[Guide] Snow Leopard 10.6.3 on Zotac IONITX A

[shoarthing]

. . . you're doing well to get so far with a quite tricky motherboard.

 

Sorry I don't speak German; it is not simple to help when communication is not 100% clear.

[Georgiles]

I would like to purchase one of these boards and join your thread. Unfortunately just as a tester.

My brain is not compiled yet.

I'm using Lifehacker's simple to install guide on my HackPro but I'm looking into building a miniITX with Snow for my wife to use it.

 

Two things:

Should I buy the F or the A?

ZOTAC IONITX-F-E Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz, dual-core) NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Comboor

ZOTAC IONITX-A-U Atom 330 1.6GHz Dual-Core 441 NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo

 

Which one is more compatible? They have a special on the F where they trow in a free MiniITX case with power supply sold as combo:

COMBO

 

Because of the combo I would've bought the F by now, but I just cant decide because I have one more unanswered question and I was goggling all over the place.

 

The F have 9400 and the A have 9400M. I observe that the Mini's have the video board with the M.

Is there any difference? Must be.

Is the video on IONITX-A-U better and more compatible with OS X? Or Newegg just forgot to type the M on the F board?

 

I looked in depth at the specs of these boards everywhere on the net including Zotac's pdf Specs. I hope is just Newegg's mistake.

On Zotac USA: They say both boards have 9400M

 

if that M means better 1080P playback, means a lot to me.

 

Thank you in advance for the answers and let me know which board to buy. Great work by the way!

[mageus]

@Ghost In The Machine:

 

So, I started getting more frequent KPs until I couldn't boot into GUI anymore (could only boot single user). I'm not sure if my board is bad, but the Ubuntu install works fine.

 

Reinstalled from scratch SL retail:

- eugene's boot

- ALC622, OpenHaltRestart, fakesmc, AHCI, sleepenabler

- binhack 10.6.2 kernel

- my DSDT

Everything worked (except shutdown) without needing NullCPU. No KPs.

 

Then I upgraded to 10.6.3

- binhack 10.6.3 kernel

- copy over 10.6.0 AppleHDA to /S/L/E

.

and sound doesn't work.

 

I'm on the verge of tossing this **** board into the trash and forking out for a Mac Mini!!!

 

If I can regain my patience, I'm gonna try the modified AppleHDA that shoarthing referenced.

 

 

 

@hlakustiker:

 

- 'distro' in this case refers to an install DVD made by a group that has a lot of hacks built into it. E.g. iDeneb, iAtkos. For the ionitx you should stick to the actual Snow Leopard install DVD that Apple sells.

- You're probably getting a kernel panic because you have HyperThreading enabled in the BIOS. The original Snow Leopard mach_kernel will KP if HT is enabled. Use the 'teatime' modified kernel that shoarthing listed (10.2.0 for SL 10.6.0 or 10.6.2, and 10.3.0 for SL 10.6.3). If you're running SL 10.6.3, the 10.3.0 kernel with 64-bit enabled runs great. Just type arch=x86_64 at boot to enable full 64-bit kernel.

 

 

 

@Georgiles

 

The A-U and F-E boards have the identical chipset. The only difference is the F-E has a PCI-Express slot and 20 pin power port. The A-U has no PCI-Ex slot or ATA power port, but it has a plug on the backplate for the (included) external power supply. If you won't ever need PCI-Ex, the A-U is a good deal.

The -U and -E refer to USA vs Europe. So, if you're in Europe, you would want the A-E.

[shoarthing]

mageus - Hi: you need the 10.6.3 version of sleepenabler [if using it] & I have said several times that you will need a hacked AppleHDA.kext & will not need ALC662.kext in 10.6.3

[BlindSoul]

wow thanks, i've been searching for this guide!

[mageus]

mageus - Hi: you need the 10.6.3 version of sleepenabler [if using it]

Yes, that is what I'm using. See my previous posts.

 

I apologize for my frustration, but I need to vent. I keep a very detailed log of what I've tried out. When I try the _exact_ same configuration, it doesn't work. I will restore a previously saved system image and now it suddenly doesn't work. Same BIOS settings, same boot loader on MBR. I've started from scratch 4 times now and it behaves differently each time. _I_ known what configuration works. _Others_ know what configuration works. This board is refusing to acknowledge what works.

 

Problem is, I'm beyond the Amazon return period, and there's no where local that carries this board.

 

wow thanks, i've been searching for this guide!

