2105 - GA-Z68M-D2H - 6GB RAM – Intel onboard 3000

[scarberian]

scarberian's Build: i3-2105 - GA-Z68M-D2H - 6GB RAM – Intel HD 3000

Component List

Mac OS X version 10.7 Lion
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD256Z/A?n=osx&fnode=MTY1NDAzOA&s=topSellers

Z68M-D2H.jpg
Gigabyte GA-Z68M-D2H mATX LGA1155 Z68 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 HDMI DVI CrossFireX SATA3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128523&Tpk=ga-z68m-d2h

Intel Core i3-2105 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I32105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115090&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4902415&SID=

corsair xms3.jpg
Corsair XMS3 4 GB Dual Channel DDR3 Core i3, i5, i7 Memory Kit CMX4GX3M2A1600C7
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00336XHXA/

Sony Optiarc 18X SATA DVD-ROM Drives DDU1681S-0B (Black)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029RUBNS/

Silverstone Sugo SG02W-F White SFF mATX Case 2X5.25 2X3.5INT No PS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019FZCVC/


Already Owned

Antec 550 PSU.jpg
Antec BP550 Plus 550W ATX12V V2.2 Modular Power Supply
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017KE3DM/

extra Corsair XMS3 2 GB Dual Channel DDR3 Core i3, i5, i7 (1 stick) CMX4GX3M2A1600C7

ASUS VH236H.jpg
ASUS VH236H 23 Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002453K5G/

MS Intellimouse.jpg
Microsoft Intellimouse Optical Mouse
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005TQ08/

USB Keyboard.jpg
stock USB Apple Keyboard from Power Mac G4 (blue/grey)

stock Maxtor 250GB SATA HDD from my PowerMac G5


Comments:

I had built this system for my daughter who was using my still loved, but old graphite G4. It was only running Tiger and with the media she liked to watch online as well as the games she enjoyed playing i.e. family.com, McDonald’s online, etc. it just couldn’t cut it. This is her early Christmas present.

This was my second hacintosh build and, unlike the first build where I stuck to the exact specifications for an 1156 socket build recommended by tonymac, this time I mixed it up and went with the newer Sandy Bridge 1155 build. I chose the Z68M-D2H because it was recommended, it had HDMI and DVI graphics, and it did have a DSDT on file. I had 3 Corsair 2GB XMS3 RAM sticks and I didn’t want them to go to waste so having a mobo with 4 RAM slots instead of only 2 made sense (I was originally going to build my daughter a hack mini with the exact specs from tonymac).

I wanted a different case that was between a mini and the tower I have. I decided to go with the Silver Stone SUGO (white) since it looked different, had a lower profile (although the footprint is about the same as the tower’s) and I just liked it’s look. As well this case can take a full size PSU which I had a spare lying around (although it was difficult fitting it in at first). I also installed a Sony Optiarc SATA dvd drive (basic). With the wide use of flash drives, I can’t see my daughter burning discs. It’s also faster transferring files via flash drives.
customac-multibeast-settings.png Screen Shot 2012-01-02 at 8.57.20 PM.png
The biggest change for me from my first build was doing a clean install of Lion via UniBeast. I used a Lexar 8GB USB thumb drive that I picked up at Walmart. From setting up the thumb drive to doing a clean install of Lion, as long as you follow the exact instructions, installation should go smoothly. I also made sure I updated to 10.7.2 before I installed MultiBeast 4.1 and my mobos DSDT file. As for MultiBeast, nothing but praises for this miracle piece of software. I used the exact setup as in the UniBeast guide.

Onboard graphics.png
My only 2 regrets (very minor) was that, one, I was getting stability issues while using HDMI. I switched to DVI and never looked back. The screen looks great, especially on the ASUS through DVI, the system is stable, and I didn’t need to buy a graphics card therefore keeping the cost low. I made sure I committed the maximum RAM the BIOS would let me for the onboard graphics. System specs lists it as about 384MB of VRAM.

Secondly my SUGO has a front firewire port that is going to waste because the mobo I chose doesn’t have firewire. Maybe there’s a PCI-E firewire card that has the required port? I must check on that.

