Sub 500$ hackintosh?

[ElfinHilon10]

This is going to primarily used for programming and development.

Any one have any good guides on where to start for something?

I'm also partial to a small build (mini-ITX). Only real requirements are HDMI2.0/DisplayPort and mini-ITX for portability. I also do not need a dedicated GPU, nor do I need an SSD (least not at the moment).

The smaller the case, the better. Appreciate the help guys!

EDIT: I also want to mention, this is primarily iOS programming. Nothing too major.

 

[trs96]

If you have a 4k monitor with DP input then this is one you could go with:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130972&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-tonymacx86 LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=4902415&SID=

DP 1.2 is fully supported in Sierra, HDMI 2.0 is not. So for 4K @60Hz you don't want to use HDMI for video output. Some people get around this by using a DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 active adapter. Club3D makes one that they report working. If you have a 4K TV with HDMI 2.0 this is the preferred method.

Here's a less expensive Skylake based alternative.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157651&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-tonymacx86 LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=4902415&SID=

You would pair an I3-6100 with this one. Will be the lowest cost way to go.

 

[ElfinHilon10]

If you have a 4k monitor with DP input then this is one you could go with:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130972&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-tonymacx86 LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=4902415&SID=

DP 1.2 is fully supported in Sierra, HDMI 2.0 is not. So for 4K @60Hz you don't want to use HDMI for video output. Some people get around this by using a DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 active adapter. Club3D makes one that they report working. If you have a 4K TV with HDMI 2.0 this is the preferred method.

Here's a less expensive Skylake based alternative.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157651&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-tonymacx86 LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=4902415&SID=

You would pair an I3-6100 with this one. Will be the lowest cost way to go.

I have a 4K TV, not a monitor, but I had no idea that's how macs worked. That's awesome. Thank you!

Do I HAVE to buy a Z170/270? Do you think any of the H boards will have DP? If I have to do a Z board, I'll probably end up with a k processor then, and I feel like the only K processor worth buying is the i7... :/

 

[trs96]

You could get the H270M-DS3H by Gigabyte which is one of the few H motherboards with DP.
For iOS programming you won't need an I7 or even an I5. One of the Kaby Lake I3s is more
than enough CPU power. All of them have the same HD630 graphics. There should be support
from Apple for that later this year. You could also use a GTX 1050 discrete card with DP.

A card like this would be all you'd need to power a 4K TV.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487295&cm_re=1050_gtx-_-14-487-295-_-Product
Then you could use any mini-ITX motherboard you'd like.

 

[ElfinHilon10]

You could get the H270M-DS3H by Gigabyte which is one of the few H motherboards with DP.
For iOS programming you won't need an I7 or even an I5. One of the Kaby Lake I3s is more
than enough CPU power. All of them have the same HD630 graphics. There should be support
from Apple for that later this year. You could also use a GTX 1050 discrete card with DP.

A card like this would be all you'd need to power a 4K TV.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487295&cm_re=1050_gtx-_-14-487-295-_-Product
Then you could use any mini-ITX motherboard you'd like.

Ahh if that's the case, then yeah, I'll stick with i3. Should I get a higher i3, or no? Also, shouldn't I be using Skylake instead of kaby lake? Could I even use a pentium?

I wonder if I can find a motherboard that would be worth it then, to outset the cost of the video card....

Really appreciate the advice so far.

 

[trs96]

Yes, I would go with Skylake for now. You can find a sub $100 mini-ITX with the 1050 and an I3 and still come in under your stated budget. Put it in something like the Cooler Master Elite 130 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRA4F06/?tag=tonymacx86com-20 with a 430 W PSU and you're all set. You could even spend 40 dollars more for an H170 ITX board.

Here's an example $450 build that would work. There are also 25 dollars in rebates you could send in.

 

[ElfinHilon10]

Yes, I would go with Skylake for now. You can find a sub $100 mini-ITX with the 1050 and an I3 and still come in under your stated budget. Put it in something like the Cooler Master Elite 130 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRA4F06/?tag=tonymacx86com-20 with a 430 W PSU and you're all set. You could even spend 40 dollars more for an H170 ITX board.

Here's an example $450 build that would work. There are also 25 dollars in rebates you could send in.

View attachment 250349

Wow that is awesome! I'd probably end up doing the bit feenix case (that looks like the mini mac pro's of yore) or the fractal design node 202. I really want this to be as portable as possible. Would it be worth it to invest in a higher grade i3? Such as the i3-6300? Just by looking at it, it seems not worth to me (an extra 40 for 100Mhz higher? That sems lame..).

Seriously appreciate the help!

Only last question I have is that I must have Wi-Fi. Do you know how I'll be able to get this? I'm ok with a USB stub. I don't REALLY need bluetooth in all honesty.

 

[trs96]

If you can still find the Gigabyte H170N-Wifi you could replace the Intel wifi Card with one that is MacOS compatible. The antennas and wires come with it as you already know. No, the 6300 is not worth an extra 40 dollars.

The Node 202 case would require a smaller SFX PSU so that would increase the price significantly. You could use an ATX PSU in the Bitfenix case.

 

[ElfinHilon10]

If you can still find the Gigabyte H170N-Wifi you could replace the Intel wifi Card with one that is MacOS compatible. The antennas and wires come with it as you already know. No, the 6300 is not worth an extra 40 dollars.

The Node 202 case would require a smaller SFX PSU so that would increase the price significantly. You could use an ATX PSU in the Bitfenix case.

The node 202 actually has an option that has a PSU included, but I didn't know that about the ATX in the bitfenix, so that's good to know.

Is the Gigabyte H170N-WIFI my only option at this point? Do USB Wifi dongle thingies not work for mac OS X?

 

[trs96]

Dongles work but the speeds are usually slower and drivers don't get updated very quickly when a new macOS version comes out. You have to wait months or more for new drivers. Some have used the EdiMax
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MTTJOY/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
There is a driver somewhere on github that is said to work with Sierra. I've never tried it.