The Hackintosh Thread

[amgff84]

As previously mentioned, I would update with pictures of my setup. While it's not super fancy and cutting edge, it's still damn cool. Proof that it dual-boots into Windows for gaming too! I did have a bigger power supply but it was removed for troubleshooting a sleep issue in MacOS. Turns out it was not the PSU, but the Red Dragon 60% keyboard (not the one pictured). Fortunately with my hardware, the 450 Watt PSU is sufficient. The big take away is that a stupid wired keyboard caused my Hackintosh to wake from sleep and go back to sleep every minute or so, which was very annoying.

 

[pshufd]

It looks great to me. The cabling is exceptionally neat and there's nice LED illumination inside.

Good note on the keyboard. I've had a sleep issue with Windows 10 (it never goes to sleep) and I've been wondering if it's one of the many USB devices that I have connected or even the monitor hubs that I use. I'm going to try skipping the monitor hubs and direct-connect to the desktop.

 

[amgff84]

It looks great to me. The cabling is exceptionally neat and there's nice LED illumination inside.

Good note on the keyboard. I've had a sleep issue with Windows 10 (it never goes to sleep) and I've been wondering if it's one of the many USB devices that I have connected or even the monitor hubs that I use. I'm going to try skipping the monitor hubs and direct-connect to the desktop.

I couldn't believe it was the keyboard. I was excited to have a 60% keyboard, but oh well. My initial thoughts were the power supply and the fans. The fans are cheap UpHere fans from Amazon, so I suspected the controller was waking it up. The power supply was a Corsair RM850X, so I didn't expect that. As I was troubleshooting I was trying different "known good" hardware configs, and the I gave up. As I was sitting there I looked at my keyboard, and put this Redragon back on, and BINGO. I guess sleep was more important than that 60% keyboard!

 

[pshufd]

I couldn't believe it was the keyboard. I was excited to have a 60% keyboard, but oh well. My initial thoughts were the power supply and the fans. The fans are cheap UpHere fans from Amazon, so I suspected the controller was waking it up. The power supply was a Corsair RM850X, so I didn't expect that. As I was troubleshooting I was trying different "known good" hardware configs, and the I gave up. As I was sitting there I looked at my keyboard, and put this Redragon back on, and BINGO. I guess sleep was more important than that 60% keyboard!

My M1 mini does sleep, and, when it does, the keyboard lighting goes off. My Windows system doesn't sleep and the keyboard lighting is always on. So it's a possibility. It could also be something to do with the monitor hubs as I had some LED lights plugged in that were always drawing power. The system did sleep when last year but I've made a lot of modifications this year and I suppose that any of them could have caused the sleep problem. I just have to remove stuff until it goes away.

Those keyboards are usually called TKL (TenKeyLess) and all of my current use keyboards are like that. It gives you more deskspace and is only a problem if you do a lot of financial work. I can haul out an old full keyboard if I need to do a lot of numbers.

 

[amgff84]

My M1 mini does sleep, and, when it does, the keyboard lighting goes off. My Windows system doesn't sleep and the keyboard lighting is always on. So it's a possibility. It could also be something to do with the monitor hubs as I had some LED lights plugged in that were always drawing power. The system did sleep when last year but I've made a lot of modifications this year and I suppose that any of them could have caused the sleep problem. I just have to remove stuff until it goes away.

Those keyboards are usually called TKL (TenKeyLess) and all of my current use keyboards are like that. It gives you more deskspace and is only a problem if you do a lot of financial work. I can haul out an old full keyboard if I need to do a lot of numbers.

I have a TKL, but the one I had was a 60%, so it was literally just numbers and letters. No F keys, no arrows, or the keys above it. Picture below, and I would have used my Mac keycaps on it. Would have been cool... lol

I actually but all the keycaps on a Pulsar Lunar Alloy PK001. Insanely good value keyboard, even better value than the Redragon because it uses the same Oetemu switches but has a better look to it and less obvious branding.

 

[Jack Neill]

 

[amgff84]

View attachment 1812611

What works/doesn't work on this?

