Could anybody build me a reliable Hackintosh?

[Rob Ruffo]

Who in north America? I really don't have the inclination to do it myself. Do not see wife enough as it is.

[Alexis Vanier]

Get a mac pro. To build a proper hackintosh of similar performance to a mac pro, it's going to run you the same and won't be reliable. Even then, with the new thunderbolt offerings you could go iMac and have an external GPU in an enclosure at a very decent pricepoint. I'm down the hackintosh road because I like the challenge, don't have a girl and and do special applications that a Mac Pro can't fulfill. But if it wasn't for that, there are many alternatives out there if you're on a budget.

The real bad news is that the "reliability" of your hackintosh is proportionate to how intimate you are with its inner workings. Building it allows you to understand where the pitfalls lie, provided you have sufficient computer background to make your way around it. I sit on few years of building Linux, Windows NT servers and workstations plus some IT consulting, excluding all movie related experiences... Knowing some prompt-fu will definitely make the difference between a useful hackintosh and a very expensive gaming PC.

If you plan to use it for work, get the right tools really.

I'm saying this and I have three hackintoshes I built over the span of the last year. Let's get a beer, I'll tell you all about it. ;)

EDIT : The real answer is that locally you might want to ask CIPC on Rosemont boulevard, or there's some other dude in LA lurking the forums that builds those redonculous overkill hackintoshes that might hook you up. Either way, it won't be cheap. What you don't pay in gear with hackintoshes is paid in integration time (aka : ironing out the kinks). Cheers!

[Pablo Villegas S.]

Is there a real thunderbolt GPU solution for iMacs yet? Will it be in the near future? DaVinci supports it?

I Bought an late 2010 i7 iMac, but I be willing to sell it and buy a new obe if I can use Resolve with it.

[Hillary Knox]

No thunderbolt GPUs yet. Won't know until something is announced. When it is, believe me, you'll hear about it.

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

+1 to Alexis. I've built a Hackintosh, and it was easy - but I have 20+ years hacking behind me. I wouldn't suggest that any non-hacker attempt to built a Hackintosh, and especially not for work. I do - but I have fallback options if it hits trouble. Rob, don't do it. If you have someone else build you one, you're even further behind the curve when it comes to you trying to fix it if and when you hit trouble!

Mike

[Hillary Knox]

Pablo, I stand a little bit corrected...there is a thunderbolt GPU in development by a company called Village Instruments, who currently have an express card GPU in the works: http://www.extremetech.com/computing/92160-external-thunderbolt-graphics-card-for-macs-will-not-blow-you-away

Also, it looks like Sony has some kind of proprietary-ish thing in the works: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/06/sony-vaio-z-puts-graphics-card-in-thunderbolt-connected-box/

But, as for what we would need for "real" GPU expansion for grading, only time will tell.

[Pablo Villegas S.]

Thank you Hillary!

Yeah, it looks like it will be some time before we can grade in iMacs or Laptops.

[jake blackstone]

The name of thread is kind of an oxymoron. Reliable Hackintosh? Let say you have one, which I still have to see. Nevertheless, the moment you have a problem with Resolve, BM will not be able to help you regardless of the cause. So, it's a non starter for me...

[Jaime Vallés]

Get a Mac Pro and cry only once (when paying for it.)

[Michael Millichamp]

Ive built hackintosh's and the computer im on was originally supposed to be a Hackintosh. But ultimately I decided to just keep it a Windows because that is what it is. I knew if I converted it, customer support would have been out the window and if there was a problem I would have been f'ed.

Just either go Windows or buy a Mac.

[Rob Ruffo]

Thank you all for many wise words. I guess I'll cry once....

[PatrickW]

I live near Toronto, and could build one for you if you wanted. I'd trade the effort involved for some experience on your set.

[John P]

What applications do you wish run on your to be Hackintosh? Straightforward guides are available online, which a hackintosheer in your area can configure, and support you when need arises. I feel it is possible, and if you are doing projects, then you can clone your drive and backup your projects daily.

[Rob Ruffo]

I live near Toronto, and could build one for you if you wanted. I'd trade the effort involved for some experience on your set.

We might be shooting in Toronto soon, please PM me your details - someone that eager/motivated I want on set whether I need a Hackintosh or not. Are you ever in Montreal?