Mavericks music production build mobo advice please

[linelevel]

Howdy

Using the great guides on this forum I built a 10.6.7 hack last year which has served me well but now I need to upgrade as Logic X doesn't run on SL. I'm going to recycle some parts but require new CPU, mobo, RAM.

I have:

Crucial M550 256Gb SSD
3TB hdd storage
500Gb 7200 HDD (Windows 7 installation)
Coolermaster Sileo 500 tower
Noctua cpu cooler
650W PSU
29" LG ultrawide monitor x 2

Have purchased;

i7 4790k CPU
16Gb Crucial RAM

The system is for music production, recording, editing only. No games, no video rendering, more than likely no overclocking etc. I need some mobo advice though - am I better off going for an 8 or 9 series gigabyte mobo based on the following:

1) I have a usb 2.0 audio interface but may switch to Thunderbolt interface, are the onboard TH ports on some gigabyte boards working or problematic series 8 vs series 9?
2) If so can this be alleviated by a 3rd party PCI/PCIe TH card?
3) If I only install Mavericks on the SSD is there a way to disable unibeast splash screen on hackintosh so boot up time is as fast as my macbook pro ssd?
4) How much unibeast or similar fiddling is required for compatibility series 8 vs series 9?
5) Can I use onboard graphics to run the 2 widescreens HDMI/DVI or do I have to buy a GPU, series 8 vs series 9?

The seemingly compatible boards I'm looking at are;

Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD5 TH
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5 TH
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD5H
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-OC

Any advice on any of my questions would be great, cheers =)

 

[linelevel]

Bit the bullet so here are my specs;

GA-Z97X-UD5H
4790k i7
Crucial Ballistix Tactical 2 X 8Gb
Crucial M550 256Gb SSD

I have read this thread and will give it a shot with this board first -

http://www.tonymacx86.com/mavericks-desktop-guides/135365-early-adopters-mavericks-gigabyte-h-z97n-wifi-using-hd4600-no-graphics-card-needed-11.html

But if I have dramas could I use a lower spec GPU than the geForce GTX 740 listed in the Customac guide? The system will never be used to play games or render video so I don't need an expensive GPU, just want something that will be compatible. Say a cheaper 6xx model?

Cheers

 

[Going Bald]

Bit the bullet so here are my specs;

GA-Z97X-UD5H
4790k i7
Crucial Ballistix Tactical 2 X 8Gb
Crucial M550 256Gb SSD

I have read this thread and will give it a shot with this board first -

http://www.tonymacx86.com/mavericks-desktop-guides/135365-early-adopters-mavericks-gigabyte-h-z97n-wifi-using-hd4600-no-graphics-card-needed-11.html

But if I have dramas could I use a lower spec GPU than the geForce GTX 740 listed in the Customac guide? The system will never be used to play games or render video so I don't need an expensive GPU, just want something that will be compatible. Say a cheaper 6xx model?

Cheers

No reason you couldn't ust the CPU gfx if you don't do any gaming or photo/video work. For a pure DAW a gfx card is a waste if you can use the onboard CPU gfx.

 

[linelevel]

Cheers that's what I thought. I was previously using an unsupported GPU with snow leopard on my old hack, it was fine for DAW but blocky for all video and youtube etc. If that is the case this time around I'll get a supported GPU.

Build begins today I'll post the results

 

[hubb_99]

Interested in hearing about how your build turned out man. I'm looking into building a similar setup.