Asus CG5290 Rampage II Gene 9 Gb Ram GTX 260 Hackintosh

[Hackintosh2000]

I was trying for days to get a decent Hackintosh setup on the Asus Essentio CG5290. I finally found a pretty good solution. It is nawcom's ModUSB. I first PURCHASED a copy of Snow Leopard 10.6.3 (C'mon people its only $30 bucks and the CEO is dying of cancer). Next I used Windows 7 to download and burn nawcom's ModCD ISO. That's right I didn't use a Mac for any of this.

 

It is important that you prep you BIOS for the OS X install. Set SATA to AHCI. Go into the BIOS and deactivate JMicron. I got slow SATA reads from my DVD drive when I ignored this on my first install. Also make sure your OS X system drive is connected to SATA 1. I got stuck on the gray Mac screen when I failed to do this. Set your BIOS to the desired boot order. Sometimes its kind of weird. For example on my computer it showed the DVD drive, a slot for removable media (I assumed this was the USB drive), and then a slot for hard drive. So I set things accordingly. I ran into trouble at one point and it took me forever to figure out that the slot for hard drive means all hard drives connected including USB thumb drives. I went into another menu and put the USB drive ahead of the hard drive.

 

I used the ModCD and the retail OS X 10.6.3 CD to format and install OS X on my CG5290. After that I prepped a 16 GB USB flash drive according to Lifehacker's instructions. I did everything up to restoring the OS X image to to the thumb drive. When you restore the image on the drive do NOT check the erase option. Just restore the dmg without altering the rest of the USB drive. All of this was accomplished in the Disk Utility. I didn't do any of the Terminal stuff.

 

After getting a pretty decent Hackintosh up and running with an older nawcom ModCD. I then downloaded nawcom's latest OSX86 ModUSB file. I launched the installer and pointed it at my prepped thumb drive with the OS X 10.6.3 dmg on it. After that I restarted my computer, wiped the destination hard drive using disk util, and installed OS X 10.6.3 from the USB drive.

 

If all goes well when it comes time to restart your computer during the install remove the thumb drive and Chameleon should be installed. Everything should boot up perfectly and the install should finish with you making the normal new computer settings.

 

After you finish the OS X install place the attached Asus CG5290 dsdt.aml into the /Extra folder. After it is in the /Extra folder capitalize it (ie change name to DSDT.aml).

 

I had one really strange problem. My DVD drive did not work very well. It couldn't play movies at all. I figured out AFTER the install is done enable IDE AND AHCI in the JMicron menu. Then open your computer and connect the DVD drive to the JMicron header on the MoBo. In the CG5290 its the SATA cable port sitting by itself on the Mobo. Things worked well after that. In fact the Disk Utility used to take a while to start up but after my fix it starts much faster. Don't ask me how I came up with that solution. It just came to me.

 

What works... 8 cores recognized in the Activity Monitor. All 9 gigs of Ram recognized! Correct i7 920 processor recognized. iLife '11 installed with a couple of warnings about some ATI kexts. Graphics with full acceleration works. I tested this with the flurry screen saver. Rear and front green jacks produce sound (you have to configure them in the sound and Voodoo menus in the preferences menu). Only problem is you must have speakers disconnected when you start OS X. If they are plugged in you won't have the option of rear panel green channel audio. If you have already started OS X just unplug the speakers and plug them back in and you should now have the option of the rear green audio output in the VoodooHDA and system preferences menus. Updated to 10.6.8 no problem. I didn't do anything special for the update. No legacy kernels or any manipulating kexts necessary.

 

All this was accomplished without editing or adding any kexts manually.

 

So what didn't work? Sleep did not work OoTB. Fixing it required messing with kexts . This is what I had to do to get sleep to work the "vanilla" way... I had to remove nullcpumanagement.kext and add the following to my com.apple.boot.plist:

 

<key>GenerateCStates</key>

<string>Yes</string>

<key>GeneratePStates</key>

<string>Yes</string>

 

After deleting nullcpumanagement.kext from the Extra/Extensions folder I had to rebuild the kextcache in the Extra folder using Kext Utility. Just drag the Extensions folder in the Extra directory on top of the Kext Utility icon and drop it. It will automatically know what to do. After that sleep worked. Restart and shutdown worked with and without nullcpumanagement.kext. I have subsequently been informed that Kext Utility is not the end all be all. If you get less than optimal results with it you may have to resort to manipulating kexts manually .

