How to build your own iMac Pro [Successful Build/Extended Guide]

[RiLinux]

PRIME X299-DELUXE BIOS 1503
"Improve system stability and performance.
Update ME firmware to version 11.11.55.1509.

 

[izo1]

Hey,
Thx a lot for your reply!!
I am using the aptioMemoryFix-64.efi and also the AptioInputFix-64.efi.
CsrActiveConfig is set to 0x67 on config.plist..

I attached my EFI folder so you can hopefully fing my mistake(s)!

best,
Phil

Looks good to me, but let's try these...

Can you delete all the files in drivers64UEFI and put these from the drivers64UEFI.zip (attached) in it? They are the latest.

Can you replace the kext files with the ones attached in newkextfolder.zip

Can you use the attached config.plist?

OR just download this attached EFI_modified_YPSuperman.zip and completely replace yours [delete current and copy this over] (keep a backup of yours somewhere). Make sure you only use the EFI folder inside

Report back if it works.

 

[Lorengrin]

@kgp

Hi

Thx for your awesome guide! Maybe you could help me with my installation issues?
I followed your guid as good as possible but somehow the installation crashes with:
"Couldn´t allocate runtime area"

I Uploaded a picture of the issue and my EFI Folder. I really hope there is a solution to be found!

Thx for everything and best greetings,
Phil



My System:
Asus Rog Strix X299
Intel Core I9 7940
Gigabyte Gtx1080 Windforce
64gb G-Skill DDR4

Hi,

In bios select your disk about install the operation system and EFI partition.

 

[kgp]

Guide Update completed

1.) Black Screen on wake issue not caused be the current Vega system implementation but by some experimental XHC1 setup exclusively installed on my own X299 System. Neither the guide nor the formerly distributed Vega System SSDT with default XHCI implementation have been affected by this problem.

Sleep/Wake functionality fully recovered on my Vega Skylake-X/X299 System.

2.) Anyway note the following updates in SSDT-X299-iMacPro-Vega.aml and SSDT-X299-iMacPro-Nvidia.aml, newly attached to the originating post of this thread (guide):

a.) DTPG method outsourced from both files to SSDT-DTPG.aml and now implemented in form of external DTPG method calls within the definition blocks of both system SSDTs, as formerly already implemented in case of the SSDT-9-TB-minimal-hotplug-injector.aml. Note that it is now absolutely mandatory to add SSDT-DTPG.aml to /EFI/Clover/ACPI/patched/ also in case of the System-SSDTs!

b.) Adding THSS Intel X299 Series Thermal Subsystem Controller PCI device implementation kindly provided by @apfelnico to system SSDTs:

    Scope (\_SB.PCI0)
    {
        Device (THSS)
        {
            Name (_ADR, 0x00140002)  // _ADR: Address
            Name (THSS, One)
            Method (_DSM, 4, NotSerialized)  // _DSM: Device-Specific Method
            {
                Store (Package (0x0C)
                    {
                        "AAPL,slot-name",
                        Buffer (0x09)
                        {
                            "Built In"
                        },

                        "built-in",
                        Buffer (One)
                        {
                             0x00                                 
                        },

                        "name",
                        Buffer (0x24)
                        {
                            "Intel X299 Series Thermal Subsystem"
                        },

                        "model",
                        Buffer (0x24)
                        {
                            "Intel X299 Series Thermal Subsystem"
                        },

                        "device_type",
                        Buffer (0x13)
                        {
                            "Thermal-Controller"
                        },

                        "compatible",
                        Buffer (0x0D)
                        {
                            "pci8086,a2a1"
                        }
                    }, Local0)
                DTGP (Arg0, Arg1, Arg2, Arg3, RefOf (Local0))
                Return (Local0)
            }
        }
    }

which also results in a new Section E.9.2.9 and a shift in the numeration of all following subsections .

3.) New EFI-Folder implementation EFI-X299-10.13.6-Release-iMacPro1,1-010918.zip

EFI-Folder related changes:

Implementation of Clover_v2.4k_r4664

4.) Implementation of v.1503 ASUS Prime X299 Deluxe iMacPro Splash Screen BIOS firmware distribution
X299D.CAP.zip

5.) SafeSleepUSB.app or Jettison.app might help in circumventing the USB ejection error during sleep/wake, see Section E.4).

The respective 10.14 PB8 guide update for iMacPro Skylake-X/X299 under Mojave also has been successfully accomplished this evening by considering all of the above mentioned points in addition.

Enjoy and have fun

 

[rawx]

@rawx

Because …
• the processor is more expensive
• you have to use another board (C422 Chipset)

Ok, thanks! But it's more "compatible" than i9 / X299?

 

[kgp]

Ok, thanks! But it's more "compatible" than i9 / X299?

I would not know what one would miss in case one opts for Skylake-X/X299. I see only advantages..

Why one should want to exactly reproduce all disadvantages of a real iMacPro?

More unlogical questions of this kind at your side?

 

[egroys]

Hi @kgp,

I know it's not recommended to use the RX 560 but that's what I currently have.

My question is regarding the SSDT - should I remove the BR2A Vega entry completely, or should I edit the name and device ID and leave it in?

It appears to work both ways, but with the edited entry, I seem to get periodic freezes that would not show up in Diagnostics Reports. The system would be completely frozen, but I could still move my mouse, but nothing else. This happens very rarely, but it would always be upon loading a video in Chrome.

I know that's not the graphics card you are using, but I figured I should ask.

Thank you and anyone that can chime in!

 

[kgp]

Hi @kgp,

I know it's not recommended to use the RX 560 but that's what I currently have.

My question is regarding the SSDT - should I remove the BR2A Vega entry completely, or should I edit the name and device ID and leave it in?

It appears to work both ways, but with the edited entry, I seem to get periodic freezes that would not show up in Diagnostics Reports. The system would be completely frozen, but I could still move my mouse, but nothing else. This happens very rarely, but it would always be upon loading a video in Chrome.

I know that's not the graphics card you are using, but I figured I should ask.

Thank you and anyone that can chime in!

I guess at least you would have to remove the Vega 64 load table, isn't it? And depending on your slot configuration, you properly might have to adopt ACPI path, ACPI replacements or at least all GPU and HDAU PCI properties different from the Vega 64 or Frontier.

 

[izo1]

Ok, thanks! But it's more "compatible" than i9 / X299?

You're better off buying a real iMac Pro on sale somewhere or refurbished from the Apple store if you want to go this route.

No Hackintosh is as stable as a real Mac. Ever. There is just too many variables in a Hackintosh situation and too much troubleshooting to get it to 100% "compatibility"

The point of this guide is to:

1) Buiild a clone of the iMac Pro using more cost effective parts
2) Customization and ability to modify your system on the fly
3) Maybe have some fun while doing it

If you truly want to use workstation parts like Xeons and ECC memory, you're better off moving to Windows or like I said buying a real iMac Pro or waiting for 2019 Mac Pro.

 

[izo1]

Hi @kgp,

I know it's not recommended to use the RX 560 but that's what I currently have.

My question is regarding the SSDT - should I remove the BR2A Vega entry completely, or should I edit the name and device ID and leave it in?

It appears to work both ways, but with the edited entry, I seem to get periodic freezes that would not show up in Diagnostics Reports. The system would be completely frozen, but I could still move my mouse, but nothing else. This happens very rarely, but it would always be upon loading a video in Chrome.

I know that's not the graphics card you are using, but I figured I should ask.

Thank you and anyone that can chime in!

Can you buy a Vega 64? You spent all this money on a high end HEDT system and want to save money on the GPU...

The RX5x0 cards are better suited for the more consumer grade Coffee Lake CPUs, since they have iGPUs.

We've talked about this a lot, but there is something macOS does under the hood that hooks the RX5x0 cards and iGPU together for non iMac Pro SMBIOS....so you'd be better off either:

1) Getting a Vega 64
2) Switching to iMac SMBIOS (Forgot which the latest was).