[Guide] Intel NUC7/NUC8 using Clover UEFI (NUC7i7Bxx,NUC8i7Bxx,etc)

[markfultonncl]

Heads up, AirportItlwm.kext 1.3.0 has been released. I did a comparison with 1.2.0 and see significant speed increases.

Before: 55mbps/10.2 up
After: 219.22 mbps/10.72 up

Booted under Windows and/or using ethernet on macOS, I get 235 down and the same up, so very close.

The main difference is that AirportItlwm is still limited to wireless N mode (300Mbps max) and the Windows driver supports AC (780/866 Mbps rx/tx were the numbers reported in Windows).

No changes/improvements with airdrop / connecting to hotspots.

Edit: add url: https://github.com/OpenIntelWireless/itlwm/releases/tag/v1.3.0

Great news, AirportItlwm.kext 2.0.0 is now out with full AC (and Monterey) support!

Release v2.0.0 stable · OpenIntelWireless/itlwm

This version brings performance to the next level: iwm/iwx: Add support for 802.11AC iwm/iwx: Add support for VHT160 (160MHz) Add support for LDPC and STBC Improve RA rate scaling algorithm to sup...

github.com

PHY Mode is now reported as 802.11ac on my wifi connection with a Tx rate of 867 Mbps, bringing this on-par with the Windows Intel wifi driver.

My WAN connection isn't fast enough to test past 230 Mbps so I haven't done any real world throughput benchmarking.

AirDrop, connect to personal hotspot and unlock with Apple Watch support are still not working, so issues with continuity features remain. Hopefully the devs will prioritize those for the next release given AC mode now works.

 

[BrightEyes]

Anyone have success in getting the built-in ethernet port to work reliably on the NUC8?

Mine "works" in that I get a link, and I can typically reach 1 website before it just slows to uselessness. Once it does that, I can't even reach the NAS on my home network

Any suggestions?

 

[Leesureone]

Anyone have success in getting the built-in ethernet port to work reliably on the NUC8?

Mine "works" in that I get a link, and I can typically reach 1 website before it just slows to uselessness. Once it does that, I can't even reach the NAS on my home network

Any suggestions?

Yes, you can find prebuilt EFI folders on page 90 of this thread. Just add serial numbers

 

[BrightEyes]

Yes, you can find prebuilt EFI folders on page 90 of this thread. Just add serial numbers

Thanks Leesureone - I'm using your NUCi7OC71 on my NUC8i5BEH and it works great so far!

I was previously using OC 6.1 and Catalina, so yesterday was upgrade day

I'd been using an Archer USB wifi before, but the AirportItlwm works quite well now (which is what I'm using to type this). But I have gigabit ethernet in my room...but it doesn't work well in macOS..if I dual boot into Windows, it works fine

 

[Leesureone]

Thanks Leesureone - I'm using your NUCi7OC71 on my NUC8i5BEH and it works great so far!

I was previously using OC 6.1 and Catalina, so yesterday was upgrade day

I'd been using an Archer USB wifi before, but the AirportItlwm works quite well now (which is what I'm using to type this). But I have gigabit ethernet in my room...but it doesn't work well in macOS..if I dual boot into Windows, it works fine

Sorry for the late reply, the kext you need should be loading and giving you Ethernet connectivity, occasionally there is an issue with how the network communicates with NUC. If that's the problem you can try opening System Preferences, Network then click on the Advanced tab and from there the Hardware header. Try changing the setting from Automatic to Manual and selecting (usually by default) 1000baseT and report back.

 

[BrightEyes]

Sorry for the late reply, the kext you need should be loading and giving you Ethernet connectivity, occasionally there is an issue with how the network communicates with NUC. If that's the problem you can try opening System Preferences, Network then click on the Advanced tab and from there the Hardware header. Try changing the setting from Automatic to Manual and selecting (usually by default) 1000baseT and report back.

View attachment 526982

Thanks mate, appreciate your help...

I disabled Wifi and plugged the ethernet back into the NUC and I get the same behavior with those settings as when configured Automatically.

It's no biggie, for me at least, as the itlwm seems to work great now, but I had this issue when running Catalina too and wondered if I had something funky in my config...so just curiosity really rather than necessity.

 

[Leesureone]

Thanks mate, appreciate your help...

I disabled Wifi and plugged the ethernet back into the NUC and I get the same behavior with those settings as when configured Automatically.

It's no biggie, for me at least, as the itlwm seems to work great now, but I had this issue when running Catalina too and wondered if I had something funky in my config...so just curiosity really rather than necessity.

It’s a very unusual issue, wish I could help more

 

[BrightEyes]

It’s a very unusual issue, wish I could help more

No worries! If it wasn't for all your effort with OC configs for the NUC, I wouldn't be using it now - so big thank you

 

[Leesureone]

No worries! If it wasn't for all your effort with OC configs for the NUC, I wouldn't be using it now - so big thank you

Here is another way to go, there are other similar options available other places

TP-Link USB to Ethernet Adapter, Foldable USB 3.0 to 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Network Adapter, Support Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP for Desktop Laptop Apple MacBook Linux (UE300) - Newegg.com

Buy TP-LINK UE300 USB 3.0 To Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

 

[BrightEyes]

Is there any reason to not get the USB-C version? Is that reliable enough on the NUCs?