Anyone willing to be a 'build-buddy'?

JH1969 · Jun 22, 2020

Well, as WWDC2020 didn't announce any new iMac, and with my current 2015 iMac running so so very slow thing (CPU first and then hard disk) I have decided to build my first Hackintosh.

I am thinking something along the lines of the CustoMac Pro listed in the Buyers Guide section here (in fact if I can get all the parts I will go for exactly that). Although I would also like to get

- wifi
- dual screens
- FaceTime / imessage
- handoff

working as well. I have an old 2012 iMac so might be able to source some parts for the handoff capability.

Ideally running Catalina, and upgradeable to the next OS (Big Sur??) when it comes out ...... although obviously that will be a new install for all of us.

I was wondering if there is anyone on here with experience of building the hardware and configuring the OS who would be willing to buddy me ..... so we could communicate via the forum asking for help along the way? And others could follow if they wished.

I used to put my own PCs together 20/30 years ago. So not an idiot, but building a hackintosh is going to be very different, what will work, what won't work etc is completely new to me.

If anyone is willing and able to help please let me know.

Thanks

Jonathan

WonkeyDonkey · Jun 28, 2020

Users are encouraged to post in public so that other forum members may benefit from advice given and any lessons learned, which has always been the community focus and ethos of this site.

:thumbup:

JH1969 · Jun 28, 2020

I have been reading posts etc. for a couple of weeks now and am about ready to push the button on the order of all the bits.... so far my only concern is I haven't been able to find any builds (either golden or user) that used the same MB as I was considering...... I've still got a bit more to read through still.

phunguss · Jun 28, 2020

JH1969 said:
I haven't been able to find any builds (either golden or user) that used the same MB as I was considering.

Well, which motherboard are you considering? I have built a few with motherboards that were not listed, and you don't need the newest hardware either. I have Catalina running on old obsolete 61 series motherboards.

UtterDisbelief · Jun 28, 2020

JH1969 said:
I have been reading posts etc. for a couple of weeks now and am about ready to push the button on the order of all the bits.... so far my only concern is I haven't been able to find any builds (either golden or user) that used the same MB as I was considering...... I've still got a bit more to read through still.

Hi there.

Although @phunguss is being very helpful, and please do discuss your thoughts, it might be safer to choose a well-known, easily hackintoshable motherboard. No point giving yourself problems. The choice and range of the well-known, well-supported ones, is very large :thumbup:

JH1969 · Jun 28, 2020

UtterDisbelief said:
Hi there.

Although @phunguss is being very helpful, and please do discuss your thoughts, it might be safer to choose a well-known, easily hackintoshable motherboard. No point giving yourself problems. The choice and range of the well-known, well-supported ones, is very large

Thanks both.

As I have said in my other post I am looking at the Customac Pro build using the ASUS Rog Maximus XI Hero board. I know it is one of the recommended parts on the customac list - which gives me confidence - but I have done a lot of reading on here (and still a lot to go) and I can't find a poster that has used this motherboard so I am a little worried that I can't learn about it before I buy and build and also worried if I have issues that I won't be able to get any help.

The forum is great - and I have looked at other MBs as an alternative. but for every post saying a board is great there seems to be another post saying it has issues!

The two other MBs highlighted on the customac list is the ASUS ROG Strix and the gigabyte z390 Aurus - but both of these have wifi and I have read a lot saying it's easier to get everything working if you don't have a wifi chip on the MB and just add a fenvi T919 instead.

I am ok with all the other parts of the build and also created the boot USB(following all the steps on here) last night before I buy hardware parts, just to check I was comfortable with it. Just need to get my mind around the correct MB and them I think I am ready to go.

Any ideas very welcome.

UtterDisbelief · Jun 28, 2020

JH1969 said:
Thanks both.

As I have said in my other post I am looking at the Customac Pro build using the ASUS Rog Maximus XI Hero board. I know it is one of the recommended parts on the customac list - which gives me confidence - but I have done a lot of reading on here (and still a lot to go) and I can't find a poster that has used this motherboard so I am a little worried that I can't learn about it before I buy and build and also worried if I have issues that I won't be able to get any help.

The forum is great - and I have looked at other MBs as an alternative. but for every post saying a board is great there seems to be another post saying it has issues!

The two other MBs highlighted on the customac list is the ASUS ROG Strix and the gigabyte z390 Aurus - but both of these have wifi and I have read a lot saying it's easier to get everything working if you don't have a wifi chip on the MB and just add a fenvi T919 instead.

I am ok with all the other parts of the build and also created the boot USB(following all the steps on here) last night before I buy hardware parts, just to check I was comfortable with it. Just need to get my mind around the correct MB and them I think I am ready to go.

Any ideas very welcome.

Well the - Asus Rog Maximus Hero XI - is quite often used in builds. Just copy that name into our Search box, top right of the screen and you'll find them. True searching also tends to scoop-up the previous "X Hero" ones too, but you'll find some.

Here's one, it's not a full build but it does include an EFI folder for your motherboard to learn from. Never just go and use someone else's EFI folder, despite the temptation. Instead study it and learn. You might not have identical peripherals - CPU/GPU etc - and that could make subtle, but important differences. It's rare someone buiids exactly the same machine as yours unless they copy a Golden Build to the letter, and you do too.

Also check out our "boss" @Stork 's own ASUS build here. It has the Hero X motherboard, so a generation before the XI, but again, is something you can learn from. Same-ish GPU and CPU, just a different chipset Z370 instead of Z390.

I'm not sure what to recommend about your wifi. Folk often just swap out the ASUS Intel chip and replace with an adapter+Broadcom chip, macOS compatible one. But using a Fenvi card, or similar, is a good, solid option and probably no more expensive.

JH1969 · Jun 28, 2020

UtterDisbelief said:
Well the - Asus Rog Maximus Hero XI - is quite often used in builds. Just copy that name into our Search box, top right of the screen and you'll find them. True searching also tends to scoop-up the previous "X Hero" ones too, but you'll find some.

Here's one, it's not a full build but it does include an EFI folder for your motherboard to learn from. Never just go and use someone else's EFI folder, despite the temptation. Instead study it and learn. You might not have identical peripherals - CPU/GPU etc - and that could make subtle, but important differences. It's rare someone buiids exactly the same machine as yours unless they copy a Golden Build to the letter, and you do too.

Also check out our "boss" @Stork 's own ASUS build here. It has the Hero X motherboard, so a generation before the XI, but again, is something you can learn from. Same-ish GPU and CPU, just a different chipset Z370 instead of Z390.

I'm not sure about your wifi, Folk usually just swap out the ASUS Intel chip and replace with an adapter+Broadcom, macOS compatible one. But using a Fenvi card, or similar, is a good, solid option and probably any more expensive.

Thanks UtterDisBelief - I'll get reading now

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