 

[Jack Neill]

What works/doesn't work on this?

I haven't found anything that doesn't work. I started with a Clover build and got Catalina working and then said EFF it and went OpenCore and Big Sur. The machine had a 512 Sata drive in it and I replaced with with a 256 NMVE Silicon Power cheapo from amazon. If might opt for a bigger Samsung drive in the future now that I have everything working

 

[amgff84]

I haven't found anything that doesn't work. I started with a Clover build and got Catalina working and then said EFF it and went OpenCore and Big Sur. The machine had a 512 Sata drive in it and I replaced with with a 256 NMVE Silicon Power cheapo from amazon. If might opt for a bigger Samsung drive in the future now that I have everything working

That’s awesome! Good to hear. Laptops are far more difficult than desktops. Then again, I have only tried clover on laptops.

 

[Jack Neill]

That’s awesome! Good to hear. Laptops are far more difficult than desktops. Then again, I have only tried clover on laptops.

I am still learning OpenCore, I too was a Clover only guy. OC really is quite awesome. I also used OpenIntel and Heliport to get Wifi and Bluetooth working although I could swap cards but I get decent enough speeds with the Intel kexts and card I don't see a point.

 

[Jack Neill]

I am still learning OpenCore, I too was a Clover only guy. OC really is quite awesome. I also used OpenIntel and Heliport to get Wifi and Bluetooth working although I could swap cards but I get decent enough speeds with the Intel kexts and card I don't see a point.

I forgot I had a 1TB WD NVME I pulled out of a ROG I upgraded and used CCC and cloned my Big Sur install and now I have enough room for all my photos and music, I went with iTunes on this machine instead of Music and couldn't be happier. I am thinking about swapping cards now, after some use the bluetooth can be a bit buggy with non apple devices ironically. I put a BCM94360CS2 into my Optiplex with a few adapters and it works great I am thinking of going that route and having Watch unlock.

​

 

[amgff84]

I forgot I had a 1TB WD NVME I pulled out of a ROG I upgraded and used CCC and cloned my Big Sur install and now I have enough room for all my photos and music, I went with iTunes on this machine instead of Music and couldn't be happier. I am thinking about swapping cards now, after some use the bluetooth can be a bit buggy with non apple devices ironically. I put a BCM94360CS2 into my Optiplex with a few adapters and it works great I am thinking of going that route and having Watch unlock.

If you end up getting watch unlock to work, let me know please. I have a BCM94360 and my watch unlock worked on Catalina but when I upgraded to Big Sur it either stopped working or worked until the next update. I can’t exactly remember.​

 

[Jack Neill]

I have 94360CS2 in a desktop and it works OTB with Catalina and Watch Unlock. I had Big Sur on that machine briefly and I want to say that Watch Unlock worked fine. What SMBIOS are you using?

 

[amgff84]

I have 94360CS2 in a desktop and it works OTB with Catalina and Watch Unlock. I had Big Sur on that machine briefly and I want to say that Watch Unlock worked fine. What SMBIOS are you using?

Sorry about the last reply, I did it on my phone and I have no idea what the heck caused that!

My SMBIOS is a MacPro6,1 for the sake a vanity. I believe this is more closely related to an iMac, but the card is from a macbook air, if that matters. It's not a huge deal, but watch unlock is very handy.

 

[countermoon]

"While it's not super fancy and cutting edge"

It's awesome!

(so is the dog...)

 

[countermoon]

What do you like about the keyboard? Is it mechanical?

 

[amgff84]

"While it's not super fancy and cutting edge"

It's awesome!

(so is the dog...)

Thanks, the system works well for my needs. The dog is a Newfoundland, and she's a lot of work, but worth it all. Big plus, she's a great family dog.

 

[amgff84]

What do you like about the keyboard? Is it mechanical?

Yes, these are mechanical keyboards. I prefer that over the chicklet style apple uses. These are cheaper keyboards using linear switches so they are not click, but I like that you can just buy Mac keycaps.

