Here is the main reason for building a hackintosh; You can save money as high end mac computer are very costly and do not provide any hardware customizations. You can use your windows computer for Mac softwares by installing mac OS in a separate SSD. I just wanted to check the rendering times on Premier Pro for Mac vs the Windows. I was surprised that the usage was more fluent on the mac OS Sierra. I’m using last generation Nvidia GTX 970 which is entry level GPU for 4K Gaming. After few addons, I was able to get it to work with all softwares. Siri was also working in mac OS sierra hackintosh. My 2 year old computer was able to score a close score to latest Macbook Pro and I was too happy about that.
Here is the complete guide to install macOS Sierra on your computer. I’ve specified all my hardware details here. I faced some difficulties while installing OS X but there was no hurdle in installing the macOS sierra as I already knew all the required Bios settings. Moreover I’ve been experimenting on Hackintosh for more than 1 year now so that experience somehow helped. I was able to get everything working within 2 hours of the installation process. To unable Nvidia Drivers, you have to install nvidia web driver at a latter stage. Same is the case with HDMI audio as it is not enable automatically so you have to run a script to enable it. I’ve added everything in my YouTube video for macOS Sierra installation.
SYSTEM SPECS :
Intel Core i7 4790K MSI Z97S Krait SLI Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming Corsair 16GB DDR3 Intel SSD 128GB Transend SSD 370 256GB Seagate Barracuda 2TB Seagate 1TBBENQ RL2755
Pre requisites
1. Register at tonymacx86! If you don’t have a user account, create one!
2. Get latest UniBeast and MultiBeast tools from the downloads section.
3. Purchase a 16GB or larger USB drive.
4. Do a full backup of your system. Use a separate HDD or SSD for installation.
UniBeast is a tool that creates a bootable installer out of your downloaded version of macOS.
STEP 1: Download macOS Sierra
The full operating system is a free download for anyone who has purchased Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion or has a Mac preloaded with OS X Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, or macOS Sierra. Download the Application from the Mac App Store using your Apple ID on any Mac or functional computer running OS X 10.7.5 or later.
1. Open Mac App Store
2. Log in with your Apple ID
3. Download macOS Sierra
Note The Application Install macOS Sierra will appear in /Applications.
STEP 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive with UniBeast
1. Insert the USB drive
2. Open /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
3. Highlight the USB drive in left column
4. Click Erase button
5. For Name: type USB (You can rename it later)
6. For Format: choose OS X Extended (Journaled)
7. For Scheme: choose GUID Partition Map
8. Click Erase then Done
9. Download and run UniBeast
10. Click Continue, Continue, Continue, Continue, Agree
11. At Destination Select, choose USB and click Continue
12. At Select OS Installation screen choose Sierra and click Continue
13. At Bootloader Options screen choose UEFI Boot Mode or Legacy Boot Mode. UEFI Boot Mode is recommended for 7/8/9/100 Series CustoMac desktops and all UEFI capable systems. Legacy Boot Mode is recommended for 5/6 Series CustoMac desktops and all BIOS based systems.
14. (Optional) At Graphics Configuration screen choose the appropriate graphics option for your system and click Continue.
15. Verify installation options, then click Continue, enter password and click Install
UniBeast will now create the bootable USB drive. The process will only take about 10 minutes, depending on system and drive speed. Do not unplug or stop during this time.
16. Drag MultiBeast to your completed USB drive.
Clover Note UniBeast delivers basic bootloader support based on our testing on recommended CustoMac systems. For further bootloader customization, download and run the official Clover package. Advanced users may also compile Clover by downloading the full source.
STEP 3: Recommended BIOS Settings
Note If you’re installing on a recommended CustoMac desktop with AMI UEFI BIOS, the options are simple. For other systems make sure to set your BIOS to Optimized Defaults, and your hard drive to AHCI mode. Here are standard MSI AMI UEFI BIOS.
To access BIOS/UEFI Setup, press and hold Delete on a USB Keyboard while the system is booting up
Load Optimized Defaults
Disable VT-d
Disable CFG-Lock
Disable Secure Boot Mode
Save and exit.
STEP 4: Install mac OS Sierra
You’re almost done! All you need to do is boot from the USB drive and install!
For best results, insert the USB in a USB 2.0 port.
1. Turn on the computer
2. Press the hotkey to choose boot device (F11)
3. Choose USB
4. At Clover boot screen, choose Boot Mac OS from USB
5. When you arrive at the Installer, choose language.
If you have issues reaching the installer, first make sure you’re using a USB 2.0 port. If you’re using a NVIDIA graphics card you may need to enter the extra boot flag nv_disable=1 to reach the installer. For instructions on entering boot flags see Clover Basics and Switching Advice.
6. For a new installation of mac OS Sierra, you MUST erase and format the destination drive according to the following steps before continuing.
a. In the top menu bar choose Utilities, and open Disk Utility
b. Highlight your target drive for the El Capitan installation in left column.
c. Click Erase button
d. For Name: type El Capitan (You can rename it later)
e. For Format: choose mac OS Extended (Journaled)
f. For Scheme: choose GUID Partition Map
g. Click Erase
h. Close Disk Utility
7. When the installer asks you where to install, choose El Capitan, or your existing install.
8. Upon completion, the system will automatically restart.
STEP 5: Post Installation with MultiBeast
MultiBeast is an all-in-one post-installation tool designed to enable boot from hard drive, and install support for Audio, Network, and Graphics. The installation is complete, but the drive isn’t bootable yet. Boot from the USB again, this time choosing El Capitan.
1. Turn on the computer
2. Press the hotkey to choose boot device
3. Choose USB
4. At the Boot Screen, choose your new El Capitan installation.
5. Complete mac OS Sierra setup
6. Open and run MultiBeast. If your system requires installing Clover to the root of the drive, such as Gigabyte 6 Series and X58 systems, skip to STEP 6.
