trs96
Moderator
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2012
- Messages
- 24,985
- Motherboard
- Gigabyte B460M Aorus Pro
- CPU
- i5-10500
- Graphics
- RX 570
- Mac
-
- Mobile Phone
-
Introduction
About seven years ago in 2015, I decided to research what the very best value and performance hackintosh would be. I wanted it to be fully macOS compatible, have a low price tag and be available most anywhere in the world. If it met those criteria, it would make it possible for anyone to create a hackintosh for personal use. I started with the HP Elite 8000 and then the 8200 and 8300 Elite models. Those helped many to get experience with their first hackintosh.
Next I tested and wrote guides for the Optiplex 7010/9010 models in late 2017. Another success, but support has been limited to Big Sur at best. In 2018 I bought a newer Haswell based Dell Optiplex 9020 and found that it was the perfect fit. Low cost, easy to get fully working with Mavericks through Monterey and available most anywhere. They have UEFI and work well with either Clover or OpenCore. I created a Golden Build guide and it has been a huge success. Today you can buy them for under $150 USD and give a hackintosh a try, gain valuable experience and just have some fun along the way.
New Hardware Prices have Skyrocketed Recently
If you want to run macOS Big Sur or Monterey, building a new system from components is a very expensive venture. A decent performing graphics card like the newer RX 6600 costs over 240 USD. Previously, macOS compatible AMD cards like the RX570/580 would sell for well under $200 in 2018/19 and were very affordable. At one point, new MSI RX 570s with 4GB of Vram sold for around $130 !
A build with a new 10th gen Intel motherboard and CPU will get you the longest term support from macOS. It's a rather large investment and sometimes difficult to even find a new Gigabyte or Asus 10th gen board. If you must be on the latest macOS version for the next 2-3 years, that is the best way to go. If you are new to macOS and just want to try out the latest Big Sur and Monterey versions, the good news is that you can still buy older compatible hardware and use the Intel iGPU to power your display. You don't have to take out a second mortgage for a new build and go into high interest debt just to gain some hackintosh experience.
Who are these Dell desktops for ?
If you are new to hackintoshing and want to get a system running macOS quickly and easily this is by far the best path to take. You may have never built a PC before and don't want to spend hours researching what components to buy. You don't have the free time to build a system from the ground up. These Optiplex desktops let you bypass all those steps and get a working system within a few hours after this Dell PC gets delivered to your door.
If you already have extensive hackintosh experience and need a secondary system that is affordable, this is for you also. You don't want a case with glass panels, RGB fans and lighting that just add extra to the cost. These Dells have very good specs that outperform any older Apple Mac mini or iMac from the same era (2014-2015). Buy one for your spouse or children to use without having to pay the Apple tax for a new or used Mac.
Some 20 years ago Apple was installing and running Mac OS X on Dell computers. Steve Jobs even asked Michael Dell to bundle it with new Dell desktops. Reported by Macrumors.com 10-7-21
"After Jobs rejoined Apple, he once again attempted a software licensing deal, trying to get Dell to license Mac OS. At the time, Jobs pushed Dell by telling him PC buyers could choose between Apple's software or Microsoft Windows."
Why are these such a good value ?
The cost of these Haswell based Dell desktops is generally about 1/3 the cost of building with new hardware that has similar specs and performance. There are currently some great Amazon Deals on the 7020 and 9020 USFF, SFF and MT models. Consistently in the top 10 best sellers of all Amazon desktops. As of 12/31/2021 the Core i5 9020 SFF is the number one best seller. They come with Windows 10 Pro clean installed to the SSD. These desktops are part of the Amazon Renewed Program. You can also easily upgrade these to Windows 11 Pro and it runs just as well as 10 Pro.
