- Joined
- Aug 13, 2015
- Messages
- 11
- Motherboard
- GA-H97M-D3H
- CPU
- i5-4690
- Graphics
- Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 560
- Mac
(earlier forum threads dealing with this build:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...reen-freezing-vertical-bands-ga-h97m-d3h.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...g-after-sleep-ga-h97m-d3h-i5-4690-hd4600.html )
Successful Hackintosh Build — 2015/Sep/29
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
Executive summary
1) It works, and it has been stable for 2+ weeks of daily use at home
2) I would NOT recommend this for a beginner
3) I would NOT recommend this as your “only” computer
4) Having a “real” mac nearby is a really good idea
5) This is the most important point: If I were to start over, I would ONLY build a hackintosh by using EXACTLY the same parts as someone has published in a DETAILED build guide.
6) Yes I am still happy with the system (so far). The cost was about CDN$ 850 which is HALF of what a comparable new iMac would have cost me.
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
Build Summary:
(Note I started over several times, and had more than a few headaches along the way. This is just a summary of the final steps that work. Details of my travails will be noted at the end)
Hardware:
OS: Yosemite 10.10.5
References:
- http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...-x-yosemite-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
- http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...i-using-hd4600-chimera-multibeast-method.html ==> Different MBD, but similar.
- http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-builds/135033-success-gigabyte-h97m-d3h-i7-4790-hd4600-2.html ==> about disabling turbo boost
CAUTION:
- I based my hardware decision mostly on the August version of the tonymacx86.com Buyers Guide; the CustoMac Budget ATX mostly
- As noted above I would not choose to buy this exact hardware again.
- I deviated in the choice of RAM from those noted, based on what was available locally. I did check the motherboard manufacturer’s website for their approved list of RAM.
- I would not use the Tonymac buyers guide for this. Instead, find a detailed SUCCESSFUL build from either the ******/r/hackintosh forum or from the tonymacx86 forum and copy their hardware list.
INSTALLATION:
- download Yosemite as per the tonymac guide
- Note that it automatically launches an installer; quit that.
- Make the Bootable USB drive, using UniBeast 5.2.0
- Copy Multibeast to the USB drive
- Build PC. Did NOT hook up the DVD-ROM or HDD at this point.
ONLY have the SSD hooked up.
- turn on PC and hit F2 to get into the BIOS:
- Save+Exit -> Load Optimized Defaults
- BIOS Features -> VT-d -> DISABLED
- BIOS Features -> Boot Mode Selection -> LEGACY ONLY
- Peripherals -> Initial Display Output -> IGFX
- Peripherals -> Intel Process Graphics -> Enabled (ALREADY SET THIS WAY)
- Peripherals -> XHCI Mode -> AUTO
- Peripherals -> EHCI hand-off -> ENABLED
- Peripherals -> Sata Configuration -> SATA Mode Selection -> AHCI (ALREADY SET)
- MIT -> Advanced Memory Settings -> XMP -> Profile1
- MIT -> Advance Memory Settings -> Memory Enhancement Setting -> “ENHANCED STABILITY”
YES, THIS IS A LOT OF BIOS SETTINGS.
NO, I DO NOT KNOW IF ALL OF THEM ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
I stopped trying different things once it was working.
Not entirely happy about the memory settings, as I wonder if it is slowing my machine down, but it was necessary to make it stable.
INSTALLATION CONTINUED…
- Plug in the boot USB and boot the machine, again referring to the tony mac unibeast/yosemite guide
- at the splash screen start typing and add “-v -x” boot flags
- OS-X install starts
- use disk utility to reformat/repartition the SSD drive
- After the install it reboots
- select Yosemite (the internal disk where you installed OS-X) but DO NOT HIT RETURN — type “-v -x” to set boot flags and then hit return
- MULTIBEAST settings:
- Now Build
- Select Save, Save to Documents, Also save to the USB drive, for insurance
- Install
INSTALLATION CONTINUED - TESTING:
- boot + login
- system preferences -> Network -> verify it picked up DHCP
- system preferences -> Mouse -> UNCHECK scroll direction: natural (stupid)
- system preferences -> Sound -> Set to use “internal speakers” (weird, but it works)
- system preferences -> Energy Saver -> UNCHECK Wake for Ethernet network access
IMPORTANT:
- system preferences -> Energy Saver -> Computer sleep: NEVER
From my readings it seems like a lot of Hackintosh systems have the problem of wake-from-sleep, and my system is no different. Setting it to never sleep is an easy fix for me. I have always run my computer like this anyway, as I like to be able to SSH in remotely.
STABILITY ACHIEVED:
After it was running for a day, I turned it off and hooked up the HD and the DVD-ROM and that worked just fine.