Please post the following:

- MB model

- boot loader used

- boot file used

- kernel used

- OSX version

- DSDT used

- kexts used

- RAM, HDD

- any other signficant modifications.

- what works and what doesn't work

 

People are getting mixed results from these boards, so I'm trying to create a Grand Unified Theory of the Ionitxintosh.

[hlakustiker]

@hlakustiker:

 

- 'distro' in this case refers to an install DVD made by a group that has a lot of hacks built into it. E.g. iDeneb, iAtkos. For the ionitx you should stick to the actual Snow Leopard install DVD that Apple sells.

- You're probably getting a kernel panic because you have HyperThreading enabled in the BIOS. The original Snow Leopard mach_kernel will KP if HT is enabled. Use the 'teatime' modified kernel that shoarthing listed (10.2.0 for SL 10.6.0 or 10.6.2, and 10.3.0 for SL 10.6.3). If you're running SL 10.6.3, the 10.3.0 kernel with 64-bit enabled runs great. Just type arch=x86_64 at boot to enable full 64-bit kernel.

 

@mageus

You have to watch your wife.....

Thanks a lot for your advice and explantion. In deed I did use iDeneb 10.5.5, one year ago, when I've get started to install Leopard on my AMD Machine. Now I know I've used a 'distro'. It was the ONLY ONE working. And it does untill today stable.

I am alraedy using the patched 10.6.3 64-bit kernel. Runs good for me and increases my booting even faster. Since I took the new AppleHDA.kext and this 64-bit kernel booting is fast then never !!!

But my next silly question, how can I edit 'boot' ???

 

@shoarting

Now I'm using your DSDT.aml and it works, but unfortuenatly even brings no solution.

 

As you recommanded, once again this is my installation.....:

 

1. Installation from Snow Leopard Retail Disk.
   
2. Putting eugene's 'Extra Folder' on it
   
3. Postinstalled 'My Hack' 10.0.1 from sojugarden http://osx86.sojugarden.com/downloads/
   

 

And this are still my issues left, and they won't move at all......:

 

• shutdown/sleep doesn't work
  
• Using of Multiple Displays does not work
  

 

I can use either DVI-Monitor or VGA-Monitor or Beamer, but never both together.

 

IF I do, booting starts normaly, but only at VGA-Monitor, DVI-Monitor stays black and just when booting ends, signal was cutting off at all. I can hear that booting compleets, but there is no screen anymore. And thats actually what's disturbing me most. Shutdown and sleep will not be as such important for me.

 

Works normaly with Windows 7 and with Ubuntu, and it should have to work even with OS X. Picture shows the ability to plugg in a second Monitor.

 

Are you really able to run Multiple Display, shoarting? I can not see, why I can't do?! Tried nearly everything. Changed DSDT's, but my discribed Issues stay stable and will not move at all

 

Any further suggestion ????

 

By the way I've made some further BIOS Corrections from Charlies Archive-Pictures. Especially increased CPU-Speed.

 

Fazit: Actually it works as great as never for me. Just wanted to use Multiple Display finally.

 

Greetings from good old Germany

[shoarthing]

I never claimed to run 2x monitors simultaneously [dual-display].

 

If GraphicsEnabler won't do this for you; probably the most actively-developed & is well-regarded alternative is nvenabler

 

. . . when you have installed nvenabler to /S/L/E you will of course need to disable Chameleon's graphicenabler by changing its key in com.apple.Boot.plist to

 no

 

My setup for graphics uses graphicsenabler & a VGA.ROM [i extracted this from the current ION-ITX firmware]: I drive one monitor - a Panasonic Viera plasma - via HDMI.

 

Glad you have things running well.

 

[Edit: it is worth noting that no mac using the 9400m has a VGA output - tho' they can drive their internal display via DVI & an external VGA simultaneously, the VGA is in fact a second DVI/displayport output, fed through an adapter.]

[hlakustiker]

I never claimed to run 2x monitors simultaneously [dual-display].

 

If GraphicsEnabler won't do this for you; probably the most actively-developed & is well-regarded alternative is nvenabler

 

. . . when you have installed nvenabler to /S/L/E you will of course need to disable Chameleon's graphicenabler by changing its key in com.apple.Boot.plist to

 no

 

My setup for graphics uses graphicsenabler & a VGA.ROM [i extracted this from the current ION-ITX firmware]: I drive one monitor - a Panasonic Viera plasma - via HDMI.