Large and small businesses and multi-national corporations have used these Intel based Windows machines from 2014 through 2020 to get work done. Now that there are tens of millions "off a 3-4 year lease" they are widely available and extremely low cost for the specs you get. The professionally refurbished models on Amazon (from most sellers) are in great condition. Very few if any, scratches or blemishes. Dust has been cleaned out and the fans work quietly. If the one you buy has anything not right with it, you've got a full 90 days to return it to Amazon for a refund.
9020 SFF with i5-4570 and 16GB ram 512GB SSD (#1 Amazon.com Best Seller)
The MT (mini-tower) is not a true tower. It's similar to a micro ATX size case. The small form factor (SFF) works either on your desk or on the floor next to it. These run quiet (with the stock fans) and have high quality power supplies. Many are made by Delta and are 80+ gold rated for efficiency.
7020 SFF with i7-4770 and 32GB ram 512GB SSD
The 7020 SFF with i7-4770 is the best "Bang for your buck" version. You get a large SSD boot drive and the maximum 32GBs of ram all for around $220. Choose this model for photo and video editing or even audio production.
9020 SFF with i7-4790 and 16GB ram 1TB SSD
The i7-4790 is the fastest Haswell CPU available for these Optiplex desktops, with a turbo boost up to 4GHz.
It's got 4 cores / 8 threads. Also perfect for Photoshop or an Audio/Video Production hackintosh. Cost around $215.
9020 USFF with i5-4590S CPU 8GB
9020 USFF with i7-4770S CPU 16GB 512GB SSD
USFF is closer to Mac mini size, but still has a bigger footprint than a mini does. 9.4 x 9.4 x 2.5 inches.
9020 MT with i7-4790 CPU 16GB 1TB HDD
See the 7020/9020 Golden Build description HERE
These machines can run OS X Mavericks 10.9 through to macOS 12 Monterey via the iGPU. No discrete graphics card required. Nine different versions of Apple's Mac Operating System to choose from. You may need to use a different SMBIOS for some of these nine versions of the OS. For example, Mavericks would need iMac 14,2. Big Sur iMac15,1 and Monterey, Macmini7,1. If you want to start with Monterey from the beginning, you can use the EFI provided at the following link. https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...20-all-form-factors-using-hd4600-igpu.320419/
EFI OC 0.8.5 with Macmini 7,1 SMBIOS is attached at the end of post #1.
Download the EFI folder and enter your serials and other info by generating them in MacSerial app. The SmUUID though, should be re-generated after macOS is installed on your Dell Optipex. See my guides for how to create your unique serials and SmUUID. You will get the ROM value from your Optiplex BIOS configuration settings panel. It's simply the Ethernet MAC address with all of the colons removed. See: Big Sur OptiMac Thread
What other low cost Monterey capable hackintosh desktop you might build under $155.00 can run 9 different macOS versions, Chrome OS Flex, Linux and any Windows version from 7 through 11 with 100% native support ?
9020 SFF with i5-4570 and 16GB ram 512GB SSD
Here are all nine OS X/macOS versions that work on the Haswell based Dell Optiplex line when your CPU has Intel HD4600 graphics. If you are an aspiring iOS and macOS developer, purchase the i7 version with 32GB of ram. Install Monterey and the latest Xcode version from Apple, then start your work and create some great Apps for the world to see.
In today's excessively overpriced GPU market, you can barely buy a supported AMD graphics card for $245. Note that you can add a supported Low Profile Nvidia Kepler or AMD Polaris 21 graphics card to these if you need stronger graphics performance. Kepler support was dropped in Monterey.
Here's a short video showing the inside and outside of a 9020 SFF. One in Grade A condition should look like this.
The best part of buying a 7020/9020 is that you won't have to assemble anything. Windows 10 is pre-installed so you can boot it up the minute it's unboxed. Make sure to test out the hardware and flash to the newest available BIOS when you get yours. All the detailed instructions are in the Golden Build guide linked above.
Since they have two DP 1.2 outputs you can use a 4k monitor for a great macOS or Windows 10 experience.
