226 replies to this topic

[DigitalDJ]

Hi,

Recently I've been trying to make my hackintosh as Mac-like as possible. One thing that always bugged me was the OSX would detect my CPU as Unknown, even though I had an Intel processor. There are several "hacks" out there on the web that tell you to edit the About This Mac strings or the System Profiler strings, however, these are purely cosmetic, the actual operating system still thinks your CPU is Unknown. Proof of this is the Microsoft Silverlight installer. Without hacking the installer, the installer will not detect your CPU and will fail to install. This cures such problems by injecting a "cpu-type" into IORegistry.

The geeky stuff: I originally did this by adapting the NVinject source and injecting values into the IORegistry. The exact value is a property called "cpu-type" under "IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/cpus". From my research, I believed this can actually be done by injecting values into the SMBIOS, so I went ahead and modified the Chameleon RC3 bootloader. This is done by patching a "ProcessorType" SMWORD into Table Structure 131, OSX picks up on this value and automatically inserts it into the IORegistry. See: http://opensource.ap...AppleSMBIOS.cpp for details (search for cpuType and cpu-type)

The PC_EFI 10.4 bootloader by netkas now INCLUDES THIS PATCH. Future versions of Chameleon will also include this patch My bootloader is essentially out of date, I have removed links to it.

CHECK HERE TO GET PC_EFI 10.4 (with included CPU detection)

OK, so you've got it installed. Great. Theoretically, with the auto-detection I provided, OSX should now detect your CPU (only works for Core 2 Solo/Duo, Core i7/i5 and Core 2 Quad/Quad Exteme).

The autodetection algorithm works as follows:
If you have 4 cores or more (Core i7/Core i5/Core2 Quads), the bootloader will inject a "Quad-Core Intel Xeon" cpu-type
If you have 2 cores, the bootloader will inject a "Intel Core 2 Duo" cpu-type
If you have 1 core, the bootloader will inject a "Intel Core 2 Solo" cpu-type
If you don't meet the above conditions, the default type is "Intel Core 2 Duo".

Keep in mind that Chameleon/PC_EFI sometimes fails to detect your number of cores. In this case, the default "Core 2 Duo" will be injected. If this happens and you have a Core 2 Quad/i7/i5 your CPU will still show as UNKNOWN.

You can however, attempt to manually specify your CPU type by editing smbios.plist. Here is what you should put in for each CPU:

Core 2 Quad & Quad Extreme & Core i7 & Core i5:

<key>SMcputype</key>
<string>1281</string>

Core 2 Duo:

<key>SMcputype</key>
<string>769</string>

Core 2 Solo:

<key>SMcputype</key>
<string>257</string>

There are other values available for a Core (1) Solo and Core (1) Duo, however I do not know the values as these CPUs are rare and I don't have an ioreg output from them. Processors that Apple do not support (i.e. Pentium 4, AMD, Pentium D) are NOT SUPPORTED

IF you have a Core i7 or Core i5 you can get System Profiler to show your Interconnect Speed. This is done by editing your smbios.plist with an additional value (not this is not injected automatically at boot):

<key>SMbusspeed</key>
<string>4800</string>

Where 4800 will show 4.8GT/s, your interconnect speed (or something like that). If you use the value 0, your Inter Connect speed will show up as Bus Speed. If you have a Core 2 Duo or Quad...and you have this value in your smbios.plist, you should either remove it or set it to 0.

OK, I think that'll do it. Try it out, have fun

There is an old kext injector that I used to test this. However, it is now unsupported. The only reason to use this kext injector is if you use a different bootloader, such as BootThink. See details below:

----------------------OLD KEXT INFORMATION----------------------
To get this to work you will need to modify the Info.plist inside the kext.

