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What do I need for mac (building computer)

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Is there anything special hardware that mac requires? I must admit mac is my favorite all around operating system, i consider it better. However, I like windows for my games! (I don't know how long that will last since ea and id just signed on with mac, but directx 10 will be great.) Guys this is not a post to talk about macs features vs. windows. I just want to know what mac actually requires (hardware wose to work)? Please help!
 
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I remember reading mac's require Mac specific parts like RAM and HD's (I think their are workarounds for this) I don't know about mobo's and CPU's but I remember something about mac's using their own kind of intel specific CPU that are rated for mac's?... Or i could be way off. :laugh:
 

ex_reven

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I remember reading mac's require Mac specific parts like RAM and HD's (I think their are workarounds for this) I don't know about mobo's and CPU's but I remember something about mac's using their own kind of intel specific CPU that are rated for mac's?... Or i could be way off. :laugh:

there are macs using core 2'sand xeons though
just look at the macbook for example
 
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indeed, because my macbook uses a 2 core duo
 

Namslas90

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Most newer models take the regular memory etc, and you can run windows also, not sure about vista though.
 
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you can use 34 bit vista + !! 64 bit vista !!
 
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but does mac support quad cores?
 

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OK, let me get this straight...

Are you trying to build a Hackintosh (A PC capable of running OS X)? Or are you trying to build a frankinmac (A custom build actual Mac computer)? :ohwell: :confused:
 

ex_reven

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i dont see why hardware is an issue, as long as the hardware is compatible with each other you should be able to run a mac OS on it. Unless the OS itself doesnt support the hardware, but i dont see why it shouldnt...its not exactly an obscure OS.
 
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i making a computer built for mac, but with boot camp i will use vista to play all the new dx10 games
 
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Is there anything special hardware that mac requires? I must admit mac is my favorite all around operating system, i consider it better. However, I like windows for my games! (I don't know how long that will last since ea and id just signed on with mac, but directx 10 will be great.) Guys this is not a post to talk about macs features vs. windows. I just want to know what mac actually requires (hardware wose to work)? Please help!


:banghead:
 

Sovereign

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Motherboard MSI K8N Neo3-FSR (3 PCI, 1 PCI-E x16, 1 AGR, 2 DDR DIMM)
Cooling Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 PRO + Various 80mm Case Fans
Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM, Hynix & Nanya Chips)
Video Card(s) MSI HD2600XT 256MB GDDR4 Diamond OC Edition PCI-E x16
Storage Maxtor 6E040L0 (40 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Display(s) Princeton LCD1950 19" 8ms Digital LCD (1280x1024 @ 75Hz)
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i making a computer built for mac, but with boot camp i will use vista to play all the new dx10 games

OK, thats still a little vague...

A normal Mac Pro can run windows vista using boot camp or whatever so just buy a normal mac!?!

Or is it that you want a computer that will operate MS Vista natively, like a standard PC as well as be able to run Apple's OS X operating system on the side or in a dual boot setup?
 
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no im building my own computer just because i enjoy building my own, plus i don't like buying proprietary systems from companies
 

Namslas90

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Is there anything special hardware that mac requires? I must admit mac is my favorite all around operating system, i consider it better. However, I like windows for my games! (I don't know how long that will last since ea and id just signed on with mac, but directx 10 will be great.) Guys this is not a post to talk about macs features vs. windows. I just want to know what mac actually requires (hardware wose to work)? Please help!

I don't think Mac's support AMD, but they will suport Intel XEON (quads also).
 
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I've never entered the amd world (besides my ati x800 card), always stuck with intel, but i dont really have a preference.
 
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haha that's pretty extreme, i dont really want to do that, just doing a raid mac/windows setup
 

Sovereign

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no im building my own computer just because i enjoy building my own, plus i don't like buying proprietary systems from companies

OK, so you want to build your own custom rig that will be able to run OS X, correct?

If this is the case, have a look @ OSx86Project.org to get a rundown of the current status of what hardware you need in order to build a PC capable of running Mac OS X. AMD CPUs and chipsets have been reported capable of running OS X x86. Going this route will allow you to build a normal like PC with OS X supported hardware and the site goes in depth into the process. Something to check out for sure in your particular case.
 

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You can't just build a Mac. You can build a PC, and run a hacked version of OS X on it, but then you can't update it normally, because it breaks the os. And if you don't use exactly the same hardware as a Mac, you can be plagued with all the driver problems that Windows PCs can have.

Intel Macs don't have a BIOS, they have EFI, so even if you do get OS X running on a PC build, Boot Camp will not work.

Another option is to scour sale sites to try to find actual used Mac parts, and piece one together that way. You'll actually end up paying more to build it this way, as the parts are ridiculously expensive.

Your only other option is to just buy a Mac already. It will save you a ton of headaches. After fighting with OS X on a PC for months, I finally just broke down and bought an Intel Mac. Trust me, it was worth it.


Short version= It's possible to build one, but not worth the hassle.


Oh and @ everyone else - Macs don't take special hard drives and ram. That's just a scam. I run el cheapo DDR400( READ: Whatever is on sale) in my PowerMac G5, my Bro-in-laws PowerMac G4, and in my former iMac G4. I also run Plain old Corsair SoDIMMS in my iMac, along with combinations of Seagate, Western Digital and Hitachi hard drives in all of them.

The only things you have to really worry about are add-in cards (Sound, RAID, gfx, etc.). They have to have Mac specific drivers or BIOSes/firmware. And you also have to be careful with CPU replacements/upgrades on anything before an Intel Mac. You have to do your research and make sure what you want is compatible with your exact model. Even if it's from the same line (like PowerMac for example), the board can be completely different from a 1.6Ghz model, to even just the 1.8Ghz model.

And 64bit Vista does not work properly with Boot Camp. There are no drivers, atm.
 
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ah...well that sucks. i have a macbook atm with the newest mac os on it, and i love everything about their operating system. however, windows has the answer to all the games i love to play.
 
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