Hackintosh setup based on i7-8700 | Gigabyte Z370N | RX560 | 16GB RAM
This is a beginner guide to make a Hackintosh based on GIGABYTE Z370N WIFI motherboard. It focused on post-install setup. If you don't know how to make a bootable macOS Mojave flash drive and install the macOS Mojave, google it. There is a lot of detail instruction on YouTube.
Current guide optimised for:
- macOS Mojave 10.14.5
- F10 BIOS for z370n (F10 works OOB, for F12 read this post)
- FileVault 2 encryption
- AMD RX560/RX570/RX580/RX5900 graphics (if you are going to use iGPU, read this thread)
I tried to make this guide as simple as possible. Some parts are still a little bit techy, but I'm going to rewrite them soon.
If you have troubles during migrating to my EFI and settings, please attach «problem reporting» files to your post. The easiest way is to install and run this script.
G.SKILL 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3200MHz.
250GB Samsung 970 EVO M.2. I'm using two of this disk: one for macOS and one for Windows 10 (gaming).
250GB SanDisk Ultra II SATA III 2.5-Inch. I'm using this disk for a bootable clone of macOS Mojave.
Noctua NH-L9I. Great low profile cooler that fits my SFF case.
WiFi adapter from MacBook Air (BCM94360CS2). Before that, I've tried BCM943602BAED and BCM94352Z. Both of this cards require some kexts to work in macOS, and they will not let your BT keyboard work in BIOS and Clover.
Flex 4.5L case and SeaSonic 300W 80+ Gold PSU. This is the custom made SFF case that comes with moded server PSU.
Actually, Hackintosh can boot even with default BIOS setting. But I made some additional changes:
- Peripherals ▸ Initial Display Output = PCIe 1 Slot
- Chipset ▸ Wake on LAN Enable = Disabled
Fast boot, Vt-d and other options that usually recommended to disable not affect my system.
I have a few DSDT patches, darkwake=2, tweaks for Power Management and Hardware Acceleration with iGPU. SMBIOS is iMac19,1.
I've managed to figure out about all Config.plist settings and I keep them as minimal as possible. The same with drivers64UEFI folder and all efi's.
MSI RX560 Aero working great with WhateverGreen.kext. iGPU for hardware acceleration working great too. I applied a few patches in config.plist and turned iGPU on in BIOS.
- Сhipset ▸ Internal Graphics = Enabled
- Сhipset ▸ DVMT Pre-Allocated = 128MB
- Сhipset ▸ DVMT Total Gfx Mem = 128MB
How to test Hardware Acceleratio.
Works great with AppleALC.kext and some necessary tweaks in config.plist.
Left LAN port works smoothly with IntelMausiEthernet.kext. For right LAN you will need SmallTree-Intel-211-AT-PCIe-GBE.kext.
BT and WiFi work without any kexts. All related futures work too: unlock with Apple Watch, Connectivity, Hands-off, Airdrop, iMessege etc. Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad work in Clover, BIOS and during FileVault login.
Here are the BCM94360CS2 WiFi/BT drivers for Windows.
The only problem is that MacBook Air card doesn't fit the standard metal case on the motherboard. So I just removed this case. Also with included internal antennas, I have a weak BT signal. I ordered two external antennas, hope they will fix my problem.
UPD: Actually it should fit the standard case, so you can use it to hold the card in place. Build in antenna connectors should work too.
Sleep and wake work with darkwake=2. Here is my actual pmset info:
To see your pmset parametrs:
pmset -g
To disable any parametr:
sudo pmset parametr_name 0
To match my config you need to:
sudo pmset standby 0
sudo pmset womp 0
sudo pmset proximitywake 0
sudo pmset powernap 0
sudo pmset disksleep 0
sudo pmset sleep 10
sudo pmset autopoweroff 0
If you want to restore defoult parametrs, go to:
/Library/Preferences
and delete all the com.apple.PowerManagement.* files.
USB ports configured with Hackintool. it is a simpler way to configure USB than RehabMan's custom SSDT. Especially for beginners.
Hackintool generates 3 files: SSDT-EC.aml, SSDT-UIAC.aml, SSDT-USBX.aml.
- USBInjectAll.kext goes to /Library/Extensions/
- SSDT-EC.aml, SSDT-UIAC.aml, SSDT-USBX.aml to /EFI/ACPI/patched/
Be aware, that I made my config only for motherboards USB. It will not work with front USB on your case. If you use a front panel USB or connect anything to internal USB-port on the motherboard, you should make all files by ourself. You cand find all instruction in Hackintool (USB tab).
This method provides full USB power for my devices. I tried to charge my iPad Pro, and amperemeter shows that iPad now draws 1.6A. Before it was 500 mAh max. No additional kexts and config needed.
I have 3 internal drives: System, Clone and Windows. Clover boot screen is a bit messy because of that. So I made FileVault compatible Custom boot entries to have only 3 icons. Other boot options are Hide. I can access them with F3 button.
You should reconfigure this Custom boot entries all just remove all of them.
Also, my system automatically boots to macOS. If you want the same behaviour, you should change my disk UUID to yours.
CPU is delidded and undervolted to 1.135V. I used 3D printed tool and Thermal Grizzly liquid metal.
The result is excellent: 34–37°C in idle and 66–69°C in the Blender Benchmark or Prime95 (24°C ambient). Before it easily hit 90+°C with my cooler.
Everything: WiFi, BT, LAN, Audio, iMessage, Wake & Sleep, Universal Clipboard, USB 3, USB-C, DP-audio, Hands-off, AirDrop, Hardware Acceleration, Shutdown, Unlock with Apple Watch, you name it.
- PowerNap is turned off, so no apps update during sleep. Maybe it works, I just not tested it.
- If I enable XMP profile in BIOS for automatic RAM overclock or overclock RAM manually, I have a warning «Disk not ejected properly». after waking from sleep. You need to reconnect external drives to make it work again. It can be critical for people who use external drives on a daily basis. There is three solution for that:
- Prevent sleep with free Amphetamine app. I like it because it let monitor fall asleep and/or enable screensaver. It’s crucial if you want your Hackintosh to lock automatically.
- Disable XMP. Fixes the problem entirely, but harms general performance.
- Use Jettison app that unmount drives before sleep. I don’t test it personally.