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Coffee Lake Z370 System Parts List

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May 5, 2012
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Motherboard
Asus Maximus X Code
CPU
Intel i7-8700k
Graphics
Gigabyte Aorus Radeon RX580
Mac
  1. MacBook
  2. MacBook Pro
  3. Mac Pro
Mobile Phone
  1. iOS
Hi all,

So I am looking to upgrade my system to the Z370 with the i7-8700k. I am looking at a few different mother boards and want to get some compatibility advice.

1st choice: Asus ROG Maximus X Code: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-X-CODE/
2ed choice: Asus ROG Maximus X Hero: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-X-HERO-WI-FI-AC/
3ed choice: Asus ROG Strix Z370-H Gaming: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-STRIX-Z370-H-GAMING/

Anyone have good motherboard recommendations? I am looking to build a system that will have the most overall support for mac os and be, for the most part, straightforward to setup (at least compared to X99). Any thoughts/recommendations?

Thanks
 
I think the level of difficulty in getting macOS installed on a Z370 motherboard should be about the same regardless of which motherboard you choose. It should also be considerably easier than X99.
 
I think the level of difficulty in getting macOS installed on a Z370 motherboard should be about the same regardless of which motherboard you choose. It should also be considerably easier than X99.

Awesome, that is the news I have been looking for.

Thanks!
 
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/coffee-lake-z370-system-parts-list.240272


As I said earlier, my guess is that the included Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card will not be compatible with macOS.

If you want to use an M.2 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card, you will most likely have to replace the card that comes with the motherboard with what I linked to in post #5.

On my Strix Z370-G, after I replaced the included Wi-Fi/Bluetooth M.2 card with what I linked to in post #5, it worked in macOS.

If you go with the Hero without Wi-Fi, you will need a PCI-e card. These PCI-e cards are PCI-e 3.0x1.
 
The best (most compatible with macOS) PCI-e solutions use either BCM94360CD (4 antennas) or BCM94360CSAX (3 antennas) cards. Both max out at 1300mbps.

Yes, on paper the DW1830 (3 antennas) maxes out at 1300mbps, however, some have been reporting speed issues. I did not test/confirm the claims.
Slow/Dropped Wifi after Sleep with BCM943602BAED (DW1830) | tonymacx86.com

I forgot to test the DW1830 in Windows or Linux. I only had my system up and running about a week and a half with the DW1830 and was doing lots of testing/experimenting in macOS and never even booted in to Windows or Linux. I would assume that it should work well for at least Windows since it's a Dell part.

When I used Linux Mint with a BCM94360CSAX, bluetooth didn't work and I had use a non-Bluetooth mouse. Although, admittedly, I didn't bother to try and fix this because of how infrequently I use Linux.

Personally, I primarily have Wi-Fi for compatibility with Apple's features such as AirDrop, AirPlay, etc. I still primarily rely on ethernet for most things. So, 867mbps is fine for me and it saved me the trouble of having to jury-rig a third antenna to the backplate.

Yes, after looking at the specs of the Hero and Hero with Wi-Fi, it looks like the third PCI-e 3.0x16 slot maxes out at x4. It appears they are hitting the limits of number of PCI-e lanes. I guess that's why my mATX motherboard maxes out at 2x PCI-e 3.0x16 (2x x8) and 2x PCI-e 3.0x1 and does not have any PCI-e 3.0x4.
 
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