The Dell OptiMac Big Sur/OpenCore Thread - For 7020/9020 Optiplex Desktops

[nicksoph]

Looking at the Mac models that will be able to run Monterey, it shows

• Mac mini Late 2014 and later
  • Model Identifier: Macmini7,1

in the list, I think it looks the closest to the hardware for the Dell 7020, has anyone ever set one of these up and tried to use the 7,1 System definitions?

 

[Bresjee99]

As a long time lurker:

Yesterday I found this https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-12-monterey-on-unsupported-macs-thread.2299557/ maybe this gives us an opportunity to keep these machines running as iMac 15,1. That seems to be most compatible SMBIOS. They've also confirmed that the support for Intel HD4600 is still in Monterey.

The piece of software is from the same creators as OpenCore.

I also have a 2014 MacBook Pro, I'm happy that machine can run Monterey with this software. In the past I've prolonged the lifespan of my 2010 white MacBook up to Catalina (still going strong btw) with the DosDude patchers.

 

[trs96]

I think it looks the closest to the hardware for the Dell 7020, has anyone ever set one of these up and tried to use the 7,1 System definitions?

It's not the best match as those Mac minis use a very low power (ULT) Haswell dual core laptop CPU and Iris 5100 graphics. It may "work" for those using only HD4600 graphics but it's not the optimal solution for full CPU performance or function of all the USB ports. Two very important matters. The 2014 minis use an Intel laptop chipset the iMac 2014 uses an Intel desktop chipset very similar to if not the same as the Q87 used by the Dell in the 7020/9020. You can't really do any better than iMac 15,1. I have a 7020 with an i5-4690 as was the exact same CPU used in the base model 15,1. Performance is really smooth and responsive.

Intel Core i5 Haswell laptop CPU:

This model is powered by a 22 nm, 64-bit "Fourth Generation" Intel Mobile Core i5 "Haswell ULT" (I5-4278U) processor which includes two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 3 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel).

Here's a spec by spec comparison of the standard Mac mini 7,1 laptop i5 vs. an i5-4670 that you'd find in a 7020.

I have no problem with continuing to use either Catalina or Big Sur for the longer term. Monterey adds some neat features that I can admit are appealing but I can easily live without them for now.

 

[trs96]

maybe this gives us an opportunity to keep these machines running as iMac 15,1. That seems to be most compatible SMBIOS. They've also confirmed that the support for Intel HD4600 is still in Monterey.

OLP is not intended for use with a hackintosh, just "real" Macs. Root volume patching isn't supported on hackintoshes at this time. There may be much simpler ways to keep using 15,1 and I'm looking into the options. That being said, I'm in no hurry to upgrade to Monterey any time this year.

 

[Bresjee99]

Okay, I understand, but I think it's fun to check what possibilities we may have.

I'm not an early adopter myself, still rocking Catalina on the OptiMac and Big Sur on the Macbook. But it's good to know HD4600 support is still available. I'm sure when time is ready and Monterey is stable enough you'll figure something out!

I'm sure we don't have to throw away our precious Opti's yet!

 

[nicksoph]

It's not the best match ..

Not for Big Sur but 7,1 might be best chance of getting it working with Monterey. Are we already using the settings for the 5100 GPU and likely to need USB and and CPU and changes from the current settings but 15,1 sys defs are almost certainly not going to work on Monterey.

 

[trs96]

but 15,1 sys defs are almost certainly not going to work on Monterey.

It is possible that it will work with the Monterey Dev beta but as you know that is still under NDA, we can't discuss that here. Not until public beta is released.

 

[Sniper257]

Can anyone help me get Sleep/Wake working on my 9020? Feel like I've tried everything short of buying new DP cables. It worked exactly once, after I disabled legacy boot roms and flashed my GPU with a UEFI-capable boot rom. Next reboot, back to no signal to displays after wake. What I've tried: Reset NVRAM, BIOS defaults, Auto/dGPU Main in BIOS, new RTC battery, unplug and replug DP->HDMI cable after wake... all to no avail. Here's my EFI if it's of any help. Thanks in advance for any assistance!

 

[trs96]

Feel like I've tried everything short of buying new DP cables. It worked exactly once, after I disabled legacy boot roms and flashed my GPU with a UEFI-capable boot rom. Next reboot, back to no signal to displays after wake.

Welcome to the club. I've not gotten wake from sleep to work when the RX 570 is installed. It works with Nvidia cards and HD4600 igfx but not AMD cards. One person claimed they got it to work when using iMac 19,1 SMBIOS but I've never tried using that as I want 15,1 instead.

 

[Sniper257]

Welcome to the club. I've not gotten wake from sleep to work when the RX 570 is installed. It works with Nvidia cards and HD4600 igfx but not AMD cards. One person claimed they got it to work when using iMac 19,1 SMBIOS but I've never tried using that as I want 15,1 instead.

Ah dang I guess I should have RTFM. Super frustrating since it worked just fine on my Optiplex 970 I'm upgrading from. Thanks anyway, I'm gonna keep messing around with it and if I find something that works I'll report back. Unrelated side note, the Fenvi BCM94360CD PCIe adapter works flawlessly connected to the internal header for WiFi and Bluetooth. Using a Magic Keyboard and it even works in the BIOS! Don't have any devices to try handoff though unfortunately.