2137 replies to this topic

[jeopardise]

I recently swapped my MSI P43-C51 (Intel P43) chipset that runs SL 10.6.5 gracefully with a high-end Dell XPS730 Nforce 790i Ultra SLI motherboard (refurbished).

I am using the iATKOS S3 Version 2 Snow Leopard 10.6.3 Install DVD.

I encountered many problems to do a fresh install and the main problem is I can't enable HPET because there is no option to enable/disable in bios. Everytime I boot in 32-bit, safe mode, cpus=1 and maxmem=2048, I will get KP with ElliottForceLegacyRTC.kext

I haven't tried with vanilla install yet and will try it soon. So as preparation I've studied this thread from the very first page.

Luckily I haven't deleted the working installation with my MSI P43-C51 and I've deleted the ElliottForceLegacyRTC.kext and placed AppleNforce.kext, AppleNForceATATest nForce Drivers into /Extra . Booted with <key>arch</key>    <string>i386</string> in boot.apple.plist and voila! everything works just like before except for GTX285.

I connected the Snow Leopard harddisk to e-SATA port with AHCI and it is more stable than using NforceATA ports.

Audio works (ALC888 using VoodooHDA)
USB works (faster detection than MSI P43)
e-SATA works (faster detection than MSI P43)
Firewire disabled (caused error but no KP).
GTX285 revived after injecting the bios rom with Chameleon control panel. OpenGL and OpenCL works just like before.
DDR3-1333 detected as DDR2-800 but that's not much the issue for me
Intel Q6600 using 4 enabled cores (detected as Intel Xeon)
Sleep didn't tried it yet - not important
Shutdown works and swift.

I got freezing without KP when I tried to access NTFS and Spotlight might has caused the problem. See if I can follow the solution as described above

Already back up the current working partition. Now to see what else it can't do

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 12 2010, 03:52 AM, said:

I recently swapped my MSI P43-C51 (Intel P43) chipset that runs SL 10.6.5 gracefully with a high-end Dell XPS730 Nforce 790i Ultra SLI motherboard (refurbished).

I am using the iATKOS S3 Version 2 Snow Leopard 10.6.3 Install DVD.

I encountered many problems to do a fresh install and the main problem is I can't enable HPET because there is no option to enable/disable in bios. Everytime I boot in 32-bit, safe mode, cpus=1 and maxmem=2048, I will get KP with ElliottForceLegacyRTC.kext

I haven't tried with vanilla install yet and will try it soon. So as preparation I've studied this thread from the very first page.

Luckily I haven't deleted the working installation with my MSI P43-C51 and I've deleted the ElliottForceLegacyRTC.kext and placed AppleNforce.kext, AppleNForceATATest nForce Drivers into /Extra . Booted with <key>arch</key>    <string>i386</string> in boot.apple.plist and voila! everything works just like before except for GTX285.

I connected the Snow Leopard harddisk to e-SATA port with AHCI and it is more stable than using NforceATA ports.

Audio works (ALC888 using VoodooHDA)
USB works (faster detection than MSI P43)
e-SATA works (faster detection than MSI P43)
Firewire disabled (caused error but no KP).
GTX285 revived after injecting the bios rom with Chameleon control panel. OpenGL and OpenCL works just like before.
DDR3-1333 detected as DDR2-800 but that's not much the issue for me
Intel Q6600 using 4 enabled cores (detected as Intel Xeon)
Sleep didn't tried it yet - not important
Shutdown works and swift.

I got freezing without KP when I tried to access NTFS and Spotlight might has caused the problem. See if I can follow the solution as described above

Already back up the current working partition. Now to see what else it can't do

Glad the guide helped you..........

I assume you are now using a RTC patched DSDT to fix the CMOS reset issue?

Sleep is unlikely to work as the SleepEnabler.kext causes a KP..........

[jeopardise]

verdant, on Dec 12 2010, 06:47 PM, said:

Glad the guide helped you..........

I assume you are now using a RTC patched DSDT to fix the CMOS reset issue?