Note that there are many different 3rd party sellers on Amazon. They don't all refurbish these equally well. Try to go with Skytech USA (which I've linked to above) to be sure you'll get one in the very best condition. I have no affiliation with this seller. See all the Dell Desktops at Skytech's Amazon Store
Recent reviews from Amazon buyers November 2021:
Here's what you'll get when buying from Skytech USA:
Note that the Wifi adapter they include may not be macOS compatible. It will work with Windows 10.
If your monitor or TV only has HDMI inputs, then buy this affordable DP to HDMI adapter. Works at 4K too.
About seven years ago in 2015, I decided to research what the very best value and performance hackintosh would be. I wanted it to be fully macOS compatible, have a low price tag and be available most anywhere in the world. If it met those criteria, it would make it possible for anyone to create a hackintosh for personal use. I started with the HP Elite 8000 and then the 8200 and 8300 Elite models. Those helped many to get experience with their first hackintosh.
Next I tested and wrote guides for the Optiplex 7010/9010 models in late 2017. Another success, but support has been limited to Big Sur at best. In 2018 I bought a newer Haswell based Dell Optiplex 9020 and found that it was the perfect fit. Low cost, easy to get fully working with Mavericks through Monterey and available most anywhere. They have UEFI and work well with either Clover or OpenCore. I created a Golden Build guide and it has been a huge success. Today you can buy them for under $150 USD and give a hackintosh a try, gain valuable experience and just have some fun along the way.
New Hardware Prices have Skyrocketed Recently
If you want to run macOS Big Sur or Monterey, building a new system from components is a very expensive venture. A decent performing graphics card like the newer RX 6600 costs over 240 USD. Previously, macOS compatible AMD cards like the RX570/580 would sell for well under $200 in 2018/19 and were very affordable. At one point, new MSI RX 570s with 4GB of Vram sold for around $130 !
A build with a new 10th gen Intel motherboard and CPU will get you the longest term support from macOS. It's a rather large investment and sometimes difficult to even find a new Gigabyte or Asus 10th gen board. If you must be on the latest macOS version for the next 2-3 years, that is the best way to go. If you are new to macOS and just want to try out the latest Big Sur and Monterey versions, the good news is that you can still buy older compatible hardware and use the Intel iGPU to power your display. You don't have to take out a second mortgage for a new build and go into high interest debt just to gain some hackintosh experience.
Who are these Dell desktops for ?
If you are new to hackintoshing and want to get a system running macOS quickly and easily this is by far the best path to take. You may have never built a PC before and don't want to spend hours researching what components to buy. You don't have the free time to build a system from the ground up. These Optiplex desktops let you bypass all those steps and get a working system within a few hours after this Dell PC gets delivered to your door.
If you already have extensive hackintosh experience and need a secondary system that is affordable, this is for you also. You don't want a case with glass panels, RGB fans and lighting that just add extra to the cost. These Dells have very good specs that outperform any older Apple Mac mini or iMac from the same era (2014-2015). Buy one for your spouse or children to use without having to pay the Apple tax for a new or used Mac.
"After Jobs rejoined Apple, he once again attempted a software licensing deal, trying to get Dell to license Mac OS. At the time, Jobs pushed Dell by telling him PC buyers could choose between Apple's software or Microsoft Windows."
Now in 2022 you can have what Steve wanted all those years ago as Apple's CEO.
Why are these such a good value ?
The cost of these Haswell based Dell desktops is generally about 1/3 the cost of building with new hardware that has similar specs and performance. There are currently some great Amazon Deals on the 7020 and 9020 USFF, SFF and MT models. Consistently in the top 10 best sellers of all Amazon desktops. As of 12/31/2021 the Core i5 9020 SFF is the number one best seller. They come with Windows 10 Pro clean installed to the SSD. These desktops are part of the Amazon Renewed Program. You can also easily upgrade these to Windows 11 Pro and it runs just as well as 10 Pro.
