- Joined
- Feb 25, 2012
- Messages
- 310
- Motherboard
- GA-Z370N-WIFI
- CPU
- i5-8600K
- Graphics
- RX 460
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
Mini-ITX VESA Mount iMac<->Mac mini transformer Build:
Core i5-7600K - GA-H170N-WIFI - 32GB RAM - HD 630/GT 1030
Core i5-7600K - GA-H170N-WIFI - 32GB RAM - HD 630/GT 1030
Contents
Components
Comments
Summary
Benchmarks
Components
PowerCool S103-mini BK Case 200W VESA Mount (not sure if you can get it outside of Russia, but it's very similar to CiT MTX-007B, except that MTX-007B doesn't have built in WiFi adapter, but should have a hole for WiFi antenna)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I9XP5L4/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015CQ8D9Q/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
(4K build) Delock 62848 Flexible M.2 key A/E -> Mini PCIe adapter
https://www.ebay.com/itm/401444481224
(4K build) MSI Graphic Cards GT 1030 2G LP OC (Energy consumption is just 30W)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071L4VKF6/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
(4K build) PCIE Micro PCI Express 16X Riser Card Flexible Cable Extension Cable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D79EV0G/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Intel i5-7600K Processor (Scalped, and 5Ghz overclocked)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRRPPQS/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
DEEPCOOL Theta 9 CPU Cooler (ordered Noctua NH-L9I cooler)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009VCAJ7W/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Kingston ValueRam DDR4 2x16Gb 2133MHz Memory (currently 2500 MHz overclocked, ordered G.SKILL Ripjaws 3200 Mhz)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171GQXME/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Samsung Evo 960 250GB NVMe SSD (System)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYFKX41/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
http://www.osxwifi.com/apple-broadc...-bluetooth-4-0-with-adapter-for-pc-hackintosh
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA90538C0257
BCM94360CS2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SNL3RPI/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
M.2 adapter
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHRJVXW/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Apple Wireless Keyboard
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ARALTGW/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Apple Magic Trackpad
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XLYAWC/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Henge Docks Clique Keyboard + Trackpad Dock
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006T3RM08/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
EarPods adapter: UGREEN 3.5mm Female to 2 Dual 3.5mm Male Headphone Mic Audio Y Splitter
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y4663GG/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Time Machine SSD: Lite-On 256GB M.2 SSD SATA (cheapest I could find at eBay) + NVME PCIe x16 adapter to free M.2 port
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0762JRDG3/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
(FullHD build) Dell E2214H Monitor with VESA Mount
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FE8MKT2/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
(4K build) LG 27UD58-B Monitor with VESA Mount
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IRQAYPE/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
UPS Server Y Splitter C14 to 2 x C13 Power Extension Cable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G1JMFZQ/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
C14 to C5 1ft Power Plug cable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077JWVX6P/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M2YT96/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Xiaomi Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker with Subwoofer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GAZF03U/?tag=tonymacx86com-20
Comments
I wanted a system that
- Uses Apple original WiFi/BT card (so that you can use wireless keyboard in clover and can have it working on kextless system) with Mini-ITX case/motherboard
- Uses Mini-ITX case with VESA mounts (so that I can use it as an iMac at home, but make it nearly as compact as Mac mini when traveling)
- If possible, uses case with built in PSU, so that I don't have to carry a power brick for picoPSU
Hardware Installation
- In order to get Kaby Lake compatibility from GA-H170N-WIFI or Z170i Pro Gaming, I had to update them with latest BIOS
- VESA mount screws were too short for Dell E2214H, so I had to buy longer ones (two M4x20 and two M4x12), that wasn't the problem with LG 27UD58-B though
- With Dell E2214H, I had to get rid of monitor stand, since behind the monitor, there is no enough space for both stand and the case, and that wasn't the problem with LG 27UD58-B either
- BCM94360CD (like most Apple BT/WiFi combo cards) uses U.FL antenna connectors, and PC uses MHF4, so I had to replace motherboard connectors with one that came with adapter I got from osxwifi. Replacing process appeared to be much easier than I expected - you can just unscrew wrong ones (bit more complicated with Z170i Pro Gaming, since it has a case for WiFi card)
- BCM94360CD is too tall even for 10cm height case, but with gigabyte motherboards you can use extra space case offers for cooler. Just be careful when closing the case and to avoid more pressure from case lid than necessary, mount antenna cables directing them to the bottom. With Z170i Pro Gaming, I had to use flexible adapter (see 4K build photos)
Software Installation
For installation I've used El Capitan on the Skylake H170N-WIFI guide with a few minor adjustments.
I've made Clover folder available on GitHub (Nvidia branch for 4K build) if you want to skip details and just get it working.