Sleep is unlikely to work as the SleepEnabler.kext causes a KP..........

Yes . In the future I want to test dual GPU (perhaps a GTX460 sitting next to GTX285).

The BIOS setting is just funny. Looks like HPET is enabled by default after I checked Nvidia performance setting in the Nvidia ESA interface.

Because the motherboard's ATA isn't true AHCI, it seems like I can't set Privacy setting in the Spotlight configuration. I've used terminal command to disable it, but only affect harddisk connected to the Jmicron e-Sata ports.

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 12 2010, 02:52 PM, said:

Yes . In the future I want to test dual GPU (perhaps a GTX460 sitting next to GTX285).

The BIOS setting is just funny. Looks like HPET is enabled by default after I checked Nvidia performance setting in the Nvidia ESA interface.

Because the motherboard's ATA isn't true AHCI, it seems like I can't set Privacy setting in the Spotlight configuration. I've used terminal command to disable it, but only affect harddisk connected to the Jmicron e-Sata ports.

Invariably on nForce MOBOs with a BIOS that does not have an explicit SATA Controller Mode with an AHCI mode setting, enabling RAID but disabling each SATA RAID channel in BIOS (assuming that you are not using a RAID setup) implicitly enables AHCI mode........

See the 790i BIOS OS X BIOS settings.......downloadable template link is post#1..........

[appplepie]

verdant i need your help.

specs nforce 750i, core 2 duo, 4gb ram, 9800 gt nvdia card

I used your boot 132 cd method to install snow leopard successfully, booted into snow leopard and installed 3 kexts, voodhoohda, nvkush, and nforcelan. The only thing that doesn't work are my external usb storage drives. I launched auto update for snow leopard and rebooted the computer. in the prompt i typed -v -f to boot and i get a blank screen, i boooted with -x and I can see the login screen but my mouse and keyboard don't work, help please.

[verdant]

appplepie, on Dec 12 2010, 09:26 PM, said:

verdant i need your help.

specs nforce 750i, core 2 duo, 4gb ram, 9800 gt nvdia card

I used your boot 132 cd method to install snow leopard successfully, booted into snow leopard and installed 3 kexts, voodhoohda, nvkush, and nforcelan. The only thing that doesn't work are my external usb storage drives. I launched auto update for snow leopard and rebooted the computer. in the prompt i typed -v -f to boot and i get a blank screen, i boooted with -x and I can see the login screen but my mouse and keyboard don't work, help please.

When updating to 10.6.5, loss of audio and USB functionality seem to be the main issues.........fortunately, both are fixable by rolling back to pre-10.6.5 AppleHDA and IOUSBFamily and IOUSBMassStorageClass kexts in my case........i.e. back to 10.6.2 AppleHDA.kext and the 10.6.4 IOUSBFamily and IOUSBMassStorageClass kexts........

Have you re-run NVkush installer after updating to 10.6.5? If that does not work, see post #1 for nVidia graphics card "driver" options..........

[appplepie]

verdant, on Dec 12 2010, 10:33 PM, said:

When updating to 10.6.5, loss of audio and USB functionality seem to be the main issues.........fortunately, both are fixable by rolling back to pre-10.6.5 AppleHDA and IOUSBFamily and IOUSBMassStorageClass kexts in my case........i.e. back to 10.6.2 AppleHDA.kext and the 10.6.4 IOUSBFamily and IOUSBMassStorageClass kexts........

Have you re-run NVkush installer after updating to 10.6.5? If that does not work, see post #1 for nVidia graphics card "driver" options..........

okay cool so how do i install the kext if i can't access the computer because the mouse and keyboard freezes.

[verdant]

appplepie, on Dec 12 2010, 10:34 PM, said:

okay cool so how do i install the kext if i can't access the computer because the mouse and keyboard freezes.

Via Windows and TransMac is an easy way if you do not have a backup pre-10.6.5 OS X system on the PC.............

