[Success] ousfella's prodigy build: Core i3-3225 - GA-H77N-WIFI - 8GB RAM - GTX 650 Ti

[osufella]

[Success] ousfella's prodigy build: Core i7-3770S - GA-H77N-WIFI - 8GB RAM - GTX 650 Ti

ousfella's prodigy build: Core i7-3770S - GA-H77N-WIFI - 8GB RAM - GTX 650 Ti​

Components

Intel Core i7-3770S
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-3770S-Quad-Core-Processor-Cache/dp/B007SZ0EOM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394309671&sr=8-1&keywords=i7+3770S
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116503

Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JDTWVC/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128567

MSI Power Edition N650Ti PE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009K1PY5Q/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127704

Corsair Vengeance CML8GX3M2A1600C9 Lowprofile 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00569K7LM/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186

Noctua NH-L9i LGA1155/1156 Low Profile Heatsink Cooler w/ Slim NF-A9x14 92MM PWM Fan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009VY1PMI/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608029

SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-120G-G25 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006EKJCWM/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171567

Silverstone Strider 500 Plus 500W Modular Power Supply ATX 24PIN 120MM Fan 34A 80+ Bronze Black
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047CQ1B4/

Bitfenix Prodigy mITX Mini-ITX Tower Case Midnight Black 1X5.25EXT 5X3.5INT No PS Top USB3.0 Audio
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345016

Bitfenix Prodigy MESH Front Panel Accessory Black MESH Orange Frame (No Logo)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811997090

Bitfenix Spectre BFF-BLF-12025O-RP 120MM Orange LED Case Fan 1000RPM 43.5CFM 20DBA 3/4 Pin
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835345025

Bitfenix Spectre BFF-BLF-12025O-RP 120MM Orange LED Case Fan 1000RPM 43.5CFM 20DBA 3/4 Pin
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835345028

Bitfenix SuperSpeed CF MS SD XD M2 Micro SD USB 3.0 3.5in Card Reader
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=78835

NZXT Individually Sleeved 3Pin fan Y Cable 2 Male to 1 Female Premium Cable (CB-3P-Y)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZDNXZ8

Wireless PCIe Card BGN AR5BHB92 AR9280
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009HN63QQ/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Already Owned

Apple OS X Mountain Lion @ Mac Apps Store
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-mountain-lion/id537386512?mt=12

SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-120G-G25 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006EKJCWM/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171567

HP 2311x Black 23" 5ms Full HD LED BackLight LCD Monitor Slim Design 250 cd/m2 DC 3,000,000:1 (1,000:1)
http://www.amazon.comdp/B004G8QO5C/

Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 Keyboard Cover - Model 1047, KU-0459
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JRW0WY/

2xSAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 ST1000DM005/HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MQC0P8/

Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 for Business Black 4 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB 2.4 GHz RF BlueTrack 1000 dpi
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105316


Comments

I got into the hackintosh community a few years ago by using the windows system I had. Fortunately, everything basically worked; however, there were always annoyances. It didn't sleep very well, it was loud, it put out some heat and the dvd-drive stopped working. For the past 3 months, I wanted to build a new rig based on the Bitfenix Prodigy chassis. Originally it was going to be orange, but the wife thought black was cooler looking so we went with that. The next part was to make this system quiet and cool. I went back and forth with what type of CPU to get and what type of aftermarket CPU cooler to get. It was either the i5 with a Corsair water cooler or the i3 with the Noctua low profile cooler. It was basically a game time decision and I went with the i3 as I couldn't justify the expense of the i5 for what I use the machine for. I originally wasn't going to purchase a video card, but 10.8.3 came out and then more cards were available to purchase, so I sprung for the 650 Ti card.

After putting everything together, I really like the Prodigy case. There are so many different configurations you can do with the hard-drives. I've got 2 SSDs and 2 3.5" 7200 drives and there is still more room for more of each. The only problem with the case is there seems to be a problem with the USB3.0 header on the front. Reading the forums, there is something wrong with the cables and so it doesn't recognize USB2.0 devices. So I plug in my mouse IR receiver and it works, plug in an iPhone, it doesn't work. I've reached out to Bitfenix and I'm pending a response from them. If anyone is having similar problems and has gotten a response from them, I'd like to know what they've said. I haven't been able to get the Super Card Reader working just yet and I'm contemplating returning it. Other than that, I love the machine. Its feels so much faster than my last build, its much quitter and everything works.

