Success and Issues

Success and Issues with my G4 Hackintosh Mod.

I tried using the following for my build:

Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L (Rev 1.1, F6)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
Zotac 9500GT 512
4GB OCZ Platinum
WD 2TB EADS
LG DVD Burner
Antec Earthwatts 500 PSU
Kakewalk 2.2 with Retail 10.6 on USB Flashdrive

At first boot I got the bootloader screen and then the Apple logo and loading. Then a blank screen. After a couple of reboots, the same thing as before. I was using the Zotac DVI output because the VGA is block by the rear panel and the VGA adapter can't fit. I then pulled out the Zotac card and used the onboard video. Hooray! I got the installer screen. I'm surprised that the onboard video worked. Nothing that I read had mentioned this before. It would have made things a lot easier.

Anyhow, I formatted the EADS and started the install. At 18 minutes before completion, it would stall and reboot. This occurred over the next couple of tries. Puzzled, I remember reading somewhere that EADS or green drives had problems being OS boot drives. I took my original 320GB drive from my 2008 Mac Pro, since upgraded, and after transferring the data over to the Pro, formatted and stuck it in the Mod.

Success! I ran the AzaliaAudio.pkg and sound is working. Everything except for sleep is working so far. I ran software update and it's fully up to date. The Zotac card and the EADS were the only two stumbling blocks that impeded me. The research helped but I need to be more sure and selective in my choices. What I still need is a video card that works.

I did order the ATI Radeon HD 5770 from the Apple Store for my 2008 Mac Pro. It should arrive in 1-2 weeks. I'll then put my Nvidia 8800GT in the Mod and see how that works. Too bad the Zotac didn't work out. I wanted the HDMI to hook up to my HD TV. Maybe next time.

Update: I've sent the Zotac card back to Amazon and the 5770 arrived the day after I ordered it but wasn't home to receive it. Darn! It was the weekend and FedEx doesn't deliver Mondays. Still waiting. I have to test the firewire card too. Video to follow. I also did a reinstall but used a 10.6.3 retail image. It worked as well.

G4 Hackintosh Mod - Part 4

G4 Hackintosh Mod - Part 3

Halo Reach

Halo Reach is out tomorrow. I pre-ordered it from Best Buy and will pick it up after work. My friend Prentiss is gonna come over and we'll be fraggin' together. The nephews may join us later but we'll start the campaign in "Heroic" mode first then "Legendary". I'm very excited yet saddened that this will be the last Halo game from Bungie. They've done some wonderful work to feed by addiction and are going to be sorely missed. I hope their future projects are just as exciting and addicting.

The G4 Hackintosh Mod is going on the backburner for awhile but stay tuned while I start the fight.

G4 Hackintosh Mod - Part 2

G4 Hackintosh Mod - Part 2

YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/NoeticExpressions

G4 Hackintosh Mod

The genesis of this started with the urge to build another hackintosh. I've hacked my MSI Wind and helped my friend, Dustin build his. I watched and gave pointers as he put it together himself. I've built PCs before and Dustin just wanted someone to back him up in case he got stuck. This was his first PC build.



Anyway, I was looking through the "Kakewalk" forum and saw that they had a mATX motherboard that could be hacked. I was intrigued and start to piece one together. I then decided against it because the cost was $100 to $200 less than the price of a new Mac Mini which I wanted for a HTPC. I mentioned this to Dustin who was interested because he had a Mac tower he was thinking of modding. As it so happened, my friend Rich was getting rid of his G4 Graphite Tower and asked the best way to destroy the data on the old hard drive. I grabbed the G4 for Dustin but when I brought it home, it got me thinking about the hack even more.



Needless to say I kept the G4 and Dustin and I are going to do the mod ourselves. It's been done before by a couple of people. I Googled it and found a good Youtube tutorial. The mod isn't too difficult. The main one is drilling some holes for the motherboard standoffs and the cutout the rear panel for the ports.



I'm trying to keep this build affordable. It's not cheap and it's not expensive either. I'm not trying for a cheap hack but one that is reasonable. This isn't going to be a powerhouse machine. I'm going to try to keep it kind of quiet because it may become the home theater DVR and iTunes music server.

I'll be posting updates on my progress so check back later.