You will need to open/edit Info.plist and look for the following block

<key>entriesToAdd</key>
<dict>
<key>cpu-type</key>
<data>AQU=</data>
</dict>

You need to modify the text in between the <data></data> tags depending on which processor you have.
These values are as follows (The table is incomplete, they might not work, please experiment)

CPU String	<data></data>
 Intel Core 2 Solo	AQE=
 Intel Core 2 Duo	AQM=
 Intel Core 2 Quad	AQU=
 Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme 	AQU=
 Intel Core i7 	AQU=
 Intel Core i5 	AQU=

If you have a Core i7 or Core i5 machine..you can also add:
<key>interconnect-speed</key>
<data>gA6kXQEAAAA=</data>

This will show the Interconnect Speed in System Profiler.

Examples:
Core2 Duo CPUs
<dict>
<key>cpu-type</key>
<data>AQM=</data>
</dict>

Core2 Quad/Quad Extreme CPUs (Will show as Quad Core Xeon, Apple don't sell Core2 Quad CPUs!)
<dict>
<key>cpu-type</key>
<data>AQU=</data>
</dict>

Core i5/i7 CPUs (Will show as Quad Core Xeon, Apple don't sell i7 CPUs!)
<dict>
<key>cpu-type</key>
<data>AQU=</data>
<key>interconnect-speed</key>
<data>gA6kXQEAAAA=</data>
</dict>

Core 2 Solo CPUs
<dict>
<key>cpu-type</key>
<data>AQE=</data>
</dict>

DOWNLOAD 1.1

SOURCE 1.1

PROOF PIC

Attached Files

•  CPUInjector.png   71.61K   6269 downloads

[schnogg]

I'm pretty psyched about this. Hopefully it will not make FCP tell me that it needs Rosetta anymore.

I'm a little confused about using the CPU codes. Do you need to put in the base64 encoded hex value by itself? Or do you put in the base64 and the hex value together? For example, C2D is 0103, the xlate page on that web site translates that to the base64 version, AQM=.

UPDATE:
I used AQM=0103 and it says the processor name is Intel Core 2 Duo. Installed Silverlight fine.

[amf5]

This didn't work for me when loaded from the EFI partition (I've got a Q9550 and left the cpu-type string at default).

[mutis]

Good Job DJ ! I used AQM=0103 for my laptop and it show correctly Core2Duo, Silverlight installed OK.

[Rik26]

mutis, on Sep 30 2009, 02:35 AM, said:

Good Job DJ ! I used AQM=0103 for my laptop and it show correctly Core2Duo, Silverlight installed OK.

It's very interesting, thanks for job! How do I calculate the exact string for my Intel core 2 quad q6600? Thanks a lot

[mutis]

Rik26, on Sep 29 2009, 11:35 PM, said:

It's very interesting, thanks for job! How do I calculate the exact string for my Intel core 2 quad q6600? Thanks a lot

I just used the code he posted but if I have to guess go to terminal type ioreg -l and search for cpu-type goto the link he provided for the converter put the first 4 numbers found in the hex window e.g.. 0103 you result would be AQM= in the BASE64 window then enter the rest d35d37 that's 0103.
I'm a rookie with this stuff, its just a hunch it may not work.

[tweak41]

Anyone who's got this working already, would you mind doing me a favor?  If you could go to terminal and do ioreg -l and see if you've got something similar to this:

	
	| +-o cpus  <class IOPlatformDevice, id 0x100000112, registered, matched, a$
	| |   {
	| |	 "name" = <"cpus">
	| |   }

Alternatively, if you search for cpu-type, mind copy and pasting that snippet here so I can see what I have to look for to get the i7 working?  Thanks!

[DigitalDJ]

schnogg, on Sep 30 2009, 10:08 AM, said:

UPDATE:
I used AQM=0103 and it says the processor name is Intel Core 2 Duo. Installed Silverlight fine.

The equals sign ends a Base64 string...so 0103 will be ignored. You should only use the Base64 string (AQM=) though).

betaguy, on Sep 30 2009, 11:46 AM, said:

This didn't work for me when loaded from the EFI partition (I've got a Q9550 and left the cpu-type string at default).

