Ryantcu10’s Haswell i7-4770K - GA-Z87X-UD3H - 16GB RAM - INTEL HD4600

[ryantcu10]

Success!! Ryantcu10’s Haswell i7-4770K - GA-Z87X-UD3H - 16GB RAM - INTEL HD4600

Ryantcu10’s Build: Haswell Core i7-4770K - GA-Z87X-UD3H - 16GB RAM - INTEL HD4600

Components

Fractal Design Define R4 with Window Titanium Grey
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352023

GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-UD3H LGA 1150 with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128592

Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell 3.5GHz LGA 1150 Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116901

Team Vulcan 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory TXD316G1600HC9DC-V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313288

ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm CPU Cooler Blue LED
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118074

SAMSUNG 840 EVO 2.5" 120GB SATA III Solid State Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147247

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

SeaSonic SSR-650RM 650W Modular Active CPU Certified Haswell Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151118

ASUS VE247H Black 23.6" 2ms LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236112

ASUS 24X DVD - CD-R 32X CD-RW Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

TP-LINK WIFI PCI Express Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704133

IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter USB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833139027

Corsair Air Series 140mm Blue LED Quiet Edition High Airflow Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181049


Already Owned

OSX Mavericks 10.9.1 (app store download from my Macbook)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-mavericks/id675248567?mt=12&ls=1&v0=www-osx-upgrade-button

SanDisk Cruzer Blade 32GB USB Flash Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K0GR2149


Comments

Background

Because I’m a first timer, I spent roughly two months researching and absorbing all I could, then began to develop my wishlist for this build. This build is intended to be my DAW (digital audio workstation) machine, Logic Pro being my DAW software of choice. Boomr’s hackintosh DAW builds inspired me to build my own. I crossed referenced several builds using the same motherboard / BIOS configuration, mainly: Adamsmasher’s, Dasdf’s, and Short’s builds. I also referenced and used some suggestions from thelostswede's 7-Series UEFI Guide, because many of the same rules apply with Gigabyte's Haswell boards. Big thanks to tonymacx86 and the entire tonymacx86 community...you all rock!

Quick note about the Zalman 9900MAX CPU cooler: installation is NOT easy! The difficulty is due to having to align the posts with the post screws, while keeping the cooler from rocking all over the place. But once installed the thing looks really cool with it's circular heatpipe design, glossy black finish, and blue LED. It also does a stellar job keeping the CPU cool.



Installation

Download the Mavericks installer app (link in components list) and follow the instruction to create UniBeast USB boot drive Here. I copied MultiBeast to my USB drive.

1. To access UEFI Setup, press and hold Delete on a USB Keyboard while the system is booting up.

2. You want to make sure you have Version F7 as your motherboard BIOS. Mine shipped with this BIOS version installed; if yours did not, you may want to update and flash your BIOS (as described in Short's build).

UPDATE 2/14/2014: Updated to latest F8 Bios, following prescribed steps in Short's build description.

3. Press F2 to enter Classic BIOS

Now Let's Set Things Up:

- Press F7 to load Optimized Defaults
- Performance > X.M.P. > Profile 1
- Peripherals > xHCI Mode > AUTO
- Peripherals > xHCI Hand-OFF > ENABLED
- Peripherals > EHCI Hand-OFF > ENABLED
- Peripherals > Init Display First > IGFX (because I'm using Integrated Graphics)
- Power Management > Wake on Lan > DISABLED
- BIOS Features > Boot Options > Choose the disk you plan to install OSX
- Save and Exit Bios.

4. Boot from USB drive and press F12. Choose Unibeast Drive

5. At the installation screen, go to Utilities and choose Disk Utility.
- Choose the drive you want to install OS X to on the left.
- Go to "Partiiton" tab > Select "1 Partition"
- Enter "Mavericks SSD" as name (you can change it later)
- Choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as format and under options > "GUID Partition Table"
- Click "Partition" and exit disk utility upon completion

6. Install OS X to the drive you just partitioned

7. Boot again from the USB drive. This time you choose "Mavericks SSD"

8. Run through OSX setup and then run MultiBeast

9. Reboot and enjoy!

My MultiBeast Configuration​

org.chameleon.boot.plist​

The Results!