I did this build at work, where I had easy access to lots of bandwidth. Once the mac was stable for several days, I took it home, where it is now my personal “do everything” computer. It’s seen daily use for 2+ weeks now with no hiccups.
I did discover that Migration assistant would not run for me. It turned out to be a good thing, as my home directory on my old mac was too large to fit on the internal SSD of the new hackintosh. I used rsync to copy the files to the external HD, and made a symlink to that from /Users/ and it’s been fine.
All other stuff I’ve tried just works: configured a printer, shared it, enabled ssh, enabled time machine on an external USB, installed some software, lots of usage of Chrome and iMovie.
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
NOW FOR THE UGLY DETAILS AND RELATED PROBLEMS….
- first time I did the install I had no network. Took a while to figure out the right multibeast settings for that through online searching.
- One confusion is that during the install, the network works. So there are more network settings in the unibeast Boot-USB-stick.
- Very quickly experienced it freezing after going to sleep - would have to hit the system hardware reset button.
- Tried a few options (the uncheck generate CPU states option, for instance)
That worked for a while
- Experiences irregular screen issues — lots of breaking up and vertical lines.
- Over and over - very frustrating.
- After a while gave up and tried a Clover install — nope, the screen went nuts only 1/3 of the way through the OS X boot. This might not have been a clover problem, read on.
- Went back to Uni/Multi-beast.
- I was using a DVI cable - tried plugging in an HDMI cable, and it locked the system.
Had to hit the reset button.
- later on, won’t wake again, get BIOS failure errors.
- after about 2-3 days of increasing instability the machine totally shut down - would not wake at all. Could not even get the Bios splash screen. Multiple resets. Tried different PSU, RAM, nothing.
BAD MOTHERBOARD
- sent it back for replacement under warrant.
SIDE NOTE:
- I mentioned before that I was doing this at work to take advantage of lots of bandwidth. (Yes, my boss was aware of this.)
- While I was waiting for the MDB replacement I happened to notice that some of our lab machines here had the exact same motherboard as I did. I pulled out one of the spare machines and plugged in my SSD. I booted into the bios and ONLY changed the “VT-d” setting — nothing else.
- it booted right up. And it was fine for a day. Left it the weekend and it was still fine.
- Note that this system was a version 1.0 Motherboard, with version F2 of the BIOS.
- It also had a different brand of RAM (only 8MB), and it had an i7 CPU — I forget the model, I think it was a 3.2 GHz or thereabouts.
- This system was amazingly stable.
REPLACEMENT MBD
- my MBD arrived and I put my PC back together
- booted into the BIOS and and the “VT-d” change
- Bad screen almost immediately.
- rebooted and Put in a lot more of the BIOS changes
- still had no-wake-from-sleep issues
- still would occasionally lock
Here was the kicker:
- reset this new board to :
- MIT -> Advanced Memory Settings -> XMP -> Auto
(note that this now shows my “system memory multiplier at 13.33 and memory frequency at 1333MHz — on the other board the ram shows as 16.00 and 1600MHz. However on the MIT Current Status page it shows my memory as 1600MHz. I don’t get that.)
After this I went to the “extra stability” settings:
MIT -> Advanced Memory Settings -> XMP -> Profile1
MIT -> Advance Memory Settings -> Memory Enhancement Setting -> “ENHANCED STABILITY”
- And the system was now stable.
UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS:
- is the G.SKILL ram the problem? (Sorry, I do not know the model of the RAM in my work PC. That PC has since been put back into service.)
- is the older F2 version of the BIOS better for a mackintosh?
- is it an issue with my Core i5 CPU versus the Core i7 CPU on the spare system?
- was it something else?
At this point, I did not care, as stability was achieved. Even if my RAM is a bit slow, this system is still MUCH faster than my mid-2009 iMac that it was replacing.
Net cost was around CDN$850 (I did not need to buy a case or the Western Digital
500GB HD) which is about HALF of what it would have cost me to buy a roughly comparable iMac from Apple.
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...reen-freezing-vertical-bands-ga-h97m-d3h.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...g-after-sleep-ga-h97m-d3h-i5-4690-hd4600.html )
Successful Hackintosh Build — 2015/Sep/29
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
Executive summary
1) It works, and it has been stable for 2+ weeks of daily use at home
2) I would NOT recommend this for a beginner
3) I would NOT recommend this as your “only” computer
4) Having a “real” mac nearby is a really good idea
5) This is the most important point: If I were to start over, I would ONLY build a hackintosh by using EXACTLY the same parts as someone has published in a DETAILED build guide.
6) Yes I am still happy with the system (so far). The cost was about CDN$ 850 which is HALF of what a comparable new iMac would have cost me.
