[Guide][11.2.3] Alienware m17 R4 (2021) - OpenCore 0.6.9

[jamesst20]

Hi,

I would like to report that I was successfully able to install Mac OS Big Sur on my Alienware m17 R4 (latest model as of May 2021).

Specs

Intel Core i7-10870H
Nvidia RTX 3080 (disabled)
17,3" FHD (1920x1080) 144Hz
Wi-Fi 6 AX1650
SSD: 2x1TB Western Digital SN750 (Original were Hynix, I doubt they were compatible)

What works

• Sound (AppleALC with layout-id 11)
• Intel UHD (IGPU). Advanced Nvidia Optimus but be enabled! Fn+F7 in Windows.
• Bluetooth (OpenIntelWireless / IntelBluetoothFirmware)
• Wifi (OpenIntelWireless / itlwm)
• Ethernet (out of the box)
• USB (Mapping was hard, see notes below)
• Keyboard (It uses USB instead of PS/2! Was hard to get working, see notes below)
• TrackPad (Gestures + Very Smooth with Voodoo2lc. Must disable Force click and haptic feedback in System Preferences) (Laggy if used with VoodooPS2Controller)
• Sleep (See below)
• Brightness (-igfxblr flag fixes very low brightness at boot. Fixes itself after 5 minutes otherwise)
• External monitor using Display Link USB adapter.

What doesn't work

• Thunderbolt 3 to Display Port but I believe it's wired to dGPU.
• Mini DP Port but I believe it's wired to dGPU.
• HDMI but I believe it's wired to dGPU

USB & Keyboard

The keyboard is wired by USB internally instead of using usual PS/2. At first, I couldn't get the keyboard to work at all. The reason was because Mac OS was not detecting the USB HS10 port which the keyboard is connected to. The only way I could get Mac OS to finally detect that missing port was with an SSDT RHUB Patch. I attached it to the thread. Once the port mapping is properly done, the SSDT can be removed.

Sleep

The sleep didn't work perfectly out of the box. Nvidia dGPU must be properly disabled (-wegnoegpu). I also used the flag (igfxonln=1) to make sure the display would always turn back on.

That first part only fixed the sleep/wake, but the laptop would never sleep for longer than 3-5 seconds before turning back on. I had to follow this guide here "GPRW/UPRW/LANC Instant Wake Patch" https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore...t-wake.html#gprw-uprw-lanc-instant-wake-patch

By searching into my DSDT.aml, I found I had the mention of "Method (GPRW, 2". This mean I needed the path SSDT-GPRW.aml + ACPI patch to add in config.plist "GPRW to XPRW Patch".

[Guide][11.2.3] Alienware m17 R4 (2021) - OpenCore 0.6.9

Hi guys, can someone help me to install Big Sur or Monterey on Alienware m17r3 i7 10th gen ? I had try to do this with Opencore guide but no luck :(. I'm new with hackintoshing. Thanks.

www.tonymacx86.com

 

[rockjesus]

great work, u can push urs to my https://github.com/RockJesus/Alienware-Hackintosh

 

[jamesst20]

great work, u can push urs to my https://github.com/RockJesus/Alienware-Hackintosh

Sure that would be great ! I will do it later

 

[denijsonc]

Hi~ thanks your job,I am going to install it too,i have the same laptop.We are both lucky, because just 1080p 144hz screen can be swithched to igpu mode.fn+f7 is not work on 360hz screen.But if we can modify the bios ,everything will be solved.and I have read your another thread and I met the same problem when used aptioV to extract the internal bios.Did u sovled the "unlock bios" problem?

 

[denijsonc]

For external display problem, i believe HDMI is wired to dgpu,on windows i can see that info.I have no minidp plug, so I don't know if the minidp is wired to dgpu.But for thounderbolt3,if it works normally(native), then it will drive the dp display monitor successfully.Of course, i haven't try it yet, I just ready to do this

 

[denijsonc]

It seems that all display port are wired to dgpu,I have tested on windows.

