Mac and OSx Questions

[elite-fusion]

Hey guys.

I am looking to purchase my first Mac. I am debating between iMac and Air/Pro but I do want to know...I have been with Windows since day 1 and I love the fact that you can find anything on the internet related to free software (if you know what I mean). Is there anything like this for Mac OSx? Like for iDevices we have Installous and Cydia, is there anything for Mac's? Like a hacked App Store of some kind, or anyway to tweak it, as Cydia would be able to do with iDevice?

Also, I know that I would not be able to upgrade anything on an Air/Pro (new pro w/ retina) due to the fact its all solid state pretty much and cannot be touched in a way. i know that on the iMac, you can upgrade RAM, so RAM is not that much of an issue for me. so I will be purchasing the 27" one most likely with everything EXCEPT RAM and HDD.

I have 4 chips of SODIMM DDR3 ram which are 8GB each. Would I be able to upgrade to 32GB RAM or 16GB is the MAX? Also, I have a few 2.5" SSD drives, 2 of which are 480GB, so...would I be able to upgrade HDD from HDD to SSD? And if so, would I be able to put TWO in?

Please help me out and provide some input on any of the questions above. Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks guys

[multipazz]

demonoid and TPB have good mac sections

there is also the app section right here

[Fight9]

You can find all sorts of open source software on the Internet for Mac.

As for upgrades: the MacBook Pro and Air can have the HDD and memory switched out. The latest model iMacs can only have the memory switched. The 27" supports 32 GB and the 21" supports 16 GB. The hard drives use custom SMART sensors that can not be switched to another.

If you don't buy the iMac from Apple with an SSD, then you have to use something like this, DIY SSD kit, to add a second hard drive. This mounts the SSD behind the disc drive. I plan on doing this upgrade on my own iMac in the next month or so.

---------- EDIT ----------

If you want to put two SSDs in the MacBook Pro, you can use something like this to do it. It replaces the disc drive with an hard drive mount.

Search Results for data doubler at MacSales.com

[multipazz]

Originally Posted by Fight9

The hard drives use custom SMART sensors that can not be switched to another.

not true... we swap out drives in these macs with no problem
but this information I will not be making public .... sorry

there is an alternative method you can use.... that I don't mind to share
Download HDD Fan Control for Mac - Control fan speed in relation to drive temperature. MacUpdate.com
this will use the smart sensor instead of the custom sensor

now you just need a cracked version

[elite-fusion]

LOL I am not getting any of this...im a noob with macs lmao

The Air and MacBook Pro w/ retina, you cannot swap out ram or HDD from what I have read online. Everything is solid state in them. As for the iMac, say I do get it. Ram I can put 4 x 8GB to reach a total of 32GB....GREAT! lol As for HDD/SSD I am not understanding any of this LMAO
"not true... we swap out drives in these macs with no problem
but this information I will not be making public .... sorry" COMMON LOL can you PM me some info perhaps lol

---------- EDIT ----------

Originally Posted by multipazz

there is an alternative method you can use.... that I don't mind to share
Download HDD Fan Control for Mac - Control fan speed in relation to drive temperature. MacUpdate.com
this will use the smart sensor instead of the custom sensor

now you just need a cracked version

Supposedly this is a FREE alternative ssdfanctrl But i still do not understand any of this crap lmao

---------- EDIT ----------

Oh and By the way, forgot to mention. My 2.5" SSDs that I have are 480GB and they are Kingston V+ 200, do not know if this makes any difference

---------- EDIT ----------

So, according to Customize Your System for Top Performance with Other World Computing site, I can have 3 harddrives in this b*tch LOL

I have 2 SSDs and a few HDDS...how would I go about installing 2 Kingston 480GB SSDs and 1 Seagate 1.5TB HDD? or 1 Kingston 480GB SSD and 2 Seagate 1.5TB HDD??? And the fact that you can add an eSATA port to it, very cool, but definitely not worth the amount they are charging! I rather do it myself, if anyone knows how lol

[Fight9]

Originally Posted by multipazz

not true... we swap out drives in these macs with no problem
but this information I will not be making public .... sorry

there is an alternative method you can use.... that I don't mind to share
Download HDD Fan Control for Mac - Control fan speed in relation to drive temperature. MacUpdate.com
this will use the smart sensor instead of the custom sensor

now you just need a cracked version

Ive read that there are 3 options.

