Big-Sur-Hackintosh-Gigabyte-Z390M-mATX-GAMING-i5-9600K-PowerColor Radeon-RX-5700

Introduction

This guide is an update to the previous Hackintosh guide for the Gigabyte Z390M GAMING mATX motherboard. It now targets macOS Sequoia (15.1.1 as of Dec 2, 2024). The majority of the credit for this update goes to [Gilberto-Mascena's Z390M-GAMING EFI].

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Wi-Fi Card BCM943602CDP Doesn't Work
• Quick Overview on How I Upgraded
• Key Differences from Gilberto-Mascena's Guide
• Installation Process
• Credits
• Questions or Issues
• Detailed Guide
  • What's Working/What's Not
  • Hardware
  • Process
  • Preparing your Hackintosh
    • BIOS Configuration
    • Gathering Files
    • USB Mapping Recognized
    • Creating your SSDT/DSDT
  • Navigating your OpenCore config.plist
    • Good Practices / plist Workflow
    • Starting Clean
    • config.plist contents
      • Booter
      • DeviceProperties
      • SMBIOS
      • Kernel
      • Misc
      • NVRAM
  • MacOS Installer
  • Updating your EFI

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Wi-Fi Card BCM943602CDP Doesn't Work

The Wi-Fi functionality of the BCM943602CDP card is not supported, though Bluetooth works. For a workaround, refer to this guide.

Quick Overview on How I Upgraded

• Backup EFI: Ensure you have a backup of your current EFI folder.

• Update OpenCore:

  • Replace old OpenCore files with the latest release and update config.plist.

• Update Kexts and Drivers: Download and replace with the latest versions.

• Boot the current macOS version to validate updated EFI

• Prepare macOS Installer:

  • Use a tool to download the full macOS installer and create a bootable USB.

• Copy Updated EFI to USB: Mount and copy the updated EFI to the USB's EFI partition.

• Boot into Install Media: Restart and boot from the newly created USB drive.

Key Differences from Gilberto-Mascena's Guide

• This guide uses an Intel Core i5-9600K CPU, while Gilberto-Mascena uses an i7-9700F
• The boot argument agdpmod=pikera is added to prevent black screen issues with the RX 5700 GPU
• USBToolBox was used to create a custom USB port map. The resulting UTBMap.kext and USBToolBox.kext are included in the EFI/OC/Kexts directory.
• Verbose -v boot flag is set for detailed startup messages

Installation Process

The general installation process remains the same as the original guide:

1. Build USB Map using USBToolBox
2. Configure ACPI
3. Gather required Kexts, Drivers and Tools
4. Configure OpenCore config.plist
5. Update BIOS settings
6. Install macOS Sequoia

Refer to the original guide for detailed steps on each part of the process. Use the updated kext and driver versions mentioned in this guide.

Credits

• Gilberto-Mascena for the Z390M-GAMING EFI update that inspired this guide
• The hackintosh community on r/hackintosh for their support and troubleshooting help

Questions or Issues

If you encounter any problems following this guide, please post your questions on the r/hackintosh subreddit where there is a very knowledgeable and helpful hackintosh community.

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Detailed Guide

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This guide aims to build a parallel to the Apple iMac 27-Inch "Core i5" 3.7 (5K, 2019). This is a vanilla install guide and I reccomend against using any pre-packaged images or distrobutions.

Details

What's Working/What's Not

Working

• Ethernet
• IGPU in headless mode
• App Store
• Wake/Sleep
• Restart
• Shutdown
• USB (Correct SS/HS speed)
• All DP and HDMI port
• Dual monitor from boot
• Apple Music (iTunes)
• iMessage
• Facetime
• Handoff
• Airdrop
• Continuity
• AirPlay
• Apple TV+
• Netflix/Prime in Safari
• Docker
• VMware Fusion

Not Tested

• FileVault
• Power Nap
• Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. May work with itlwm. If you need stable WiFi+BT, use native apple card

