MultiBeast 3.0 Update

Posted by tonymacx86 on Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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Today MultiBeast was updated to version 3.0.  We've made quite a few structural changes, including enabling all choices, so no options are greyed out.  The downside to this is you can now choose to install everything within a category.  Only check the top level choice and the specific sub-choice options.  Checking the category, or root option will most likely corrupt your installation by installing unwanted or unneeded options.

Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites.   
Full list of changes:
  • Restructured menus: Advanced Options now separated into Drivers & Bootloaders and Customization.
  • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to r668.
  • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental to r679.
  • Updated Chameleon post install script to correctly install on a dual boot system.
  • Added tonymacx86 theme Remixed by complx to Themes.
  • Changed EasyBeast and UserDSDT to install tonymacx86 theme Remixed by complx.
  • Removed all CPU-specific smbios.plist definitions.
  • Removed Chameleon 2.0 RC4 by AsereBLN 1.1.9
  • Replaced all Legacy88xHDA kexts with the new unified ALC8xxHDA kext.
  • Replaced LegacyAppleRTC with ElliottForceLegacyRTC for 32/64 bit support.
  • Updated EasyBeast and UserDSDT to use Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease.
  • Updated EasyBeast to use ElliottForceLegacyRTC instead of LegacyAppleRTC
  • Added iMac11,2 and iMac11,3 System Definitions
If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Building a CustoMac: CustoMac Mini

Posted by tonymacx86 on Thursday, December 09, 2010
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It used to be that any tiny system was too underpowered to be a real workstation.  Mini-ITX systems with Atom processors and integrated graphics are no good for gaming or HD, let alone having enough horsepower to run professional applications.

Over the past year, many manufacturers have put out Socket 1156 (Intel Core-i3/i5/i7 compatible) Mini-ITX motherboards, completely changing the custom mini-build landscape.  Now one can build a tiny powerhouse capable of running a full-sized graphics card, and a modern quad-core CPU. 

The transition to 1156 has also altered people's ideas of an HTPC, as now your television can be the centerpiece of a very fast, and quiet computer build.  We've put together the following spec build based on a rig that was contributed to the site earlier this year.  It's meant to be a jumping off point for further customization, but if purchased verbatim would work 100% with audio + video through HDMI. This system is fully supported by iBoot + MultiBeast.

CustoMac Mini
Core i3-540 - Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 - NVIDIA GT 240 1GB - 4GB DDR3 RAM
$616.96

CPU: Intel Core i3-540 3.06GHz $109.99


Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 $104.99

Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc 8X SATA DVD+/-RW Slim $39.79

RAM: OCZ 4GB DDR3 1333 (2 x 2GB) $61.99

Adapter: Micro Sata to Sata (for Slim Optical)  $14.99
Operating System: Mac OS X Snow Leopard $26.99


Optional Accessories
NOTE: Only MODEL NO: ACB10us v1.0 will wake from sleep.



Optional Upgrades
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    MultiBeast 2.6 Update

    Posted by tonymacx86 on Sunday, December 05, 2010
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    Today MultiBeast was updated to version 2.6.  The major change in this release is Chameleon 2.0 RC5 Prerelease r651.  This new version provides more comprehensive NVIDIA 4xx "Fermi" GraphicsEnabler support.  We have also decided to use the latest RC5 as the default bootloader for EasyBeast and UserDSDT going forward.

    Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites. 

    Full list of changes:
    • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 Prerelease to r651
    • Removed PC-EFI 
    • Updated EasyBeast and UserDSDT to default to Chameleon 2.0 RC5 Prerelease
    • Renamed Advanced Options -> Kexts -> Graphics -> PCI Root ID Fix -> For Chameleon 2.0 RC4 by AsereBLN to For Chameleon 2.0
    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan

    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    Fully Compatible NVIDIA Graphics Cards for Mac OS X

    Posted by tonymacx86 on Sunday, November 28, 2010
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    One of the most important components in a custom build is the graphics card.  If you're building a CustoMac, it's an especially tricky decision.  Not only do you have to worry about what will be a good performer for the cost, but you also have to be informed what is fully supported, and what is not.

    Below we've listed a few fully compatible NVIDIA graphics cards for Mac OS X.   Each gives a range of port options, full install compatibility, and are known to work with minimal configuration.  They may not be the most powerful or newest cards available, however they are undoubtedly smart and safe options.  All of the following models have been personally tested by our team.

    DVI/VGA
    This oldie is a perfect fit for someone on a budget who doesn't need much power, but wants a silent card with two working outputs.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.


    DVI/DVI
    A standby choice for many enthusiasts, this card gives great performance.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.


    A great choice for a HTPC setup, with working audio + video via HDMI.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.


    DVI/DVI/Mini-HDMI

    DVI/DVI/Mini-HDMI
    DVI/DVI/Mini-HDMI
    The newest cards to gain compatibility status, these three 'Fermi' cards are a good choice for their new architecture, CUDA support, and awesome next-generation performance.  Full acceleration enabled with GraphicsEnabler=Yes.  Details here. 


    *NVIDIA 450/460 cards are fully supported, but some users are reporting random freezes and open gl issues.  Take caution when choosing these cards for now.   -tonymacx86

    For more information about compatible graphics cards, check out the Graphics Card Database on the Wiki.  Feel free to add a comment here with detailed info about your compatible models.

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan

    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    MultiBeast 2.5 Update

    Posted by tonymacx86 on Monday, November 22, 2010
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    This past weekend MultiBeast was updated to version 2.5 as part of the NVIDIA "Fermi" drivers update.

    Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites. 

    Full list of changes:
    • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to RC5 r643 for Fermi based card support 
    • Added Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental by Kabyl in Advanced Options -> Chameleon
    • Added ATI 48xx Patch for 10.6.5 to Advanced Options -> Kexts -> Graphics -> ATI
    • Changed Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro to a menu
    • Moved existing MacPro4,1 smbios.plists to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro4,1
    • Added MacPro3,1 smbios.plist to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro3,1
    • Added MacPro5,1 smbios.plist to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro5,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> iMac11,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro3,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro4,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro5,1
    • Fixed all Mac Pro smbios.plists to have valid system-identifiers for each model serial number
    • Changed EasyBeast smbios.plist to MacPro3,1 Auto-Detect CPU
    • Changed UserDSDT smbios.plist to MacPro3,1 Auto-Detect CPU
    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan

    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!