Interesting. Would you mind trying "ioreg -l" at Terminal and posting the output here (as a text file)...Or take a look at tweak41's post and find that section.

tweak41, on Sep 30 2009, 02:51 PM, said:

Alternatively, if you search for cpu-type, mind copy and pasting that snippet here so I can see what I have to look for to get the i7 working?  Thanks!

Did you try the default one? The default code I have in the injector is for a MacPro4,1...which uses the new Intel Xeons (should be exactly like a Core i7) Use the default code and add the interconnect bit too. That doesn't work?

[jimmyvau]

I ran ioreg -l in the terminal and this is the closes thing to cpu-type that I can find.

  |   "OSKernelCPUType" = 16777223

Is that the value I need to use or am I on the wrong track?  Also, is this kext 64 bit compatible?

[DigitalDJ]

jimmyvau, on Sep 30 2009, 03:11 PM, said:

I ran ioreg -l in the terminal and this is the closes thing to cpu-type that I can find.

  |   "OSKernelCPUType" = 16777223

Is that the value I need to use or am I on the wrong track?  Also, is this kext 64 bit compatible?

Sorry, you won't have a CPU type till the injector runs. Look for "cpus".

[jimmyvau]

Thanks for the heads up.  I wasn't able to get the system to recognize my Q6700, but I'm not really surprised since that isn't a cpu that Apple actually uses.  Instead I used the code for the Quad Core Xeon and everything is working great.

[DigitalDJ]

jimmyvau, on Sep 30 2009, 04:20 PM, said:

Thanks for the heads up.  I wasn't able to get the system to recognize my Q6700, but I'm not really surprised since that isn't a cpu that Apple actually uses.  Instead I used the code for the Quad Core Xeon and everything is working great.

Yes, quad cores will be recognized as Xeons. There is no string in System Profiler for a Core 2 Quad, only Duo.

[imacken]

On my Q6600, it didn't work with AQU=0105.
Maybe I put it in the wrong place. Does it go to S/L/E or Chameleon/E/E?

[Apple.User]

@DijitalDJ: thanks for the info. It works great on About This Mac.

I am now comparing the dsdt from the Apple MacPro4,1.
The dsdt from a typical Asus board is as follows:

   (_PR)
	{
		Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (P002, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P003, 0x03, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P004, 0x04, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P005, 0x05, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P006, 0x06, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P007, 0x07, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P008, 0x08, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P009, 0x09, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P010, 0x0A, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P011, 0x0B, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P012, 0x0C, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P013, 0x0D, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P014, 0x0E, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P015, 0x0F, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P016, 0x10, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
	}

  
...But comparing the above Asus dsdt with the Apple MacPro4,1
that is clearly different

   (\_PR)
	{
		Processor (CPU0, 0x00, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU1, 0x01, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU2, 0x02, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU3, 0x03, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU4, 0x04, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU5, 0x05, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU6, 0x06, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU7, 0x07, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU8, 0x08, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU9, 0x09, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUA, 0x0A, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUB, 0x0B, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUC, 0x0C, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUD, 0x0D, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUE, 0x0E, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUF, 0x0F, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
	}

Observing the two dsdts above I have replaced all P00x to CPUx and added to each line the 0x00000810, 0x06

  
Scope (_PR)
	{
		Processor (CPU0, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU1, 0x02, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU2, 0x03, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU3, 0x04, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU4, 0x05, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU5, 0x06, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU6, 0x07, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU7, 0x08, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU8, 0x09, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU9, 0x0A, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUA, 0x0B, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUB, 0x0C, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUC, 0x0D, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUD, 0x0E, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUE, 0x0F, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUF, 0x10, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
	}

  

