Will iMac hardware clone run retail

If it had all the same parts, it would BE a Mac

First off, a pc and a Mac have a different way of starting up, or booting. PC hardware with the same processor, chipsets (mobo, vid, sound, ether, etc), will still need to be tweaked using the stuff that the OSX86 gurus put together to make it run. As for the EXACT parts in a mac, like I said: that would be a Mac, and probably more expensive than buying a new unit.

The closer you are to the specs of a Mac, the easier it is to load using one of the OSX86 installers. (Intel is easier than AMD, for instance) Some motherboard/CPU combos are slam dunk easy installs, and others need a little more work. Keep reading and you see what I mean. There are whole lists of compatible equipment from which to choose to build up your system. Hope this answers your question, at least in part.

lol i researched this intensly and it is impossible to make a mac clone, no one knows what the hardware is, i think its hardware specifically made for apple that is regarding mobo anyway i couldnt find out the iMac chipset for the life of me, but my gear (in my sig) is as close as i could get to identical hardware through reviews i read. its running retail like a dream, with a dsdt patch and 2-3 kexts.

If you've ever opened a Mac you would see that everything is fabricated to Apple's design - PCBs included. It may be done by a name brand manufacturer, but it's still designed to Apple's specs, so there's zero chance you could buy one in retail.