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
Build Summary:
(Note I started over several times, and had more than a few headaches along the way. This is just a summary of the final steps that work. Details of my travails will be noted at the end)
Hardware:
- Gigabyte H97M-D3H mATX LGA1150 H97 motherboard (Revision 1.1 Motherboard, version F5 Bios)
- Intel Core i5 I5-4690 Haswell 3.5Ghz CPU
- G.Skill F3*12800CL10D*16GBXL Ripjaws X 16GB kit
- Corsair CS450M Modular 80 Plus 450W Power Supply
- Samsung 850 EVO MZ*75E250B/AM 250GB 2.5in SATA III Internal SSD
- generic ATX case
- Western Digital WD5000AAKX - 500GB, 16MB CACHE SATA DRIVE
OS: Yosemite 10.10.5
References:
- http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...-x-yosemite-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
- http://www.tonymacx86.com/yosemite-...i-using-hd4600-chimera-multibeast-method.html ==> Different MBD, but similar.
- http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-builds/135033-success-gigabyte-h97m-d3h-i7-4790-hd4600-2.html ==> about disabling turbo boost
CAUTION:
- I based my hardware decision mostly on the August version of the tonymacx86.com Buyers Guide; the CustoMac Budget ATX mostly
- As noted above I would not choose to buy this exact hardware again.
- I deviated in the choice of RAM from those noted, based on what was available locally. I did check the motherboard manufacturer’s website for their approved list of RAM.
- I would not use the Tonymac buyers guide for this. Instead, find a detailed SUCCESSFUL build from either the ******/r/hackintosh forum or from the tonymacx86 forum and copy their hardware list.
INSTALLATION:
- download Yosemite as per the tonymac guide
- Note that it automatically launches an installer; quit that.
- Make the Bootable USB drive, using UniBeast 5.2.0
- Copy Multibeast to the USB drive
- Build PC. Did NOT hook up the DVD-ROM or HDD at this point.
ONLY have the SSD hooked up.
- turn on PC and hit F2 to get into the BIOS:
- Save+Exit -> Load Optimized Defaults
- BIOS Features -> VT-d -> DISABLED
- BIOS Features -> Boot Mode Selection -> LEGACY ONLY
- Peripherals -> Initial Display Output -> IGFX
- Peripherals -> Intel Process Graphics -> Enabled (ALREADY SET THIS WAY)
- Peripherals -> XHCI Mode -> AUTO
- Peripherals -> EHCI hand-off -> ENABLED
- Peripherals -> Sata Configuration -> SATA Mode Selection -> AHCI (ALREADY SET)
- MIT -> Advanced Memory Settings -> XMP -> Profile1
- MIT -> Advance Memory Settings -> Memory Enhancement Setting -> “ENHANCED STABILITY”
YES, THIS IS A LOT OF BIOS SETTINGS.
NO, I DO NOT KNOW IF ALL OF THEM ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
I stopped trying different things once it was working.
Not entirely happy about the memory settings, as I wonder if it is slowing my machine down, but it was necessary to make it stable.
INSTALLATION CONTINUED…
- Plug in the boot USB and boot the machine, again referring to the tony mac unibeast/yosemite guide
- at the splash screen start typing and add “-v -x” boot flags
- OS-X install starts
- use disk utility to reformat/repartition the SSD drive
- After the install it reboots
- select Yosemite (the internal disk where you installed OS-X) but DO NOT HIT RETURN — type “-v -x” to set boot flags and then hit return
- MULTIBEAST settings:
- Quick Start -> DSDT Free
- Drivers -> Audio -> Realtek ALC892
- Drivers -> Disk -> Trim Enabler -> 10.10.3 Trim Patch
- Drivers -> Disk -> Intel Generic AHCI SATA
- Drivers -> Network -> RealtekRTL8111 v1.2.3
- Drivers -> Misc -> EvOreboot
- Drivers -> Misc -> USB 3.0 Universal
- Drivers -> Misc -> Fake SMC HW Monitor Application
- Drivers -> Misc -> Fake SMC Plugins v6.16.1372
- Customize -> Boot Options -> UNCHECK Generate SPU States
- Customice -> System Definitions -> iMac -> iMac 14,2
- Drivers -> Audio -> Realtek ALC892
- Drivers -> Disk -> Trim Enabler -> 10.10.3 Trim Patch
- Drivers -> Disk -> Intel Generic AHCI SATA
- Drivers -> Network -> RealtekRTL8111 v1.2.3
- Drivers -> Misc -> EvOreboot
- Drivers -> Misc -> USB 3.0 Universal
- Drivers -> Misc -> Fake SMC HW Monitor Application
- Drivers -> Misc -> Fake SMC Plugins v6.16.1372
- Customize -> Boot Options -> UNCHECK Generate SPU States
- Customice -> System Definitions -> iMac -> iMac 14,2
- Now Build
- Select Save, Save to Documents, Also save to the USB drive, for insurance
- Install
INSTALLATION CONTINUED - TESTING:
- boot + login
- system preferences -> Network -> verify it picked up DHCP
- system preferences -> Mouse -> UNCHECK scroll direction: natural (stupid)
- system preferences -> Sound -> Set to use “internal speakers” (weird, but it works)
- system preferences -> Energy Saver -> UNCHECK Wake for Ethernet network access
IMPORTANT:
- system preferences -> Energy Saver -> Computer sleep: NEVER
From my readings it seems like a lot of Hackintosh systems have the problem of wake-from-sleep, and my system is no different. Setting it to never sleep is an easy fix for me. I have always run my computer like this anyway, as I like to be able to SSH in remotely.
