- Joined
- May 6, 2012
- Messages
- 120
- Motherboard
- MSI Z77A-G43
- CPU
- Core i7 3770K
- Graphics
- Intel HD4000
- Mac
- Classic Mac
- Mobile Phone
Hey, I just ordered myself a new system including the MSI Z77A-G43. Since I have been doing a lot of research here on the board I would like to first thank you all, because my first contact with a hackintosh has been a while (must have been a couple of months before I bought my 2009 MacBook Pro) and there has been a lot new to learn. Additionally I didn't really use that hackintosh back then, despite I had success and it was running OK. So this would be kind of my first build, I guess.
I decided to go the hackintosh route because I'm a bit disappointed with Apple right now and the path they seem to be going on the hardware side. Nevertheless I really love their operating system and wouldn't want to go back to Windows.
So ... to my build. I will be using this mainly as a workstation for programming, graphic design, video editing and 3d, while doing some casual gaming on Windows. I want this thing to be as silent as possible. Going to use Ivy Bridge and I know that this is not recommended yet, but it just doesn't make sense for me buying an older Sandy Bridge when going with a completely new system. I wouldn't mind working on Windows for a few weeks or months if this turns out to be not stable enough yet.
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K
Board: MSI Z77A-G43
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3-1600 Low Profile black
Graphics: Gainward 8600GTS (using a very old card I still have lying around, planing to upgrade this to AMD 7770 as soon as Apple supports it)
SSD: Sandisk Extreme 120GB
HDD: WD Caviar Blue 640GB (already had this, maybe I'm going to upgrade it sometime)
Optical: Sony Optiarc AD-7280S
CPU Cooler: Prolimatech Super Mega with Be Quiet SW1 120mm PWM
Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White
PSU: Be Quiet Dark Power Pro 550W (already had this)
Case Fans: 3x Be Quiet Silentwings2 120mm
I decided to go with the MSI Z77A-G43 because I simply prefer MSI and like their design as well as the features (Realtek/Realtek). I don't need the additional features of MSI's bigger boards. Gigabyte looks promising with the no-DSDT, but I don't like it that they went with Atheros/VIA and their whole lineup just doesn't look that good this time compared to MSI, Asus or ASRock. Additionally some people here are having great success with the MSI boards and I figured that no one of them has tested the G43 yet, so I could give back a little.
I'm still not sure if the 8600 GTS is going to work, some experience there?
And I am not 100% sure with the CPU Cooler. I could also get a Thermalright HR-02 Macho and put a decent Be Quiet fan on it, reviews showed that it performed a little better and it would also be cheaper. Would love to go with a Thermalright True Spirit 140 but that doesn't fit into the case.
Do you think the AMD 7770 is going to be supported in the next update or Mountain Lion? I also might consider going with a 6850 or 6870 as this is supported right now, but I think I can wait.
Edit: Oh forgot ... the components should arrive next week, probably wednesday and I will report about the board then.
I decided to go the hackintosh route because I'm a bit disappointed with Apple right now and the path they seem to be going on the hardware side. Nevertheless I really love their operating system and wouldn't want to go back to Windows.
So ... to my build. I will be using this mainly as a workstation for programming, graphic design, video editing and 3d, while doing some casual gaming on Windows. I want this thing to be as silent as possible. Going to use Ivy Bridge and I know that this is not recommended yet, but it just doesn't make sense for me buying an older Sandy Bridge when going with a completely new system. I wouldn't mind working on Windows for a few weeks or months if this turns out to be not stable enough yet.
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K
Board: MSI Z77A-G43
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3-1600 Low Profile black
Graphics: Gainward 8600GTS (using a very old card I still have lying around, planing to upgrade this to AMD 7770 as soon as Apple supports it)
SSD: Sandisk Extreme 120GB
HDD: WD Caviar Blue 640GB (already had this, maybe I'm going to upgrade it sometime)
Optical: Sony Optiarc AD-7280S
CPU Cooler: Prolimatech Super Mega with Be Quiet SW1 120mm PWM
Case: Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White
PSU: Be Quiet Dark Power Pro 550W (already had this)
Case Fans: 3x Be Quiet Silentwings2 120mm
I decided to go with the MSI Z77A-G43 because I simply prefer MSI and like their design as well as the features (Realtek/Realtek). I don't need the additional features of MSI's bigger boards. Gigabyte looks promising with the no-DSDT, but I don't like it that they went with Atheros/VIA and their whole lineup just doesn't look that good this time compared to MSI, Asus or ASRock. Additionally some people here are having great success with the MSI boards and I figured that no one of them has tested the G43 yet, so I could give back a little.
I'm still not sure if the 8600 GTS is going to work, some experience there?
And I am not 100% sure with the CPU Cooler. I could also get a Thermalright HR-02 Macho and put a decent Be Quiet fan on it, reviews showed that it performed a little better and it would also be cheaper. Would love to go with a Thermalright True Spirit 140 but that doesn't fit into the case.
Do you think the AMD 7770 is going to be supported in the next update or Mountain Lion? I also might consider going with a 6850 or 6870 as this is supported right now, but I think I can wait.
Edit: Oh forgot ... the components should arrive next week, probably wednesday and I will report about the board then.
Nice build btw.