Moarfish's build - GA-H67MA-USB3-B3 F8 i5 2500K HD 6870 Triple Monitor Mountain Lion

Moarfish's build - GA-H67MA-USB3-B3 F8 i5 2500K HD 6870 Triple Monitor Yosemite 10.10

Components

Apple OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 @ Mac Apps Store
Mac App Store - OS X Mountain Lion 10.8

GIGABYTE GA-H67MA-USB3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00518M78Y/


PowerColor ATI Radeon HD6870 1 GB DDR5
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BB1VL6


AOC E2752VQ 27-Inch x 3
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B5P46W

Intel Core i5-2500K Quad-Core Processor 3.3 GHz
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EBUXHQ

ADATA Premier Srs 4GB x 4 DDR3 Desktop Memory Module
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VQPVA0

Antec One Hundred Mid-Tower ATX
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AGXHKK

OCZ 60GB Vertex 3
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00566FETA

Corsair Builder Series CX V2 500-Watt 80 Plus
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W2T2U6


Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005L38VPC


Logitech Wireless Marathon Mouse M705
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TG75EG


TP-Link PCI Express Adapter(TL-WDN4800)5
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007GMPZ0Awww.amazon.com/dp


Comments:

This is my Triple Monitor Setup use at home for Gaming and working.
The Logitech K750 and the M705 is a very good set of mouse and keyboard to use. It is wireless and you nearly never have to change battery. (Never for Keyboard and 3yrs for Mouse)

The motherboard is updated to F8 Bios in Windows 7 and using the latest DSDT file of F8 Bios in this web site database.

Triple Monitor Display with PowerColor HD6870
PowerColor HD6870 works with GraphicsEnabler=Yes. Nothing to modify. Make sure you pick the PowerColor brand, not all HD6870 brand got the same result as mine. Many have to modify org.chameleon.Boot.plist to work. So if you are following this guide for Triple Monitor setup, be sure you got the exact same card as mine.

All ports Working.
Triple Monitor Ports Connected: HDMI, Mini-Display Port, DVI
The display card will got white screen when boot into the installer of Mountain Lion. Please read my Install Process for work around.

The AOC Monitor is the cheapest 27-inch I can get in Hong Kong with LED backlid and got Displayport input for triple monitor.

Some post about this 100% Working Card:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/graphics/...monitors-100-work-powercolor-hd6870-lion.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/graphics/41172-flawless-quad-four-monitors-powercolor-radeon-6870-a.html

TPLink WDN4800
Everything works but when I open Network Utility the Link speed was not at full speed.
I need to open Air Port Utility, click Wireless Option.
Tick the 5Ghz SSID to enable it and force the card to run at 5Ghz in order to get the full 450MB link speed.

2500K
SSDT is required or the CPU will lock at x16. SSDT can be found in Multibeast 4.6.1.

Audio: Working, Front Earphone Port working
Display: Working OOB in Mountain Lion but White Screen in Installer. All ports Working Triple Monitor
USB3: Install USB3 in Multibeast. Detected but not working when USB thumbdrive attached.
Sleep/Wake: Working
Ethernet: Working

USB 3.0
Important Message from Stork 26-08-2012:
"USB 3 is not natively supported by Apple's Desktop OS X. Apple just released MBPs with USB 3, but not until the desktops are introduced will the USB 3 be supported in OS X. Even then, lots of mobos may not have the same chipset as Apple's desktops.

thelostswede and several of the moderators are working hard to get a kext that works with the majority of the 3rd party (non Apple & Intel) legacy chipsets. Stay tune for news at 11 (as the USA East coast news programs say). "

Slow Mountain Lion Boot Time
It looks like many H67 chips board got slow boot problem comparing to previous LION install.
It fixed my problem by reading this thread:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/mountain-lion-desktop-support/65106-mountain-lion-slow-boot-up-time.html

I replaced two file, the AppleAHCIPort.kext and IOAHCIFamily.kext with the one in Lion.
I am now in 10.8.2
Remember to backup your original Mountain Lion kexts file. You will need to replace them back before you try to update your Mountain Lion later.
So when 10.8.3 is released, restore your kexts back before you run the combo update.

