For the second time this year, my iMac HD died. OK, to be fair this time it’s an external drive.
Anyway, I really like and have always like Apple’s software but their hardware seems to be…well, let’s just say that it doesn’t strike me as sturdy.
So, I wandered by the local Fry’s store yesterday and took a few notes. Yes, I know the spreadsheet below is missing keyboard, mouse, audio…that’s because these things are negligible, price-wise.
The components I selected to build this spreadsheet are well known for working easily with Leopard. In fact, if you use these components you should be able to load a vanilla kernel and accept all Apple updates.
Four columns: absolute cheapest, quite expensive, and two reasonable configurations. Note that you can lower these total prices quite a lot if you already have a monitor.
Disclaimer: Not that I would encourage you to build your own Hackintosh. It would make baby Apple cry.
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Thanks – I have been monitoring price/performance/”best builds” lately and the community could use more of this type of chart.
Quick and easy to navigate.
Do you happen to have the spreadsheet in some type of downloadable format?
Thanks!
@jake –
I published the sheet at http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pWjF39LI26arpqLHsWwg2bg
You can export it using File > Export
So, will all of the discussed systems accept Apple updates? Thanks
I cannot guarantee this 100% — who can predict the future? — but that’s definitely the idea behind this list, yes.
Erm. The “totals” at the bottom don’t include the prices of the monitors listed, so not as good a deal as I thought at first glance. Also, I’m not as concerned about the missing keyboard and mouse as I am about the missing computer case and optical drive. These things are cheap too, but keyboard, mouse, audio card, case (with power supply) and optical drive all totaled could add up to another hundred bucks if you don’t have those things lying around already. Still cheaper than buying a mac, just not THAT cheap.
@John –
John, of course you are correct.
However the components listed here would be what you would use to build a Power Mac, not an iMac. Of course, Power Macs do not come with a monitor either and are significantly more expensive than iMacs. I believe that this is what you should compare to.
Note that I am only listing the components that could cause compatibility issues. Hence no box, monitor or keyboard.
hey man , that’s rocks !