1st Build, Lexa S Hackintosh

[Griffwill]

This is my first PC build from the ground up. It's not a gaming rig, we use it mostly for Photoshop and MAYA. Please excuse the neon zip-ties, it was the only thing accessible at the time.
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=68476

I think I'm finished tinkering on the inside, everything is neat...ish. I want to fabricate a cage to go over the PSU, across the bottom and over the HDD cage. I can't do that for a while, i need a dremel and the money to do so. I also need to put new thermal paste on the heat sink. I had to reseat it 3 times because kept putting it on the wrong way, now the stock thermal paste is crap and in idling in the low 50's. I got some AS-5 on the way from Newegg, so that problem should be gone by the end of the week.
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=68477

As far as OSX, every thing runs smooth and I'm triple booting OSX, 7, and Ubuntu. I've got my i5 at 3.3 and running stable, once the AS 5 comes, I'm hoping to get 3.4-3.5, but where's it's at now works.

Specs:
GA-P55M-UD2
INTEL i5 750
AC Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2
XFX nVidia 9800GT 512MB
Seagate 1.5 TB and WD 320 GB HDDs
Sony 24X DVD Drive

[EpicPie]

Pics would be cool ^_^. I have my i5 overclocked to 4Ghz on air cooling.

[Griffwill]

there are pics... they're sowing up on my end.

[MstWntd]

You may have them linked from the HDD. Try uploading to photobucket or something.

[Griffwill]

they are a bit large.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4438638047_0981605d31_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4438637921_97fcdb9f93_o.jpg

[EpicPie]

Better wire management than me! lol

Edit: Just realized you bought the same Lexa S/Core i5 750 combo deal on newegg like I did, lol.

[MstWntd]

Very nice and awesome cable management.

[Griffwill]

yeah, I bought this setup specifically for OSX. I have $2,000 iMac for half the price. Everything is completely stable and I have 7 up on my secondary HD. There are still small things I want to do, like getting black SATA cables, replacing the neon zip ties with black ones, and sleeving the front panel wires and the wire to my card reader. But those are all small things.

[EpicPie]

Wanna post a tutorial on how you did the really good wire management?

[Griffwill]

I can take a few more pictures and label what's going where, but i probably wont unplug everything. With this PSU, the 24pin power connector will barely fit, but it reaches, and the 8pin one you need an extension be able to put it behind the mobo. But, yeah, I'll try and get something up within a week or so.

[EpicPie]

I can take a few more pictures and label what's going where, but i probably wont unplug everything. With this PSU, the 24pin power connector will barely fit, but it reaches, and the 8pin one you need an extension be able to put it behind the mobo. But, yeah, I'll try and get something up within a week or so.
Yeah, I know what you mean. LOL. We bought the same Core i5 750 combo kit off newegg.

[Griffwill]

Here are a few more pictures, I labelled what seemed important, let me know if you need any help.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4444483130_5d59ceda2a_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4443712657_77116d14e1_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4444475828_457358c27c_b.jpg

The other end of my SATA cable is in the 2.5" adapter tray, and the 3.5" cover hides it perfectly.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4444475368_551644b8e4_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4443705025_1a62ebb781_b.jpg

Everything that is not used is zip-tied and tucked in the HDD cage.

[MstWntd]

Friggin awesome man. Yours looks like a mess jsut like mine in the back, but in the front is where mine lacks:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s162/spikesx/Computer/IMG_2364.jpg

Got any tips? Not much slack around the back.

[Griffwill]

it looks like your front panel wires are still in the 3.5" bays, if you move those around back it will look a lot cleaner. Try and poke the 24 pin power through the hole that's there, it looks like you have enough slack to do that. zip ties are your friend, bunch up those crazy SATA and power cables and zip them into small bunches. if you ever put a card reader or fan controller in your 3.5" bay, don't throw the cover away. with a little bit of tweeking, it'l go over that 2.5 adapter and it looks pretty sharp. Once your wires are zipped together, you can put them in the HDD cage, squish them down and put your HDD in the lowest slot. that plus the side panel and you'll never see 'em. Don't know what else to say, just plan it out, and take advantage of all the holes and tie down points on the MB tray. Hopefully that helps, good luck.