HP DC7900 SFF

[mosslack]

For those interested, Geeks is having a 48 hour flash sale on this system for $149.99. As Peter will tell you, it makes a great, inexpensive Hackintosh, capable of running Mountain Lion. You can read more about it here:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=DC7900S-C2D30-MAR-2R&utm_source=geekmail&utm_medium=flashsale&utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=FlashDeals_10jan13

From the main system of mosslack...

______________________________

Alt-OS <+> GG <+> TBIE <+> Hack List

[Dark_Mac]

Peter,

How much ram have you been able to install in the ones you have
built? I'm looking at getting one as my first hack.

Mike

[pete...@cruzio.com]

> Peter,
>
> How much ram have you been able to install in the ones you have
> built? I'm looking at getting one as my first hack.

Each model has four DDR2 slots.

My DC7900 CMT has: 2 x 2 GB = 4 GB in two slots, with two slots
unoccupied. Another has 4 x 1 GB = 4 GB, with all slots filled.

I believe 4 x 2 GB = 8 GB in four slots, or even 4 x 4 GB = 16 GB in four
slots is possible.

The Q45 specification states that 8 GB is supported with DDR3 (NOT
applicable to the DC7900) or 16 GB is supported with DDR2.

I have a Gigabyte P45 mobo which has 4 x DDR2 slots AND 2 x DDR3 slots.
This is the so-called "compatible" mobo version.

[Dark_Mac]

Ok Thanks, Once I have it I will need to read the instal guide for
it and write if I have issues.

[mosslack]

Mike, keep in mind that I wrote the guide off the one I did for the DC7800, but I submitted it to Peter for his approval before I announced it to the group. As I don't own a DC7900, it is impossible for me to say for certain that it works. I believe Peter used an alternate method to create his USB installer, so there may be some difference in the way it performs. 

Just wanted to be sure you knew the facts before hand.

[Darvinko]

I, for one, had difficulty installing using the iHackintosh method. I did, however have success with UniBeast (used on both a CMT and SFF) and I can confirm Peter's belief that 8GB (4x2GB) works in them and should be capable of utilizing 16GB according the the Crucial website. I might add that my CMT has an E8400 (3.0GHz) and the SFF has an E8500 (3.16GHz).

[Dark_Mac]

On Jan 10, 2013, at 9:35 PM, mosslack wrote:
>>>
>>
>> Ok Thanks, Once I have it I will need to read the instal guide
>> for it and write if I have issues.
>
> Mike, keep in mind that I wrote the guide off the one I did for the
> DC7800, but I submitted it to Peter for his approval before I
> announced it to the group. As I don't own a DC7900, it is
> impossible for me to say for certain that it works. I believe Peter
> used an alternate method to create his USB installer, so there may
> be some difference in the way it performs.
>
> Just wanted to be sure you knew the facts before hand.
>
> From the main system of mosslack...
> ______________________________
> Alt-OS <+> GG <+> TBIE <+> Hack List

Mosslack,

Thanks for the update on the guide. I have kept all of the emails
relating to the DC7800 & DC7900, so will do homework before starting.

Placed order with NE for DC7900 system but w/160 GB HB little more
cost than Geeks, but was able to get 4 GB (2 x 2GB) for a little over
$40 with egg deal code.

Mike

[mosslack]

Cool, didn't even know that NE was selling them. 

[Dark_Mac]

On Jan 10, 2013, at 10:06 PM, Darvinko wrote:

> I, for one, had difficulty installing using the iHackintosh method.
> I did, however have success with UniBeast (used on both a CMT and
> SFF) and I can confirm Peter's belief that 8GB (4x2GB) works in
> them and should be capable of utilizing 16GB according the the
> Crucial website. I might add that my CMT has an E8400 (3.0GHz) and
> the SFF has an E8500 (3.16GHz).
>
> On Thursday, January 10, 2013 10:35:04 PM UTC-5, mosslack wrote:
>

Darvinko,

Thanks for your confirmation on memory.

Mike

[Dark_Mac]

On Jan 10, 2013, at 10:11 PM, mosslack wrote:

>>>
>>
>> Mosslack,
>>
>> Thanks for the update on the guide. I have kept all of the emails
>> relating to the DC7800 & DC7900, so will do homework before starting.
>>
>> Placed order with NE for DC7900 system but w/160 GB HB little more
>> cost than Geeks, but was able to get 4 GB (2 x 2GB) for a little
>> over $40 with egg deal code.
>>
>> Mike
>
> Cool, didn't even know that NE was selling them.
>
> From the main system of mosslack...
> ______________________________
> Alt-OS <+> GG <+> TBIE <+> Hack List

I waited a few days to many or would had a better deal price wise
than Geeks. Such is life

Mike

[faithie999]

i used the unibeast method to install ML on two different 7900's without incident.

ken

[pete...@cruzio.com]

>> Ok Thanks, Once I have it I will need to read the instal guide for it
>> and write if I have issues.
>
> Mike, keep in mind that I wrote the guide off the one I did for the
> DC7800, but I submitted it to Peter for his approval before I announced it
> to the group. As I don't own a DC7900, it is impossible for me to say for
> certain that it works. I believe Peter used an alternate method to create
> his USB installer, so there may be some difference in the way it performs.
>
> Just wanted to be sure you knew the facts before hand.