9020 SFF with i5-4570 and 16GB ram 512GB SSD (#1 Amazon.com Best Seller)
7020 SFF with i7-4770 and 32GB ram 512GB SSD
The 7020 SFF with i7-4770 is the best "Bang for your buck" version. You get a large SSD boot drive and the maximum 32GBs of ram all for around $220. Choose this model for photo and video editing or even audio production.
9020 SFF with i7-4790 and 16GB ram 1TB SSD
The i7-4790 is the fastest Haswell CPU available for these Optiplex desktops, with a turbo boost up to 4GHz.
It's got 4 cores / 8 threads. Also perfect for Photoshop or an Audio/Video Production hackintosh. Cost around $215.
9020 USFF with i5-4590S CPU 8GB
9020 USFF with i7-4770S CPU 16GB 512GB SSD
USFF is closer to Mac mini size, but still has a bigger footprint than a mini does. 9.4 x 9.4 x 2.5 inches.
9020 MT with i7-4790 CPU 16GB 1TB HDD
See the 7020/9020 Golden Build description HERE
These machines can run OS X Mavericks 10.9 through to macOS 12 Monterey via the iGPU. No discrete graphics card required. Nine different versions of Apple's Mac Operating System to choose from. You may need to use a different SMBIOS for some of these nine versions of the OS. For example, Mavericks would need iMac 14,2. Big Sur iMac15,1 and Monterey, Macmini7,1. If you want to start with Monterey from the beginning, you can use the EFI provided at the following link. https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...20-all-form-factors-using-hd4600-igpu.320419/
EFI OC 0.8.5 with Macmini 7,1 SMBIOS is attached at the end of post #1.
Download the EFI folder and enter your serials and other info by generating them in MacSerial app. The SmUUID though, should be re-generated after macOS is installed on your Dell Optipex. See my guides for how to create your unique serials and SmUUID. You will get the ROM value from your Optiplex BIOS configuration settings panel. It's simply the Ethernet MAC address with all of the colons removed. See: Big Sur OptiMac Thread
What other low cost Monterey capable hackintosh desktop you might build under $155.00 can run 9 different macOS versions, Chrome OS Flex, Linux and any Windows version from 7 through 11 with 100% native support ?
9020 SFF with i5-4570 and 16GB ram 512GB SSD
Here are all nine OS X/macOS versions that work on the Haswell based Dell Optiplex line when your CPU has Intel HD4600 graphics. If you are an aspiring iOS and macOS developer, purchase the i7 version with 32GB of ram. Install Monterey and the latest Xcode version from Apple, then start your work and create some great Apps for the world to see.
In today's excessively overpriced GPU market, you can barely buy a supported AMD graphics card for $245. Note that you can add a supported Low Profile Nvidia Kepler or AMD Polaris 21 graphics card to these if you need stronger graphics performance. Kepler support was dropped in Monterey.
Here's a short video showing the inside and outside of a 9020 SFF. One in Grade A condition should look like this.
The best part of buying a 7020/9020 is that you won't have to assemble anything. Windows 10 is pre-installed so you can boot it up the minute it's unboxed. Make sure to test out the hardware and flash to the newest available BIOS when you get yours. All the detailed instructions are in the Golden Build guide linked above.
Since they have two DP 1.2 outputs you can use a 4k monitor for a great macOS or Windows 10 experience.
Note that there are many different 3rd party sellers on Amazon. They don't all refurbish these equally well. Try to go with Skytech USA (which I've linked to above) to be sure you'll get one in the very best condition. I have no affiliation with this seller. See all the Dell Desktops at Skytech's Amazon Store
Recent reviews from Amazon buyers November 2021:
Here's what you'll get when buying from Skytech USA:
Note that the Wifi adapter they include may not be macOS compatible. It will work with Windows 10.
If your monitor or TV only has HDMI inputs, then buy this affordable DP to HDMI adapter. Works at 4K too.
Last edited:
