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j0s3ph's Build: Gigabyte Z370N - i9-9900K - RX580

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Joined
Dec 28, 2011
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17
Motherboard
Gigabyte Z370N WiFi
CPU
i9-9900K
Graphics
RX 580
j0s3ph's Build:
Gigabyte Z370N - i9-9900K - RX580


IMG_8903.jpg
Components

Gigabyte Z370N WIFI mITX Motherboard
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VD4XV4/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813145046

Corsair Vengeance LPX DD4 3000MHz 32GB (2x16GB) Memory
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014UYPEXE/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/corsair-32gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820233871

Intel Core i9-9900K Processor
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005404P9I/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16819117957

Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 (2x) SSD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BN4NJ2J/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/samsung-970-evo-500gb/p/N82E16820147690

Bykski A-AS58DUAL-X GPU Water Cooling Block for ASUS RX580 Dual 8G
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VFKSG2B/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/bykski-vga-block-cooler/p/2YM-001V-00161

4x EK-CoolStream Classic SE 240 Slim Liquid Cooling Copper Fan Radiators and Fittings
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776S75F9/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/p/13K-008B-00062

Broadcom BCM4360 Wireless/Bluetooth
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDNDQ0K/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Adapter BCM94360CS2/BCM943224PCIEBT2 Card To NGFF(M.2)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KHRJVXW/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Corsair SF750 Power Supply
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M63H81H/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/corsair-sf750-cp-9020186-na-750w/p/N82E16817139080

EKWB EK-Velocity CPU Waterblock
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9LBMQ1/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/p/37B-000B-00237

Phanteks Evolv Shift X Computer Case
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07499NSCX/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811854066


Already Owned

ASUS Radeon RX 580 8GB Dual-fan Graphics Card (DUAL-RX580-O8G)
Exact model link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071L1VGQW/?tag=tonymacx86com-20



Comments

Introduction
Finally its done! I've been collecting parts for this build for about a year now. Finally got it all together the last couple weeks. Also note, this is my first custom water cooled build. I wanted to create this thread for documentation purposes and to help out anyone else out there struggling, because I did, a lot. Note this build is mostly for development, design, and some mild gaming.

To do
Still have a some plans to change a couple things, not 100% with the bends leading into the GPU, not totally happy with my custom sleeving job ( more on this later ). Also to address the poor air flow, I'll be getting custom side panels laser cut, with vents.

Build
I picked the most difficult case to build a custom loop in, it took a ton of planning, and I still got some things wrong. Overall I wanted a case that wasn't the regular box shape, and the Evolv shift x fit that look. I'll expand on this some more, but overall the custom cables was by far the hardest part of the build.

Installation
  1. Create your UniBeast Catalina USB installer following the tonymacx86 installation guide. Note, I tested using AFPS formatting and Mac OS Extended (Journaled), both worked fine, but I ended up using AFPS in my final build.
  2. Motherboard/BIOS
    1. Current BIOS is BIOS F13. Follow the default BIOS instructions from the tonymacx86 installation guide.
    2. As you know, in order to run an i9-9900K, I needed to update BIOS, at least F11. Upon doing some research, any BIOS passed F10 require some extra work. See this thread by b166ar. Although, there was a slight issue, his instructions don't show you how to use the bootz64.efi file on a fresh install! Don't worry, it's not too difficult, just took a little trial and error to figure it out. All you have to do is modify the USB installer a little bit.
      1. Insert the Catalina USB installer, and mount the EFI partition using Clover Configurator for Catalina. Navigate to /EFI/BOOT/ folder and rename the BOOTX64.efi file to BOOTX64.efi.bk
      2. Drag and drop the one from b166ar's post into this same directory. Now when you boot, from your fresh install you'll see the command line needed to enter the config codes in b166ar's post above.
      3. Once done, shut down, and revert the changes in the USB installer. Renaming the downloaded bootx64.efi file to something else and revert the original file back to its original name.
    3. BIOS Settings
      1. BIOS Settings
      2. VT-d -> off
      3. Internal graphic card -> off
      4. PCH LAN Controller -> on
      5. Wake on Lan -> off - ON
      6. High Precision Timer -> on
      7. IOAPIC 24-119 Entries -> on
      8. Legacy USB Support -> on
      9. XHCI Hand-off -> on
      10. USB Massdriver Support -> on
      11. Port 60/64 Emulation -> on
      12. CSM-Support -> off
  3. OS Install
    1. Everything here is normal, boot off your USB install by hitting F12.
  4. POST Install
    1. Here is where I ran into a few issues. I think this is mainly due to lack of support in MultiBeast currently, so it is expected.
    2. In order to run MultiBeast 11.3, download hackintool. You'll need it to disable gatekeeper; otherwise, it'll throw an error on install.
    3. Only install FakeSMC and SMBIOS 18,3. DO NOT INSTALL a Bootloader... yet.
      1. I ran into issues with the version of Clover bundled with MultiBeast 11.3
    4. Once done, download Clover UEFI Boot Mode v2.5k r5102 and install.
    5. Install the latest Luli and WhatEverGreen drivers using Hackintool or from the tonymacx86 Download/kexts section(both drivers/kexts are required for RX580, otherwise you'll run into black screen issues trying to boot). Currently,
      1. Lilu - 1.4.1
      2. WhatEverGreen 1.3.6
    6. Reboot!
  5. Sound/Audio
    1. After I booted back into Catalina, I followed this guide to get sound working, Thanks, Bleysus.
  6. USB
    1. Configured ports using this thread, thanks UtterDisbelief.
      1. Note: I had to install the USBFix kext into /L/E/ in order to get it to work. Not sure if this is a new bug or not.
What works:
  1. WiFi and Bluetooth, Air Drop.
  2. USB2, USB3, USB-C ports.
  3. All audio ports.
  4. iMessage now works
  5. App Store
What doesn't work:
  1. Sidecar for iPad Pro
 
