Possibilities of custom making Macs?

Aleksandrs · 11 Dec 2010 at 00:49

Okay now this just sounds like a Hackintosh post, but really I don't think that it is, or at least I hope not as I am aware of the rule against Hackintosh posts.

But earlier I got to thinking, and does anyone reckon if I was to source parts such as a logic board from a Mac Pro (like the dual quad processor [8 core] logic board) and then use other parts and building around it. I'd have thought being a logic board then OSX would install up properly without any sort of hacking.

Surely you're essentially building a "DIY Make-you-own Mac Pro", amirite?

Do you guys think this is something that is possible or another thing that is against Apple EULA which is gonna get this post deleted and me kicked into cyberspace with a sore bottom and a ban stamp on it.

I've been wondering as I'm pretty tired of the unimpressive performance of my imac for things such as rendering but cannot justify buying a mac pro.

Cheers

mr.sly · 11 Dec 2010 at 00:52

Would sourcing all these parts yourself, to basically build a Mac Pro be worth it? Sure you might save a little bit of money, but you'd also be without any sort of warranty and peace of mind.

Not to mention the time away from your work you'd have to put in to building and troubleshooting any problems that arise.

Aleksandrs · 11 Dec 2010 at 00:59

mr.sly said:
Would sourcing all these parts yourself, to basically build a Mac Pro be worth it? Sure you might save a little bit of money, but you'd also be without any sort of warranty and peace of mind.

Not to mention the time away from your work you'd have to put in to building and troubleshooting any problems that arise.

True on the warranty thing, but I have never in my entire consumer lifetime ever needed a warranty on something. As with any custom computer, if a part breaks I'd just replace it.

As for building it, I would have thought it would be no more difficult than any usual custom PC build. As for troubleshooting, thats kinda why I asked in the hope that someone may have tried this before or know someone who has who could possibly report problems I may find while building one.

It's still early stages yet, but its an idea that came into my head and got me wondering. Perhaps if not now, but a year down the line. I figure if I had a custom build Mac then any upgrading etc could occur when needed and be a good investment of a nice powerhouse that runs osx natively, none of that Hackintosh nonsense.

phototim · 11 Dec 2010 at 12:08

So where do you intend to get a mac pro logic board from without buying a mac pro? Surely you can't buy them off the shelf?

joey1211 · 11 Dec 2010 at 12:11

I tried purchasing a motherboard for a mac mini once. Cost more than just purchasing a new one

Aleksandrs · 13 Dec 2010 at 03:30

phototim said:
So where do you intend to get a mac pro logic board from without buying a mac pro? Surely you can't buy them off the shelf?

I found some parts stockist that had dual proc 8 core mobos for 395.

FreeStream · 13 Dec 2010 at 09:18

phototim said:
So where do you intend to get a mac pro logic board from without buying a mac pro? Surely you can't buy them off the shelf?

You can get the parts, expensive mind.

For a i7 Mac Pro you need the backboard and the CPU tray, and then the case, and then the PSU and your basically so close to actually having a Mac Pro you might as well buy one.

Waste of time tbh.

Combat squirrel · 13 Dec 2010 at 16:02

I like this idea, prob be a good plan to get a broken mac pro for el cheapo and repair it, then it makes financial sense.

Bucket · 16 Dec 2010 at 09:04

Got a load of Mac Pro G5 desktops kicking about spare, some are broken some are complete, also got some cases that are gutted completely as well.

The cases go for quite a bob just alone, mind. Just not got round to selling them or finding an enthusiast forum where they are desired.

People buy the cases and build PCs inside them though, but it's a very long job from what I remember.

Not quite what you were after, slightly OT, but the route you are going down would be rather expensive, so if it's only the looks and feel of the Mac you are after, gutting a case and building a PC inside may be a better option.

Nexus · 17 Dec 2010 at 03:02

The cases are a different kettle of fish though and I would have thought the Power Mac G5s are easy to get hold of because they are somewhat obsolete now due to the lack of intel.

I don't see why anybody would have a Mac Pro going spare for parts really. At the end of the day it's an expensive machine that people pay Applecare for so that it gets fixed. If you don't have warranty, chances are you would pay for the fix. It's just not like a cheapo computer where I can see people chucking them out.

So I've got to agree really, you are wasting your time, may as well just buy a working secondhand one.