Mac Mini vs Hackintosh

[MacFanUK]

I currently have a hackintosh which is 2.4GHz Core 2 Quad, 6GB Ram, 500GB Hard Disk and Radeon HD3650 graphics.

There are a few niggles with my hackintosh which have started me thinking along the lines of getting a real Mac (a Mac Mini).

Only one of the outputs on my graphics card works, Time Machine doesn't work, and Bluetooth seems very hit and miss (I really want a Magic Mouse).

Is it worth me persisting with getting this Hackintosh fully up and running or shall I give up and get a Mac Mini instead?

Will I notice much difference between the system I have now and the 2.53GHz Mini?

Thanks

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

You are taking a huge performance hit going to a mini. If you wanted to run dual monitors you should have gotten a different gfx card. It has been said in several posts at IM that the 3650 doesnt work with dual monitors.
There are several posts about Time Machine as well, what problems are you having?
Lastly, what model motherboard do you have? If bluetooth doesnt work you can spend $5 for a usb dongle and have it done with. IF you are spending $70 on a mouse you can afford $5 for a usb dongle.

 

[MacFanUK]

You are taking a huge performance hit going to a mini. If you wanted to run dual monitors you should have gotten a different gfx card. It has been said in several posts at IM that the 3650 doesnt work with dual monitors.
There are several posts about Time Machine as well, what problems are you having?
Lastly, what model motherboard do you have? If bluetooth doesnt work you can spend $5 for a usb dongle and have it done with. IF you are spending $70 on a mouse you can afford $5 for a usb dongle.

Well I bought the graphics card before considering running a hackintosh. I've also tried asking on IM for suggestions of a graphics card that will run dual monitors but had no reply (looking in the price range of £50 ish so maybe a 2nd hand 8800GT).

I'm not sure of the exact problem with Time Machine as I'm at work, but it comes up with some sort of network error when I try to set it up.

I have tried 2 bluetooth dongles (my mbotherboard doesn't have it built in), I have tried a Belkin and another one which I can't remember the make but both had same issues.

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

The network error is the most documented error ever. You need to find a copy od PlatformUUID.kext and install that. Heres the link to the 64bit version if you are using x64.

I have a cheap Rosewill bluetooth dongle that has never failed me. I dont use it a whole lot so i really cant help you much there.

One of my hacs has a 8600gt and it works great with dual monitor. nVidia cards are generally easier to use in osx than ATI.

 

[MacFanUK]

The network error is the most documented error ever. You need to find a copy od PlatformUUID.kext and install that. Heres the link to the 64bit version if you are using x64.

I have a cheap Rosewill bluetooth dongle that has never failed me. I dont use it a whole lot so i really cant help you much there.

One of my hacs has a 8600gt and it works great with dual monitor. nVidia cards are generally easier to use in osx than ATI.

Thanks, I'll have a look for a good 2nd hand nVidia GPU. I'll have to find a kext for the Time Machine issue as that one you sent is for SL and I'm only running Leopard.

Thanks again for your help

 

[Pixellated]

Thanks, I'll have a look for a good 2nd hand nVidia GPU. I'll have to find a kext for the Time Machine issue as that one you sent is for SL and I'm only running Leopard.

Thanks again for your help

Give me your address in a PM and I'll fire you off a little compatible BT dongle when I get the chance.

 

[MacFanUK]

I have now got Time Machine working which is excellent Now for the graphics card hehe.

I still think a real mac would be more of an advantage though, purely for convenience.