[appplepie]

verdant, on Dec 12 2010, 11:51 PM, said:

Via Windows and TransMac is an easy way if you do not have a backup pre-10.6.5 OS X system on the PC.............

wait i dont understand? i already have the kexts backed up on my email. snow leopard is the only operating system on my computer

[verdant]

appplepie, on Dec 12 2010, 11:01 PM, said:

wait i dont understand? i already have the kexts backed up on my email. snow leopard is the only operating system on my computer

Then boot from an OS X install distro and use the Terminal to replace the 10.6.5 kexts with the backed up kexts on your OS X HDD..............

[jeopardise]

verdant, on Dec 13 2010, 02:31 AM, said:

Invariably on nForce MOBOs with a BIOS that does not have an explicit SATA Controller Mode with an AHCI mode setting, enabling RAID but disabling each SATA RAID channel in BIOS (assuming that you are not using a RAID setup) implicitly enables AHCI mode........

See the 790i BIOS OS X BIOS settings.......downloadable template link is post#1..........

Thanks for the reply.

I have referred the 790i OSX BIOS setting in the post#1.

I've seen in my BIOS that

Quote

MCP->E-SATA configuration can be configured SATA mode -> E-SATA

Haven't tried to set RAID mode enabled to each MCP SATA ports (disabled by default).

Perhaps with RAID enabled and MCP configured as E-SATA, can enable AHCI (implicitly). Will try tonight, and update here of course!

If it works, most probably Windows 7 installation won't boot in AHCI and needs reinstall.

Now with iStat, I can monitor my Geforce GTX285 temperature. On intel P43, besides CPU cores, only GPU's fps, used ram and % load can be monitored. However, "Unknown Nvidia graphic card" looks ugly.

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 13 2010, 09:14 AM, said:

Thanks for the reply.

I have referred the 790i OSX BIOS setting in the post#1.

I've seen in my BIOS that



Haven't tried to set RAID mode enabled to each MCP SATA ports (disabled by default).

Perhaps with RAID enabled and MCP configured as E-SATA, can enable AHCI (implicitly). Will try tonight, and update here of course!

If it works, most probably Windows 7 installation won't boot in AHCI and needs reinstall.

Now with iStat, I can monitor my Geforce GTX285 temperature. On intel P43, besides CPU cores, only GPU's fps, used ram and % load can be monitored. However, "Unknown Nvidia graphic card" looks ugly.

Re Windows 7 and AHCI mode, see here.........hopefully re-installation not required..........

[jeopardise]

Thanks. that's awesome info.

I enabled RAID and E-SATA for MCP controller and caused the drives connected to the MCP undetected in Windows. However they all appear in Snow Leopard and much more responsive to access files in NTFS partitions

Based on System profiler they aren't AHCI supporting.

As long as I didn't do extensive access to NTFS drives, it'll be OK.

 Screen_shot_2010_12_13_at_8.26.44_AM.png   1.62MB   12 downloads

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 13 2010, 02:24 PM, said:

Thanks. that's awesome info.

I enabled RAID and E-SATA for MCP controller and caused the drives connected to the MCP undetected in Windows. However they all appear in Snow Leopard and much more responsive to access files in NTFS partitions

Based on System profiler they aren't AHCI supporting.

As long as I didn't do extensive access to NTFS drives, it'll be OK.

Screen_s...26.44_AM.png

What SATA/PATA i.e ATA kexts are you using in /Extra and /S/L/E.....?

[jeopardise]

I am using MeDevil's  AppleNForceATA.kext from topic http://www.insanelym...showtopic=77071

In /Extra/Extensions i have

Quote

Disabler.kext
EvOreboot.kext
fakesmc.kext
IOUSBFamily.kext
IOUSBMassStorageClass.kext
JMicronATA2.kext <-- from iATKOS S3 v2 distro
AppleNForceATA.kext <-- MeDevil kext
NVEnabler64.kext
VoodooMonitor.kext (for monitoring cpu etc)

I didn't throw anything yet into /S/L/E except

Quote

IOUSBFamily.kext
IOUSBMassStorageClass.kext

I am playing around with some other kext for nForce and the jMicron 36x AHCI chipset.