Hardware

In the Case

Components	SKU	Comments
CPU	Intel Core i5-9600K	Coffee Lake - 3.70 GHz Hexa-Core Base Frequency 3.70 GHz Max Turbo Frequency 4.60 GHz (BX80684I59600K)
iGPU	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Only for DRM support (Apple TV+)
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390M Gaming mATX	Not interchangeable with other SKUs
WiFi Adapter	BCM943602CDP (4 antennas)	Bluetooth 4.2 (Including NGFF to M.2 Adapter)
Graphics Card	PowerColor Radeon RX 5700 8 GB Video Card
HDD - NVMe	WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD 2TB	MacOS boot drive
HDD - NVMe	WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD 1TB	Win10 boot drive
HDD - NVMe	WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD 1TB	Shared drive (games + vm storage)
RAM	Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 X.M.P	Recommend 3200MHz / Better 3600MHz
PSU	Seasonic FOCUS PX-550	Full-Modular, Fan Control, Silent
PC Case	Goodisory S200	SFF
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-L9x65	Low-Profile CPU Cooler
Cooling Fan	Noctua NF-F12 PWM	12cm

On my Desk

Components	SKU	Comments
Monitor	Dell UltraSharp U2718Q	27" 16:9 4K HDR IPS
Monitor	Dell Gaming Monitor S2721DGF	27″ 1440p 165Hz HDR Nano IPS panel
Audio	Firestone Audio Bravo 24/96 Digital Processor	24-bit audio via USB 2.0 Does not require drivers
Keyboard	Leopold FC660C	Topre switch
Mouse	Logitech MX Master 2	Logitech Unifying Receiver - RF Wireless
Mouse	Logitech G604	Lightspeed Wireless

Process

1. Build USB Map
2. Build SSDT/DSDT
3. Gather Files
4. Configure OpenCore
5. Configure BIOS

Preparing your Hackintosh

BIOS Configuration

Items	Version	Date
BIOS	F9m	Sunday, June 27, 2021

• Make sure the IGP is set to Enabled for the Framebuffer to be recognized (Auto will not work)
• Disable CFG Lock
• Disable Serial Port
• Advanced Mode > Settings > Above 4G Decoding > Enabled
• Advanced Mode > Settings > USB Configuration > XHCI Hand-off > Enabled
• Advanced Mode > Boot > CSM Support > Disabled

Gathering Files

Kexts	Last Version	Use	Comments
Lilu	1.5.5	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
VirtualSMC	1.2.6	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
WhateverGreen	1.5.2	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
NVMeFix	1.0.9	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
IntelMausi	1.0.7	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
RadeonBoost	1.6	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/	Not Currently in use (Sunday, June 27, 2021)
AGPMInjector	3.3.4	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
USBToolBox kext	1.1.0	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/
UTBMap*	0.0.9	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/	Generated using the ToolBox tool
CPUFriend	1.2.4	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/

*USB Map must be generated. See USB section below.

Drivers	Use	Comments
HfsPlus.efi	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Drivers/
OpenRuntime.efi	/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Drivers/	From OpenCore download

Tools (non-EFI)**	Last Version	Use
USBToolBox tool	0.0.9	Generating USB Map
GenSMBIOS		Generate SMBIOS Info
gibMacOS	9a683e7	Download MacOS
ProperTree	d9bbf09	.plist editor

**Do not add to EFI/OC/Tools directory

USB Mapping

Recognized Properly maping your USB ports is critical for this guide to work.

USBToolBox Process

1. Launch a Windows 10 Live CD
2. Download and run USBToolBox/tool
3. Plug USB devices in each of the root USB ports on your motherboard
4. Select Discover Ports and wait for the listing to populate
   1. Do not connect hubs
5. Enter Select Ports screen
6. Select the ports that are populated and their associated ports - Keep this below 15 total ports
7. Press 'k' to build your kext
8. Move the generated kext to your '/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/'
9. Also place the USBToolBox/kext in the same folder - '/Volumes/EFI/EFI/OC/Kexts/'

Creating your SSDT/DSDT

Two options:

Create your own SSDT/DSDT using SSDTTime (Prefered)

The end result should look similar to this:

ACPI FILE	SOURCE	Use	Guide
SSDT-EC.aml	Generate using SSDTTime	/EFI/EFI/OC/ACPI/	Dortania Guide
SSDT-PLUG.aml	Generate using SSDTTime	/EFI/EFI/OC/ACPI/	Dortania Guide
SSDT-PMC.aml	Generate using SSDTTime	/EFI/EFI/OC/ACPI/	Dortania Guide
SSDT-USBX.aml	Download	/EFI/EFI/OC/ACPI/	Dortania Notes

Download my ACPI folder

From the files provided you can use the ACPI section with limited success. It's a reasonable place to start but you should eventually generate your own SSDT/DSDT. Unless you are using the exact same CPU/Motherboard combination you will have to swap in some generic prebuilt ACPI files.

