Table of Contents



CustoMac Mini



The CustoMac Mini is a bare-bones CustoMac in a shoebox sized case featuring a H77 mini-iTX motherboard and a dual-core Ivy Bridge processor. The graphics are integrated, so there's no need for a power-hungry discrete graphics card. The case also includes a power-efficient power supply unit. Less parts, less power, less heat, less cost. Please note that the motherboard's Intel mini-PCIe card includes both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but only the bluetooth features are available under OS X. If you don't use the PCIe slot, we recommend the TP-Link PCIe card below for native Wi-Fi support. Also, there are a few native wifi-only Atheros mini-PCIe replacement card suggestions if you don't need bluetooth.​

CustoMac Mini Deluxe



The CustoMac Mini "Deluxe" is a no-compromise build featuring a Z77 mini-ITX motherboard and a quad-core Ivy Bridge CPU. The BitFenix Prodigy case is a unique way of thinking about a mini-ITX system, as it's not exactly small. It's about the size of a mATX case, making room for multiple hard drives, and a full sized graphics card. The Z77 motherboard is also capable of overclocking if you use a "K" CPU, and there is even room for a water cooler for the CPU. Please note that the motherboard's Intel mini-PCIe card includes both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but only the bluetooth features are available under OS X. If you don't use the PCIe slot, we recommend the TP-Link PCIe card below for native Wi-Fi support. Also, there are a few native wifi-only Atheros mini-PCIe replacement card suggestions if you don't need bluetooth. If the BitFenix Prodigy is unavailable, we've listed some alternate cases below.​

CustoMac Budget mATX



A powerful desktop build with budget-minded parts and no graphics card. This build contains a mATX sized motherboard, a dual or quad core CPU and Intel HD 4000 onboard graphics.​

CustoMac Budget ATX



A powerful desktop build with budget-minded parts and no graphics card. This build contains a ATX sized motherboard, a dual or quad core CPU and Intel HD 4000 onboard graphics.​

CustoMac Pro



These full sized ATX builds have quad-core CPUs, maxed out RAM, and lots of expandability. Well suited for any demanding uses. Each has few high-end graphics card options that work in OS X Mountain Lion.



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CustoMac Pro Socket 2011



These rigs are the most powerful single CPU systems you can build. Warning: Power Management is NOT working, and may not ever work. This means no speedstep, sleep, etc... Socket 2011 CPUs do not come with a CPU cooler- they require a separately purchased CPU cooler.



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Operating Systems



Graphics Cards











Note: 6xx/7xx cards do not work in Snow Leopard.



​ 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 about what is fully supported, and what is not. The following graphics card examples are all natively compatible without modifying drivers. Each gives a range of port options, install compatibility, and is known to work with minimal configuration. Furthermore, it's now possible to use multiple NVIDIA cards in tandem- dual and triple cards are enabled by default. For a general comparison, check out this performance benchmarks table for recommended NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards.Note: 6xx/7xx cards do not work in Snow Leopard.

CPUs



We recommend these specific Ivy Bridge CPUs for Socket 1155 motherboards because they feature fully working HD 4000 integrated graphics. Each CPU comes with a basic Intel CPU cooler.



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Motherboards



We recommend these specific Gigabyte 7-series motherboards because the don't require a DSDT, have native power management and supported network and audio controllers. They are the most compatible with OS X and are the easiest motherboards to get up and running for first time builders.



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System Drives







​ We recommend using a solid state drive (SSD) for your system or boot drive for maximum performance and a traditional hard drive for your data. For these drives, we recommend the Sandisk Extreme as they use toggle NAND flash and Sandforce controllers. This combination provides the highest performance and doesn't require TRIM being enabled. If you don't go with a SSD system drive, choose a 1TB or less hard drive for Chimera/Chameleon to boot from. Also, look for for a boot drive that that uses 512 byte blocks as the Advanced Format 4K drives require workarounds. . The following drive examples have been hand picked to work without issues.

Storage Drives



The data or storage drives listed here were chosen for their large capacity and speed. However, we don't advise using them as your boot drive.



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CPU Coolers







​ All Intel Socket 1155 CPUs come with a basic CPU cooler. An aftermarket CPU cooler is recommended for overclocking. If you're unsure whether you need a cooler, see this post

Power Supplies



Cases



The case is one of the most universal parts, although you need to make sure that your motherboard and chosen parts will fit. Each link refers to the details of the product, where you can see what sizes are recommended.



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Accessories



These parts are known to work well with CustoMac desktops. If planning to use Bluetooth exclusively, access to a USB keyboard is also helpful to get into the UEFI and to access the bootloader menus.



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