ChefDude

So my girlfriend wants a big screen, fast pc and a 2 drive redundancy array (1+0).

It has to be OSX too.

a core i7 27" imac with 2x4GB ram, SSD and 2TB hard drive is about £2800
+ an 8 bay (empty) drobo at £900+

This lot costs £2250
core i7 930
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R rev2
8GB 1600 DDR3 SDRAM
120GB SSD OCZ Technology Vertex
DVD+-R
ATI HD 5770
Fractal Design R3 Case
Quiet CPU Cooler??
Be Quiet DarkPower 1000W PSU
RocketRAID 4321 8xSATA
DELL ultrasharp 27"
mouse+keyboard

So, the spec isn't quite the same, but it's pretty compelling isn't it? Especially with MultiBeast and iBoot making it oh so easy to install.


Anyone else building a 'mac pro' at the moment? Should I just save for the iMac?

Of course, whatever the choice, it'll be x 2

Ant

Hmmm tough one if you can afford it I'd go down the iMac route. You're getting all spec in a 27" screen effectively no big chunky tower.

If I could be arsed I'd build my own but always the thought back of my mind will this update fluff my install up and so on .

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi matey i build last time for my friend Hack-Mac Pro


CPU: i7-920
Corsair H70(cheapest watercool and very quiet,tried and tested)
MB: ASUS P6T Deluxe
RAM 9GB DDR3 Corsair
HDD 2x500 GB Sata WD Black
GPU: GTX260(best kext for nVidia),newer version of ATi HD5XXX are used but only worked with 32bit kernel,search on netkas.org
Case: Coolermaster CM690(cheap and very quiet case) or Cooler Master HAF932(my TOP case)
PSU: OCZ 750W(modular psu and cheap and very good for money)

ChefDude

So, you'd splash for the drobo then? That's another £2K to buy it and fill it with 2TB drives. it is very neat and stylish, but twice the price of a home build with the same 8 drives in it.

the osx update thing is always a dilema, but I plan to put the OS and apps on that 120gb ssd. very easily backed up, and there are 3 other macs in the house too

ChefDude

Thanks Jura, but the case doesn't fit enough drives in.

This Fractal Design R3 is much better suited...


As for mobo, almost definitely gigabyte. nvida/ati - i'll probably look at what the imacs have in them before i decide on that. i'd quite like to play starcraft II, so I guess it should be meaty.

ChefDude

oh yes, 10.7 is coming out too, so let's see how the hackintosh community falls apart

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Updates no problem,just look for update combos(easy available on various sites).
I'm now running few hackintosh PC and Hackbooks,no problem with new updates,hacked updates are available later of week or months,but nothing to worrying now.
I'm using mine just for photo editing and some my projects(music,video etc.),but mainly i use as dual boot and W7 64bit(AutoCad,MAYA,3DS MAX are not available for Mac)

ChefDude

you can get autocad for osx now

i won't use any software from microsoft in my pcs.

girlfriend has windows 7 and is desperate to move to osx too.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Look for Coolermaster Cosmos
(pricey,but very quiet and almost cool in hot days),i use only CM cases due are good build,but best of is just one Lian-Li TYR

Ati HD 5770 is out new kext on http://netkas.org/

CM COSMOS

Lian Li TYR

Ant

I didn't realise about the cost of the drobo. Go for the build option then makes sense cost wise

dunx

iTrader: (3)

What use is 8 GB on a Mobo using triple channel memory ?

dunx

P.S. Build your own monster, you know it makes it more fun...

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Sorry,i forgot 9GB

ChefDude

err, me too. still in ddr2 mode

JackClark

Thing of beauty or a scrapyard dog. I know what I'd have in my living room.

Tidgy

very similar to my spec, only gone for 6gb ram, not much supports 6 let alone 9. same board, case, i got a 4890hd cps+ cheap, 550w ocz power suply.

personaly on the HD front i'd get a single 1tb drive to use for now, then when ssd come down get one to run windows from.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

6GB is too low for MacOSX and for some programs(music production and Adobe products and mainly this PC my friend use for ripping,3DS Max etc.)and this month brought more RAM(now have 12GB)
2XHDD(1st HDD W7 64bit,2nd HDD Apple Leopard),and my friend have 4HDD(4X1TB) as for backup.

Brun

Can i just ask what does a £2.5k pc do that a £1k one doesn't? Seems like a massive wedge for a pc.
I traded a 320bhp Scoob for £2.5k

ChefDude

for me specifically, I need components that will allow easy install of OSX. the case also needs to accomodate 8 hard drives.

As to other people, that's a valid question

Tidgy

why mac and why 8 HD?

ChefDude

i won't touch windows. i've been using windows since 1988 as a user and developer - windows 1, 2, 3.1, 3.51, 4,95,98,2000,xp,vista and 7 and I'm sick to death of it. and the development and release paradigm that microsoft utilizes.

and 8 hdd? g/f likes space - with tv, movies, music and photos she has about 6TB of data. 8 x 2TB in raid 6 will give her (8-2)*2TB of usable space... she's not very efficient at archiving

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Silly to wait for an SSD, I got one last xmas (bored !) as I hate wait for the damn thing to boot from cold.

Even now it's still a worthwhile addition, Crucial (Sata III) 128 Mb next time...

dunx

Tidgy

christ on a bike, if shes using that much space get her off the computer shes doing somthing majorly wrong lol

never liked mac, too restriced for my likeing. tbh im surprised your not using linux if you helped develop windows, far better option if you have the know how

Littleted

Buys the Real deal,

If only for the awsome looks

but i do actually buy pre built gaming machines

Ive used

YOYOTECH in london and CHILLBLAST

Bost mega pcs all I7s raid 0 12 gig tri channel etc

1 was 1800 other was 900

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Buy Real Deal doesn't exist.
And about YOYOTECH,if you are looking on website price is different(because is exc.VAT) and in the shop is very different,and finally if you want Real Deal build own PC,is cheaper,than pay someone for something what do yourself.
I brought from YOYOTECH 1TB HDD for 36£,but after collecting HDD from shop price has been different,after this i use only NOVATECH(Reading),SCAN,CCL and few more.
YOYOTECH is bad option for everyone(and if you have problem,refund is something which don't like,waiting on refund 6 months is something TOP)
Just look at review http://www.trustpilot.co.uk/review/www.yoyotech.co.uk

Littleted

Dont read the reviews m8 or youll never Buy, they have been fine with me instant swapouts etc.

I do use CCL but only cos its close


but id personally buy the real apple unit cos they look great the only downside to apple is add any extras and they rape u on costs,

Im unsure if you can fit after market things to thoses bog screens , but as ive done with Apple laptops get the main grunt like Screen and VGA then guy memory and disks later save you loads of cash.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Proper Mac Pro will cost small fortune and Macbook is just Dell in better case,that's it.
Hackintosh is much better option,due is cheaper(and is upgradeable much better than Mac Pro like GPU,CPU,MB etc.) ) and worked like charm.I run few Hackintosh,my Hackintosh is unbeatable in any apps(MacOSx or W7)...