As I have guessed all the CPUs are listed correctly as my MacPro on the IORegistryExplorer both at 10.5.8 and at 10.6.
I have also tried all the other combinations of the above format by replacing for example only the CPUx and let all the other with their initial values:
So Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}...becomes
1st combination    : Processor (CPU0, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}  
having as 2nd line: Processor (CPU1, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}... etc

2nd combination  : Processor (CPU0, 0x00, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}  
having as 2nd line: Processor (CPU1, 0x01, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}... etc

Then I repeat the above with and I add to  each line the 0x00000810, 0x06
3rd combination   : Processor (CPU0, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
having as 2nd line: Processor (CPU1, 0x02, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}... etc

4th combination   : Processor (CPU0, 0x00, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}  
having as 2nd line: Processor (CPU1, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}... etc

All the possible CPUx combinations are having the same result.
But looking closer at the IORegistryExplorer using 10.5.8  I did have noticed something very interesting... there was one tiny difference: the ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin  is having the PerformaceStateArray (with 10 values) only while the dsdt is on P00x format(!) Any ideas why is this so? Why the P00x vs CPUx etc notation makes such difference ? Nevertheless, the system works at its best  and the IORegistryExplorer looks now the same with the macpro4,1.

[harshw]

DigitalDJ, on Sep 30 2009, 09:54 AM, said:

Yes, quad cores will be recognized as Xeons. There is no string in System Profiler for a Core 2 Quad, only Duo.

Doesn't work in /Extra/Extensions, works only in /System/Library/Extensions. Here you go ...

 Screen_shot_2009_09_30_at_09.25.10.png   44.79K   1350 downloads

[imacken]

harshw, on Sep 30 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

Doesn't work in /Extra/Extensions, works only in /System/Library/Extensions. Here you go ...

Screen_s...09.25.10.png

Thanks, it now works. Well done guys.

Only thing is my Q6600 is seen as Quad Core Xeon - is the the best it'll get?  (Maybe, I guess as per post from Digital DJ above.)

Also, in 10.5, I get the following:
Processor Name: Intel® Core™2 Quad CPU Q6600 @
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
CPU Features: FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM SSE3 MON DSCPL VMX EST TM2 SSSE3 CX16 TPR PDCM.

Does that matter?

[DigitalDJ]

imacken, on Sep 30 2009, 05:57 PM, said:

On my Q6600, it didn't work with AQU=0105.
Maybe I put it in the wrong place. Does it go to S/L/E or Chameleon/E/E?

The string is simply AQU= not AQU=0105.

I personally put mine in /E/E, seemed to work fine. I will investigate though. Those having trouble, are you on Snow Leopard or Leopard?

Apple.User, on Sep 30 2009, 06:52 PM, said:

I am now comparing the dsdt file from the Apple MacPro4,1
The dsdt has the typical Asus board format is as follows:

But looking closer at the IORegistryExplorer using 10.5.8  I did have noticed something very interesting... there was one tiny difference: the ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin  is having the PerformaceStateArray (with 10 values) only while the dsdt is on P00x format(!) Any ideas why is this so? Why the P00x vs CPUx etc notation makes such difference ? Nevertheless, the system works at its best  and the IORegistryExplorer looks now the same with the macpro4,1.

Not too sure on the P00 thing. Have never tried with an ASUS board. I tested it with a Gigabyte EP45-EXTREME, however, I don't think you should need to edit the DSDT for this to work as the "/cpus" path exists no matter what the CPUs are labled as.

harshw, on Sep 30 2009, 08:52 PM, said:

Doesn't work in /Extra/Extensions, works only in /System/Library/Extensions. Here you go ...

I'll take a look into this. I might need to add some sort of dependency.

imacken, on Sep 30 2009, 09:22 PM, said:

Thanks, it now works. Well done guys.

Only thing is my Q6600 is seen as Quad Core Xeon - is the the best it'll get?  (Maybe, I guess as per post from Digital DJ above.)

