[Guide] Install High Sierra or Mojave on the Dell Optiplex 7010 / 9010 Desktop PC - Revision II

[caniggia]

Because you can't boot directly from the NVMe drive itself. You can select it from the Clover Boot Menu and then boot to it that way.

why on earth i never thought of this???????? what is wrong with me???
in the name of all macgods and the spirits of cupertino, i thank you from my heart!!! i have to hurry and buy myself a PCIe m.2 adapter. Summer is coming!!!

 

[trs96]

i have to hurry and buy myself a PCIe m.2 adapter.

Will you use this in one of your X79 systems ? Or are you going with a Dell MT ?
With X79 you've got a heck of a lot of unused PCIe lanes that are looking for something to do.
This is the reason it pays to wake up early and read the tmx86 forums. Lots of good info.

 

[caniggia]

Will you use this in one of your X79 systems ? Or are you going with a Dell MT ?

X79 definitely! but i am sure my friend is going to buy one veery soon for his Dell. He is working with DAW (logic mostly) so this will come handy. i will report in this threat if and when this happens. I don't mean to mess this one with X79s but it is amazing what i have learned this last week from a single thread.
Now since i live in europe all these newegg links are not compatible. Will any pcie to m.2 adapter work on customac? will this do for example?

I was curious what everyone's idle CPU temps are. I haven't changed the thermal paste yet but mine are right around 40°C with the SFF and i5 3570. I only ask to see if it's really worth the trouble to change out the paste if everyone else is significantly lower.

Reporting temps from 3770 on which i have used fresh arctic MX-4. The screenshot is while working on macOS settings and a browser opened. Nearly idle that is. Room temp 20-21

 

[trs96]

Will any pcie to m.2 adapter work on customac? will this do for example?

Your link didn't show up here. I would stay with a name brand like Silverstone if you can find one. The price is close to what most of the others cost. I've also seen one from Vantec that has the dual M.2 connectors and a Sata data connector. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0751CJ139/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Since this works through a PCIe slot I don't think there are any issues of macOS compatibility but I don't know that for certain. I've yet to test this out myself. Would be interesting to hear from others that try this approach.

Newegg now ships almost to any country in the world. Just go to their site. Click on the flag in the upper right corner on the home page. Click on Europe and then try to find the closest country to where you are.

 

[caniggia]

Your link didn't show up here. I would stay with a name brand like Silverstone if you can find one. The price is close to what most of the others cost. I've also seen one from Vantec that also has the dual M.2 connectors and a Sata data connector. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0751CJ139/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Since this works through a PCIe slot I don't think there are any issues of macOS compatibility but I don't know that for certain. I've yet to test this out myself. Would be interesting to hear from others that try this approach.

my bad. it is amazon. amazon is fine. I ll go with Silverstone. Do i just need to add the "?tag=tonymacx86com-20" on the url in order to credit this site as well? like https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0771HW52P/?tag=tonymacx86-21 ??

 

[trs96]

@caniggia if you use that link you posted with -21 yes, that gives this site a small contribution when you buy.
You can see the tag in the link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0771HW52P/?tag=tonymacx86-21tag=tonymacx86-21

 

[trs96]

16GB G.Skill Ram deal at Newegg

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231489

This will fit in the DT and MT models but not the SFF. These have tall heatsinks that would not fit below the HDD tray in the SFF model. It will just barely fit in the USFF though. I have this ram installed in mine. Haven't seen a 70 dollar price for a 16GB kit in a very long time.

 

[craighazan]

16GB G.Skill Ram deal at Newegg

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231489

This will fit in the DT and MT models but not the SFF. These have tall heatsinks that would not fit below the HDD tray in the SFF model. Haven't seen a 70 dollar price for a 16GB kit in a very long time.

That’s a really good deal!. I have these installed on my 7010 and, before that, my HP6300pro.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

How to add an extra internal USB 2.0 header
​

If you own the Optiplex DT or MT you know that Dell only provides one internal USB 2 header. For about 6 dollars (from China) you can add a second one. This allows you to connect two devices like a Wifi/BT card and a card reader inside your case. Not sure why Dell only provided one whereas HP models have two onboard in the 6300/8300. This is a simple solution. You'll just need to find a place for it inside your case.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076Q8685Y/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

What if I have the SFF Optiplex and no internal USB 2.0 header inside my case ?
There's a solution for that as well. Use an external USB 2 port and put this inside of your case for 2 USB 2 headers.
An easy solution for not a lot of money.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DC8JV12/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
View attachment 397550
If you don't want to wait weeks for shipment from China you can find one US seller on ebay.

USB 2.0 Male 1 to 2 Port 9Pin USB Header Female Extension Cable Multiplier HUB 699979218990 | eBay

USB2.0 Male to 2 ports 9Pin Female Externsion Cable.

www.ebay.com

Thanks @trs96. Another great add to the list of add-ons. I purchased this from eBay for $7.99 and had it is 4 days. Installed into my SFF by routing cable through open backplate after plugging into one of the 4 available USB 2.0 ports on the rear. I have This PCIe WiFi+BT card installed with changing out to the low-profile backplate which is included.

Dual Band BCM94360CS2 PCI-E 867Mbps 802.11AC BT4.0 Wifi PCI-Express Adapter Card | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dual Band BCM94360CS2 PCI-E 867Mbps 802.11AC BT4.0 Wifi PCI-Express Adapter Card at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Works perfectly.

 

[trs96]

I purchased this from eBay for $7.99 and had it is 4 days.

Did you buy used or refurbished to get that price ?