- Joined
- Oct 4, 2010
- Messages
- 35
- Motherboard
- none currently
- CPU
- none
- Graphics
- Vega 56
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
El Cheapo HTCP
Biostar H61mlv2 version 8.0 + Galaxy GeForce GT610
ComponentsBiostar H61mlv2 version 8.0 + Galaxy GeForce GT610
BIOSTAR H61MLV2 Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VQPBMS
CPU: Intel Celeron G1610 Ivy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80637G1610
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=CL-w34LV3LwCFciIfgodqBMACw&Item=N82E16819116889
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4BJYVU/
RAM: Team Elite Plus 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model TPD34G1333C901
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313423
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GT 610 GC 1 GB DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 DVI/HDMI/VGA Graphics Card, 61TGS4HX2LTX Graphics Cards 61TGS4HX2LTX (Whatever you do, don't pay more than $50 for this card. I got mine for $40 from eBay.)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083CA88G/
HDD: Western Digital WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive, Blue - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339
SYBA SD-ADA50016 SATA to IDE (IDE to SATA) Bi-Directional Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186078
Case and Power Supply
TOPOWER TP-6208BB-450 Black SGCC 0.5mm ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811237035
OS: OS 10.9 Mavericks
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/os-x-mavericks/id675248567?mt=12
Already Owned
DVD/CD: LG 24X Super Multi DVD Rewriter - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model GH24LS50 LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136178
Comments
Build Reason
I wanted to build a low cost HTPC that could also serve as the hub/storage for all my media. My time machine disk was getting full primarily of movie backups and home movies. So I wanted to move them off that backup and on to something else. Given this design reason, I needed a system that could pass 5.1 channel sound.
I actually got the motherboard out of eBay. They are not too easy to find it seems now but got mine for about $40 shipped through eBay; no longer available at Newegg.
Once again, I got the CPU for a few dollars cheaper on eBay. Used stock fan only. Did replace thermal compound with Artic Silver #5.
Also got a IDE to SATA converter so that I could use an older 80GB IDE drive in the system. Old drive I had was some Seagate variety, 80 GB. I had the optical drive from my first hackintosh as I added a Blu-ray to that one recently.
After successfully installing the OS using the Unibeast install method for 10.9 (http://www.tonymacx86.com/374-unibeast-install-os-x-mavericks-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html), the system asked to update to 10.9.1. I took a chance and just let it do the update. System updated to 10.9.1 without a hitch. No lose of LAN and, of course, sound was not working from the motherboard anyway so that wasn't a problem either.
Toleda's HDMI fix http://www.tonymacx86.com/hdmi-audio/112469-mavericks-hdmi-audio-applehda-guide.html gave me the encouragement to give this a try. I knew from the very beginning that on-motherboard sound would not be available.
Ubuntu 13 was just something I have played with a few times. Wanted to mess with it again so I put it on the old 80 GB Seagate. Have to select that HD at system start up to get it to boot from that one but that's fine.
I've listed the components again with the money I paid so that you can see a breakdown on the price.
Biostar h61mlv2 version 8.0 (~$40)
ToPower TP Mid tower with power supply ($45)
Celeron 1610 ($42)
Artic Silver 5 ($9)
Galaxy GeForce GT610 ($40)
1 TB hard drive ($60)
80 GB IDE using IDE to SATA converter (old drive- free/converter $13)
DVD drive (free spare)
4 GB of RAM ($36)
Total cost = ~$285
This is a completely functional hack, from my standpoint. Understand that on board audio is NOT available but with an appropriate card, HDMI audio is quite accessible. If you just want simple audio, some type of USB dongle should be easy to come by.
Installed Mavericks as per routine (http://www.tonymacx86.com/374-unibeast-install-os-x-mavericks-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html) onto 80GB partition of 1 TB drive. Have Ubuntu on 80GB IDE. Needed to apply the "boot 0" fix (http://www.tonymacx86.com/25-boot0-error-official-guide.html) as HDD was 1TB. This was true even though the partition was only 80GB.
I was asked to put a picture of my MultiBeast selections but I'm not sure how that's needed. I simply used the "Easy Beast" option for dsdt, see the UniBeast installation guide already noted. The ONLY other thing I added was the Atheros based LAN patch in the Network section of MultiBeast.
(Side note...Another user created this same set up but says that it ran DSDT-free. That was not my experience. Use EasyBeast and the Atheros LAN Patch.)
HDMI and DVI video both work on the card. HDMI audio set up seemed daunting but was in the end quite easy. Overall cost of the system was minimal and would be even less if you had some of these parts laying around. I would consider this a functional and easy to hack board for use with simple/inexpensive systems.
