Mountain Lion on ASUS P8Z77-M Pro for Dummies, i7-3.5GHz, HD4000, Audio/DVI/HDMI (+Audio)/Sleep/Wake

[javadi]

NOTE 1 This guide might also be used for other settings such as Pro and non-Pro or even similar motherboards (mobo) such as P8Z77-I.

NOTE 2 This is a guide to drive a fully functional system on ASUS P8Z77-M, i7-3.5GHz. I am posting this because none of the other posts could give me a comprehensive solution. I believe the settings are very much system-dependent. So, my guide might help you to the end, or not. You can find other stories on the bottom of this post.

NOTE 3 This guide is for newbies, with images and easy instructions. If you are an expert (or feel like one) skip my post, as I won't go into details (I don't know much about the details anyway).

Instruction


STEP 1: PATCH BIOS

To begin with, you need to patch your BIOS (this is perhaps the most difficult part). Go to the link below (thanks to samisnake) and download your patch and patch your BIOS. For my case you need to prepare a USB-stick with the BIOS file on it and use USB Flashback feature of your modo.

http://biosrepo.wordpress.com/asus/z77/

You can find information on how to do USB Flashback in your manual (part 2.3.10)

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z77M_PRO/#download (select 'others' for your OS)


STEP 2: BIOS SETTINGS

OK. After that you need to setup your BIOS. Follow these steps (taken from http://www.tonymacx86.com/mountain-...-pro-i5-3570k-intel-hd4000-mountain-lion.html and http://www.tonymacx86.com/123-how-upgrade-bios-uefi-gigabyte-s-6-series-motherboards.html)

1. Press 'delete' repeatedly after hearing the mobo beep. It gets you to BIOS.
2. Switch to 'Advanced' mode (bottom left hand-side of the screen) and go to 'Advanced' menu.
3. Now s et
   1. 'CPU Configuration/Intel Virtualisation Technology' to 'Enabled' (it is necessary for Parallels Desktop full functionality, 'hardware virtualisation' feature)
   2. 'PCH Configuration/High Precision Timer (HPET)' to 'Enabled'
   3. 'SATA Configuration/SATA Mode Selection' to 'AHCI'
   4. 'System Agent Configurations/Graphics Configurations/Primary Display' to 'iGPU'
   5. 'System Agent Configurations/Graphics Configurations/iGPU Memory' to '32' or '64' (don't worry, it won't limit your graphics memory)
   6. 'USB Configuration/Intel USB2.0 EHCI Controller' to 'Enabled'
   7. 'USB Configuration/Intel xHCI Mode' to 'Auto'
   8. 'USB Configuration/EHCI Hand-off' to 'enabled'
   9. Save and restart (press F10)

STEP 3: DOWNLOADS

Lovely. Now your system is ready for Mountain Lion (ML). Download the following applications from http://www.tonymacx86.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=3

1. UniBeast - Mountain Lion
2. MultiBeast - Mountain Lion
3. The attached DSDT.aml.zip

STEP 4: MAIN INSTALLATION

Follow the following step-by-step guide down to STEP 4, Part 9

http://www.tonymacx86.com/61-unibeast-install-os-x-mountain-lion-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html

One life-saving switch. I always use '-x' (without quotes) switch on the boot menu. It is perhaps the most helpful switch to enable your system to boot up, no matter from the USB or from HDD/SDD (hard disk drive/solid state drive). For my case, I could never boot up my system from USB without this switch. For the first boot on my SDD also, I use this switch. Simple press a key on the boot menu and it gives you the possibility to type your switches such as '-x' and '-v'...


STEP 5: TRICK

Great. now here it's the trick. Follow the following steps carefully,

1. Open your Mountain Lion drive, go to /System/Library/Extension and delete the AppleHDA.kext and HDAEnabler1.kext (you shouldn't have this at the moment, but just in case)
2. Copy the dsdt.aml file (attached) on your Desktop. Pay attention that the attached file is compressed. Of course, you need to uncompressed it.
3. Run MultiBeast and set the options as below

This way it will install the necessary applications / settings and also your Ethernet (in a separate installer application).

Done! Now, I expect you to have a fully functional system

NOTE If by any chance your computer doesn't boot (Kernel Panic (KP)), use switch '-v' in the boot menu. It gives your more information on what goes wrong.

Good luck,,,


Acknowledgement

I would like to thank MiniITX, kduvernay and samisnake who helped me directly to figure out everything. I am also highly grateful to tonymacx86 and tonymacx86 Forums.


Other Successful Stories...

http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...8z77-m-pro-i5-3750k-geforce-gtx-670-wifi.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/mountain-...-pro-i5-3570k-intel-hd4000-mountain-lion.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/dsdt/64563-asus-p8z77m-pro-dsdt-bios-version-1406-7-31-2012-a.html

Performance

Geekbench of my system with overclocking http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1187352
Geekbench of my system without overclocking http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1187197

 

[kev7in]

might consider the mac pro 3,1 profile. It increased my "tpu auto" over clock to 14500 (32 bit). same specs as you too (build in signature). Just a thought though, as I can see the guide has a dsdt which may or may not be able to do that.

