What You Need to Know Before Build A Hackintosh

I remember the first time when I was tried to Hackintoshing my PC. At that time I try to install Mac OS Snow Leopard on my PC. And the funny thing was I spend more than a week just to make it run on my PC.

At that time, the spec of my PC was different from the PC that now I use for experimenting Hackintosh. Yeah! Quitely mess at that time haha.

I’ve tried different method vanilla and distro. And I finally found the safest way is by doing a vanilla install.

However, I’ve learned a lot for using Mac distro. But if you ask me the best way to Hackintoshing your computer? I would love to recommend vanilla method and its better, do it yourself.

For peeps who already familiar with Hackintosh stuff. You know what exactly I am talking about here. But for you who’s unfamiliar, you might think that I missed spelling Mackintosh. ?

So! if you don’t know what Hackintosh is, or you are new into it and want to learn how to build your first machine. In this post, we will find out about what Hackintosh is.

But before we talk further about what hardware you should consider choosing to build a Hackintosh, and so on. You may need to know a few things.

What Is Hackintosh? (# Easypedia)

Alriiight, I will try to explain it in an easy way so everyone will nail it.

Hackintosh is a standard desktop or a Laptop PC that usually designed to work with Windows or maybe Linux operating system on it. But some people (Hackintosher) hack it to install and run a Mackintosh operating system (Mac OS – (X) on it.

They use a bootloader application such as Clover, Chameleon to create a PBR (Partition Boot Record) to boot the Macintosh operating system. They usually use a GUID Partition Table (GPT) format layout. Even tho this method also work on Master Boot Record (MBR) layout as well (Not recommended).

The bootloader e.g clover/chameleon has several files inside the PBR partition. Like kernel extension (kext), config.plist, etc.

The most essential kext used is FakeSMC.kext

For easy explanation; this ‘kext‘ make the macOS think that it installed on a real Macintosh computer.

Usually, some other additional kext added to it to make the operating system work properly e.g the audio, ethernet, wifi, etc.

For better performance, Hackintosher usually choose the computer hardware part that similar t real mac e.g iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, MacPro.

Stuff  You Need to Install Hackintosh On PC

# A hackintosh ready desktop/Lapto PC

If your existing PC is compatible to install macOS. Then you all inset. One thing for sure your PC must at least have a core2 duo processor or above. In order to run the macOS. Below core2 duo may only work for older version but won’t work for few latest macOS version.

You can Google it, what kinda brand of Laptop or Mainboard that known work well for Hackintosh. There is several blog/website on the internet that has a good review and resource about it.

Personally, I love using MSi for the motheboard. Most of them proved work fantastic for Hackintosh. Check it yourself here at amzn.to/2zq0KIe to find yourself. (That’s my Amazon affiliate link, for more info check my affiliate disclosure below this post about affiliate links)

# Compatible VGA/Graphics card

One most important or you can say essential hardware part to make you succeed installing macOS on your PC is Graphics card/GPU.

Ask Google to research about it, or simply read the post that has a list of working Graphics card based my own and some friend around internet experience. You can read the lists here Working Graphics Cards For Hackintosh [Case Study]

By doing research, you will save your time if you have a compatible Graphics card for Hackintosh. And not get busy to make it work with patching kext, etc.

Another hardware part like audio, ethernet card, wifi, etc is not too hard to make it work. As long it compatible with Hackintosh.

# macOS Installer App and how to make a proper bootable usb to install it (Vanilla method)

When everything is ready, then you will need to have a macOS Installer App to make a USB bootable in order to install macOS on your PC.

You can get it by asking a friend who has a real Mac computer. Usually, they keep the App installer. Or alternatively, you can google it, someone must upload it somewhere on the internet.

You can read posts in this blog how to create bootable USB for Hackintosh

Here if you want to learn create it from Windows How to Make Hackintosh Bootable USB Drive From Windows

Here how to create it from a running Hackintosh or real Mac computers How to Make Mac OS Sierra Bootable Usb Drive With Disk Utility

Is Hackintosh Illegal?

I think it depends on the purpose. If you plan to build it for personal and educational purposes. And need to learn how the amazing Macintosh operating system work. Then I think it’s okay.

Because you know, this fancy computer made by Apple was very very expensive. Even if you buy it from the second hand, the price is still high.

And the only way to learn the Mac OS is by Hackintoshing a PC.

But! if your purposes are trying to make money from it by build a mass Hackintosh PC and make a company called ‘crappytosh‘ or whatever. And selling it away. Then you are really looking for trouble. It’s definitely an illegal practice.

Conclusion

You always can find other useful post related to Hackintosh stuff in this blog. I will try to keep posting about it when I learn something new and share it with you guys.

I know this post is far far from perfect. That’s why for you Hackintosher who have a better experience, I really appreciate it if you like to share with us here.

And please don’t feel hesitate to correct me if there is something wrong or incomplete explanation that I’ve writte in this post.

Okay! that’s it for now.

Hope this post useful for a ‘good’ reason, you know.

And thanks for read.

Keep calm and keep on learning by doing!

Peace!