What's Working

- Everything seems to be working out of the box! HD4600, Ethernet, Audio, Wireless, Sleep, USB 2 and 3 working, FakeSMC + HWMonitor, Speedstep working 8x through 39x.
- Stress testing produced no errors. CPU Cooler responds appropriately and rocks!
- I do not use iMessage...so I haven't checked that.
- Bluetooth is working.
- My ODD was going to sleep, causing any application that shows available drives to freeze (like "about this mac," Disk Utility, or saving a file in any application). This was solved by going into System Preferences > Energy Saver > deselect "Put drives to sleep when possible." Everything works fine now.

There are some questions in related member builds about Speedstep. I downloaded the Intel Power Gadget to verify speedstep is working properly...AND IT IS!

Edit Log

Jan. 13th 2014:
-Updated BIOS settings in my Comments section because I forgot to include the "Peripherals > Init Display First > IGFX" settings!
- Included "what's Working" section (I will keep this updated as testing continues)
- Cleaned up build description formatting.
Jan. 14th 2014
- Updated "what's working"
Jan. 25th 2014:
- Updated to 64bit Geekbench score...mainly because it's much more impressive! HAHA!Feb. 14th 2014:
- Updated motherboard bios to F8. Gigabyte reports better haswell support and speedstep improvements.Feb. 25th 2014:
- Updated to Mavericks 10.9.2. OSX installation remains the same. I followed Stork's informative guide found on 10.9.2 update page.

 

[changerrs]

Very nice build! I have the exact same build. When you boot up do you get a fuzzy/snowy screen for about 15-20 seconds?

 

[ryantcu10]

Changerrs, I haven't experienced that. Fuzzy like an analog TV reception? Is it fuzzy/snowy during the boot process or after boot once you're at your desktop?

If it's fuzzy during the boot process, I would recommend installing the "1080p Display Mode" boot option from Multibeast. That might help...I hope!

 

[changerrs]

yes exactly like tv analog reception. Its before I get to the desktop and after the apple logo screen.

I tried the 1080p mode. I have also tried connected via hdmi and dvi-d. neither worked =/

 

[ryantcu10]

Changerrs: Hmmm, it looks like a few people are having similar problems.

I have my monitor connected DVI to DVI input on my Asus monitor. In my bios, I have "Peripherals > Init Display First > IGFX" selected and selected "Graphics Enabler = No" in Multibeast.

All is rock solid thus far. What are your settings?

 

[changerrs]

I have all the same settings that you have.

 

[ryantcu10]

Changerrs: Took a look at your build...fantastic job!

I'm sorry I'm not much help with this. I did some searching around...and I'm sure you've figured out more than I have, but please keep me up-to-date! I've bookmarked your build so can follow how things go.

 

[changerrs]

Changerrs: Took a look at your build...fantastic job!

I'm sorry I'm not much help with this. I did some searching around...and I'm sure you've figured out more than I have, but please keep me up-to-date! I've bookmarked your build so can follow how things go.

Thanks! yeah if I figure anything out I will update my build info!

 

[Resteasy]

Hey Ryantcu10

Your build is really cool, you did a great job! I'm a noob to all of this, but I'm thinking about building a hack instead of purchasing a new iMac because of cost, expandability, and power. I'm also a Logic user. How is the stability of Logic on your hack system? What kind of audio setup do you have? Any kind of info in relation to DAW stability would be great! Thanks.

 

[ryantcu10]

Hi Resteasy!

Logic Pro X is running seamlessly on my system and my Apogee Duet 2 audio interface is rock solid, just like using true mac system. I use Waves V9 native AU plugins and various sample instruments for drums and percussive sounds...no issues whatsoever. I ran a test project: loaded 64 audio tracks (with 4 insert plugins each), 4 sample instruments, 8 stereo effects sends, and 2 plugins on the stereo output channel...and I literally think I heard my system yawn. Logic's CPU meter showed about 20% load. I was impressed, considering my 2008 iMac would have quit much earlier.

As far as purchasing vs. building your own system...that's up to you. Apple computers are gorgeous and have ingenious engineering, but iMacs do lack upgradability and you will pay a premium for Apple's upgrades. However, when you pop a new iMac out of the box, it works and should something go wrong, Apple will help you out. With a hackintosh be prepared to do your homework and solve problems on your own.

That being said, if you choose to build, you will have the system you want and the expandability you crave. You can responsibly choose what components you need and where to invest your hard earned money. I personally saved about $1400 compared to a spec'ed out iMac (not including an AppleCare plan).

Plus, you have this incredible community at Tonymacx86 to help you along the way. So if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

-Ryantcu10