On my DC7800, I initially used the iATKOS L2 installation method, as that
was the way to get the SATA drives (but described as IDE, as the DC7800
has no ACHI).

My DC7800 SFF is still at Lion with maintenance to 10.7.2.

I believe I went back and did a MultiBeast to get USB 3.0.

My DC7900 was initially brought up on Mountain Lion using the iHackintosh
method, as I was then using the "developer 'golden' release", which was
made available to developers several weeks before the Apple Store received
the product.

I believe I went back and did a MultiBeast to that installation to get USB
3.0.

I believe I unsuccessfully tried to get a Mountain Lion installer using
UniBeast from the "golden" master.

My DC7900 CMT 2 x 2 GB = 4 GB and E8400 has been so stable that I have not
needed to do anything to it except install Apple maintenance, when
required.

[PH]

My DC7900 CMT 2 x 2 GB = 4 GB and E8400 has been so stable that I have not
needed to do anything to it except install Apple maintenance, when
required.

Standard RAM on these hp/Compaq models is DDR2 667 MHz.

I can confirm that DDR2 1333 MHz RAM is recognized as 800 MHz and the FSB speed of 1333 MHz of the E8400 proc is employed.

That's a 1.67:1 ratio.

The Northbridge of P35- and P45-based systems can accept a number of ratios between RAM (which is hung off of the Northbridge) and the proc (which is also hung off of the Northbridge).

[Darvinko]

For those interested, I found these on eBay: Item #160958451614  Will fit in the 3.5" Bay on the SFF's at $9.99 + $3.00 S/H, figured I'd take the chance at getting it working.
NEW HP DC7900 468494-001 22 IN 1 MEDIA READER MCR22IN1-5181 480033-001

[pete...@cruzio.com]

> For those interested, I found these on eBay: Item #160958451614 Will fit
> in the 3.5" Bay on the SFF's at $9.99 + $3.00 S/H, figured I'd take the
> chance at getting it working.

Thanks for that.

I bought one for my Main System, a DC7900 CMT which has been updated to 2
x 2 GB = 4GB of RAM.

My digicams all use ... variously ... the media which this device supports.

Either xD media or Compact FLASH.

Even my SLR-type digicams (Fuji FinePix Pro S1, S2, S3, etcetera).

Saves me from having to install a FireWire card in order to use the now
"unobtanium" Compact FLASH to FireWire readers (but, these are
occasionally available on eBay).

[Dark_Mac]

Yes thanks for the info on this.

I'm getting one for my "new to me" DC7900 SFF unit. Came in earlier
this week. I have DL the most current BIOS so I can update it first
before I start hacking it. Will have to start off installing SL
first since this will be my first intel Hack and have no other intel
Macs that I can DL Lion or ML on. No problem, get to learn more.

Dark_Mac

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>

[mosslack]

I'm not aware of any way of mapping the sound to the internal computer speaker either. Would not be very good sound even if you could.

[pete...@cruzio.com]

> I'm not aware of any way of mapping the sound to the internal computer
> speaker either. Would not be very good sound even if you could.

As on most mobos, certainly including the Gigabytes and ASRocks, the
internal speaker, if one exists at all, is there for the simple purpose of
outputting BIOS POST beeps. It is not in any way connected to the audio
codec.

I believe the hp/Compaq is the same, although it follows the BTX
specification and not the ATX specification.

[mosslack]

I remember back in my early Windows days, there was a utility which could route the sound output of the OS to the internal speaker, but the sound was horrible. It would be similar with the Mac OS if one even existed.

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[Louis Santillan]

At work, the default audio out on the DC7900s and DC7800s is the (mono telephone quality) internal speaker on Vista & Windows 8.

-L

[pete...@cruzio.com]

> At work, the default audio out on the DC7900s and DC7800s is the (mono
> telephone quality) internal speaker on Vista & Windows 8.

Hacks are not Vista or Windows 8 machines, where the audio may be
simulated by using pulse-coded modulation (on/off and a possibly different
duration for the on and off periods, thereby simulating "sound") into the
internal speaker.

The kext which handles all audio out of OS X assumes the codec, and only
the codec, is producing the sound.

The only output device for the codec is the device which is selected by
the control panel.

In this case, DC7800 and DC7900 and probably others, the device is the
line out or the headphones out, not the internal speaker.

[Darvinko]

You can find the DSDT.aml in this topic: Updated DC7900 DSDT Available. I believe Rev. F is the latest. I had good success installing via UniBeast, if you go to hq-a (link on home page) on left side you will find a link to Install guides. Under Mountain Lion, you will find the DC7900 guide which will advise you which settings to use in MultiBeast.

On Monday, February 18, 2013 9:34:09 PM UTC-5, Spink123 wrote:

Hi Ken,

Would you be able to share the Multibeast settings to install ML on DC7900? Where can I get the required DSDT file as well? thanks...

[Darvinko]

Direct link to guide home page is: 
 http://hq-a.weebly.com/