Mac Mini Too Expensive? Build Your Own Mac for Under $400
By David Walker |
February 5th, 2008
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I used to be a do-it-yourself kind of guy. I changed the oil in my cars, did most of my own home maintenance and even built my own computers. When I switched to my first Mac a few years ago, I had given up on the computer building game in favor of a superior OS and experience. However, I still miss the days of building my own box. Well, it looks like I may be able to pick up my old hobby without sacrificing my OS of choice. A fellow Mac-guy at WildWobby has put together a build-list of PC parts that will let me build my own “Mac” for under $400.
Obviously, you’ll be running a version of Leopard whose legality we’ve already covered in the past. The interesting thing about this project is the hardware that’s chosen. It’s the cheapest configuration I’ve seen for a “Hackintosh” and it looks to also be the most compatible. At the heart of the system is a Shuttle SD30G2, which uses the same Intel GMA950 graphics chipset used by previous generation Macbooks. The system, as configured, is rounded out by an Intel Celeron E1200, 1GB of DDR2 667 Memory, a 250GB hard drive and a DVD burner (super-drive). With a few minor tweaks and software installs, the system will be fully compatible with Leopard - for both sound and video.
Interestingly, this configuration features specifications that are very competitive with Apple’s own Mac Mini (except the cpu) or in some cases, exceeds them. In fact, the Shuttle supports Core2Duo processors, so if you are willing to drop an extra $100 or so into the project, you can get a system that outperforms the Mac Mini, and for a price that is still a good bit less. As for me, it looks like I’ll have to start saving up that spare change - I’ve got a hobby to pick back up.
Greg Wishart – 3 hours 37 minutes ago