iBoot 3.1 Update


iBoot has been updated to 3.1. Pick up the latest version at tonymacx86.com/downloads
  • Added 10.8.0 Kernel from Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update
  • Universal 1155/1156/1366 CPU support for 10.6.x
  • Updated bootloader to Chimera v1.4.1 r877
    Please do not upload or redistribute iBoot to any other sites.  


    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further iBoot development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    Building a Sandy Bridge CustoMac: Recommended Builds for OS X

    Last week Mac OS X was updated to version 10.6.8, with native kernel support for Sandy Bridge. It's now a snap to get these systems up and running with a retail Mac OS X Snow Leopard installation. At long last here are recommendations for fully compatible Socket 1155 builds running Mac OS X as the primary operating system.

    All builds are fully compatible with the default iBoot + MultiBeast method. Each configuration has a pre-edited DSDT available in our DSDT Database. And best of all, upon the release of OS X Lion, all will be fully updateable. 

    All Builds Include:
    • Gigabyte LGA 1155 Motherboard
    • 2011 Intel Core i-series "Sandy Bridge" Dual-Core or Quad-Core CPU 
    • 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of RAM
    • 1 TB Hard Drive
    • Optical Drive
    • Case
    • Power Supply
    • Mac OS X Snow Leopard Retail DVD
    Not Included:
    • Monitor 
    • USB Keyboard and Mouse
    • Wifi / Bluetooth
    We've included all components besides monitor, keyboard and mouse, as any standard ones will do. You can use these recommendations as a jumping off point for further customization, or as a shopping list. Prices reflect lowest totals available on Amazon.com as of June 2011, and do not include shipping, tax, or rebates.

    Sandy Bridge CustoMac Build #1
    $442.35
    CPU: Intel Core i3-2105 with Intel HD 3000 Graphics - Amazon  Newegg 
    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H67M-D2 - Amazon / Newegg
    RAM: Corsair XMS3 4 GB 1333mhz DDR3 (4GB) - Amazon / Newegg 
    Case: Cooler Master Elite 341  - Amazon / Newegg
    Power Supply: Corsair CX430 - Am44.99azon / Newegg
    Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc - Amazon / Newegg  
    Hard Drive: Seagate 1 TB 7200RPM - Amazon / Newegg
    Installation DVD: Mac OS X Snow Leopard
      


    Sandy Bridge CustoMac Build #2
    $730.33
    CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 - Amazon / Newegg  
    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 - Amazon / Newegg
    Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 5770 - Amazon / Newegg
    RAM: Corsair XMS3 4 GB 1333mhz DDR3 (4GB) - Amazon / Newegg 
    Case: Cooler Master Elite 341  - Amazon / Newegg
    Power Supply:  OCZ 500 watt ModXStream Pro - Amazon / Newegg
    Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc - Amazon / Newegg  
    Hard Drive: Seagate 1 TB 7200RPM - Amazon / Newegg  
    Installation DVD: Mac OS X Snow Leopard





    Sandy Bridge CustoMac Build #3
    $850.52
    CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K - Amazon / Newegg  
    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 - Amazon / Newegg
    Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6850 - Amazon / Newegg
    RAM: Corsair Vengence Blu 1600Mhz DDR3 (8GB) - Amazon / Newegg 
    Case: Cooler Master Elite 341 - Amazon / Newegg
    Power Supply: OCZ 500watt ModXStream Pro - Amazon / Newegg
    Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc - Amazon / Newegg
    Hard Drive: Seagate 1 TB 7200RPM - Amazon / Newegg  
    Installation DVD: Mac OS X Snow Leopard
     


    Sandy Bridge CustoMac Build #4
    $1232.79
    CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K - Amazon / Newegg
    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3 - Amazon / Newegg

    Can't find this particular board? Check out Updated Compatible Z68 Motherboards

    Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6870 - Amazon / Newegg 
    RAM: Corsair Vengence Blu 1600Mhz DDR3 (16GB) - Amazon / Newegg 
    Case: Cooler Master Elite 370 - Amazon / Newegg
    Power Supply: OCZ 600watt ModXStream Pro - Amazon / Newegg
    Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc - Amazon / Newegg    
    Hard Drive: Seagate 1 TB 7200RPM - Amazon / Newegg    
    Installation DVD: Mac OS X Snow Leopard



    Optional Accessories




    Optional Upgrades


    Remember, when building your own rig, it's easy to get frustrated- don't give up! There are users with similar specs in the tonymacx86 Forum to help you out if you get stuck. 

    Oh, and don't forget, if you end up buying anything, click through one of the links above or in the sidebar. That way, you'll be supporting the site, as well as getting the best prices. Thanks in advance! 

    Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update

    Today Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.8 the 8th (and final?) major update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard. To update for any supported CPU, we recommend that you download the entire standalone Combo installer here.


    Be sure to back up any important data, and if possible clone your hard drive before applying the update. Testing is underway. Report your results in the forum here


    All updated information will be posted here.