1. Download fan controlling software like the one you posted.

2. Short out the two leads on the sensor cable.

3. Replace the sensor cable with one from a 2008 iMac.

Honestly, this is not an upgrade for a novice user. I didn't mention this stuff to the OP. I like the original link I posted; mounting a second SSD HD behind the optical drive. I am going to do this because I want to load the OS on the SSD and then keep all my data on my original 1 TB HD. Plus then I don't have to buy a super expensive SSD thats huge to hold everything. I will keep the OS and applications on the SSD. The original HD will hold all the movies, photos, music, and documents. This set up is ideal because if anything was to happen to the OS and you had to restore the whole system, you wouldn't lose all your data.

[multipazz]

there is a fourth option

apple do NOT use special drives

they are off the shelf .... and can be replaced / upgraded

you just need to read the manufacturer data sheets to know which ones

---------- EDIT ----------

if you go for SSD then I would use the 2008 sensor option

but you should aleays check the data sheet on the drive...
there may be a sensor you can hook up to :-)

[Fight9]

Firmware AP24 right?

Doesn't really matter for me, I guess. I still want to add a second drive rather than replace. I am looking at this Crucial 128 GB SSD for $110. With the DIY kit, I can mount it behind the optical drive and plug right into the third SATA3 port. I think thats the best option for me at the moment. I really don't want to spend half the cost of the iMac on a large SSD.

OWC DIYIM21SSD11 DIY Kit for all Apple 21.5 iMac... in stock at OWC

[elite-fusion]

Yea, I want to do sort of the same, I dont want to just replace, but I want to add. I want to replace the stock one with an SSD, add another SSD, and add another HDD. So I want to have a total of 3 drives running in this bad boy, but HOW lol I found a very good video by them that shows how to add 1 drive, but nothing on replacing + adding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Lg4IgJd04 Great video

[multipazz]

the 3rd port is a winner

[elite-fusion]

Originally Posted by multipazz

the 3rd port is a winner

Even tho "Requesting Support By PM Prevents Others From Learning... Help The Community And Post in The Forum." I still sent ya a PM

[Fight9]

You are not going to be able to fit a 3rd hard drive in there unless you remove the optical drive. The motherboard is equipped with 3 SATA ports. Two are already taken and that video shows how to add to the third. Also, as you can tell in that video, there isnt much room left.

[elite-fusion]

What if....instead of the 3.5" drive that is in the iMac when you first purchase it. you mount two SSD 2.5 drives in there alone. 2 SSD drives are the same thickness as 1 3.5 HDD. Or 2 SSD drives, side by side, and when put together, their widths combined equals 1 3.5 HDD length?

[multipazz]

optical drive is a wasteed port

rip that bad boy out and put something that is worthy of the port

use a USB optical drive

[elite-fusion]

Originally Posted by multipazz

optical drive is a wasteed port

rip that bad boy out and put something that is worthy of the port

use a USB optical drive

This is what I was thinking as well. Use Optical port as a SSD caddy, plus the one underneath the optical drive/SSD caddy, plus the stock drive = 3 drives. Correct?

[elite-fusion]

Originally Posted by multipazz

demonoid and TPB have good mac sections

there is also the app section right here

demonoid no more :'( it has been seized this month. I just went there to see if i can find anything cool for the mac, and unfortunately im shit out of luck lol

There are alot of cool apps here, but not many games and stuff

[multipazz]

mose games are pc versions that run in wine container

---------- EDIT ----------

so what mac did you get

---------- EDIT ----------

for mac games see this thread

Mac OS games!? - SiNfuL iPhone

[73ullet]

Check out ipa planet it has Mac games

[elite-fusion]

Thanks will check it out

I didnt get a mac yet, will get one next week most likely

I am now debating between an 13" air or a 13/15" macbook pro along with a thunderbolt display, that way I have a desktop and a laptop in a way. I want the freakin one with the retina display plus thunderbolt but fuck almost 4.5K for that setup, apple can kiss my ass lol

[Fight9]

Go with the Pro. They are more expensive but if you don't, you will wish you did.