Last edited:
Since it's not listed in your Components, what is your RX 580 graphics card's manufacturer and model?
 
It's under the Already owned section. Its exact model is this one.
ASUS Radeon RX 580 8GB Dual-Fan OC Edition GDDR5 DP HDMI DVI VR Ready AMD Graphics Card (DUAL-RX580-O8G)[link]

Included a couple more links, for the m.2 & wifi card. :thumbup:
 
It's under the Already owned section. Its exact model is this one.
ASUS Radeon RX 580 8GB Dual-Fan OC Edition GDDR5 DP HDMI DVI VR Ready AMD Graphics Card (DUAL-RX580-O8G)[link]

Included a couple more links, for the m.2 & wifi card. :thumbup:

A good idea to put more detail in your hardware Profile too, so folk can instantly see what components you have elsewhere on the site :cool:

That case sure is unusual. Just checked out the links. A bit like the trash-can MacPro in operation, maybe. Vertical cooling?
 
Oh okay, will do. :thumbup: .

I agree, very MacPro like. Yea, there's a EK 120mm fan under the rad pushing air up through the case out the top. Along with the 240 in the front panel pulling air in. Phantek's makes a AIR version of this case, with side panels made of fabric, but personally I don't like the look of the fabric, so custom side panel(s) it is!

I'll update this thread with some clearer photos of it all together.
 
Update: Forgot to install the 2nd NVMe m.2 drive. So I had to pull it half apart to get to the back of the motherboard. o_O
I also found out I had wired wired up the 3 bottom fans incorrectly. Apparently, when chaining fans together (PWM fans), you only need to connect 3 of the 4 wires. In my case I have 3 fans chained together, I had to remove a pin on 2 of the 3 fans so only one fan is sending a speed signal. This fixes any fan RPM fluctuation I had previously.

Take a look at this splitter as an example:
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16812162059

Also, working on an Aluminum back panel instead of the tempered glass.
 
Updated to 10.15.3, followed the instructions, moved all my kexts over to EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other. So far everything works! I had to move back AppleHDA back into /L/E to get sound working again.
 
I've got almost the same build as yours, couple suggestions:
- Why iMac18,3? That's Kaby Lake (7-series). iMac 19,1 has 9900K and RX 580 which might be a better fit
- Why disable iGPU in BIOS? You'll need it for QuickSync acceleration and QuickLook previews. AFAIK only using iMacPro1,1 SMBIOS is the only way to not use iGPU and still get acceleration.
- Install sounds really complicated. It should be much simpler, but then again I didn't use MultiBeast. This hardware is some of the easiest to hack, all you need is some basic/standard Clover patches, Lilu, WEG, Intel Ethernet kext, and you've got a fully working vanilla setup.
- As far as BIOS, no need to mess with the custom boot.efi files. use the SSDT provided by @furter here: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...er-bios-update-acpi-patch.275091/post-1968344
 
Hey, Mikey! thanks for the info!
  • I chose 18,3 because I had read somewhere here it being the most compatible for Z370 boards. Looking back, the post I had read was probably before the i9-9900K was out.
  • Funny you mention iGPU as that's next on my to do list. I originally disabled it just to get up and running. This is next on my to do list.
  • Sound wasn't too bad at all. Just needed the last AppleALC kext and a vanilla AppleHDA.
  • I tested the ACPI patch, before going my suggested route, and it didn't work.
Also, updated side panel photo. Currently its unpainted and lightly brushed. I'll be painting it satin black and moving it to the back panel.
 

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Have you upgraded to 10.15.4? I have a very similar configuration (I just run off of the iGPU) and have been running and upgrading without too many issues for quite a few months on BIOS F13 but this last upgrade is painful. If you do, and have no issues, would you mind sharing your config.plist?
I can successfully boot one of 10-20 times with the hack going into reboot loops until it gets through. My config.plist has some oddities which I picked up from previous threads but I can't get my finger on the error causing this.
 
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