Max. compatible and >cheap< Hardware?

[Imkantus]

Hi there,

Well I definitely need to get some better Hardware, to be "Snow Leopard ready", since my current configuration was already hard work with Tiger running Semthex Kernel, and a b*tch with getting Leopard to work since common stuff like those bootloader with Efi Emulation and allmost all Kernel (except ToH based ones) don't work... :-/

I am not going to have the money until next month :-|, so the situation will maybe change, but anyway I want to check out, which components you would recommend to use. :)

Maximum Budget will be about 130€ - less preferred.

I thaught about buying:

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2600 MHz E5300 (FC-LGA4, "Wolfdale-2M") > 54€
RAM: Some 2 GB DDR2-667 DIMM > at least 25€

What leaves just 50€ for a Socket 755 mainboard... I need: IDE-Controller
Onboard sound with Line-Out, Line-In and microphone working (guess ALC* will do)
working onboard LAN

Questions:


Do you think the E5300 is a good choice for the CPU?
Any idead about a mainboard, where most parts will work ootb?
Should I wait with buying the RAM or should I get it already yet?
All other recommendations welcome. http://www.infinitemac.com/images/icons/icon14.png


Many thank!

[maya77]

Gigabyte mobos:
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.6.0#Gigabyte

nVidia graphic cards:
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.6.0#nVIDIA

[xXrkidXx]

whatever you do, dont get a mainboard with a ALC860 chipset... its a total bitch and a half to get(kinda) working... im still not sure how I did it... and it rarely turns on for me.

[Imkantus]

@maya77
If you don't have something usefull to tell, please just leave it at that.
Or at least read before you start to spam - the mainboard I was looking for should not be more expensive than 50€ (~ 70USD) (there is not such in HCL), the more I am not planning to buy a graphic card. :-/

[tham50]

my setup works quite well with 10.5 and 10.6:

c2d e6320
gigabyte p35-ds4
8800gts

cheap, stable and everything is supported.

[maya77]

Well I definitely need to get some better Hardware, to be "Snow Leopard ready"
the mainboard I was looking for should not be more expensive than 50€ (~ 70USD) (there is not such in HCL), the more I am not planning to buy a graphic card
Then you may wish to try good old Pentium III and Windows 98.
If you don't have something usefull to tell, please just leave it at that
Sorry for disturbing your thread. I was just trying to help.

[Imkantus]

Then you may wish to try good old Pentium III and Windows 98.I don't see a reason why my desired configuration should be unrealistic. :-/
But if you are minded to pay 130€ on a P3 + mobo + RAM - feel free to PM me, I still have one left.
I just didn't like u to depict me as dummy, just cause I was asking a more beginner-related question.


To all who seriously want to help me:

This are the mainboards I am currently at the choosing:

1.) GIGABYTE G31M-ES2L - 40€

1333/1066/800 MHz FSB
2 places for DDR2-SDRAM 800Mhz (PC2-6400) - max. 4GB
Intel G31 / ICH7
Realtek ALC883
Realtek RTL8111C
Intel GMA X3100

2.) GIGABYTE GA-EP31-DS3L - 48€

1333/1066/800 MHz FSB
4 places for DDR2-SDRAM 800Mhz (PC2-6400) - max. 4GB
Intel P31 / ICH7
Realtek ALC888
Realtec RTL8111B
no onboard vga

3.) Foxconn G31MXP-K - 43€

(1600)/1333/1066/800 MHz FSB
2 places for DDR2-SDRAM 800Mhz (PC2-6400) - max. 4GB
Intel G31 / ICH7
Realtek ALC662
Realtek RTL8111B/RTL8111D
Intel GMA X3100

4.) Biostar G31D-M7 - 36€ :)

1333/1066/800 MHz FSB
2 places for DDR2-SDRAM 800Mhz (PC2-6400) - max. 4GB
Intel G31 / ICH7
Realtek ALC662
Realtek RTL8201EL
Intel GMA X3100


I am still not determined, which one I should get...


1. Which one would you choose and why?

2. Will all the listet Realtek Ethernet chips work with RealtekR1000.kext or is there one which won't?

3. I don't need it as I will continue with using my GeForce (need Dualmonitoring. ;)) - but there should be the theoretical option to use a X3100 on 10.6 also, since some Macs have it, too shouldn't it?

4. Is ALC662 realy unsupported as listet in the HCL or is there someone who has it working?
This would be a killer argument against the Foxcon and the Biostar mobo...

5. Thanks. :)

[kramer2k]

I have the P31-DS3L...works great.

Only real issue is No deep sleep. Quick sleep works fine. I'm also having a USB issue with DSDT and waking using Mouse / KB. But other than that, it's 99.999% fully functional since 10.4

[Imkantus]

I don't need sleep, though it was working on my current configuration until 10.5.6 I never made use of it...:D

And as I don't really see a difference between GA-P31-DS3L (http://www.hardwareschotte.de/hardware/preise/proid_9081733/preis_GIGABYTE+GA-P31-DS3L) and GA-EP31-DS3L (http://www.hardwareschotte.de/hardware/preise/proid_9753341/preis_GIGABYTE+GA-EP31-DS3L) - I am going to shortlist this one.
Thank's a lot for letting me know about your experience - much appreciated. :)

Further comments - specially about ALC662 are of course still welcome. :)

[tompic823]

I have a GA-G31M-ES2L and I can honestly tell you its great. Not only is it highly compatible with OS X (Leopard and Snow Leopard) but it's also great for overclocking and highly stable. Its pretty cheap on Newegg so pick one up there and you'll definitely be glad you did.

[Ianxxx]

To try and answer your questions one at a time, as far as I know and if someone knows different feel free to comment, you won't have that much look with gma 3100 don't get this confused with gma X3100.
If you want built in graphics go for an older board with gma 950.

There is some support for alc662 but the kexts seem to be hard to get hold of. I used a GA-G31M-S2L for my girl friends mac and put it inside her old G3 case she's pretty chuffed with it. Haven't found a kext for snow leopard yet.

Never had a problem with any of the realtek on board lans every gigabyte board I have tried they have work otb but need driver for bonjour.

From your list I would definatly go for the GIGABYTE GA-EP31-DS3L I think it's the one that will cause you least problems

[Imkantus]

Thanks for all your replys I just took the opportunity and baught an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40 GHz & a Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L (http://www.hardwareschotte.de/hardware/preise/proid_9081733/preis_GIGABYTE+GA-P31-DS3L) for peanuts on ebay - what still leaves out about 40€ - 50€ for RAM. :) - Any suggestions? :D

[tham50]

what still leaves out about 40€ - 50€ for RAM. :) - Any suggestions? :D

doesn't matter at all.
just go for at least 1.5gb.