Will OSX86 support my hardware?

darthpenguin · #1 02-16-2009, 05:43 AM

Hello, my family and I have long been Windows users (since 95). But, even though I am very computer literate and I make sure I have the best (free) antivirus and antispyware programs running, and although I have a firewall, and although I give the main accounts limited permissions, and even though I use OpenDNS to block any potentially harmful sites (even IM), Windows still gets viruses, spyware, adware, etc and basically needs to be reinstalled from scratch every 6 months. This is ridiculous.

So I installed Ubuntu and it is great! a vast improvement on Windows. Why is the free stuff better? How dose Microsoft get away with selling such an inferior product? but I'm ranting now, sorry. Basically, I thought that because I have an ibook, a macbook, a time capsule, an ipod nano, and an ipod touch, wouldn't it be cool if I could turn my Linux box into a Hackintosh. My entire network would be all Mac/Apple.

I have posted my Desktop's specs and I would like to know if OSX86 will work on this hardware. Also what is the best OSX86 distro (did I say that right) out there? Leo4all is the only one I know of.

Any help would be great! thanks.

description: Desktop Computer
product: 761GX-M754
vendor: ECS
version: 1.0
serial: 00000000
width: 32 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.3 dmi-2.3 smp-1.4 smp

core
description: Motherboard
product: 761GX-M754-964
vendor: ECS
physical id: 0
version: 1.0
cpu
description: CPU
product: AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3400+
vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
physical id: 4
bus info: cpu@0
version: 15.12.2
slot: CPU 1
size: 2011MHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 200MHz
Memory
description: System Memory
physical id: 25
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 1536MiB
G72 [GeForce 7300 SE]
vendor: nVidia Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
version: a1
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0 module=nvidia
cdrom
description: DVD writer
product: DVD_RW ND-3520A
vendor: _NEC
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
multimedia
description: Multimedia audio controller
product: AC'97 Sound Controller
vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
physical id: 2.7
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.7
version: a0
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=Intel ICH latency=64 maxlatency=11 mingnt=52 module=snd_intel8x0
network
description: Ethernet interface
product: SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet
vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
physical id: 4
bus info: pci@0000:00:04.0
logical name: eth0
version: 91
serial: 00:19:21:1b:a6:ac
size: 100MB/s
capacity: 100MB/s
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
Disk
description: ATA Disk
product: WDC WD5000AAKS-0
vendor: Western Digital
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@3:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sdb
version: 01.0
serial: WD-WMASY0682537
size: 465GiB (500GB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=0003ce5b

thedecline · #2 02-16-2009, 11:32 AM

Here ya go a little help:

iPC (10.5.6) is probably the most supported osx86 distro (yes that is right) out there. It's got the most up to date and comprehensive list of drivers ever put together. Another good distro is Jas 10.5.4.

So stick the torrent on and while your waiting for it to download you need to research about your computer.

The specs your posted were a lot of mumbo jumbo copy and pasted from the manufacturers website no? There are hard facts you need to find out about your pc before you can even try installing iPC, I've listed what I can below to try and help you.

They are:
1. What Processor: You have a AMD Sempron 3400
2. What motherboard make and model: You have ECS 761GX-M754 (not sure though?)
3. What onboard ethernet your motherboard has: You have SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet
4. What onboard sound your motherboard has: You have AC'97 Sound Controller
5. What sata/pata controllers your board has: Hmm not sure here - you will need to find out as it's darned important.
6. What Graphics: You have GeForce 7300 SE

Now you will need to track down the drivers for the sound, ethernet, sata, pata, and graphics. I'm not sure if they all have drivers. You'll have to find that out. Look on pcwiz's blog to see the list of drives iPC has, and try to track down drivers via insanelymac.com.

If you think you have them all try and install ipc, follow one of the many guides that are around. It's tough and you'll probably end up wiping your hard drive. Back everything up and just go for it.

The alternative is of course to build a box yourself with parts you know will work like the asus p5k series or the gigabyte p35-ds3 series. Intel processors are always less hassle with osx86 and so is sata. You may have to upgrade.

darthpenguin · #3 02-16-2009, 01:15 PM

Thank you, That was very helpful,

I actually build the pc myself (no manufacturer's web site). I ran a command in the linux terminal that output that stuff because I forgot what I put in the darn thing.

I saw a tutorial to install leo4all on youtube. It seemed relatively simple and it is probably just as easy with any distro I imagine. right? I'll try ipc, that sounds good.

So if there is a driver for OSX out there for each of my components then chances are that it will work right?

Thanks for your help.

newbmac · #4 02-16-2009, 02:51 PM

Piece of advice, don't get an AMD cpu as they can't run the non-modified OS X kernel.

LawlessPPC · #5 02-16-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbmac

Piece of advice, don't get an AMD cpu as they can't run the non-modified OS X kernel.

Surely that should read unless you want to run a modified kernel (with extra features) I would recommend an intel chip but only the models as used in macs and also depending on which motherboard you use.

Can i ask why you are running a modified one?

newbmac · #6 02-16-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LawlessPPC

Surely that should read unless you want to run a modified kernel (with extra features) I would recommend an intel chip but only the models as used in macs and also depending on which motherboard you use.

Can i ask why you are running a modified one?

Because Pentium D chips can not run vanilla kernels. Only Intel Core based cpus...

darthpenguin · #7 02-16-2009, 08:31 PM

I was afraid of that. If I want to run OSX with as little problems as possible I should install on a system with intel cpu. That makes sense. I'll probably just buy a mac when this comp dies. For all it's flaws as a desktop OS Linux is very stable. So baring any hardware failure I expect this system will last a long time. I don't need much a mac mini (or whatever apple will have similar to that) would do fine.

Thanks for all your help guys.

LawlessPPC · #8 02-16-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthpenguin

I was afraid of that. If I want to run OSX with as little problems as possible I should install on a system with intel cpu. That makes sense. I'll probably just buy a mac when this comp dies. For all it's flaws as a desktop OS Linux is very stable. So baring any hardware failure I expect this system will last a long time. I don't need much a mac mini (or whatever apple will have similar to that) would do fine.

Thanks for all your help guys.

there is little issue running on amd thats the main reason this site was setup originaly. For amd osx support

Ali C. · #9 03-04-2009, 04:01 AM

AMD or Intel, there's still many things to consider when installing OS X. A vanilla kernel isn't a big deal anymore except for bragging rights and safe(r) updating. At least, as far as I've seen about it.
It won't hurt to try the disc on your machine to see if you can install it. Just use a different hard drive from what Linux is on in case it doesn't work out.