 

Glad you have things running well.

 

[Edit: it is worth noting that no mac using the 9400m has a VGA output - tho' they can drive their internal display via DVI & an external VGA simultaneously, the VGA is in fact a second DVI/displayport output, fed through an adapter.]

 

Yes Sir, sound's great !!!!!

 

Please could you be for little further help with this....:

 

Install :

Remove any injecter / GFX device property string / DSDT edit for GFX

Put the kext in /System/Library/Extensions/ or /Extra

Fix permissions in terminal and type : touch /System/Library/Extensions (do it again if you modify the plist).

You still need to put your device ID in NVDAResman.kext and NVDANVX0hal.kext (depending on the GPU generation).

Reboot.

 

The Goal seems pretty near I'm quite excited

 

Greetings.

[shoarthing]

Install nvenabler to /S/L/E & make sure permissions are correct/repaired

 

In the same session, navigate to the info.plist of both NVDAResman.kext & NVDANV50Hal.kext, then to the sections highlighted below:

 

Add [with a separating space as necessary] the string:

 

0x87d10de

 

Save the altered info.plists

 

 

 

 

Open com.apple.Boot.plist & alter the highlighted key to

no

 

 

. . . restart & see what's what.

 

For help with nvenabler you'll need to follow the link I gave you above.

[shoarthing]

I know, I'm kind of bothering you :

 

But, now I'd like to get your shown editor first !!!

? . . what do you mean?

 

Property List Editor is part of XCode Tools - this is a free d/l from Apple's Developer Connection - you'll need to register.

[hlakustiker]

[Edit: it is worth noting that no mac using the 9400m has a VGA output - tho' they can drive their internal display via DVI & an external VGA simultaneously, the VGA is in fact a second DVI/displayport output, fed through an adapter.]

 

Well I'm afraid it will not work. Tried the hole day and nearly everything. Seems like you said ?!

 

But actually it should have to function, or did I understood something wrong with this......:

 

Not supported :

- Graphic controllers integrated to chipset don't work (except 9400)

- Some NVS 140 & 570 (might be fixed later)

- VAIO internal screen

 

By the way again, VGA output is in function with our boards. But as I mentioned either VGA-Port OR DVI-Port, but never both together (Dual-Display-Mode) at the same time.

 

Time now 7,45 PM:

 

Just giving it up, there is no way. Seems to be hopelessly and won't work. So sorry

 

Would you think this will works ?

 

[hlakustiker]

Found a solution:

Today I've made a second partition with Windows 7.

And right now even shutdown works for me.

Just the easiest way:

 

1. Going to Restart OS X
   
2. Booting with Chameleon into Windows 7
   
3. Shutdown
   

 

In Germany we say: "Von hinten durch die Brust ins Auge."

That means in English: "From behind thru the breast in the eye."

 

lol

[mageus]

Regarding shutdown/restart/sleep, I don't think there is a generic solution. One needs to custom build one's DSDT to get it to work. I also think that modified bootloaders just confound the situation.

 

After a short hiatus to regain my sanity, I dove back into things, and now have a fully working system (I think). Shutdown/restart/sleep seems to be working, but I need to do some thorough testing to confirm.

Here is my setup:

- Retail SL install DVD

- chameleon 2 rc4 (to MBR and boot file)

- 10.3.0 binhack kernel

- my custom DSDT

- fakesmc, sleepenabler (10.6.3), openhaltrestart

- AppleHAD customized (per shoarthing) in /S/L/E

 

That's it.

 

Vanilla is the best. (well, chocolate is the best, but that's a different topic) Hopefully chameleon rc5 will make things even more straightforward.

 

Shoarthing,

I'm planning on making a detailed Ionitx guide when I get more time. Any input/corrections would be appreciated.

[shoarthing]

Regarding shutdown/restart/sleep, I don't think there is a generic solution. One needs to custom build one's DSDT to get it to work. I also think that modified bootloaders just confound the situation.

. . . . not clear what you mean here: a genuine solution will be a 'generic' solution - all the ION-ITX boards are in essence identical & a solution that reliably works for one will work for all, if properly documented & shared.

 

There only need to be two 'custom' dsdts from the point-of-view of the end-user - one for 2GB RAM boards & one for 4GB RAM boards.

 

I agree that custom files confuse things unless properly documented & supported.

 

After a short hiatus to regain my sanity, I dove back into things, and now have a fully working system (I think). Shutdown/restart/sleep seems to be working, but I need to do some thorough testing to confirm.

