Nikki51's Build: Core i5 3570K - ASUS Sabertooth Z77 - 8GB RAM - Sapphire ATI Radeon HD6870

[Nikki51]

Nikki51's Build: Core i5 3570K - ASUS Sabertooth Z77 - 8GB RAM - Sapphire ATI Radeon HD6870

Components:

Mac OS X version 10.8 Mountain Lion Retail from Apple's App Store

ASUS Sabertooth Z77 Motherboard
http://www.amazon.fr/Asus-90-MIBI30-G0EAY0KZ-SABERTOOTH-Carte-Socket/dp/B007KZQEHQ

Sapphire ATI Radeon HD6870 - 1024 Mo GDDR5 - PCI-Express Video Card
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B004R7MTPQ/

Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 - BX80637I53570K
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B007RUZKK6

LG Electronics GH22NP20 22X IDE SecurDisc DVD+/-RW Internal Drive
http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-GH22NP20-SecurDisc-Internal/dp/B001TOD5CQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1345397659&sr=1-2

Corsair - CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 - RAM - DDR3 1600 - 8 Go COR CL9 Vengeance Kit
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B004CRSM4I/

Samsung S23B350H 23-Inch Class LED Monitor - Black
http://www.amazon.fr/Samsung-SyncMaster-S23B350H-LS23B350HS-Moniteur/dp/B007832GFY


Already Owned

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Samsung 320GB 7200PM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Gigabyte Triton Case
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2153#kf

Antec PSU : 450W, certified "80 plus"


Comments:

I wanted to build a Hackintosh that would be 100% working, and which can be used for gaming.
I'm often listening to music, so the sound had to work perfectly, and as I may connect it to a home theatre in the future, I wanted every output line to work, that's why I chose Sabertooth Z77 over the GA-Z77X-UD5H, which was my first choice.
I'm very happy with my choice, as I think that the Asus is better over the Gigabyte.

But for this to work well, I knew that I'd first have to flash the motherboard, which took me about 30 seconds, so if that make you hesitate about this board, keep in mind that this isn't a problem AT ALL.
These two following links will be helpful :
http://www.tonymacx86.com/dsdt/43486-asus-1155-patched-bios-repository.html
http://event.asus.com/2012/mb/USB_BIOS_Flashback_GUIDE/

Where I made a "wrong" decision was the choice of the GPU, because it didn't "really" worked OOB. In fact, it did, as long as I didn't need to use Graphic Acceleration OR the HDMI output.
Installation had to be done without it, but that's not really a problem, you have a HDMI output on the Motherboard.
Finally, I solved my problem and now have the card 100% working, but it wasn't that easy, I only found ONE kext that allowed me to use HMDI with GE=Yes AND AtiMode=Duckweed (Duckweek has to be used with the Sapphire HD 6870, because you'll have recurrent freezes without it).
I provide you the kext on the bottom. It's from PGOGW4, thanks to his job !

With that done, the Hackintosh is 100% working. (Well, maybe HDMI audio doesn't work, I can't test it yet, but it could be activated if I needed it, I think.)

MultiBeast Configuration for Mountain Lion

 

[Stork]

Nice build. Welcome to the 6000 series graphic card fun and games (installation) in Mountain Lion.

You can take screen snapshots of just windows by using

• Command-Shift-4;
• Spacebar to bring up the camera icon and highlight the current window; and
• Mouse click which will put the window screen snapshot on your desktop.

 

[wildwillow]

Nikki, the link to the Gigabyte Triton case isn't working, congrats on the Hack!

 

[Stork]

Quick fix for the case link.

 

[wildwillow]

Quick fix for the case link.

Thanks Very Much Stork, Thats a great looking case, I wonder if there is a baby brother

 

[Nikki51]

The case isn't huge though, the GPU take almost all available space. ^^

 

[Gh0st1]

Hi,

Did you have to create your own DSDT or mess around with that stuff? I can't find anything for Z77 chipset in the current DSDT list.

 

[wildwillow]

The case isn't huge thought, the GPU take almost all available space. ^^

I really like the case. Yeah it a nice Mid size Tower. I am on the hunt for something that looks that clean but in MicroATX.

 

[Nikki51]

Hi,

Did you have to create your own DSDT or mess around with that stuff? I can't find anything for Z77 chipset in the current DSDT list.

Motherboards with Z77 chipset don't need any DSDT. It just work OOB. But as I mentionned, Asus motherboards need to be flashed at first.

 

[miller hammond]

When you say 100% working, do you include Auto Sleep, No Usb unmounting when waking from sleep with overclocked memory or processor and everything display correctly in About this mac.
The reason I ask is I have the Gigabyte Z77X UD5H and the two above minor things are the only things not working and it would be nice to have a truly 100% hack.

Great Build BTW.