Also, in 10.5, I get the following:
Processor Name: Intel® Core™2 Quad CPU Q6600 @
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
CPU Features: FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM SSE3 MON DSCPL VMX EST TM2 SSSE3 CX16 TPR PDCM.

Does that matter?

Yes, for the Q6600 the best you'll get is Quad Core Xeon, but don't worry, that's a GOOD thing. System Profiler does not support Intel Core2 Quads. Apple don't sell them!

As for your 10.5 output...are you running any AppleSMBIOS/SMBIOS Extensions? They will likely conflict with this injector. It is mainly for use with Chameleon SMBIOS patching (and no SMBIOS injectors).

[harshw]

DigitalDJ, on Sep 30 2009, 03:39 PM, said:

The string is simply AQU= not AQU=0105.

I personally put mine in /E/E, seemed to work fine. I will investigate though. Those having trouble, are you on Snow Leopard or Leopard?

Thanks. I'm on SL 10.6

Do you have a real MacPro 4,1 ? Mind posting the Hardware Overview screen from System Profiler ?

Actually does anyone here have a Nehalem MacPro ? Would they mind posting the Hardware Overview screen ?

Apple.User, on Sep 30 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

I am now comparing the dsdt file from the Apple MacPro4,1
The dsdt has the typical Asus board format is as follows:

   (_PR)
	{
		Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
		Processor (P002, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P003, 0x03, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P004, 0x04, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P005, 0x05, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P006, 0x06, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P007, 0x07, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P008, 0x08, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P009, 0x09, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P010, 0x0A, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P011, 0x0B, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P012, 0x0C, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P013, 0x0D, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P014, 0x0E, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P015, 0x0F, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
		Processor (P016, 0x10, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
	}

  
...But comparing the above Asus dsdt with the Apple MacPro4,1
that is clearly different

   (\_PR)
	{
		Processor (CPU0, 0x00, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU1, 0x01, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU2, 0x02, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU3, 0x03, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU4, 0x04, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU5, 0x05, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU6, 0x06, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU7, 0x07, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU8, 0x08, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPU9, 0x09, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUA, 0x0A, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUB, 0x0B, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUC, 0x0C, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUD, 0x0D, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUE, 0x0E, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
		Processor (CPUF, 0x0F, 0x00000410, 0x06) {}
	}

Interesting

On my ASUS P6T SE I get

Quote

{
    Scope (_PR)
    {
        Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06) {}
        Alias (P001, CPU1)
        Processor (P002, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P002, CPU2)
        Processor (P003, 0x03, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P003, CPU3)
        Processor (P004, 0x04, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P004, CPU4)
        Processor (P005, 0x05, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P005, CPU5)
        Processor (P006, 0x06, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P006, CPU6)
        Processor (P007, 0x07, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P007, CPU7)
        Processor (P008, 0x08, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P008, CPU8)
        Processor (P009, 0x09, 0x00000000, 0x00) {}
        Alias (P009, CPU9)

Notice the 'alias' to 'CPU'

[Superhai]

I had this added to an old version of SMBIOSResolver, but people complained about wrong cpu info so I removed it. Anyway I have talked about adding the proprietary Apple SMBIOS tables to chameleon, but not much interest and I have no time or need to work on it.

[DigitalDJ]

harshw, on Sep 30 2009, 10:31 PM, said:

Do you have a real MacPro 4,1 ? Mind posting the Hardware Overview screen from System Profiler ?

I don't own one, but here's an ioreg and DSDT of a real MacPro4,1

Superhai, on Sep 30 2009, 10:57 PM, said:

I had this added to an old version of SMBIOSResolver, but people complained about wrong cpu info so I removed it. Anyway I have talked about adding the proprietary Apple SMBIOS tables to chameleon, but not much interest and I have no time or need to work on it.

Do you happen to have the source for this laying around? Or any idea on the other cpu-types for other CPUs?

Attached Files

•  MacPro4_1.zip   87.55K   432 downloads