Here is my setup:

- Retail SL install DVD

- chameleon 2 rc4 (to MBR and boot file)

- 10.3.0 binhack kernel

- my custom DSDT

- fakesmc, sleepenabler (10.6.3), openhaltrestart

- AppleHAD customized (per shoarthing) in /S/L/E

 

That's it.

 

Vanilla is the best. (well, chocolate is the best, but that's a different topic) Hopefully chameleon rc5 will make things even more straightforward.

. . . perhaps you might focus on testing then reporting how reliable shutdown/restart/sleep are on your ION-ITX; together with any settings &/or tweaks you believe to be required. Others can then test your solution.

 

,

I'm planning on making a detailed Ionitx guide when I get more time. Any input/corrections would be appreciated.

Suggest from experience you have a go at a *.pdf guide - otherwise your photobucket [or similar] allowance will get hammered - the one I did for the Asrock ION 330 might be of some slight use as a template or as a how-not-to.

[hlakustiker]

Very Good News:

 

Finally I got it fixed. Not shutdown and sleep, but the most important thing for me, the Dual-View-Modus works right now pretty nice. It even increases my booting time at the end of booting. I do not know the english word for 'Bildaufbau'.

Well, let's say that Video Performing seems to became better?!

 

And it was not the NVEnabler.kext but NVdarwin.kext makes it work.

So it is possible now to use DVI- AND VGA-Output the same time together.

 

 

And this is it.....: Changing the values in NVDAResman, NVDANV50Hal, NVDANV40Hal and GeForce.kext the way shoarthing discribed a little bit earlier for me.

 

GraphicsEnabler is set to 'NO'

 

Then, for our mobo modified NVdarwin.kext.zip

into S/L/E.

 

It works perfectly.

 

But it is worth to mention, that the Dual-View-Modus thru 'NVdarwin.kext' is only working under 32 bit-architecture.

 

So....Greetings from Northern Germany with a special thanks to shoarthing for all kind of reliable help.

[hlakustiker]

There only need to be two 'custom' dsdts from the point-of-view of the end-user - one for 2GB RAM boards & one for 4GB RAM boards.

 

I agree that custom files confuse things unless properly documented & supported.

 

As I already mentioned, everything went pretty good for me.

 

My last standing issues:

 

Neither shutdown, nor sleep-function worked for me at least a single time.

 

There must be a reason. Right now, my guess is due to my used RAM......

 

I have one single 2GB 667 MHz DDR 2 SDRAM Stick and one single 1GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Stick build in my mobo. But Mac OS X thinks and says, I would have a totally amount of 3GB 800 MHZ DDR2 SDRAM. Even if it looks better, but the speed shows actually wrong.

 

 

Maybe that could be the reason because of preventing my computer to complete shutdown ?

 

Well, in order to be not able, to change my DSDT.aml that way by my own, I'd ask for a last help.

 

Please, could anybody change my dsdt.aml.zip that way, not only reads the right amount of RAM, but the right speed (3GB 667 MHZ DDR2 SDRAM).

 

And perhaps then..........think it could be worth a try ?!!

[shoarthing]

As I already mentioned, everything went pretty good for me.

 

My last standing issues:

 

Neither shutdown, nor sleep-function worked for me at least a single time.

 

There must be a reason. Right now, my guess is due to my used RAM......

 

I have one single 2GB 667 MHz DDR 2 SDRAM Stick and one single 1GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Stick build in my mobo. But Mac OS X thinks and says, I would have a totally amount of 3GB 800 MHZ DDR2 SDRAM. Even if it looks better, but the speed shows actually wrong.

 

 

Maybe that could be the reason because of preventing my computer to complete shutdown ?

 

Well, in order to be not able, to change my DSDT.aml that way by my own, I'd ask for a last help.

 

Please, could anybody change my dsdt.aml.zip that way, not only reads the right amount of RAM, but the right speed (3GB 667 MHZ DDR2 SDRAM).

 

And perhaps then..........think it could be worth a try ?!!

. . Hi: we probably need to see what 3GB looks like in a dsdt, so boot into Linux/Linux liveCD, at a terminal type

sudo -s

. . . enter the root password [just hit enter for a Ubuntu liveCD], then

cat /proc/acpi/dsdt > dsdt.aml

. . . then from root copy the new file dsdt.aml to a USB stick, then zip it up & post here.