My boot time reduce from 25 Apple logo spin to 7 Apple Logo spin with my Vertex 3 SSD.

Install Process: (Mountain Lion) for Yosemite please read below
1. BIOS Set SATA to Run AHCI
2. Prepare Unibeast 1.5 Mountain Lion USB
3. Unhide Hidden files by Terminal command. Pick ATI6000Controler.kext in S/L/E in USB out and save it. Delete ATI6000Controller.kext in S/L/E inside USB drive.
4. Boot USB drive with GraphicsEnabler=No
5. Install Mountain Lion
6. Boot Mountain Lion drive from USB, with GraphicsEnabler=No
7. Put the backup of ATI6000controller.kext earlier in the desktop and run kextbeast.
8. Run Multibeast 4.6.1 using UserDSDT (DSDT can be found in DSDT database, Multibeast settings in the attachment file)
9. Reboot
10 Found that iCloud is not working because the ethernet is set to en1 instead of en0. en0 become my self-made airport card.
11. Open the case and remove the airport card
12 Delete the /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
13 reboot and run Network Utility, make sure that the ethernet is now en0.
14 Open the case and put back the airport card.
15 Install Chimera 2.0.1 to fix iMessage issue and Done.

For white screen issue, Tony got another suggestion in the new Unibeast guide:
"Special Instructions for AMD 6xxx Graphics Cards:
There is an issue with AMD 6xxx cards in Mountain Lion. We recommend using an alternate graphics card or onboard Intel HD 3000/4000 graphics for the entire process. After you're fully installed, you can switch back to your 6xxx card."

10.8.1 Update
Just run the update. Everything works fine.

10.8.2 Update
Process:
1. Download the the Combo updater here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1581
2. Install the Combo Updater, do not reboot.
3. Open Multibeast 5.0.2, reinstall the Sound driver.
4. If you have install FakeSMC like me, remember to delete OemSMBIOS.kext in /System/Library/Extensions/ (Very important, it will hang during boot if you do not delete it.)
TonyMac say that the OemSMBIOS.kext is inside /System/Library/Extensions/FakeSMC.kext/Content/Plugin however, it is not in my case. It is inside the path above. Don't know why.
5. Reboot.
Done

10.8.3 Update
Please read Post #44 or click the link below
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...riple-monitor-mountain-lion-5.html#post572162

10.8.4 Update
Please read Post #58 or click the link below
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...riple-monitor-mountain-lion-6.html#post615016

10.9 Mavericks Update

Cannot upgrade OS, Multibeast will "Installation Failed".
I need to start a fresh new OS install to success.

1. Download Mavericks, Create USB using Unibeast
2. Switch from ATI HD6870 to HD3000 graphics in the BIOS. Unplug the DVI monitor from HD6870 and plug it to the HD3000 DVI port
3. Boot from USB, Disk Utility Erase the old Mountain Lion boot drive.
4. Install Mavericks and boot from USB again, this time start Mavericks.
5. Multibeast Install, setting see screen shot.
6. iCloud not working as Ethernet is moved to EN1.
7. Shut Down Computer and Remove WiFi Card.
8. Boot Computer and delete /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/Networkinterfaces.plist
9. Reboot and open Network Utility Check that Ethernet is EN0 now.
10. Put back Wifi Card and boot again.
11. Plug back the DVI monitor to HD 6870.
12 Done.