7. If this is a fresh installation, click Quick Start. UEFI Boot Mode is recommended for 7/8/9+ Series CustoMac desktops and all UEFI capable systems. Legacy Boot Mode is recommended for 5/6 Series CustoMac desktops and all BIOS based systems.
8. Choose the appropriate audio and network options for your system: (Check FAQS)
9. Click Customize for further options
10. Click Print or Save to back up your configuration
11. Click Build then Install
If using a NVIDIA ‘Maxwell’ GeForce GTX 750, 750 Ti, 950, 960, 970, 980, 980 Ti, or TITAN X graphics card, mac OS graphics drivers are not natively supported. Alternate NVIDIA drivers are required.
12. (Optional) Download and install Alternate NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
13. Reboot
FAQS
You can check your audio and Ethernet controller from the detailed specification of your Motherboard.
Google it or visit official product website. For Example
Install and Enable Nvidia Web Driver in Hackintosh
Enable HDMI Audio in Hackintosh
STEP 1: Download macOS Sierra
The full operating system is a free download for anyone who has purchased Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion or has a Mac preloaded with OS X Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, or macOS Sierra. Download the Application from the Mac App Store using your Apple ID on any Mac or functional computer running OS X 10.7.5 or later.
1. Open Mac App Store
2. Log in with your Apple ID
3. Download macOS Sierra
STEP 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive with UniBeast
2. Open /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
3. Highlight the USB drive in left column
4. Click Erase button
5. For Name: type USB (You can rename it later)
6. For Format: choose OS X Extended (Journaled)
7. For Scheme: choose GUID Partition Map
8. Click Erase then Done
9. Download and run UniBeast
10. Click Continue, Continue, Continue, Continue, Agree
11. At Destination Select, choose USB and click Continue
12. At Select OS Installation screen choose Sierra and click Continue
13. At Bootloader Options screen choose UEFI Boot Mode or Legacy Boot Mode. UEFI Boot Mode is recommended for 7/8/9/100 Series CustoMac desktops and all UEFI capable systems. Legacy Boot Mode is recommended for 5/6 Series CustoMac desktops and all BIOS based systems.
14. (Optional) At Graphics Configuration screen choose the appropriate graphics option for your system and click Continue.
15. Verify installation options, then click Continue, enter password and click Install
UniBeast will now create the bootable USB drive. The process will only take about 10 minutes, depending on system and drive speed. Do not unplug or stop during this time.
16. Drag MultiBeast to your completed USB drive.
STEP 3: Recommended BIOS Settings
To access BIOS/UEFI Setup, press and hold Delete on a USB Keyboard while the system is booting up
Load Optimized Defaults
Disable VT-d
Disable CFG-Lock
Disable Secure Boot Mode
Save and exit.
STEP 4: Install mac OS Sierra
You’re almost done! All you need to do is boot from the USB drive and install!
For best results, insert the USB in a USB 2.0 port.
1. Turn on the computer
2. Press the hotkey to choose boot device (F11)
3. Choose USB
4. At Clover boot screen, choose Boot Mac OS from USB
5. When you arrive at the Installer, choose language.
If you have issues reaching the installer, first make sure you’re using a USB 2.0 port. If you’re using a NVIDIA graphics card you may need to enter the extra boot flag nv_disable=1 to reach the installer. For instructions on entering boot flags see Clover Basics and Switching Advice.
6. For a new installation of mac OS Sierra, you MUST erase and format the destination drive according to the following steps before continuing.
a. In the top menu bar choose Utilities, and open Disk Utility
b. Highlight your target drive for the El Capitan installation in left column.
c. Click Erase button
d. For Name: type El Capitan (You can rename it later)
e. For Format: choose mac OS Extended (Journaled)
f. For Scheme: choose GUID Partition Map
g. Click Erase
h. Close Disk Utility
7. When the installer asks you where to install, choose El Capitan, or your existing install.
8. Upon completion, the system will automatically restart.
STEP 5: Post Installation with MultiBeast
MultiBeast is an all-in-one post-installation tool designed to enable boot from hard drive, and install support for Audio, Network, and Graphics. The installation is complete, but the drive isn’t bootable yet. Boot from the USB again, this time choosing El Capitan.
1. Turn on the computer
2. Press the hotkey to choose boot device
3. Choose USB
4. At the Boot Screen, choose your new El Capitan installation.
5. Complete mac OS Sierra setup
6. Open and run MultiBeast. If your system requires installing Clover to the root of the drive, such as Gigabyte 6 Series and X58 systems, skip to STEP 6.
7. If this is a fresh installation, click Quick Start. UEFI Boot Mode is recommended for 7/8/9+ Series CustoMac desktops and all UEFI capable systems. Legacy Boot Mode is recommended for 5/6 Series CustoMac desktops and all BIOS based systems.
8. Choose the appropriate audio and network options for your system: (Check FAQS)
9. Click Customize for further options
10. Click Print or Save to back up your configuration
11. Click Build then Install
If using a NVIDIA ‘Maxwell’ GeForce GTX 750, 750 Ti, 950, 960, 970, 980, 980 Ti, or TITAN X graphics card, mac OS graphics drivers are not natively supported. Alternate NVIDIA drivers are required.
12. (Optional) Download and install Alternate NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
13. Reboot
FAQS
You can check your audio and Ethernet controller from the detailed specification of your Motherboard.
Google it or visit official product website. For Example
Install and Enable Nvidia Web Driver in Hackintosh
Enable HDMI Audio in Hackintosh
You now have a fully updated bootable version of mac OS Sierra on your CustoMac! And a USB rescue drive if something goes wrong.