Navigating your OpenCore config.plist

Good Practices / plist Workflow

• Use versioning! (Git repo or iCloud Drive - Use something!)
• Use ProperTree
  • First place all the files properly in your EFI folder
  • After the config is opened, press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + R and point it at your EFI/OC folder to perform a "Clean Snapshot":
    • This will remove all the entries from the config.plist and then adds all contents of your /EFI/ folder content to the config.plist
  • Then go through and make your plist changes

Starting Clean

When creating a new hackintosh or if you're updating OpenCore start with a fresh conflig.plist to make sure you're working with what is compatible with the latest version of OpenCore. Things frequently move around - You'll have to pay attention.

Items	Last Version	Use	Comments
OpenCore	0.7.2	/Volumes/EFI/

Follow the offical guide for setting up your installer EFI

• Sample/config.plist(opens new window)
  • See previous section on how to obtain: config.plist Setup

config.plist contents

Booter

Quirk	Enabled	Comment
DevirtualiseMmio	YES
EnableWriteUnprotector	NO
ProtectUefiServices	YES	Needed on Z390 system
RebuildAppleMemoryMap	YES
SyncRuntimePermissions	YES

DeviceProperties

AAPL,ig-platform-id	Comment	Enabled?
07009B3E	Used when the Desktop iGPU is used to drive a display	Yes
00009B3E	Alternative to 07009B3E if it doesn't work
0300913E	Used when the Desktop iGPU is only used for computing tasks and doesn't drive a display

PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1b,0x0)

This was removed as I am using USB devices for audio

SMBIOS

YOU MUST UPDATE SMBIOS INFO for iServices to work

If you use the config.plist from this project you must update the following.

Key	Config.plist	Tool	Comments
MLB	PlatformInfo -> Generic	GenSMBIOS
ROM	PlatformInfo -> Generic		This tutorial then this next step
SystemProductName	PlatformInfo -> Generic	GenSMBIOS
SystemSerialNumber	PlatformInfo -> Generic	GenSMBIOS
SystemUUID	PlatformInfo -> Generic	GenSMBIOS

SMBIOS	Hardware
iMac19,2	Currently using (Sunday, June 27, 2021)
iMac19,1	For Mojave and newer

Kernel

Follow the official guide for this section

Misc

Follow the official guide for this section

NVRAM

boot-args

Follow the official guide for this section

keepsyms=1 debug=0x100 alcid=1 agdpmod=pikera -v

Boot arg	Use
keepsyms=1	This is a companion setting to debug=0x100 that tells the OS to also print the symbols on a kernel panic.
debug=0x100	This disables macOS's watchdog which helps prevents a reboot on a kernel panic.
alcid=1	Unused for this guide - Used for setting layout-id for AppleALC
agdpmod=pikera	Used for disabling board ID checks on Navi GPUs(RX 5000 series), without this you'll get a black screen. Don't use if you don't have Navi(ie. Polaris and Vega cards shouldn't use this)
-v	This enables verbose mode

MacOS Installer

Updating your EFI

You'll want to regularly update your EFI to keep the process simple. I typically wait for the latest release (11.x.x) of MacOS to mature a few weeks before attempting this procedure as OpenCore and the Kext developers will have time to catch up.

1. Download the needed files

   • See the gathering files section.

2. Download the latest OpenCore Releases - Typically the first Monday of every month

3. In the download file you'll find the differences.pdf

   • /OpenCore-0..-RELEASE/Docs/Differences.pdf
   • Review the document and see if any of the OC features you depend on have any updates. This is where you will find what is incompatible between versions.
     • Many OC updates and incompatibilities between versions stem from using ALC audio. I forgo the on-board audio and go with an external USB DAC which is fully compatible with MacOS.

Useful Links

Questions?

Please post on /r/Hackintosh on reddit as they heavily push the vanilla hackintosh method and have been great help in the past