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(Success) Yosemite 10.10.2 MSI Z97 Gaming 7 | i5-4460 | Strix GTX 960

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Feb 8, 2015
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Motherboard
MSI Z97 Gaming 7
CPU
i5-4460 3.2 GHz
Graphics
Asus Strix GTX 960 2GB
Mac
  1. 0
Classic Mac
  1. 0
Mobile Phone
  1. Android
I moved my Build of Silent Beast to:Hello Tonymacx86 Community!

I have just completed my first build and wanted to share it and how I did it.
Buy List:
CPU: Intel i5-4460 3.2 GHz $189.99 Newegg
MOBO:MSI Z97 Gaming 7 LGA1150 $169.99 Newegg
Graphics: ASUS STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-2 2GB $209.99 Newegg
SSD: Samsung EVO 850-Series 120GB $79.99 Newegg
HDD: Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive $54.99 Newegg
RAM: PNY XLR8 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model MD8192SD3-1600-X9 $50-80 Bestbuy
Power: Rosewill Glacier Series Glacier 700M $89.99 Newegg
Case: NEW NZXT H440 STEEL Black/Red (Wife's Choice) $119.99 Newegg
Cooling: Stock air and case fans -FREE-
Monitor: SAMSUNG S24D300H Black 24" LED $149.99 Newegg

TOTAL PRICE $1,113.96 + ~$70(RAM)= ~$1,183.96 shipping included

Case: http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/143-h440-performance-mid-tower.html
My Wife chose the case and she knows next to nothing about computers. She just thought it "looked okay" I told her that she was amazing because it was clean and was a silent case. and it looked sexy. The build of the case is pretty durable as well and it comes with 4 fans installed that are very quite. I left my build on for 24 hours and even playing for 4-5 of them I haven't heard a peep expect for my graphics card. get into that later.

MOBO:
Found it was compatible over at http://www.tonymacx86.com/bios-uefi/143167-msi-9-series-motherboards-os-x-setup-configuration.html I will take no credit for his post and any help that went into it. Just want to share my config and what I did.

The process:

  1. Assemble all part together. EXCEPT the graphics card. You can leave it out for now.
  2. Make sure you have a 8GB flash drive made following this guide: http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...-x-yosemite-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
  3. Start pot of coffee because this is about to get real.

*Info found here: http://www.tonymacx86.com/bios-uefi/143167-msi-9-series-motherboards-os-x-setup-configuration.html added things will be highlighted RED so to show that is my input and not tony macs

BIOS Settings

Firstly, it's a good idea to grab the latest BIOS from MSI website and put it on another flash drive to m-flash it (search if you don't know how)and set BIOS according to the screenshots below. For simplicity, here are the main things to set:

1. Load Optimized Defaults
2. Set Overclocking/CPU Features/CFG Lock to Disabled
3. Set Overclocking/CPU Features/VT-d to Disabled
4. Save configuration and reset

View attachment 127017
Load Optimized Defaults

View attachment 127018
OC/CPU Features

View attachment 127019
Overclocking/CPU Features/CFG Lock Disabled

View attachment 127020
CFG lock Disabled

View attachment 127021
Overclocking/CPU Features/VT-d Disabled

View attachment 127022
Save configuration and reset
Installation
Installation is done using the default UniBeast guide. It's exactly the same as any other board. I needed only to boot with -v, only reason i did that was to make sure if i got a KP or hang I knew where it was. But it booted with ease. Follow Tonys install to get though, total time it took me to in stall was 10-12 min.

MultiBeast Settings
Post-installation is done using MultiBeast, as with many other boards it can vary based on Audio/Network/Graphics. Here's an example configuration for the Z97-Gaming 9 AC Z97-Gaming 7 using Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. Please note, until Apple releases a new Mac with 9-series chipset, temporary fixes will be necessary for both Audio and HD 4600 on any 9 series motherboard. I think the fixes have been added since Tonys original post so here is what i chose for MultiBeast config. DO NOT RESTART YET!

THE NEXT STEP:

Go here : http://www.tonymacx86.com/graphics/...ate-graphics-drivers-10-10-2-343-02-02-a.html

And download the Nvidia web drivers and go here http://www.nvidia.com/object/mac-driver-archive.html

Make sure to get the latest CUDA drivers and install Cuda first and them the Nvidia web drivers. The Web ons will force a restart Don't do it yet just ignore the window;

A word from tony:
"1. Open Finder
2. Navigate to /Extra/org.chameleon.Boot.plist
3. Open in TextEdit
4. Add nvda_drv=1 to Kernel Flags as shown:

Example Usage:

Code:
[COLOR=#000000]
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string>nvda_drv=1</string>[/COLOR]
5. Save and reboot

You should be on the new NVIDIA drivers."

NOW if the lines are already there then fine go ahead and restart and REMOVE THE USB with your unibeast on it.

You should be treated with Chimera and just boot right in with -v just to make sure everything is still working, and no kernel panic happens. If no KP happens move to, LAST LAST STEP. If you get a KP manual shut down and reload using "nv_disable=1" no quotes will get you back into the loading screen, usually if you can't get to the desktop it is because you needed to add the kernel flag and string. here is what my plist looks like:


LAST LAST STEP:
Once this is done, and you can successfully load into the desktop make sure you select this:
Otherwise you'll load after install graphics card with 7-8mb for memory because your still selecting default drivers and it boots the graphics into some sort of safe mode. Shut down again and then install the Graphics card. Then start it up and you should be just fine. I ran LOL at a constant 60 FPS on medium settings. I could probably get better but this is just fine for me

Here is a screen of my About this mac window:
If you screen shows you have 7-8 mb on your graphics it is because you missed the kernel flags in plist and i would check them again and to select NVIDIA WED DRIVERS in the nvidia control panel or on the task bar:

Here is my Benchmark on extreme settings. I usually play on Low or medium and this same Benchmark on low settings tripled the frame rate:


Please recommend if this work for you! Leave a comment if help is needed! Hoping to build more! Happy Trails.

Original thread: http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...7mx-gaming-5-i5-4460-gtx-960-first-build.html changed a lot at first i was going for a gigabyte board. MSI was chosen for the color scheme.

Second Build: Silent Cheap Beast: Will post guide soon it is a MSI Z97 SLI Kraken MOBO.

I will post pictures of both machines soon!
 

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Last edited:
Hi

Have your GTX 960 working with low frequency or is always max after use a game or after wakeup ?

My GTX 470 is always in max freq after wake up. I use HWMonitor to check freq.

Thanks
 
Hi

Have your GTX 960 working with low frequency or is always max after use a game or after wakeup ?

My GTX 470 is always in max freq after wake up. I use HWMonitor to check freq.

Thanks

I honestly havn't noticed. I only have League of Legends on my computer. And my fans do not spin ever. I think its just not demanding enough. I do not know about frequency, I have the HWMonitor and I only have watch for the degrees my system is at.
 
Hi All,

Did you install with the GTX 960 or without?

Please go to this Guide And follow the tutorial. You will find that at first I did not install Yosemite with the 960 installed. I did it with the onboard graphics, Then I downloaded the said Nvidia and Cuda drivers needed and then install graphics card/
 
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