GUIDE (AGO 2023)

Guide to a Successful Hackintosh on Intel 11th Gen (TigerLake)

Preface: Hackintoshing is not a straightforward process, and it requires a good deal of patience and technical know-how. This guide is for those who are comfortable with the basics and are specifically looking to Hackintosh a system with Intel's 11th Gen TigerLake processors.

1. Preliminary Steps:

• Backup Data: Ensure all your important data is backed up.

• Compatible macOS Version: At the time of writing, macOS Ventura is known to be compatible with TigerLake. Make sure you have a copy of the installation media.

• BIOS Settings: Before attempting the Hackintosh installation, adjust the BIOS settings:

  • Disable Secure Boot.
  • Disable VT-d (can be enabled later if necessary).
  • Set SATA Mode to AHCI.
  • Disable any CSM or Legacy Boot options.
  • Disable "Above 4G decoding" if the option is available.
  • Ensure all CPU-related settings like Intel Virtualization Technology are enabled.

2. Creating a Bootable USB Drive:

• Use a USB drive (16GB recommended) and format it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with a GUID Partition Table.
• Create a bootable USB using UniBeast or your method of choice.

3. OpenCore Configuration for TigerLake:

• For TigerLake systems, you'll need specific drivers and Kexts. Make sure you have the following:

  • Lilu.kext: A must-have kext for all hackintoshes.
  • WhateverGreen.kext: Necessary for graphics.
  • AppleALC.kext: For audio.
  • VirtualSMC.kext: Replaces FakeSMC for reading system info.
  • VoodooPS2Controller.kext: For laptops with PS2 keyboards & trackpads.
  • Proper Wi-Fi kext depending on your laptop's Wi-Fi chipset.

• Device Spoofing: You've mentioned spoofing the Intel Core i7 and the Iris Xe Graphics. Here's how to go about it:

  • Use DeviceProperties in your config.plist to spoof your CPU and GPU. For TigerLake, you'll generally be spoofing a comparable officially supported Mac device.
  • CPU Spoofing is achieved using the FakeCPUID boot flag in your config.plist.
  • For the Iris Xe graphics, you might need to add specific device IDs in the DeviceProperties section of your config.plist to ensure macOS recognizes and utilizes your GPU.

4. Installation:

• Insert the USB and boot from it.
• Follow standard macOS installation procedures. Choose to install on your desired hard drive.
• If everything is set up correctly, the system should boot into macOS Ventura's installation setup.

5. Post-Installation:

• Run MultiBeast or use MountEFI to mount the EFI partition and manually place the required kexts and drivers in the correct locations.
• Install essential kexts to /Library/Extensions using KextBeast or a similar tool.
• Use Hackintool or a similar app to ensure all your components (like USB ports) are working and properly mapped.
• For sound, use alcid=xx boot argument where xx is the layout ID suitable for your codec.

6. Final Touches:

• Test HDMI, WiFi, and Bluetooth to ensure full functionality.
• Set your system definition in config.plist. For TigerLake, something like iMac20,1 might be suitable, but always pick the one most closely resembling your hardware.
• Test sleep, wake, and other power management features. Use tools like Intel Power Gadget to monitor.

7. Troubleshooting & Community Help:

• If you run into issues, verbose boot (-v boot flag) can help diagnose problems.
• The Hackintosh community is active and always willing to help. Platforms like r/Hackintosh on Reddit, InsanelyMac, and Tonymacx86 are great resources.

Disclaimer: Always remember that Hackintoshing is a gray area in terms of Apple's EULA, and it's always recommended to run macOS on genuine Apple hardware for the best experience and legal compliance.