Geekbench score.png

 

[mattsaved]

Hey Brother, I have the same configuration except 2 matching 4GB DRAMs.
Z68M-D2H Core i3 2105 HD3000.

So far, I was able install Snow Leopard and Lion.
I installed snowLeoped with iBoot and 10.6.0 Retail. I used Updatehelper but it still crashed (Kernel Panic) during the moving files section of the update. I then installed the update using Pacifist which may not have been necessary. But then I ran the updater a second time and it completed successfully so i think I have a clean 10.6.8 in place. I did have to download the latest Flash as Safari and firefox would crash.

I later tried Lion with Unibeast + appstore 10.7.2 and that works.

Except 1 major problem! I have to boot with GraphicsEnabler=No in snow leopard and lion because I only have nice large VGA monitors that I don't intend to replace. If I boot normally I can access the computer via VNC fine but the machine only shows a gray screen locally.

I will be working o trying to get VGA working.

 

[scarberian]

As I said, I simply did a clean Lion install via Unibeast and it went very smoothly. I passed on the SL install as I found it too time consuming and why bother when you've got Unibeast.

Would using a VGA to DVI adapter help with your video? You know those adapters that attach to the DVI port of the computer and has a VGA dongle that connects with any VGA monitor. Just wondering. I remember using RGB adapters for my IIsi and being able to attach VGA monitors to it. Right now on my first hacintosh build (1156 socket) my ATI card doesn't have a VGA port so I had to use the included adapter to connect my VGA monitor as well as connect the computer to the KVM switch. Works great in Lion. Good luck!

 

[andrewglennmiller]

I love your build, I want to build one for my girlfriend. She wants an iMac but I figure I'd go ahead and save her the money.

Plus I can decorate the simplicity of the case for her.

This will be my first build (on a hackintosh) and I'd like to ask you a few questions if you have the answer.

She would definitely need wi-fi, could you recommend how to approach this and if it's compatible?

Also you said you used a spare ps, could you recommend a nice cheap powerful one that will fit smoothly in the case. or do you know how much space im working with for the ps.

Thank you!

For myself, I need a system and I don't have a lot of money at the moment. I was thinking of building one with the same specs, besides the case and go ahead with a mid tower such as the Cooler Master Elite 310. It will give me comfort for possible renovations. Also because I will be running after effects and final cut for home based "small" projects, and will need the cooling and eventually the graphic card space .

 

[Stork]

Make sure you teach your GF how to use the tonymacx86 s/w. Otherwise, she's gonna throw it at you when you break up, and she tries to update the OS X. I'm just saying.

 

[jeremiahbarrar]

As I said, I simply did a clean Lion install via Unibeast and it went very smoothly. I passed on the SL install as I found it too time consuming and why bother when you've got Unibeast.

Would using a VGA to DVI adapter help with your video? You know those adapters that attach to the DVI port of the computer and has a VGA dongle that connects with any VGA monitor. Just wondering. I remember using RGB adapters for my IIsi and being able to attach VGA monitors to it. Right now on my first hacintosh build (1156 socket) my ATI card doesn't have a VGA port so I had to use the included adapter to connect my VGA monitor as well as connect the computer to the KVM switch. Works great in Lion. Good luck!

Using a standard DVI to VGA adapter is the same as connecting directly to the VGA port on the motherboard. It's using the same channel. You must use the digital channel on the DVI port.. its eisier to get a graphics card for $80 or so, make sure its compatible with lion 10.7.2, and you should be able to find one with two VGA channels.

viewtopic.php?t=41044&p=258944

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102952

 

[Stork]

Yes, that's the correct way to connect up to a VGA only monitor. Since Apple hasn't supported VGA in...well, a long time, you'll need a DVI/HDMI/DP to VGA adapter.

 

[helenlee]

Great system.

Do you think 220W power can handle this CPU and MB?

Thanks.

Update: Same board with GT 210 video card works perfect under 300W power.
Thanks for great tutorial.

 

[LSG5]

Is it possible for a "Hacmini" such as this, to support wifi?