OSX on a PC Installation instructions

[dgm8000]

I have successfully built a OSX PC (aka hackintosh) using the method described by Jorge Sierra in his article “How to Install Mac OS X on a PC (Without Using a Mac)” on makeuseof.com: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-instal...ut-using-a-mac/

 

If you use know working hardware, installing OSX on a PC is a breeze; if you use non-proven hardware, the process can be very frustrating. Check the hardware compatibility list before purchasing and building a system:

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.6.4

 

The main stumbling point I ran into was the graphics card. The 9500 GT card Jorge specifies is no longer available new. I decided first to substitute the ZOTAC GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit DDR2 (550MHz/1375MHz) Graphics card ZT-95TEH3M-FSL based on the price, thinking all 9500 GT are the same. I had not done enough research, it did not work, just a black screen halfway through the boot! Replacing the Zotac with the EVGA 01G-P3-N959TR, which solved my problem. Some people have gotten the Zotac card to work, but I was not able to.

 

A few helpful tips:

1. On-board graphics will work during the install, but not after restart. You must use a graphics card.
   
2. Just because a graphics processor (GPU) is on the compatibility list, like the Nvidia 9500 GT, it does not mean all graphics cards based on the Nvidia 9500 GT will work. It has to be the exact make and model on the compatibility list if you want it to work without making manually configuration changes to operating system files.
   
3. Set the Software Update to manually and only apply system patches that the forums indicate are OK to apply. I had to start over after applying the “Snow Leopard Graphics Update” which destroyed my installation.
   
4. Make sure you rebuild caches and repair permissions using [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] system utilities before restarting.
   
5. More Tips: http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=524
   

 

My Hardware Setup, which works:

1. GIGABYTE GA-H55M-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
   
2. Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3530
   
3. G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT
   
4. EVGA 01G-P3-N959TR GeForce 9500 GT 1GB DDR2 PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card
   
5. Western Digital RE3 3.5-inch Enterprise SATA Hard Drive (500 GB, 1.2 million hours MTBF, 16 MB Cache, 7200 RPM) (I always spend the few extra bucks and buy enterprise-class hard drives when I build systems, I have had several cheap HDs fail in the past.)
   

 

Software Setup:

1. Apple 10.6 upgrade DVD (you may want to get the iLife/iWork/OSX bundle)
   
2. [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] Supported 2.0
   
3. [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] 2.3 - Check these boxes:
   
   1. 
      
   2. UserDSDT
      
   3. System Utilities - All
      
   4. Advanced Options > Kexts > Audio > LegacyHDA > ALC889
      
   5. Advanced Options > Kexts > Graphics > NVEnabler
      
   6. Advanced Options > Kexts > Network > RealtekR1000SL
      
   7. com.apple.boot.plist > 64-bit GraphicsEnabler=No
      
   8. smbios.plist > iMac > Core i5
      
   9. OSx86 Software > All
      

[*] DSDT: There are two version of the DSDT for my Gigabyte board , I used the F10 version from Tonymacx86 DSDT Database: DSDT-GA-H55M-USB3-F10.aml

[*] Here is a video tutorial of using [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url]:

 

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