New Hackintosh(er) - WI-FI & Bluetooth Conundrum!

[Bapple]

Hey all,

I got a second-hand PC for pretty cheap that I want to run Mac OS on. The key specs are as follows:
i5-4690k
GTX 770
16 GB RAM
Asus Z97M-PLUS Motherboard

There's currently no onboard wifi/bluetooth, so naturally I would like to acquire and plug in a card(s) for wifi and bluetooth, such as this one sold by OSXWifi. Easy, right!? But here's the kicker: correct me if I'm wrong, but the Z97M-PLUS has no PCIe 1.0, which all the recommended wifi cards on the Buyer's Guide (and the one offered by OSXWifi) seem to require. See image below (courtesy of ASUS):

So what should I do? What wifi/bluetooth solution do you recommend?

Thanks in advance,
Bapple

 

[Jamesbond007]

Hey all,

I got a second-hand PC for pretty cheap that I want to run Mac OS on. The key specs are as follows:
i5-4690k
GTX 770
16 GB RAM
Asus Z97M-PLUS Motherboard

There's currently no onboard wifi/bluetooth, so naturally I would like to acquire and plug in a card(s) for wifi and bluetooth, such as this one sold by OSXWifi. Easy, right!? But here's the kicker: correct me if I'm wrong, but the Z97M-PLUS has no PCIe 1.0, which all the recommended wifi cards on the Buyer's Guide (and the one offered by OSXWifi) seem to require.

So what should I do? What wifi/bluetooth solution do you recommend?

Thanks in advance,
Bapple

There are 2 PCIe x16 slots on the motherboard. The upper one is normally for a graphics card. You can use the bottom PCIe x16 slot. That slot will accept a PCIe x1 card.

 

[Bapple]

That does not work without the correct adapter. If you want handoff and continuity to work you would need the BCM94360CD not the one you linked. You can buy it here http://www.osxwifi.com/adapters/app...-bluetooth-4-0-with-adapter-for-pc-hackintosh
From what I've read that is the only card + adapter combo that will work in a x16 slot. All others need a x1 slot to have working BT and wifi.

Okay, thanks! Let's say that I don't care about continuity and handoff; what would be the cheapest and most seamless solution for Bluetooth 4 and at least 802.11n, that would also be fully compatible with Windows?

 

[trs96]

Okay, thanks! Let's say that I don't care about continuity and handoff; what would be the cheapest and most seamless solution for Bluetooth 4 and at least 802.11n, that would also be fully compatible with Windows?

If you have no PCI-e x1 slot I don't know of any other options that work in a x16 slot. You might look at USB wifi and USB BT options. Check the Accessories section of the B.G.

 

[Bapple]

If you have no PCI-e x1 slot I don't know of any other options that work in a x16 slot. You might look at USB wifi and USB BT options. Check the Accessories section of the B.G.

Hmm...okay. Yeah, there are recommended USB Bluetooth solutions under Accessories but no USB wifi solutions that I can see. Thanks for the help!

EDIT: There seem to be a whole slew on Amazon though...

EDIT 2: Just ordered a USB Bluetooth dongle and this USB Wifi dongle. They claim it is Mac-compatible through OS X 10.13; I'll let you know!

 

[Rambler358]

If you want handoff and continuity to work you would need the BCM94360CD not the one you linked. You can buy it here http://www.osxwifi.com/adapters/app...-bluetooth-4-0-with-adapter-for-pc-hackintosh

Can I assume that you've got Bluetooth working successfuly on your setup? I think this Broadcom Bluetooth module
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDN4H9E/?tag=tonymacx86com-20) I purchased should work, as I also got this adapter card (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0772H1PSG/?tag=tonymacx86com-20) for it.

After installing it, the Bluetooth system info (see attached screenshot) shows it being installed, but I'm not sure what kexts or drivers I need to install it on my High Sierra 10.13.3 system. Can you assist?

 

[trs96]

Can I assume that you've got Bluetooth working successfuly on your setup? I think this Broadcom Bluetooth module
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDN4H9E/?tag=tonymacx86com-20) I purchased should work, as I also got this adapter card (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0772H1PSG/?tag=tonymacx86com-20) for it.

After installing it, the Bluetooth system info (see attached screenshot) shows it being installed, but I'm not sure what kexts or drivers I need to install it on my High Sierra 10.13.3 system. Can you assist?

Did you connect the cable to your motherboard's USB 2.0 header ? Also make sure the header is actually working by connecting up a case USB 2.0 port to it if you've got one.

 

[Rambler358]

Did you connect the cable to your motherboard's USB 2.0 header ? Also make sure the header is actually working by connecting up a case USB 2.0 port to it if you've got one.

Yes, in the attached screenshot from my previous post, I see the Bluetooth hardware as being correctly installed. Now I just need to know what kexts or such I need to install, or if there's a guide for that. Thanks!

 

[trs96]

Yes, in the attached screenshot from my previous post, I see the Bluetooth hardware as being correctly installed. Now I just need to know what kexts or such I need to install, or if there's a guide for that. Thanks!

For a natively supported card there are no kexts that need to be installed. That's why I said to check if the USB 2 header is working or not.

 

[Rambler358]

For a natively supported card there are no kexts that need to be installed. That's why I said to check if the USB 2 header is working or not.

My motherboard

For a natively supported card there are no kexts that need to be installed. That's why I said to check if the USB 2 header is working or not.

I didn't have any motherboard USB 2.0 ports available, so I used a 9 pin USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 cable and plugged it into an available USB 3.0 port on the motherboard. Does the adapter card specifically need to be connected to USB 2.0? It was working fine on the Windows side for Bluetooth, and I assumed it'd be okay for macOS as well.