 

Zip up & attach your /Extra/smbios.plist - this probably contains the false memory information which is worrying you.

 

You will not get proper memory information automatically unless you use a boot file based on asereBLN's branch - I suggest you use build 141 of this one: . . . . I know this build works so don't risk the newer build yet.

 

Do you get 'popping' noises when a new application starts sound output?

[hlakustiker]

. . Hi: we probably need to see what 3GB looks like in a dsdt, so boot into Linux/Linux liveCD, at a terminal type

sudo -s

. . . enter the root password [just hit enter for a Ubuntu liveCD], then

cat /proc/acpi/dsdt > dsdt.aml

. . . then from root copy the new file dsdt.aml to a USB stick, then zip it up & post here.

 

Zip up & attach your /Extra/smbios.plist - this probably contains the false memory information which is worrying you.

 

You will not get proper memory information automatically unless you use a boot file based on asereBLN's branch - I suggest you use build 141 of this one: . . . . I know this build works so don't risk the newer build yet.

 

Do you get 'popping' noises when a new application starts sound output?

 

Thinking my English knowledge have improved the last few day's :censored2: Have understood everything quite well and it did all function. Therefor I have Ubuntu installed in a third partition, here comes the expected

 

dsdt.aml.zip

 

This is the wished smbios.plist.zip

 

And I immediately installed your suggested RC5, works now on my computer. I'm not quite sure about 'popping' noises. Actually no, I do not hear any noises ?!

 

By the way, what does zip-files with the ending 'md5' means ?

 

I have to correct myself, there are 'popping' noises !!!!!

[shoarthing]

Try this smbios.plist

 

I doesn't look like your dsdt needs changing.

new_smbios.zip

[hlakustiker]

Try this smbios.plist

 

I doesn't look like your dsdt needs changing.

My friend,

millions and millions thanks.

 

I'm quite excited.....shutdown worked for the first time !!!!!!!

 

Going to try sleep-function now.......

 

....and works !!!!!

 

You leave me speechless. It is sooooo amazing.

Right now I finally got 100 %. Really thanks a lot !!!!!!!!

 

Would like to invite you for a glass of beer, or two :censored2:

 

But there is a new problem.......with that new DSDT.aml it finally worked but it borked the sound....Ohhh no !!!!

[shoarthing]

. . what 'new dsdt.aml' do you mean?

 

Don't use the one you extracted under Linux [this was to see if there was any operationregion difference with 3GB] . . use the one I modded for you.

[hlakustiker]

. . what 'new dsdt.aml' do you mean?

 

Don't use the one you extracted under Linux [this was to see if there was any operationregion difference with 3GB] . . use the one I modded for you.

@shoarthing

 

Finally succeeded !!!

 

There was no way, with any other DSDT.aml but only that one I've had extracted under Linux. Only this one gave me shutdown and sleep function. So I started to take this DSDT.aml and filling in the missing devices. Tried pretty hard but finally succeeded. So I have to agree with Mageus. There shall not be a generic method for all of us. And even I had to build the DSDT.aml with a special tricky method by my very own. But truly said, without your help I never would have been able to manage it.

 

So once again, thank you so much, I finally made it !!!!!!!!

 

Even if my DSDT.aml seems to be fully working now, I certainly had no errors with compiling, anyway getting 35 warnings. So just in case you could spare a little bit of time anymore, I'd ask you to look at it once again and make the final optimizations, if it is possible.

[mageus]

hlakustiker,

 

Congratulations! Welcome to OSX land.

 

Please post your dsdt.aml (preferrably your dsdt.dsl). Haven't had any time to work on this since my last post, but I'm going to try to clear this whole dsdt mess this weekend.

 

Also, please post your smbios.plist and com.apple.boot.plist.

 

I think I know where the 35 warnings come from (various missing Return Zero calls), but these are not important.

[hlakustiker]

hlakustiker,

 

Congratulations! Welcome to OSX land.

 

Please post your dsdt.aml (preferrably your dsdt.dsl). Haven't had any time to work on this since my last post, but I'm going to try to clear this whole dsdt mess this weekend.

 

Also, please post your smbios.plist and com.apple.boot.plist.

 

I think I know where the 35 warnings come from (various missing Return Zero calls), but these are not important.

 

@mageus

 

Greetings to you, how are you with your computer and your wife today ?

Find it now above in my previous posting. Shoarthing did already pretty fine working for me fixing my smbios.plist yesterday.