Mac Pro Clone - First Time Build

[stevejf]

Hello all,

I am looking to finalize my hardware choices for building up a hackintosh. I have been building my own PCs for various applications for 10 years, and would like to move away from windows completely. I have compiled this parts list from the current buying guide, and am wondering if anyone with more experience here could advise whether there are known compatibility issues between this hardware. This will be a mid-high performance machine that hopefully lasts a while.

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UP5 TH LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with Dual Thunderbolt


RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory Model CMZ32GX3M4X1600C10


GPU: ASUS GTX650-DC-1GD5 GeForce GTX 650 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card


HDD: SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25 2.5" 240GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Will be running other internal hdds

PSU: CORSAIR HX Series HX750 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC ...


ODD: LG Black 12X Blu-ray Combo Drive SATA Model UH12NS29 - OEM


Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case



Thanks!

 

[Kraken]

Your choices look fine. You should have no compatibility problems because you chose components from the Buyer's Guide.

You're more likely to run into issues with BIOS settings or MultiBeast options. Therefore it's best to follow someone else's guide/build. I recommend following this build because it's very well documented: http://www.tonymacx86.com/golden-bu...core-i7-3770k-ga-z77x-up5-th-16gb-hd4000.html

Good Luck!

 

[Going Bald]

If you plan to overclock or think you might do so in the future, I would suggest http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233304 for the ram.

This will allow you much greater choice of CPU coolers if the stock fan is too noisy or you jst need better cooling.

 

[Dschijn]

No need to buy "super fast oc" Ram!
Just go with normal 1600MHz Ram and be happy to save some money. OCing a "K" CPU should be done just by the multiplicator, no need to adjust the frequency of the RAM.

 

[stevejf]

Do you have any recommendations? I'm planning on also installing a COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Cooler so that I can overclock the CPU (for $35 its really not that bad). I know the first RAM sticks I had picked out are pretty bulky.

Ideally, I'd like to run 2560x1600 dual monitors, would the above card be able to power this, or would ASUS GTX670-DC2-2GD5 GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card be necessary? I'm not doing super intense video editing, though I do plan on using this machine for gaming.

 

[Going Bald]

Do you have any recommendations? I'm planning on also installing a COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Cooler so that I can overclock the CPU (for $35 its really not that bad). I know the first RAM sticks I had picked out are pretty bulky.

Ideally, I'd like to run 2560x1600 dual monitors, would the above card be able to power this, or would ASUS GTX670-DC2-2GD5 GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card be necessary? I'm not doing super intense video editing, though I do plan on using this machine for gaming.

The RAM I linked is basically the same as the RAM you listed in the OP. Only difference is low profile instead of large heat sinks on the modules.

If you are playing first-person point-of-view shoot-'em-up type games, the better the gfx card, the better your chance of living. In that respect the 670 is better than the 650. You just have to look at the specs of the gfx card to see if it will run the resolutions you want.