 

 

My equipment...

Core i7 920 2.67 (after install O'clocked to 3.8 Ghz)

9 GB Trichannel Ram

Nvidia GTX 260

2 TB WD Green drive (I added this to the stock system)

Asus Rampage II Gene MoBo Bios Ver. 1401 (gimped CG5290 version)

 

So why didn't I just stick with the CD install? I think it was an older version and for some reason after the original install it didn't automatically make the system drive bootable. I don't know why. The CD install is just a step on the way to a fully functional Mac. You don't need sound or any bells and whistles. You just need it to work well enough to use diskutil and make the USB installer disk.

 

The system updated to 10.7.2 without a problem.

ASUS_CG5290_BIOS_1401_DSDT.zip

[toolshed]

Thanks for that Hackintosh2000.

 

So I opened up your DSDT and the first thing I notice is that Scope_PR is different.

 

I'm kinda clueless about DSDT. For comparison I've listed mine (Rampage Gene II) below, and the same section from the CG5290 underneath. As you can see, some of the Alias statements are missing from my Rampage DSDT. But why does yours only list up to Alias (PR009, CPU9)?

 

Here's my kernel info

 

Mach kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Fri Apr 23 18:28:53 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.7.4~1/RELEASE_I386

Kernel configured for up to 2 processors.

1 processor is physically available.

2 processors are logically available.

Processor type: i486 (Intel 80486)

Processors active: 0 1

Primary memory available: 6.00 gigabytes

Default processor set: 78 tasks, 474 threads, 2 processors

 

I have CPU=1 set in BIOS, but of course it won't boot OSX if I set otherwise

 

Running 10.6.4, 64-bit.

 

Bootloader is Chameleon. CPU is 930.

 

Is it possible there is a DSDT/bootloader (Chameleon) conflict here?

 

Anyway, back to my problem. I have only 1 cpu running. Have read the common solution to this problem is to remove the Alias lines from Scope_PR. Others say it is a bootloader problem. But you have Alias statements in your Scope_PR, and all cores running. What do you think?

 

Rampage Gene II

 

DefinitionBlock ("dsdt.aml", "DSDT", 1, "A1234", "A1234000", 0x00000000)

{

External (_T_1)

Scope (_PR)

{

Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06)

{

}

Processor (P002, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P002, CPU2)

Processor (P003, 0x03, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Processor (P004, 0x04, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P004, CPU4)

Processor (P005, 0x05, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Processor (P006, 0x06, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P006, CPU6)

Processor (P007, 0x07, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Processor (P008, 0x08, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P008, CPU8)

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)

{

}

}

 

CG5290

 

DefinitionBlock ("CG5290dsdt.aml", "DSDT", 1, "APPLE", "Hackinto", 0x00000000)

{

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)

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)

{

}

}

[Hackintosh2000]

Thanks for that Hackintosh2000.

 

So I opened up your DSDT and the first thing I notice is that Scope_PR is different.

 

I'm kinda clueless about DSDT. For comparison I've listed mine (Rampage Gene II) below, and the same section from the CG5290 underneath. As you can see, some of the Alias statements are missing from my Rampage DSDT. But why does yours only list up to Alias (PR009, CPU9)?

 

Here's my kernel info

 

Mach kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Fri Apr 23 18:28:53 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.7.4~1/RELEASE_I386

Kernel configured for up to 2 processors.

1 processor is physically available.

2 processors are logically available.

Processor type: i486 (Intel 80486)

Processors active: 0 1

Primary memory available: 6.00 gigabytes

Default processor set: 78 tasks, 474 threads, 2 processors

 

I have CPU=1 set in BIOS, but of course it won't boot OSX if I set otherwise

 

Running 10.6.4, 64-bit.