10.10 Yosemite Update
1. Download Yosemite, Create USB using Unibeast
2. Boot from USB, Disk Utility Erase the old Mavericks boot drive.
3. Install Yosemite and boot from USB again, this time start Yosemite.
5. Multibeast 7.0 Install, setting see screen shot.
6. iCloud not working as Ethernet is moved to EN1.
7. Shut Down Computer and Remove WiFi Card.
8. Boot Computer and delete /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/Networkinterfaces.plist
9. Reboot and open Network Utility Check that Ethernet is EN0 now.
10. Put back Wifi Card and boot again.
11. DONE

10.12.3 Sierra Update

1. Create Unibeast USB drive with Legacy Boot and ATI Inject (If you got Radeon Display card like me)
   
2. Install MacOS Sierra
3. Boot from USB again and boot Sierra
4. Run Multibeast, select QuickStart Legacy Boot, ALC889, RealtekRTL9111 v2.0 and Inject ATI (for ATI cards)
5. Disable USB3 in BIOS (If you do not disable USB3, it won't boot after Multibeast)
6. Boot Sierra
7. Enable Trim support using terminal command: sudo trimforce enable
8. It will reboot automatically
9. Done

Thank you.

Multibeast 7.0



Multibeast 6.0

Multibeast 5.0.2 Settings for Mountain Lion 10.8:​

Multibeast 4.6.1 Settings for Mountain Lion 10.8:​

Geekbench Result 64bit 2.3.4:​

Triple Monitor Setup​

First of all, congratulations for your work.

A few questions, please:

¿Do you think is possible for me doing the installation with 3000 HD by connecting the mobo by HDMI to the TV?. or I need a dedicated graphic card.
Because on my LCD i don't have DVI, only VGA which neither works..
The goal is to make and HTPC hackintosh for movies.

¿ Audio is possible by HDMI ?
¿ Bluetooth works for use with apple wireless keyboard and magic mouse ?

Thanks a lot.
Congratulations.

Seahawk said:

First of all, congratulations for your work.

A few questions, please:

¿Do you think is possible for me doing the installation with 3000 HD by connecting the mobo by HDMI to the TV?. or I need a dedicated graphic card.
Because on my LCD i don't have DVI, only VGA which neither works..
The goal is to make and HTPC hackintosh for movies.

¿ Audio is possible by HDMI ?
¿ Bluetooth works for use with apple wireless keyboard and magic mouse ?

Thanks a lot.
Congratulations.

Click to expand...

Yes, you can.
HDMI output and Audio support.
Please read the post by Tony:
tonymacx86 Blog: HDMI Audio Solutions: Intel HD 3000 Graphics

You can use Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse with a supported Bluetooth USB Dongle. Check the Wiki for the list.

Thanks for the info.

Nice desktop!

you don't have to modify your graphics kexts for triple screen?
For 10.7 i have to put the device id into the ATI5000Controller.kext to get work the three monitors. i got Vapor-X 5770 1GB

double post, sry

Ghoses said:

you don't have to modify your graphics kexts for triple screen?
For 10.7 i have to put the device id into the ATI5000Controller.kext to get work the three monitors. i got Vapor-X 5770 1GB

Click to expand...

I don't have to.
I have read lots of post in the graphic section of this forum and find that this card required the least effort to have triple monitor running perfectly. I love this card. Definitely recommended.

Congratulation for you work,

I've the same motherboard, processor, alc889, video card and two 23" Aoc screens! But I gave up on ML for the white screen issue, I managed to install ML deleting the ATI kext, but then it's impossible for me to reboot.

I read from your post that you reboot ML for the first time with the USB, how can you do it?

Thank you

piquadro said:

Congratulation for you work,

I've the same motherboard, processor, alc889, video card and two 23" Aoc screens! But I gave up on ML for the white screen issue, I managed to install ML deleting the ATI kext, but then it's impossible for me to reboot.

I read from your post that you reboot ML for the first time with the USB, how can you do it?

Thank you

Click to expand...

Insert Unibeast prepared USB drive.
Boot the computer and press F12.
In the boot menu, select hard drive and select the USB drive to boot.
When you are in the Chimera boot loader screen do not press enter but switch to the MOuntain Lion drive.
Type "GraphicsEnabler=No" and then press Enter.

Or try
For white screen issue, Tony got another suggestion in the new Unibeast guide:
"Special Instructions for AMD 6xxx Graphics Cards:
There is an issue with AMD 6xxx cards in Mountain Lion. We recommend using an alternate graphics card or onboard Intel HD 3000/4000 graphics for the entire process. After you're fully installed, you can switch back to your 6xxx card."