 

[jamesst20]

@denijsonc

If you want to see final words on BIOS patching, they are sad but you can follow this thread https://www.win-raid.com/t8865f54-Request-AMI-Alienware-m-R-Unlock-hidden-menus.html#msg144400

About the external ports, they indeed seem to be powered through Nvidia :/

However! I went ahead and ordered this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07C69HG33/?tag=tonymacx86c0c-20 (DisplayLink certified) and it works perectly under Mac OS and also Windows 10. Simply install the software https://www.displaylink.com/downloads and it's plug and play afterwards

 

[denijsonc]

@denijsonc

If you want to see final words on BIOS patching, they are sad but you can follow this thread https://www.win-raid.com/t8865f54-Request-AMI-Alienware-m-R-Unlock-hidden-menus.html#msg144400

About the external ports, they indeed seem to be powered through Nvidia :/

However! I went ahead and ordered this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07C69HG33/?tag=tonymacx86c0c-20 (DisplayLink certified) and it works perectly under Mac OS and also Windows 10. Simply install the software https://www.displaylink.com/downloads and it's plug and play afterwards

thanks a lot,it seems the only solution thanks your contribution on m17R4 again

 

[jamesst20]

thanks a lot,it seems the only solution thanks your contribution on m17R4 again

No problem! Glad I could help and I will update you if I figure anything out by patching BIOS NVRAM

 

[hazie]

View attachment 522852


Hi,

I would like to report that I was successfully able to install Mac OS Big Sur on my Alienware m17 R4 (latest model as of May 2021).

Specs

Intel Core i7-10870H
Nvidia RTX 3080 (disabled)
17,3" FHD (1920x1080) 144Hz
Wi-Fi 6 AX1650
SSD: 2x1TB Western Digital SN750 (Original were Hynix, I doubt they were compatible)

What works

• Sound (AppleALC with layout-id 11)
• Intel UHD (IGPU). Advanced Nvidia Optimus but be enabled! Fn+F7 in Windows.
• Bluetooth (OpenIntelWireless / IntelBluetoothFirmware)
• Wifi (OpenIntelWireless / itlwm)
• Ethernet (out of the box)
• USB (Mapping was hard, see notes below)
• Keyboard (It uses USB instead of PS/2! Was hard to get working, see notes below)
• TrackPad (Gestures + Very Smooth with Voodoo2lc. Must disable Force click and haptic feedback in System Preferences) (Laggy if used with VoodooPS2Controller)
• Sleep (See below)
• Brightness (-igfxblr flag fixes very low brightness at boot. Fixes itself after 5 minutes otherwise)

What doesn't work

• (Need help) Thunderbolt 3 to Display Port. Is it wired to dGPU too?
• Mini DP Port but I believe it's wired to dGPU.
• HDMI but I believe it's wired to dGPU

USB & Keyboard

The keyboard is wired by USB internally instead of using usual PS/2. At first, I couldn't get the keyboard to work at all. The reason was because Mac OS was not detecting the USB HS10 port which the keyboard is connected to. The only way I could get Mac OS to finally detect that missing port was with an SSDT RHUB Patch. I attached it to the thread. Once the port mapping is properly done, the SSDT can be removed.

Sleep

The sleep didn't work perfectly out of the box. Nvidia dGPU must be properly disabled (-wegnoegpu). I also used the flag (igfxonln=1) to make sure the display would always turn back on.

That first part only fixed the sleep/wake, but the laptop would never sleep for longer than 3-5 seconds before turning back on. I had to follow this guide here "GPRW/UPRW/LANC Instant Wake Patch" https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore...t-wake.html#gprw-uprw-lanc-instant-wake-patch

By searching into my DSDT.aml, I found I had the mention of "Method (GPRW, 2". This mean I needed the path SSDT-GPRW.aml + ACPI patch to add in config.plist "GPRW to XPRW Patch".

I rebooted and now it's flawless

Thank you very much for your guide, my notebook is also M17R4 (2021), I have two questions:
1.what values do I need to change to the BIOS by RU shell？
2.I cannot install MAC OS 11.5.2 normally using the EFI file you provided, and IGPU cannot be driven. Can I only install 11.2.3?