- I did install High Sierra instead of El Capitan, to get native support for Evo 960 NVME
- In order to get HD630 working I had to use SMBIOS: iMac18,3, ig-platform-id: 0x19120000, Fake ID -> IntelGFX: 0x19168086, FakeCPUID: 0x0506E3
- On 4K build, to get rid of screen flickering I had to use SMBIOS iMac17,1
- To prevent GA-H170N-WIFI DVI port giving black screen on boot I had to add following patch to clover
Find/Replace values for Clover Configurator are 01030303/01030403. These are subject for discussion (pattern triggers more code updates then necessary), but it does the job for me.Code:
<dict> <key>Comment</key> <string>10.11-SKL-1912000-4_displays</string> <key>Disabled</key> <false/> <key>Find</key> <data> AQMDAw== </data> <key>Name</key> <string>AppleIntelSKLGraphicsFramebuffer</string> <key>Replace</key> <data> AQMEAw== </data> </dict> - To prevent Z170i Pro Gaming DisplayPort giving black screen on boot I had to add following patch to clover (only works on Sierra and High Sierra)
Find/Replace values for Clover Configurator are <ff000000 01000000 20000000 01050900 00040000 87010000 02040a00 00040000 87010000 03060a00 00040000 87010000>/<01050900 00040000 87010000 02040a00 00040000 87010000 03060a00 00040000 87010000 ff000000 01000000 20000000>.Code:
<dict> <key>Comment</key> <string>0x19120000 three DP, credit RehabMan</string> <key>Disabled</key> <false/> <key>Find</key> <data> /wAAAAEAAAAgAAAAAQUJAAAEAACHAQAAAgQKAAAEAACH AQAAAwYKAAAEAACHAQAA </data> <key>Name</key> <string>AppleIntelSKLGraphicsFramebuffer</string> <key>Replace</key> <data> AQUJAAAEAACHAQAAAgQKAAAEAACHAQAAAwYKAAAEAACH AQAA/wAAAAEAAAAgAAAA </data> </dict> - to get iMessage working I had to enable NVRAM emulator (by ticking EmuVariableUefi-64 and "Install RC scripts on target volume" when installing Clover)
- For audio I am using AppleALC, with Audio Inject = 1 in Clover (Requires Clover "Rename HDAS to HDEF" DSDT patch and UseIntelHDMI enabled)
- To get hibernate working I had to ensure nvram emulation is working (when it wasn't hibernation destroyed my drive) and to install HibernationFixup.kext
- To get h265 hardware decoding working on Nvidia I had to install Shiki.kext and add shikigva as a boot parameter
- To get Nvidia temperature sensor working I had to patch GPUSensors.kext
- To get CodecCommander.kext working from Clover I had to use Rehabman's build and patch it
- I use El Capitan Clover theme, because I really like how it looks. In order to have High Sierra icon showing, I had to find it somewhere on the google and save as os_hsierra.icns at CLOVER/themes/El Capitan/icons
Summary
- Still waiting for some components (like short power/monitor cords) to arrive
- Going to try other Apple BT/WiFi combo cards (shorter in height and with just 2 antennas instead of 4)
- Going to update it with GA-Z170N-WIFI/GA-Z270N-WIFI to unleash overclocking potential (already got 19 950 Geekbench with Asus Z170i Pro Gaming, but had to drop it in favour of using Apple BT/WiFi combo card) and eventually with Z370/Coffee Lake CPU, to get even more performance and sleep working
- Thinking about using Thin Mini-ITX motherboards with even smaller/lighter DNK-H case and/or monoblock chassis like Loop LP-2150 but fitting Apple BT/WiFi combo there will be much more complicated (still can be done, already found flexible adapter for it)
- Even at this stage, can't express how I am enjoying with what I've already built
What Works
- Bluetooth Keyboard and Trackpad in BIOS/Clover
- AirDrop, Handoff, Continuity
- Video acceleration (including hardware h265 decoding with CPU usage below 5%)
- Gbit Ethernet
- 802.11ac
MIMO (4 antennas) - Single power cord for both monitor and case, like with iMac
- EarPods with noise cancellation on microphone
- Outstanding FullHD C910 video quality on FaceTime/Skype calls
- No kexts in S/L/E or S/E, allowing reinstalling OSX with minimum effort
- Hibernation
- On 4K build 2160p@60Hz, 1080p@60Hz HiDPI, 1440p@60Hz HiDPI over DisplayPort
- On 4K build Sleep and Hybrid Sleep (instant wake if no power loss occurred, or resume from hibernate image on power loss)
What Does Not Work
- EarPods microphone volume is not as loud as when used on Apple Devices, you'll have to hold it near your mouth so that recorded sound is laud and clear. That might be not an issue for Skype/FaceTime since it looks like they are applying sound volume normalisation before transmitting the sound (needs more testing)
- on FullHD build sleep is not working (unless you get GT 1030, or GT 710, but since hibernate works, that would be overkill)
- Case can not handle heat of both CPU and GPU, so under stress load (which generally never happens) I have to open the lid
- HDMI is often loosing monitor signal after resolution change or display wake (mostly on 4K or HiDPI resolutions), DisplayPort works fine though.
Benchmarks
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