 

Bootloader is Chameleon. CPU is 930.

 

Is it possible there is a DSDT/bootloader (Chameleon) conflict here?

 

Anyway, back to my problem. I have only 1 cpu running. Have read the common solution to this problem is to remove the Alias lines from Scope_PR. Others say it is a bootloader problem. But you have Alias statements in your Scope_PR, and all cores running. What do you think?

 

Rampage Gene II

 

DefinitionBlock ("dsdt.aml", "DSDT", 1, "A1234", "A1234000", 0x00000000)

{

External (_T_1)

Scope (_PR)

{

Processor (P001, 0x01, 0x00000810, 0x06)

{

}

Processor (P002, 0x02, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P002, CPU2)

Processor (P003, 0x03, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Processor (P004, 0x04, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P004, CPU4)

Processor (P005, 0x05, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Processor (P006, 0x06, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P006, CPU6)

Processor (P007, 0x07, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Processor (P008, 0x08, 0x00000000, 0x00)

{

}

Alias (P008, CPU8)

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)

{

}

}

 

CG5290

 

DefinitionBlock ("CG5290dsdt.aml", "DSDT", 1, "APPLE", "Hackinto", 0x00000000)

{

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)

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)

{

}

}

 

I'm not sure. To be honest with you I'm clueless about DSDTs. My install with the NawcomMod USB didn't have any CPU issues when I did the original install WITHOUT the patched DSDT. I added the patched DSDT so that I could get sleep to work without kexts. The guy that patched the DSDT is a moderator known as MaLd0n. Check out his DSDT patching thread HERE. If you search the thread there should be a Retail Rampage II Gene patched DSDT already... I think. I know you can find one in THIS THREAD.

 

The DSDT I attached is for the MoBo in the CG5290 ONLY. It is NOT for the retail Rampage II Gene. I don't know what all the differences are between the MoBos. And I certainly can't tell you how they would translate into differences in the DSDT.

 

Two differences I know between the MoBos is the CG5290 does not have SLI or RAID. There is a hacked BIOS out there that enables SLI. I haven't seen one with RAID activated. Oh and the CG5290 has at least two fewer SATA HD connections. And that my friend is the extent of my current knowledge regarding the MoBos.

[uzmi]

After getting a pretty decent Hackintosh up and running with an older nawcom ModCD. I then downloaded nawcom's latest OSX86 ModUSB file. I launched the installer and pointed it at my prepped thumb drive with the OS X 10.6.3 dmg on it. After that I restarted my computer, wiped the destination hard drive using disk util, and installed OS X 10.6.3 from the USB drive.

 

Hi:

Can you give me a clue about the steps I should follow , please ?

 

The USB format is FAT32,MacOSPlus, Guid, MBR, 1or 2 partitions ?

 

I tried in different ways but I could not make it work.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Hackintosh2000]

Hi:

Can you give me a clue about the steps I should follow , please ?

 

The USB format is FAT32,MacOSPlus, Guid, MBR, 1or 2 partitions ?

 

I tried in different ways but I could not make it work.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I know my original post is long but read the entire thing first. The initial steps in the USB drive prep are on the Lifehacker site. Read that as well. Click on the link. I don't want to retype all his instructions nor do I want to steal other people's work without giving credit. I can say that you need to use Disk Utility in OS X and format your USB drive. You need one partition Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled). Make sure under Options GUID Partition Table is selected.

 

One potential pitfall when you are restoring the image of the retail install disk to the prepped USB drive is do NOT choose the erase option. It will undo all your previous prepeation. Uncheck the erase option prior to restoring the .dmg.

 

All this information is either in my original post or on the Lifehacker site. If you have anymore questions or problems after reading both come back and we'll work through them.

[joseph Morrissey]

ok same computer and trying to follow your directions but to no avail with the usb install

 

so after days of trying i said screw it and took a different route

 

used iatkos l2 with just the nvidia add in - installed lion like a dream updated fully no issues what so ever.

 

added the above mentioned DSDT - and going to try to upgrade to mtn lion tomorrow will report back on that