 

[countermoon]

I've spent years reading about keyboards. I couldn't find a Matias that would last longer than six months. I found mechanicalkeyboards.com and chose a Ducky One 2. It's a solid keyboard with Cherry MX brown switches. It's one of the better keyboards I've used. But then I learned a lot from a guy on YouTube about keyswitch technology, such as Hall effect in Wooting keyboards. Maybe I will try that next. Thomas dislikes Cherry switches. I'm more of writer than a gamer.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD0y51PJfvkZNe3y3FR5riw

 

[amgff84]

I've spent years reading about keyboards. I couldn't find a Matias that would last longer than six months. I found mechanicalkeyboards.com and chose a Ducky One 2. It's a solid keyboard with Cherry MX brown switches. It's one of the better keyboards I've used. But then I learned a lot from a guy on YouTube about keyswitch technology, such as Hall effect in Wooting keyboards. Maybe I will try that next. Thomas dislikes Cherry switches. I'm more of writer than a gamer.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD0y51PJfvkZNe3y3FR5riw

The cheaper keyboards use Oetemu switches, like mine. These are not as good as Cherry (supposedly), but they are still decent. I used a high end Corsair and I wasn't really wowed with it, but there is a small difference that is notable while typing. I like mechanical switches, and I prefer linear like red over the tactile brown or clicks red ones. Then Razer makes their own switches and they're fine, but for the money these low end keyboards are fine. Mine is a Pulsar PK001 with red switches and is just fine.

 

[pshufd]

The cheaper keyboards use Oetemu switches, like mine. These are not as good as Cherry (supposedly), but they are still decent. I used a high end Corsair and I wasn't really wowed with it, but there is a small difference that is notable while typing. I like mechanical switches, and I prefer linear like red over the tactile brown or clicks red ones. Then Razer makes their own switches and they're fine, but for the money these low end keyboards are fine. Mine is a Pulsar PK001 with red switches and is just fine.

I like the Cherry keys but have been buying CoolerMaster MK730s (i have three of them and my daughter has one). I also have a Corsair but some of the keycaps broke off (they provide spares though). I really prefer TKL these days as well. Full-size mechanical keyboards are pretty big and heavy. The newer stuff has nicer lighting too.

 

[Jack Neill]

Sorry about the last reply, I did it on my phone and I have no idea what the heck caused that!

My SMBIOS is a MacPro6,1 for the sake a vanity. I believe this is more closely related to an iMac, but the card is from a macbook air, if that matters. It's not a huge deal, but watch unlock is very handy.

I finally got my new wifi card and watch unlock works fine. Its very convenient.

 

[erayser]

I like the Cherry keys but have been buying CoolerMaster MK730s (i have three of them and my daughter has one). I also have a Corsair but some of the keycaps broke off (they provide spares though). I really prefer TKL these days as well. Full-size mechanical keyboards are pretty big and heavy. The newer stuff has nicer lighting too.

I'm so old school... all my TKL's have cherry mx switches. My youngest recently bought a 60% with Gateron red's, and I like them... and his kb came with double shot pbt keycaps which is a bonus. Now I'm willing to try other mechanical switches... but I'll stick with TKL's. I just need the function keys for some games I play, and prefer the look and feel of double shot pbt keycaps.

 

[amgff84]

We were talking about keyboards a while ago and I found a %60 Keyboard that suits my needs for the Hackintosh. It has both Mac and Windows keys with an easy way to switch between them, RGB, brown mechanical switches, and a sturdy and solid chassis. It is a no name brand from Amazon too, which I typically don't waste time buying cheap stuff from amazon that's rebranded 50 times... but here we are. It also supports bluetooth, but I can't get it to work on my older BT chip. Being a %60 keyboard they had managed to fit in the arrows, which is a nice feature, but they had to move a few things to do so. Pictures included to show what was done. ABS keycaps, but they seems sturdy.

Here's the link if you are interested.

 

[blazerunner]

So Alder Lake is officially out today. Anyone got any plans to give any of the 12th gen processors a go with Mac OS? Curious to know if the Big.Little setup will work with Mac OS, or if the e-cores would need to be disabled in BIOS to get around issues....

?