I tried the iMac profile yesterday and it dropped my score down to 12,700. It seemed to take away the "tpu" auto over clock. My multiplier never got over x3.6.

The mac mini 5,1 offered the same results as the mac pro 3,1.

Please inform me if you have a reason I should switch over to the iMac profile.

 

[valitor]

What's the point of using that DSDT? I don't, and on my system (3770, P8Z77-M Pro) sleep and all devices work just fine.

Also, you should mention that the -x startup switch means "safe mode", it disables loading the GPU driver and any automatic startup programs associated with your user account. That's all there is to it, and it's not meant to be the normal startup mode or help in anything other than enabling a boot if your system is bugged in a way that prevents a normal boot.

 

[javadi]

might consider the mac pro 3,1 profile. It increased my "tpu auto" over clock to 14500 (32 bit). same specs as you too (build in signature). Just a thought though, as I can see the guide has a dsdt which may or may not be able to do that.

I tried the iMac profile yesterday and it dropped my score down to 12,700. It seemed to take away the "tpu" auto over clock. My multiplier never got over x3.6.

The mac mini 5,1 offered the same results as the mac pro 3,1.

Please inform me if you have a reason I should switch over to the iMac profile.

Well, I don't have any special reason for selecting iMac. I, however, tried Mac Pro 3.1 as your mentioned. My score didn't change much (from 15487 to 15513). My feeling is system definition doesn't affect anything except the image in your "About this Mac". In all of them the CPU will be detected automatically.

PS, by TPU you mean CPU (central processing unit), right? Like MRI (English) and MRT (German).

 

[javadi]

What's the point of using that DSDT? I don't, and on my system (3770, P8Z77-M Pro) sleep and all devices work just fine.

Also, you should mention that the -x startup switch means "safe mode", it disables loading the GPU driver. That's all there is to it, and it's not meant to be the normal startup mode or help in anything other than enabling a boot if your system is bugged in a way that prevents a normal boot.

The DSDT is only for HDMI-Audio. I have everything working without it, except HDMI-Audio.

Thanks for pointing out -x and "safe mode".

 

[valitor]

Well, I don't have any special reason for selecting iMac. I, however, tried Mac Pro 3.1 as your mentioned. My score didn't change much (from 15487 to 15513). My feeling is system definition doesn't affect anything except the image in your "About this Mac". In all of them the CPU will be detected automatically.

PS, by TPU you mean CPU (central processing unit), right? Like MRI (English) and MRT (German).

No, the system definition determines the chipset used in the system, which e.g. OS X uses to set the list of available P-states of your CPU.

TPU on the ASUS board is an overclocking/overvolting feature.

 

[javadi]

No, the system definition determines the chipset used in the system, which e.g. OS X uses to set the list of available P-states of your CPU.

TPU on the ASUS board is an overclocking/overvolting feature.

I see. But isn't it the case that it will be automatically detected, regardless of the definition? How can one checks that anyway? I see I have different clock frequencies, but I don't know how many different states...

CPU performance states (P-states) and CPU operating states (C-states)
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoc...topic=/liaai/cpufreq/CPUPerformanceStates.htm

EDIT: I've just noticed that in both cases I have Processing ID GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9

 

[valitor]

I see. But isn't it the case that it will be automatically detected, regardless of the definition? How can one checks that anyway? I see I have different clock frequencies, but I don't know how many different states...

CPU performance states (P-states) and CPU operating states (C-states)
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoc...topic=/liaai/cpufreq/CPUPerformanceStates.htm

EDIT: I've just noticed that in both cases I have Processing ID GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9

I have tested this in the past. Depending on the system definition I will get a vary amount of P-states, and depending on the system definition my CPU will not clock to the largest multiplier. It's my understanding that e.g. the Mac mini does not use the largest multiplier regardless of the CPU's capabilities due to power consumption constraints.

 

[kev7in]

^^Correct. It's the physical switch on the motherboard.

I guess it could be different for each individual build. I agree with valitor though, I didn't install anything but audio and network from multibeast and I had perfect system. Intel HD4000 worked, as did everything else.

I wont use hdmi audio (i use optical which works ootb with multibeast audio patch).

Anyway, strangely enough I didn't get full over clock on the imac definition, where as I did with mac mini.
That said, i'm sticking with mac pro 3,1 as my system is stable as a rock.

Now if we could just get the wake without dismounting usb drives!

 

[valitor]

^^Correct. It's the physical switch on the motherboard.

I guess it could be different for each individual build. I agree with valitor though, I didn't install anything but audio and network from multibeast and I had perfect system. Intel HD4000 worked, as did everything else.

I wont use hdmi audio (i use optical which works ootb with multibeast audio patch).

Anyway, strangely enough I didn't get full over clock on the imac definition, where as I did with mac mini.
That said, i'm sticking with mac pro 3,1 as my system is stable as a rock.

Now if we could just get the wake without dismounting usb drives!

What do you mean by "wake without dismounting usb drives"?