GA-EP45-DS5 vs. GA-P35-DS4

[mcsmart]

Hello everybody.

I want to build a new Hackintosh. Scince I have some experience with OSX86 I thought it would be better to ask before I go out there and buy something

First of all, what I want:

• reliability and stability
• Intel Core2Quad (all cores have to work)
• vanilla kernel
• installation with retail-DVD
• SATA with AHCI
• 2 PATA drives (HDD, DVD-Ram) (of course DMA should work)
• USB, FireWire, Sound (patches are OK here), PCIE
• PCEFI or similar
• vanilla Apple Software Updates would be nice too
• no shutdown/reboot glitches
• hibernate/sleep

My questions:

• Can anybody here say anything about the things in the list above?
• Is the GA-P35-DS4 really a zero-hassle OSX86 mobo (except from the sound)?
• Will I be able to benefit from the TPM-chip in the EP45 board?
• I am not really a hardcore gamer and I don't want to use Windows on that machine. Should I buy the EP45-DS5 because it has PCIE 2.0?

Thanks to eveybody who takes the time to give me any hints.

- mcsmart

[milanca]

Haven't heard a fully successfull story for P45, you can do some more research. So P35-DS4 is the best solution, i think. I have DS3 board with C2Q. Difference from DS4 is there are no firewire ports (as i dont use any f/w devices) and there are not all the possible raid modes(again it has what i might need). With DS4 you could have all of it.

[kroviken]

Originally Posted by milanca Haven't heard a fully successfull story for P45, you can do some more research. So P35-DS4 is the best solution, i think. I have DS3 board with C2Q. Difference from DS4 is there are no firewire ports (as i dont use any f/w devices) and there are not all the possible raid modes(again it has what i might need). With DS4 you could have all of it.

hi milanca...
i just moved myself to Intel system..can u do me a favor by answering these questions:

1. which is better in urself opinion (in terms of updating system); AMD or Intel systems?
2. if Intel; what installer u used (leo4all etc..)? if from 10.5.2,how u update ur system securely?
3. if AMD; just update using ASU by Zeph...isnt it?

thanx 4 any help!
hoping ur help to decide my new rig next week (wanna sell my rig now..)

[mcsmart]

Okay, just to let you know, this is the hardware I bought recently and everything works very well:

• GA-EP35-DS4
• Q9450

Originally Posted by kroviken 1. which is better in urself opinion (in terms of updating system); AMD or Intel systems?

Of course Intel.

Originally Posted by kroviken 2. if Intel; what installer u used (leo4all etc..)? if from 10.5.2,how u update ur system )

Well, I personally ordered a Leo-disc from the Apple store and used it for my Intel-Hackintosh. So if you are a bit familiar with OS X a retail install is the ultimate way.

Besides that, any Intel-compatible installer will work. I used iDeneb 1.3 before and this works great, too.
When you are on an Intel-System with PCEFI/Cameleon (with vanilla kernel) you can also use Apple Softwae update to update your OS. I updated my Retail 10.5.4 to 10.5.5 this way - no problems at all.
You only need to be careful with 10.5.6 - it is not released yet but it won't be easy to install, because they updated AppleRTC.kext which is likely going to cause kernel panics and a headache if you aren't careful

- mcsmart

[kroviken]

Originally Posted by mcsmart Okay, just to let you know, this is the hardware I bought recently and everything works very well: GA-EP35-DS4 Q9450 Of course Intel. Well, I personally ordered a Leo-disc from the Apple store and used it for my Intel-Hackintosh. So if you are a bit familiar with OS X a retail install is the ultimate way. Besides that, any Intel-compatible installer will work. I used iDeneb 1.3 before and this works great, too. When you are on an Intel-System with PCEFI/Cameleon (with vanilla kernel) you can also use Apple Softwae update to update your OS. I updated my Retail 10.5.4 to 10.5.5 this way - no problems at all. You only need to be careful with 10.5.6 - it is not released yet but it won't be easy to install, because they updated AppleRTC.kext which is likely going to cause kernel panics and a headache if you aren't careful - mcsmart

hi mate...

wow,thanx buddy! i viewed at apple store,it dont cost much..and its 10.5.4..
so.is it possible 4 me to choose GA-EP35-DS4 or GA-EP35-DS3 (if not in store)?

"When you are on an Intel-System with PCEFI/Cameleon (with vanilla kernel) you can also use Apple Softwae update to update your OS. I updated my Retail 10.5.4 to 10.5.5 this way - no problems at all."
this i'm not familiar...how do i know its PCEFI/Cameleon w/vanilla kernel?

if u dont mind...can u show me ur complete system (sound,vga,etc...)

thanx buddy!

[mcsmart]

Originally Posted by kroviken hi mate... wow,thanx buddy! i viewed at apple store,it dont cost much..and its 10.5.4.. so.is it possible 4 me to choose GA-EP35-DS4 or GA-EP35-DS3 (if not in store)?

There is no big difference between DS3 and DS4. DS3 will work as well, but I think it does not have Firewire ports. And the heatpipe of the DS3 does not look as nice

Originally Posted by kroviken this i'm not familiar...how do i know its PCEFI/Cameleon w/vanilla kernel?

Well, if you don't know what this is you should probably install iDeneb (with vanilla kernel) first. It will install Chameleon for you automatically.
A retail installation is only recommended for advanced users!

My specs are:

• GA-EP35-DS4 (2.1 with F5 BIOS)
• Intel Q9450 (I'd recommend the Q9550)
• ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO (512MB) (I'd recomment the XT)
• 4GB Corsair CL4 DualChannel Memory
• 3 SATA HDDs and 1 SATA DVD Burner (LG) (I really recommend getting rid of IDE drives!!!)
• PSU: beQuiet! darkPower Pro 550W