using a Hackintosh? please post your specs and experiences!

[andygabrys]

Hi all,

I am looking for info on getting a new machine in the fall. The obvious question: stick with a mac or get a PC custom build and install OSX and run a Hackintosh system.

I am using Logic and Protools alternatively, both of which have new versions that I want to upgrade to and which require more modern machines than my current mac.

The Apple option seems pretty straight ahead - just throw bags of money at the Apple Store, and away you go.

More mysterious to me is the Hackintosh angle.

1. Who is using one currently?
2. What do you recommend for the actual OS installation? (i.e. Kakewalk or ?....)
3. What computer build did you end up with, and why? What is your primarily musical style (i.e. all audio record and mix, or uber stacked with sampled instruments and MIDI heaven / hell?)
4. What did you decide on for hard drive setup? (SSD or conventional, and why?)
5. What is your primary consideration for interfacing? USB or FW or Thunderbolt or PCI?
6. How did you handle RAM? did you go for more than 16 GB? Is 16 GB enough for your usual use? Did you install Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate to get more than 32GB? (see above for definition of what you use this for).
7. Do you have special needs for PCI slots (UAD cards, etc.)
8. If you bought a new monitor, what kind of monitor did you get?

any missteps that you would caution to someone else having a go at this?
any major wins with the Hackintosh other than some price savings? - and would you mind posting the price for the entire setup you got and links to where you bought it / had it built?

Thanks for being brave and sharing the specs and your experiences.

Andy

[jdhogg]

I have 2 they both work fine.

I cant remember the exact specs but that is irrelevant as you cant buy those parts now as I built them a few years ago.

It was a GIGABYTE board using the onboard firewire for my RME fireface.

When you get it set up and working, dont upgrade the OS unless there is a reason to....that can cause the odd problem that is a pia to fix....thats general advice...how many times have you upgraded something and then spent half a day trying to fix things wondering why did I upgrade when it was all working perfectly anyway?

Use Kakewalk and get parts they suggest.

I would also wait a few months and dont be the guinea pig for logic X.

I use iiyama monitors because they are great monitors and are recommended to work with both mac and pc.

As for the drives and memory its no different than for a PC. Its always cpu that hits the limit first.

I use reaper for audio recording and mixing, logic for midi based projects.

Having said all that I normally boot into windows 7 and use reaper 95% of the time, hence for me a real mac would be an expensive item I could not justify.

[scotttroyer]

A friend of mine made one, but he spent most of his time troubleshooting it. He eventually just started using it as a Windows machine. Recently, I considered going the Hackintosh route, but I think I've decided against it.

[andygabrys]

A friend of mine made one, but he spent most of his time troubleshooting it. He eventually just started using it as a Windows machine. Recently, I considered going the Hackintosh route, but I think I've decided against it.

I hear that Scott - that's the big dilemma.

Thanks JD for ringing in too.

[jdhogg]

As I mentioned.... use Kakewalk, get rec components that you know work due to forums (inc insanelymac) get it working then install everything and dont update untill you need to.

Its the OS updates that cause the problems. a stable system does not become unstable without a reason.

Worst case scenario is you have a great pc as a slave machine for your big libraries.

[ochaim]

I remember looking into this myself a few years ago and got the gist that using mac os on a non-mac was against their terms of service. Is that not the case?