Chimera 4.1 Injects Intel HD 5500 Graphics on Broadwell BRIX

We got this little unit for testing a few months back, but kernel support was not in OS X. As of OS X 10.10.3, Broadwell CPU and graphics are now supported. MacMan's addition of CPU support and IGPU injection using the new Chimera 4.1 has allowed the Gigabyte Broadwell BRIX to boot perfectly and without any bootloader configuration.

The only issue with this little box is the M.2 slot Intel BT/WIFI card , which unlike mPCIe slots has no existing alternate to swap in. We're thinking that a Broadcom version will come along soon, but for now the Realtek ethernet is the only method of networking. (EDIT: M.2 replacement card info)

Gigabyte Core i5-5200U Ultra Compact Mini PC Barebone (GB-BXi5H-5200)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UTIBDZ4/

Related:
tonymacx86's Album: Gigabyte Broadwell BRIX
OS X 10.10.3 Update
Chimera 4.1 Update
This device has HDMI or eDP video outputs. Dual screens works.


Note on BIOS setting DVMT Pre-Allocated (Fixed) Graphics memory size.

Settings are as follows:
32M
64M
128M
192M
256M
320M
384M
448M
512M
1024M
2016M

Works fine when using 64MB, 192MB, 320MB, 384MB, 448MB, 2016MB.

Default used by Gigabyte is 128MB, and that doesn't work- white/black flashing screen.

The other choices: 192MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1024MB give varying degrees of garbled screen.
32MB gives kernel panic on BDWGraphicsFramebuffer kext.

Chimera Beta Injects Intel HD 5500 With Full Acceleration on Broadwell BRIX

Broadwell i5-5200U Geekbench

tonymacx86 said:

Broadwell i5-5200U Geekbench

View attachment 134933

Click to expand...

That's an impressive benchmark, and an impressive processor for that form factor. Very cool to see how power efficiency is growing.

Doesn't I5 have HD6000 graphics? Or does Chimera 4.1 injects all broadwell graphics?

So if I read this correctly, there is absolutely no way to use WiFi on this box?

StuMcBill said:

So if I read this correctly, there is absolutely no way to use WiFi on this box?

Click to expand...

Yes. Intel WiFi is not supported on OS X.

Jithin.C.V said:

Yes. Intel WiFi is not supported on OS X.

Click to expand...

Ah, that scuppers me using it as a plex media server, I need wifi to use it with my chromecast

StuMcBill said:

Ah, that scuppers me using it as a plex media server, I need wifi to use it with my chromecast

Click to expand...

There is the possibility of USB wifi, which isn't the best solution but could be used until Broadcom
produces a compatible M.2 card for the Brix. I believe Stork has documented the use of a wifi
AC card with his mini-itx build that works well.

trs96 said:

There is the possibility of USB wifi, which isn't the best solution but could be used until Broadcom
produces a compatible M.2 card for the Brix. I believe Stork has documented the use of a wifi
AC card with his mini-itx build that works well.

Click to expand...

I might just build a customac mini instead, seems to give quite a bit more flexibility.

The BCM94352Z/BCM94356Z have been out for a while now.

Working in OS X
Dell DW1560 NGFF
HP Rapture 4352Z NGFF

May work in OS X but untested
Acer Foxconn BCM4356A2 NGFF
Acer LiteOn BCM4356A2 NGFF
Asus AzureWave BCM4356A2 NGFF
Lenovo 4356 NGFF

There is also an adapter so you can use a mPCIe WiFi card in a M/E WiFi Slot
http://www.hwtools.net/ExtenderBoard/P15S-P15F.html