Filed under: Desktops, OS, Hacks, How-tos
OSx86: On the cheap with Cinema Display capabilities
TUAW reader Markie put together a fairly substantial step by step How-To set up a low-cost high-performance OSx86 system. He even includes the bonus step of making the setup capable of running a Cinema Display. After tweaking to help performance and benchmarking, the system he creates is on par with or better than a Mac mini, scoring a 44.44 on Xbench. The total cost (before adding a Cinema Display) is $316.72 USD with DVI support. Yes, we know that it isn't as cheap as the 200 buck OSx86 system we posted about before, but it sure wins on performance and classy DVI support.Once again, we must remind you that we don't condone OSx86 piracy, stealing, or other illegal activities. We simply must point out the scientific value of such a How-To, so you can feel informed.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joshua Ochs said 3:29PM on 11-08-2005
This would have to be for educational value only, as the system is fugly as hell. I understand wanting to run OSx86 for the hell of it, and play with it a bit. However, since no one has cracked any builds but the first, it doesn't even give a good feel for the OS and progress made since then.
Here's (desperately) hoping we see Mac Mini's and Powerbooks in January. Although the realist in me knows we won't until WWDC... (I desperately need a new Powerbook - my old iBook G3/800mhz just isn't cutting it anymore).
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markie said 3:42PM on 11-08-2005
>as the system is fugly as hell
Euhm, I didn't put a case around it, it's build on top of the Intel-motherboard-box the motherboard came in, so that's how much I cared for the looks of the machine :-)
The above pic is my workstation (with it's case open) btw, the Cinema Display set-up is this one:
http://geektechnique.org/images/tiger-osx86-21.jpg
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Fabienne Serriere said 3:43PM on 11-08-2005
thanks markie, sorry for the photo mixup.
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Wheels said 3:57PM on 11-08-2005
I would sure hope that an 2.67ghz processor could beat out a 1.5ghz processor. I know that there's a lot more to getting OSX86 to work on bastardized Intel machines, but still...
Makes me wonder if I should get a mini for the holidays.
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Drew said 4:58PM on 11-08-2005
$317 for Mac mini performance isn't all that impressive. A refurbished mini can be has for about $375 and includes the full bundle of legal software.
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g0atbutt said 5:07PM on 11-08-2005
Wheels, no worries. The benchmark program is geared for the PowerPC. As soon as you start seeing more "fat binaries" (Programs that have PPC & x86 instructions nativley) you will see that this beats out a mini.
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SR said 11:01PM on 11-08-2005
nice. btw, x86 os x .4.3 is now available on torrents. nice work in any case (hmm... pun intended) ... however,, my DSL is so crap i cant even DL the 4gb torrent to try out hacked x86 os 10.4.1/ 10.4.3 :(
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markie said 7:46AM on 11-09-2005
>x86 os x .4.3 is now available on torrents
I know, but no patches yet and I can tell you the DVD on it's own won't install ;-)
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