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 14 2010, 02:20 PM, said:

I am using MeDevil's  AppleNForceATA.kext from topic http://www.insanelym...showtopic=77071

In /Extra/Extensions i have



I didn't throw anything yet into /S/L/E except




I am playing around with some other kext for nForce and the jMicron 36x AHCI chipset.

Thats fine.........keep /S/L/E/ as vanilla as possible...........suggest you use the AnV variant of slashack's AppleNForceATA.kext for 32bit mode, or for 64bit mode, use imk's 64bit version of AnV's variant of slashack's AppleNForceATA.kext for 32bit mode.....see Part K. in post #1.....

[jeopardise]

verdant, on Dec 14 2010, 10:43 PM, said:

Thats
fine.........keep /S/L/E/ as vanilla as possible...........suggest you
use the AnV variant of slashack's AppleNForceATA.kext for 32bit mode, or
for 64bit mode, use imk's 64bit version of AnV's variant of slashack's
AppleNForceATA.kext for 32bit mode.....see Part K. in post #1.....

Hello, thanks for your prompt reply.

I've tested almost all Nforce kexts just to find out which one is best for my PC *ehem* iHack for testing and points out any details for other people's reference.

So I have tried

1. SuperNForceATA (from other site) : long boot and most of the time failed to access or detect nForce NTFS harddisks. Shutdown sometimes fails. Slow HDD/USB transfer
2. slashack's AppleNForceATA.kext : long boot and most of the time failed to access or detect nForce NTFS harddisks. Shutdown sometimes fails. Slow HDD/USB transfer
3. MeDevil / aryajuanda AppleNforceATA (PART K # 4) : Showed correct detection of MCP55 during bootup. Detection of Nforce harddisk with NTFS seems very responsive. Faster boot up than 1 and 2
4. imk's 64bit version of AnV's AppleNForceATA.kext : Showed correct detection of MCP55 during bootup. Detection of Nforce  harddisk with NTFS seems very responsive. File transfer also fast. Boot up took a bit longer than 3 but it's 64-bit!      . However after a while, nforce harddisks seems to disappear again from Finder.

I've tried to follow your guide as close as possible and I am very satisfied with the result that i've obtained now. Perhaps I'll choose to use using 3 or 4, which more stable. My DVD-drive should have no problem reading discs as I m using TEAC IDE drive.

Attached are screencaps for MeDevil's and imk's results. In System profiler, the Serial-ATA device name still blank, however.

 MeDevil_Screen_shot_2010_12_15_at_12.39.44_AM.png   2.05MB   10 downloads  AnV_64bit_Screen_shot_2010_12_15_at_12.49.55_AM.png   2.02MB   13 downloads

Nothing worries me more than cooling my northbridge now. nforce 790i northbridge is really HOT 70 C idle!   . Perhaps that's the answer for SATA appears and disappears. Gonna cool it down with HR-05 IFX soon.

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 14 2010, 05:22 PM, said:

Hello, thanks for your prompt reply.

I've tested almost all Nforce kexts just to find out which one is best for my PC *ehem* iHack for testing and points out any details for other people's reference.

So I have tried

1. SuperNForceATA (from other site) : long boot and most of the time failed to access or detect nForce NTFS harddisks. Shutdown sometimes fails. Slow HDD/USB transfer
2. slashack's AppleNForceATA.kext : long boot and most of the time failed to access or detect nForce NTFS harddisks. Shutdown sometimes fails. Slow HDD/USB transfer
3. MeDevil / aryajuanda AppleNforceATA (PART K # 4) : Showed correct detection of MCP55 during bootup. Detection of Nforce harddisk with NTFS seems very responsive. Faster boot up than 1 and 2
4. imk's 64bit version of AnV's AppleNForceATA.kext : Showed correct detection of MCP55 during bootup. Detection of Nforce  harddisk with NTFS seems very responsive. File transfer also fast. Boot up took a bit longer than 3 but it's 64-bit!      . However after a while, nforce harddisks seems to disappear again from Finder.

