- Joined
- Dec 28, 2012
- Messages
- 56
- Motherboard
- Fractal Node 304
- CPU
- i7-4770K
- Graphics
- GTX 770
Mini Beast: GA-Z97N-WIFI - i7-4770k - Gigabyte GTX 770 (2GB)
Components
Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI (rev 1) Motherboard
Amazon
Intel Core i7-4770k Haswell Processor
Amazon
NewEgg
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR3 RAM
Amazon
NewEgg
Noctua NH-U12S - CPU Cooler
Amazon
NewEgg
Noctua NF-F12 PWM Cooling Fan
Amazon
QNIX QX2710 LED EVOLUTION II DP MULTI TRUE10 27" QHD 2560x1440 HDMI Monitor
ebay
Logitech K750 Mac Solar Keyboard
Amazon
NewEgg
Already Owned
Antec Neo ECO 620C - Bronze Certified
Amazon
Fractal Node 304 (Black) - Mini ITX Case
Amazon
NewEgg
Crucial M4 256GB SSD
Amazon
Comments
I recently built a Hackintosh, but it ended up being a comedy of errors. The enormous CPU cooler I bought for it (Noctua U12S) wouldn't fit the proper way, b/c the CPU placement on the Z87N board is too close to the PCI slot. (See below)
The Z97 has the CPU properly placed, so I can actually fit my enormous cooler on it.
Process
The first thing I did was create a USB installer with UniBeast. This was definitely the hardest part of my entire install, as it wouldn't run on my 2011 17" MBP, or my wife's 2008 15" MBP, or my 2008 white MacBook - I had to end up using my father-in-law's 13" MBA (2012). No idea why UniBeast only ran on that, but once I found a computer to make the USB installer, it worked like a charm.
The install went swimmingly, after formatting the drive HFS+. I used the following (DSDT Free) settings in MultiBeast:
Thanks to this post by neilhart, I discovered a way to get the Atheros ethernet working. I went into the Multibeast application (right click, show contents) and found the ALXEthernet.pkg file, and installed it. Upon reboot, I had 2 working ethernet ports!
Important to note, is that with the Z87N board, I had to load the 2.4.14 Intel ethernet driver to avoid crashes on large network transfers. I installed it again with this Z97N board, just to be safe.
Photos
CPU and RAM ready to go
Extra Noctua NF-F12 PWM fan to go on the back of the U12S, for a push/pull setup
rear of Noctua mounting bracket on mobo
radiator with no fans on yet
Plenty of space for the Graphics Card
beast of a CPU cooler!
Cable management to ensure plenty of space for air to flow from the front to the rear of the case
Plenty of space for the front case fans to move air to the rear
I strategically tied all the cables to the top and sides of the case, to make sure there was plenty of space in the middle for air flow
All tied to the very top (roof) of the case
all closed up
Ready for action!