    What we know about 10.6.8 so far...
    • 10.8.0 Darwin kernel with native Sandy Bridge support. This means that going forward, all Sandy Bridge systems can use default iBoot + MultiBeast method. 
    • SATA3 6gbps now recognized and functional on Sandy Bridge.
    • Includes drivers for Sandy Bridge Intel HD 2000/3000 Integrated Graphics (No Injector Yet)
    • Includes drivers for AMD 6xxx Graphics cards
    • Identifies and removes Mac Defender malware
    • App Store Update to "Get Ready for Lion"
    • Still no NVIDIA 4xx Fermi support by default
    IMPORTANT: For Socket 1155 Sandy Bridge users, installing the 10.6.8 update is causing crashes, or kernel panics. Use UpdateHelper before applying the update to solve this issue. Details here.
    • Graphics - The update will replace your NVIDIA drivers.
      •  If you're using a NVIDIA 4xx "Fermi" card, you will have to update to the latest official drivers BEFORE rebooting. Download here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro-macosx-256.02.25f01-driver.html
      • If your system is stalling in verbose mode on [ PCI configuration begin ], install the IOPCIFamily FIX available in MultiBeast 3.8.0.
    • Audio - The update will replace your AppleHDA.kext
      • If you use ALC8xxHDA for audio, you will have to reinstall AppleHDA Rollback using MultiBeast. If you're using VoodooHDA, you will not need to make any modifications.
    • USB -  The update will replace your IOUSBFamily.kext. 
      • To restore full USB functionality on a Non-DSDT or EasyBeast system you may need to install USB Rollback using MultiBeast before reboot. Download MultiBeast
      For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

      Demystifying Mac OS X HDMI Audio


      HDMI Audio + Video can be enabled on Mac OS X for most graphics card and motherboard configurations without much hassle using the replacement audio driver VoodooHDA. Using the supplied AppleHDA.kext for HDMI audio is something of a challenge, but provides numerous benefits including native Mac OS X support, high quality digital surround audio and overall system integration.

      Over the past few months, toleda has been exploring and experimenting using different methods, and has come up with what we think is a pretty definitive series of guides on the subject. Please note that this is an advanced process and is highly dependent on your exact hardware configuration.

      Enabling HDMI audio via AppleHDA in Mac OS X 10.6.x is comprised of four guides:
      1. RequirementsDetermines if your system is capable of HDMI audio. 
      2. DSDT EditsConfigures your motherboard for HDMI audio.
      3. Kext Edits for AMD 5xxx Customizes Mac OS X for your AMD 5xxx graphics card. 
      4. Kext Edits for NVIDIA 4xxCustomizes Mac OS X for your NVIDIA 4xx graphics card.
      We've set up a new HDMI Audio subforum to host toleda's guides and general troubleshooting topics. Good luck!

      -tonymacx86, toleda & MacMan
      For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

      DSDT Database Update: Gigabyte Socket 1155 - H61/H67/P67/Z68 Verified Edits

      We've done a major update to the DSDT Database, adding hand edited, verified DSDTs for all Gigabyte Socket 1155 motherboards. To clarify, based on weeks of testing with these motherboards, we've done only bare minimal edits to help enable sleep, Turbo/Speedstep/Power Management (without NullCPU), and audio using AppleHDA Rollback & ALC8xxHDA (without HDAEnablers). 

      Here's a list of the new DSDTs we've just added:
      • GA-H61M-D2-B3
      • GA-H61M-D2P-B3
      • GA-H61M-S2V-B3
      • GA-H61M-USB3-B3
      • GA-H67A-D3H-B3
      • GA-H67A-UD3H-B3
      • GA-H67A-USB3-B3
      • GA-H67M-D2-B3  - 1.0
      • GA-H67M-D2-B3 - 1.1
      • GA-H67M-UD2H-B3 - 1.0
      • GA-H67M-UD2H-B3 - 1.1
      • GA-H67MA-D2H-B3 - 1.0
      • GA-H67MA-D2H-B3 - 1.1
      • GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3
      • GA-H67MA-USB3-B3
      • GA-H67N-USB3-B3
      • GA-HA65M-D2H-B3
      • GA-HA65M-UD3H-B3
      • GA-P61-USB3-B3
      • GA-P67-DS3-B3
      • GA-P67A-D3-B3
      • GA-P67A-UD3- B3 - 1.0
      • GA-P67A-UD3- B3 - 1.1
      • GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
      • GA-P67A-UD3R-B3
      • GA-P67A-UD4-B3
      • GA-P67A-UD5-B3
      • GA-P67A-UD7-B3
      • GA-P67X-UD3-B3
      • GA-P67X-UD3R-B3
      • GA-PA65-UD3-B3
      • GA-PH67-DS3-B3
      • GA-PH67-UD3-B3
      • GA-PH67A-D3-B3
      • GA-PH67A-UD3-B3
      • GA-Z68A-D3-B3  
      • GA-Z68A-D3H-B3  
      • GA-Z68AP-D3
      • GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3  
      • GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3  
      • GA-Z68P-DS3
      • GA-Z68X-UD3-B3  
      • GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3  
      • GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3  
      • GA-Z68X-UD3R-B3  
      • GA-Z68X-UD4-B3  
      • GA-Z68X-UD5-B3  
      • GA-Z68X-UD7-B3  
      • GA-Z68XP-D3
      • GA-Z68XP-UD3
      • GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD
      NOTE: All DSDTs are verified extracts from the latest BIOS versions.

      Instructions on how to use with MultiBeast's UserDSDT are available here. A full explanation and list of the Minimal Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1155 motherboards will be posted on MacMan's Blog. Good luck, and let us know how it goes with these new additions to the DSDT Database!

      -tonymacx86 & MacMan

      For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!