I've tried to follow your guide as close as possible and I am very satisfied with the result that i've obtained now. Perhaps I'll choose to use using 3 or 4, which more stable. My DVD-drive should have no problem reading discs as I m using TEAC IDE drive.

Attached are screencaps for MeDevil's and imk's results. In System profiler, the Serial-ATA device name still blank, however.

MeDevil_...39.44_AM.png AnV_64bi...49.55_AM.png

Nothing worries me more than cooling my northbridge now. nforce 790i northbridge is really HOT 70 C idle!   . Perhaps that's the answer for SATA appears and disappears. Gonna cool it down with HR-05 IFX soon.

The Southbridge is probably also getting very hot.......see here as it could apply to your 790i too......the Northbridge chipset handles the CPU and RAM and in some cases the PCI-E interfacing, while the Southbridge chipset handles peripheral devices including SATA, PATA, USB interfacing etc......so cooling the Southbridge would also be a good idea......

Even on my 650i MOBO, I have put cooling fans over the Northbridge and Southbridge chipset heatsinks.....the Northbridge chipset has a Scythe Mini-Kase Ultra 40mm Quiet Cooling fan mounted on its finned heatsink to blow air down on it (running full speed).......the Southbridge chipset has a Rasurbo 40mm Quiet Cooling fan (running in Q-Fan mode, with its 4 mounting screws partially screwed into the fan frame to lift if off the flat Southbridge heatsink) mounted on it, to blow air down on the heatsink face .......these two fans are mounted using "blobs" of Butyl rubber adhesive, which exhibits both very good holding power against gravity [but is still removable] and vibration damping behaviour, with a maximum service temperature of 93°C.....

Chameleon 2.0 RC4 has injector kexts which should deal with this "Unknown AHCI Standard Controller" in System Profiler under Serial-ATA issue......have you tried these kexts in /Extra/Extensions/....?
 Chameleon_Injector_Kexts.zip   4.92K   12 downloads

See my blog entry for About This Mac and CPU name and speed etc.

[jeopardise]

verdant, on Dec 15 2010, 02:32 AM, said:

Chameleon 2.0 RC4 has injector kexts which should deal with this "Unknown AHCI Standard Controller" in System Profiler under Serial-ATA issue......have you tried these kexts in /Extra/Extensions/....?
Chameleo...or_Kexts.zip

See my blog entry for About This Mac and CPU name and speed etc.

I am using Chameleon RC5. I think it still work.

I've installed all the injector kexts into /E/E/ . The result is JMicron AHCI controller is detected but nForce ATA seems blank or not recognised.

My main partition with SL installation turned to grey icon and it seems not recognised as AHCI.

I think MCP temperature would make Nforce ATA drive to be 'disconnected' after a few time being used. I experienced sometimes booting is slow, sometimes very fast. Sometimes it boots up into the main windows fast, sometimes it'll take a minute or two just to show desktop icons. Upon fresh start, usually it'll boot faster.

Once I solve the heat issue, I'll report my findings

[verdant]

jeopardise, on Dec 15 2010, 01:41 AM, said:

I am using Chameleon RC5. I think it still work.

I've installed all the injector kexts into /E/E/ . The result is JMicron AHCI controller is detected but nForce ATA seems blank or not recognised.

My main partition with SL installation turned to grey icon and it seems not recognised as AHCI.

I think MCP temperature would make Nforce ATA drive to be 'disconnected' after a few time being used. I experienced sometimes booting is slow, sometimes very fast. Sometimes it boots up into the main windows fast, sometimes it'll take a minute or two just to show desktop icons. Upon fresh start, usually it'll boot faster.

Once I solve the heat issue, I'll report my findings

Does removing
AHCIPortInjector.kext
ATAPortInjector.kext
IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext
but keeping JMicronATAInjector.kext in /E/E/ make any difference?