What I did…

Replaced the wifi card on the motherboard with the AR9280 model
Built it with the new SSD and without the video card
Configured BIOS - http://www.tonymacx86.com/99-quick-guide-configuring-uefi-gigabyte-s-7-series-lga-1155-boards.html
Installed Mountain Lion - http://www.tonymacx86.com/61-unibeast-install-os-x-mountain-lion-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
Ran MultiBeast as a DSDT-Free Installation with the FakeSMC and FakeSMC Plugins
Rebooted and voila, I'm up and running
Downloaded the 10.8.3 stand alone updater - http://www.tonymacx86.com/317-os-x-10-8-3-update.html
Reran MultiBeast to add Audio and Trim Support
Rebooted and I now have audio working
Reran MultiBeast to add GraphicsEnabler=No
Turned computer off
Installed video card
Turned computer on and I'm completely up and working
Did the "sleep image" trick - http://www.tonymacx86.com/general-help/86769-remove-sleepimage-get-many-gbs-back-faster-sleep.html
Updated some icons - http://www.tonymacx86.com/customization/93415-custom-ssd-icons.html
Customized the "About This Mac" - http://www.tonymacx86.com/customization/76028-guide-how-customize-about-mac.html

I then installed the SSD and one of the 3.5" drives from the old build and copied files over (thanks to ShowallFiles - http://www.tonymacx86.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=142. Once everything was in normal working order, I cleaned up the wiring as best I could, put the sides on the case and put her on the desk.

What works:
*Audio
*Airplay
*Wireless
*App Store
*iMessages
*Sleeps (every kind)
*USB3.0 - I have nothing to test it with

Not sure if it works:

*Ethernet - I'll get around to it, but I have no need for it right now

What I know needs fixing:
*USB3.0 front header cable from Bitfenix (see comments above). I ended up using the supplied USB2.0 to 3.0 converter cable that came with the chassis. Once the new cable is shipped (???), I'll try to update.

***Update on Prodigy Cable Issue***
After receiving a couple of cryptic emails back from Prodigy, I was really getting nowhere with them. So I started emailing daily, posting to their support forums weekly and then posting to their facebook page. That finally got their attention and a new cable was shipped. It has been plugged in and seems to be working now. I'm in the process of getting some type of USB 3.0 device to fully test the side USB3.0 ports out.

Next steps
*Get the old build sold on craiglist
*Put the remaining 3.5 drive into the Prodigy and create a Raid 1 configuration with the two 3.5 drives
*Buy and put Windows 8 on the existing SSD - completed
*Work on customizing the "About this Mac" stuff - completed
*Run the gamut of benchmarks and show them - completed

Edits:
2013-Mar-30 - Added the wifi card to the components list and install instructions
2013-Apr-04 - Added benchmarks
2013-Jul-20 - Updated to 10.8.4, included new MultiBeast Screenshot and About this Mac Mod
2014-Jan-01 - Updated CPU to i7-3770S model
2014-Mar-08 - Updated to 10.9.2, included new MultiBeast Screenshot and About this Mac Mod

MultiBeast Configuration​

Pics of the Build...

[/IMG]

Benchmarks

 

[Clovel]

Hi !

I really enjoy that build of yours ! The Orange LEDs are classy.
Is that GPU fan noisy ? I've never seen that one. Not sure if it's available in France. Got to go check, I like the design, and it could be a good replacement for my second build.

Good work !
Clovel

 

[Boyber]

Nice build. Do you find that the fans run at full speed all the time? How did you get the wifi working?

 

[Boyber]

One other point, as far as I understood it, the USB3 just doesn't work properly with these boards. I have the Z77N and USB3 is temperamental whether I use the front header or the main one on the board.

 

[Anazlu]

One other point, as far as I understood it, the USB3 just doesn't work properly with these boards. I have the Z77N and USB3 is temperamental whether I use the front header or the main one on the board.

I've been using USB3 without problem on my Prodigy H77 since October. It's easy to bend the pins when installing the USB3 cable for the side ports. I bent mine. USB2 on the side ports works with no problems for me. Win7 & ML 8.2.

 

[soadok]

nice build! one question..onboard wifi works?

 

[heyzerg]

nice build!

Can I ask you what definition are you using for your build?

since you mention airplay is working


imac 12.1? 13,1 ? or
mac mini 6.1 ?


Thanks

 

[osufella]

I forgot to add in the build that I replaced the wifi card based on this thread - http://www.tonymacx86.com/network/58146-guide-airport-half-mini-pcie.html.

Fans - watching the hardware monitor, the fans cycle through a number of different values. I don't know which fan is which, I'm assuming Fan 1 is the CPU and it stays pretty constant at 1500 or so. The GPU fan stays at around 1000 or so. Fan 2 is pretty erratic and will swing from ~800 to 1600.

Sys Def = MacPro 3.1

 

[accelito]

Great build!! Nice color in the front frame.

 

[samuelglinglo]

Great build¡¡¡¡, one question, you need to change memory frequency in BIOS to profile 1 or run at 1600 out of the box?