How To Hack Together Your Own 'Hackintosh' Macintosh Computer For Only $199

How To Hack Together Your Own ‘Hackintosh’ Macintosh Computer for Only $199

Now that Apple has introduced its new Intel processor-based operating system, Macintosh OS X, it’s now possible to actually build your own Mac from scratch. And making your own “Hackintosh” won’t even break the bank.

J. Frank Wilson on Jan 17, 2006 (Updated: May 21, 2020)

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Sometimes Windows users have all the fun. For years they’ve been building their own PCs from scratch. Unfortunately for Mac users, building your own PowerPC Mac is so costly and time-consuming, that hardly anyone does it. But it looks like that’s all about to change. Now that Apple has introduced their new Intel processor-based operating system, Macintosh OS X, it’s now possible to actually build your own Mac from scratch, like Flickr user VivaServer (pictured). And the best part, making your own “Hackintosh” won’t even break the bank.

Building A Hackintosh

CEpeep, one of the users at osx86project.org, shopped around and found everything you’ll need to build your own Intel Mac for under $200. Sure, the case is a little ghetto, it’s only got a 20 GB hard drive, and it’s no Millennium Falcon in terms of speed. But CEpeep’s “Hackintosh Mac” runs Quartz Extreme and everything else that Mac OS X Tiger x86 requires.

Obviously, there are still many reasons why you’ll want to buy a true Mac vs a Hackintosh. Namely Apple quality and support (and innovation), the current lack of a legal x86 OS X, etc. But it’s interesting to think that the days of the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Mac may be just around the corner.

Here’s CEpeep’s full list of equipment and prices:

The $199 Mac parts list: $199.66

Case $9.95: buypcdire…id=cas-ge-lp600
Motherboard $50.00: newegg.co…N82E16813157075
Processor $60.77: ewiz.com/…LE-315BX&src=fr
512 RAM $38.00: store.yahoo.c…pc26stoemf.html
20 Gigabyte HD $25.95: etech4sal…fo-id-1852.html
DVD Drive $12.00: compuvest….jsp?iid=107882

Are you going to give it a try? If you do decide to make your own Hackintosh, please tell us about it and send some pictures. Thanks!

Photo by vivaserver

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J. Frank Wilson

Frank Wilson is a retired teacher with over 30 years of combined experience in the education, small business technology, and real estate business. He now blogs as a hobby and spends most days tinkering with old computers. Wilson is passionate about tech, enjoys fishing, and loves drinking beer.

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