STABILITY ACHIEVED:
After it was running for a day, I turned it off and hooked up the HD and the DVD-ROM and that worked just fine.
I did this build at work, where I had easy access to lots of bandwidth. Once the mac was stable for several days, I took it home, where it is now my personal “do everything” computer. It’s seen daily use for 2+ weeks now with no hiccups.
I did discover that Migration assistant would not run for me. It turned out to be a good thing, as my home directory on my old mac was too large to fit on the internal SSD of the new hackintosh. I used rsync to copy the files to the external HD, and made a symlink to that from /Users/ and it’s been fine.
All other stuff I’ve tried just works: configured a printer, shared it, enabled ssh, enabled time machine on an external USB, installed some software, lots of usage of Chrome and iMovie.
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
NOW FOR THE UGLY DETAILS AND RELATED PROBLEMS….
- first time I did the install I had no network. Took a while to figure out the right multibeast settings for that through online searching.
- One confusion is that during the install, the network works. So there are more network settings in the unibeast Boot-USB-stick.
- Very quickly experienced it freezing after going to sleep - would have to hit the system hardware reset button.
- Tried a few options (the uncheck generate CPU states option, for instance)
That worked for a while
- Experiences irregular screen issues — lots of breaking up and vertical lines.
- Over and over - very frustrating.
- After a while gave up and tried a Clover install — nope, the screen went nuts only 1/3 of the way through the OS X boot. This might not have been a clover problem, read on.
- Went back to Uni/Multi-beast.
- I was using a DVI cable - tried plugging in an HDMI cable, and it locked the system.
Had to hit the reset button.
- later on, won’t wake again, get BIOS failure errors.
- after about 2-3 days of increasing instability the machine totally shut down - would not wake at all. Could not even get the Bios splash screen. Multiple resets. Tried different PSU, RAM, nothing.
BAD MOTHERBOARD
- sent it back for replacement under warrant.
SIDE NOTE:
- I mentioned before that I was doing this at work to take advantage of lots of bandwidth. (Yes, my boss was aware of this.)
- While I was waiting for the MDB replacement I happened to notice that some of our lab machines here had the exact same motherboard as I did. I pulled out one of the spare machines and plugged in my SSD. I booted into the bios and ONLY changed the “VT-d” setting — nothing else.
- it booted right up. And it was fine for a day. Left it the weekend and it was still fine.
- Note that this system was a version 1.0 Motherboard, with version F2 of the BIOS.
- It also had a different brand of RAM (only 8MB), and it had an i7 CPU — I forget the model, I think it was a 3.2 GHz or thereabouts.
- This system was amazingly stable.
REPLACEMENT MBD
- my MBD arrived and I put my PC back together
- booted into the BIOS and and the “VT-d” change
- Bad screen almost immediately.
- rebooted and Put in a lot more of the BIOS changes
- still had no-wake-from-sleep issues
- still would occasionally lock
Here was the kicker:
- reset this new board to :
- MIT -> Advanced Memory Settings -> XMP -> Auto
(note that this now shows my “system memory multiplier at 13.33 and memory frequency at 1333MHz — on the other board the ram shows as 16.00 and 1600MHz. However on the MIT Current Status page it shows my memory as 1600MHz. I don’t get that.)
After this I went to the “extra stability” settings:
MIT -> Advanced Memory Settings -> XMP -> Profile1
MIT -> Advance Memory Settings -> Memory Enhancement Setting -> “ENHANCED STABILITY”
- And the system was now stable.
UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS:
- is the G.SKILL ram the problem? (Sorry, I do not know the model of the RAM in my work PC. That PC has since been put back into service.)
- is the older F2 version of the BIOS better for a mackintosh?
- is it an issue with my Core i5 CPU versus the Core i7 CPU on the spare system?
- was it something else?
At this point, I did not care, as stability was achieved. Even if my RAM is a bit slow, this system is still MUCH faster than my mid-2009 iMac that it was replacing.
Net cost was around CDN$850 (I did not need to buy a case or the Western Digital
500GB HD) which is about HALF of what it would have cost me to buy a roughly comparable iMac from Apple.
========== ========== ========= ========== ========== ==========
