Ultimate Hack Mini - Core i3 2105 - HD3000 - DH61AG

[slowjin]

slowjin's Build: Intel DH61AG - i3-2105 - HD 3000 - Lion

Intel DH61AG Mini ITX Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057D8DVI/

G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-12800CL11D-8GBSQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231482

Seagate Momentus 7200 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s 16MB Cache 2.5 Inch Internal NB Hard Drive ST9500420AS-Bare Drive
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R4BBLU/

Intel Core i3-2105 Processor
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051YS85O/

Broadcom BCM94322 4322 half mini PCI wireless wifi card (model: BCM94322HM8L)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130596958705?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Mini PCI-E to PCI-E Wireless Adapter w/ 3 Antenna WiFi (purchase price was $9.99 FS but since then seems to have shot up)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130501831715?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Viako ML-55 Silver Case with Power Kit (5A/19V/90W)

Lion download via App store & update to 10.7.2
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-lion/id444303913?mt=12

UniBeast with Lion 10.7.2
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2011/10/unibeast-install-mac-os-x-lion-using.html


Comments

This hack mini is up and running with native wifi support (via half mini PCI-e wifi card) and up to two hard drives (one mSATA SSD and one 2.5" HDD). This sits atop my desk and runs fairly cool and quiet and performs better than my first hack with core i5 750. The blue LED on power button is quite bright but for the time being does not present a huge problem.

Much thanks to Tony and MacMan who have always made the journey enjoyable and successful. Also thanks neilhart and beastyfellow for sharing your successes and allowing me to adopt them.

This journey started with Tony's Hack Mini guide, which quickly led to sourcing the most Mini like case. In a few ITX case threads I noticed the Viako cases and fell in love. When I received the ML 55 case, there was no Pico or Pico-like PSU even though there was a power brick. Viako's response was that ML 55 is usually paired up with Intel DH61AG boards, which has PSU built-in. Although I had a GA H67N USB3 motherboard already, I decided to at least look into the Intel board, as I had never heard of a board with built-in PSU. The more I looked into it, its layout included laptop memory installing horizontally, two mini PCI-e slots for mSATA SSD and wifi, and the aforementioned built-in PSU with options to use 2-pin power connector or the onboard plug. After seeing a few Intel sucess builds in the forum, and confirming that USB, Ethernet, sound were identical to the DH61AG, I decided to go for the build. Worst case scenario was that I have a mini looking maching running W7.

MultiBeast 4.2.1 selections:

MultiBeast 1.png
MultiBeast 2.png

Steps Taken:
Create UniBeast 10.7.2
Set BIOS

• SATA to AHCI and enable UEFI.
  In Power Mgmt, I set HPET but there was no option for specifying 64 bit
  Enable Integrated GPU and as dedicated
  VRAM set to max, as the highest numbered option was 256MB

Use beastyfellow's DSDT (http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=41231&start=60)
Followed Tony's UniBeast method for installation with the exception of Ethernet and Sound (http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2011/10/unibeast-install-mac-os-x-lion-using.html) (refer to MB screenshots above)
Load latest hnak's AppleIntelE1000e Ethernet kext using Kext Utility (http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=205771&st=0)
Load latest SleepEnabler.kext using Kext Utility (http://www.osx86.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=1948
*Note: I did create a small 30GB partition on the same HDD and continued to clone the main partition after making changes. So far this has proven well worthy of my time and HDD space, as I was able to delete/replace kexts and other changes that caused KP and/or boot issues, so highly recommend!)

neilhart had his rig up and running and helped me with BIOS settings and as of yesterday beastyfellow jumped in with sleep/wake solutions. Although everything is functioning well, I am experiencing artifacts and random system freezes. (Freeze occurs on my smaller clone partition only)
DH61AG - Top - Front View ClosedUp.JPG
DH61AG - Top View Inside.JPG
Mini 1.JPG


Next Steps:

Install Apple Bluetooth module with 5v to 3.3v converter onto a mobo USB header
Install Apple IR receiver or venture into IR receiver on DH61AG motherboard
Get rid of artifacts
Get rid of system freezes
Attempt getting this board into a real Mini case?

 

[nduetime]

subscribed and thank you.

 

[ragedarya]

Where did you get that case? That thing looks amazing and efficient!!

 

[slowjin]

Where did you get that case? That thing looks amazing and efficient!!

Thanks, ragedarya.

I have a post on this forum with more Viako case info here.

A thread regarding small ITX cases here.

The build quality of Viako cases are really good IMHO, but pricey especially after a hefty ~$40 USD DHL charge.

 

[mranderson169]

that thing looks sleek!!!

 

[loothi]

Hiya,

Great project!.

Just checking, I am getting the same Broadcom half mini card. This worked out of the box for you?

Thanks
~loothi

 

[slowjin]

Hiya,

Great project!.

Just checking, I am getting the same Broadcom half mini card. This worked out of the box for you?

Thanks
~loothi

Hello loothi-

Yes, this card worked OOB. One of the reason I think this board is great for a compact build.

 

[nduetime]

I'm new to this, but according to Intel's website this board supports "DDR3 1333 /1066 MHz DIMMs". Yet you are using "DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)". Can I verify that 1600 is acceptable?

 

[Mate94]

I'm new to this, but according to Intel's website this board supports "DDR3 1333 /1066 MHz DIMMs". Yet you are using "DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)". Can I verify that 1600 is acceptable?

You can use a 1600 MHz one, but It will run only on 1333 MHz.

 

[neilhart]

slowjin great documentation of your build and very nice and tidy installation. This is one of the best motherboards that I have worked with lately.

neil