[Success] The Phantom Build i5 3570k - Gigabyte Z77-DS3H - Visiontek AMD Radeo 6870 1gb - 16gb Ram

[djsmootht]

[Success] The Phantom Build i5 3570k - Gigabyte Z77-DS3H - Visiontek AMD Radeon 6870 1gb - 16gb Ram

The Phantom Build: i5 3570K - Gigabyte Z77-DS3H Rev1.1 F9 - Visiontek AMD Radeon 6870

Components

CPU - Intel i5 3570K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

Mobo - Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H Rev 1.1 F9 BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547

CPU Cooler - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Case - NZXT Phantom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146087

Memory - Corsair Vengeance DDR3 16GB (8gb x 2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233218

Power Supply - Raidmax Blackstone RX-700AC 700W Modular
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152042

Graphics - Visiontek ATI 6870 1GB 256 Bit DDR5
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0048773MY/

SSD - Crucial V4 CT128V4SSD2 128GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148585

HDD - Western Digital 1TB Green
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136939

Mini PCI-E to PCI-E Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Q5N6QW/

Card Reader - Rosewill RCR-IC002 74-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223109

3.5" to 5.5" Mounting kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817990023

OS - Apple Mountain Lion 10.8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-mountain-lion/id537386512?ls=1&mt=12


Already Owne

Apple Airport card
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Airport-Extreme-Wireless-Upgrade/dp/B0012YYITW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1359659537&sr=8-4&keywords=apple+airport+card

USB Flash Drive - Sandisk 8gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171497

Apple USB Keyboard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DLDTAE/

Mouse - Logitech Wireless Mouse


Comments

This is my 2nd build with the Z77-DS3H, and it happens to be Rev 1.1 this time with the BIOS at F9. I liked this motherboard because sleep, audio, and network adapter works right out of the box, no DSDT required. I was originally using the HD4000 graphics but came across a deal on the Visiontek 6870 and was able to get it up and running 100% in Mountain Lion 10.8.2

Setting up the UniBeast Drive:
Part 1: Setting up the UniBeast Drive
1. Insert your UniBeast Flash Drive into a working Mac. Maybe your MacBook Pro, working Lion installation, etc. More info here : http://www.tonymacx86.com/61-unibeast-install-os-x-mountain-lion-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html
2. Run this command in terminal to unhide files "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1" (copy and paste that into terminal and hit enter)
3. Force Finder to quit. You can do this in activity monitor. It will automatically restart.
4. Open Finder and navigate to your UniBeast Drive
5. Navigate to System/Library/Extensions
6. MAKE A BACKUP OF the kext "ATI6000Controller.kext" and then DELETE it off the USB flash drive.

Part 2: Installation Process: (used onboard graphics DVI first to get everything loaded before installing 6870)
1. Check your Motherboard revision and download the latest drivers from Gigabytes website if needed. I didn't have to
2. BIOS setup, load optimized defaults, and then set SATA to run AHCI, set internal graphics to 64MB, saved and exit.
3. Plug in the flash drive in the back of the computer, make sure it's not a USB 3.0 port, fire it up and hit f12 for boot options, boot into your flash drive, and install Mountain Lion.
4. Once installed, reboot the system, boot into the Unibeast flash drive again, use GraphicsEnabler=No if needed at the Chimera screen before it boots by hitting any key on your keyboard. The command will have to be like this -GraphicsEnabler=No
5. Copy the ATI6000Controller.kext to your desktop, run KextBeast to install the kext. Power off and install the 6870 graphics card. Power up and disable your on board graphics in the Bios, set to Peg graphics as primary.
6. Reboot into Mountain Lion again with your UniBeast flash drive, run MultiBeast and check off the following items as pictured below.
7. Reboot again and you won't need your UniBeast flash drive anymore, download Chameleon Wizard from here: http://www.tonymacx86.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=10
8. You will need to check off the following to get the 6870 to show up properly in the About this Mac: Graphics Enabler=Yes, AtiConfig=Duckweed, AtiPorts=5. Save
9. Select the SMBios tab in the Chameleon Wizard and hit edit. Select the pre made SMBioses and select the iMac 12,2 and save. Reboot
10. Now you should be fully functional 100% into Mountain Lion with everything working.

Here's my org.chameleon.Boot.plist in root hard drive in Extras
<key>AtiConfig</key>
<string>Duckweed</string>
<key>AtiPorts</key>
<string>5</string>
<key>EthernetBuiltIn</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>GenerateCStates</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>GeneratePStates</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Kernel</key>
<string>mach_kernel</string>
<key>Legacy Logo</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Theme</key>
<string>LoginToLion</string>
<key>Timeout</key>
<string>2</string>
<key>UseKernelCache</key>
<string>Yes</string>

Graphics: AMD Radeon 6870 Working & dual monitor working. I don't have the space so I'm just using one.
Audio Rear: Working
Wired Network adapter: Working
Wireless Network: Working
Sleep & Wake: Working
USB 3.0 ports - Working USB 3.0 devices only

Geekbench score 11,072
Cinebench score open GL 46.56 fps

Additional resources
http://www.tonymacx86.com/mountain-...mountain-lion-6xxx-gpu-issues-fix-inside.html <--- AMD Radeon 6870
http://www.tonymacx86.com/mountain-lion-desktop-support/61216-10-8-how-enable-hd4000-17.html <--- HD4000 Graphics
http://www.tonymacx86.com/61-unibeast-install-os-x-mountain-lion-any-supported-intel-based-pc.html<--- UniBeast Setup
http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/download-center.aspx?kw=z77-ds3h<--- Gigabyte Motherboard Firmware updates

Updated to Sierra - see my comment on the 2nd page. Thanks

 

[HackintoshMan]

Looks nice. I love the case, if I build another computer, I would love to use that case.

One question though, do you know how to fix USB devices disconnecting after sleep?

 

[djsmootht]

Try this Disabling "CPU PLL Overvoltage" in UEFI....

 

[mr.s4ndm4n]

I've followed your guide to the 'T', but I'm unsure at which point you are switching the display from integrated graphics to the 6870 card?
When I get to the part of your guide to install my 6870 card, if I switch the display cable at that point, the system still wants to boot using the Integrated graphics. So the only way i can see OS X booting up is to use the IGP graphics. Any ideas?

 

[djsmootht]

You switch the graphics card after you install the ati6000 kext after the install.
Shut down, go into bios, set primary graphics to PEG and disable your integrated graphics. Try booting with GraphicsEnabler=Yes if you are familiar on how to load it, if not then you can do it in multibeast after you boot up. If you have any questions feel free to email me at [email protected]
Last thing, make sure youre using hdmi or dvi on your monitor.
Thanks

 

[mr.s4ndm4n]

Okay, cool, I'll give this a shot tonight after work. Really appreciate the quick response, and the guide was helpful as well!

 

[djsmootht]

So what are your results? Success?

 

[aaron97]

Are you running your cpu overclocked at all?

 

[djsmootht]

Are you running your cpu overclocked at all?

Running at stock speed

 

[aaron97]

Running at stock speed

Thanks, Thats a good geekbench score then. Did using imac system definition help raise it at all compared to mac pro 3,1?