OK, this is not going to be a real guide, just kinda notes, info, and stories
on how I installed OSx86 10.6 Snow Leopard on my system.

Well lets start with the system specification and background info.

-System Specification-

Case = Antec Two Hundred
Motherboard = GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L
CPU = Intel Pentium E6300 Wolfdale 2.8GHz
Memory = A-DATA 2 x 2GB DDR2 800
Hard Drive 1 = WD 320GB SATAII 8MB 7200RPM -- Windows 7
Hard Drive 2 = WD 500GB SATAII 16MB 7200RPM
Hard Drive 3 = Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB
Hard Drive 4 = WD 500GB SATAII 16MB 7200RPM
Hard Drive 5 = WD 500GB SATAII 16MB 7200RPM -- Mac OS X
DVD Drive = SAMSUNG SH-S203B
Video Card = Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 512MB, XFX GS250XYDFC
Power Supply = Antec Earthwatts EA-500 500W
Monitor = Dell E151FPp 15", Dell E177FP 17", Epson PowerLite 77c Projector @ 75"
OS = Windows 7 64bit, Mac OS X 10.6.2

I use the BIOS to select the hard drive I want to boot, that cuts down
on potential problems, and makes things a little bit easier to install,
you just install like you would if each OS is the only OS installed,
and the trick is to unplug all other hard drives before the install,
leaving only the hard drive you want to use, plugged in, that also
keeps you from messing up, or loosing data.

I did not want to use a distro for fear of them being tampered with,
so I looked for a different solution and found Lifehacker's guide, I
did have to install a distro "temporally" for the thumb drive part,
and that told me OSX would work, but then I tried to install using
the thumb drive and all I got was a garbled screen, I was never able
to make it work, I also tried Empire EFI and it did the same thing,
so I kept reading.

Some things I tried made it lock up, at a black screen, but most just
made white lines or blocks on the screen, I learned that it may be the
video card that was giving me problems, so I borrowed a video card
out of my girlfriends computer and it worked, no acceleration, but
it worked.

I kept trying to get acceleration to work, I messed up the install
countless times when trying, I learned that video cards with a
"non reference design" could cause problems, sure enough both of
my video cards were "OC editions", factory overclocked, here
are the two problem cards.

ATI HD 4850 512M, MSI R4850-512M OC - gave me a blank or garbled screen every time
ATI HD 4830 512M, MSI R4830-T2D512 OC - worked for install, no acceleration, was never able to get acceleration

I want to note that I "think" I remember seeing that at least one
person got the MSI R4830 working, I was just never able to.

I wasted about a week on trying to get it working, and decided to
just say fudge-it, and just get a Nvidia video card, so I ordered a Nvidia
GeForce GTS 250 512MB, XFX GS250XYDFC, and in about 10 minutes
after installing the card I had acceleration, the first thing I tried was
"EFI Studio", and it worked good, but the version of EFI Studio that I
used did not have GTS 250 listed, but it did list the 9800 GTX,
basically the same thing, and that's what I used, I later went with a
DSDT for my motherboard and let PC EFI auto detect my video card.

BTW I dumped the ROM from the card and ran it threw NVCAP Maker
and it came back like this.

Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 512MB "XFX GS250XYDFC" with 2 DVIs and TV out

"04000000000003000c0000000000000700000000"

I also want to note that both displays work, but not mirroring, and
that I had to install some freeware called "SecondBar" to give me a
second menubar for the second display, it works OK, but not with
everything and its a little buggy, just thought I would bring it up,
might help some of you.

Basic Install

OK there are 2 different ways of installing that I tried, both seamed to
work, one was easier than the other.

The first way to install

Lifehacker's guide, or more like a mod of it, we would start at "Launch
the Disk Utility application on your borrowed Mac" and stop before
the Terminal work,

-Two notes-

(1) Use "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"
(2) Instead of the "Terminal work" download the "myHack Installer" and
install to you thumb drive

Then set the BIOS to this

(1) MB Intelligent Tweaker, leave it alone, just make sure it's correct
for your CPU

(2) Standard CMOS Settings,
"Floppy 3 Mode Support" set to Disabled

(3) Integrated Peripherals,
"SATA AHCI Mode" set to AHCI,
"Onboard IDE Controller" set to Disabled
"Onboard Serial Port 1" set to Disabled
"Onboard Parallel Port" set to Disabled
"USB Keyboard Function" set to Enabled
"USB Mouse Function" set to Enabled

(4) Power Management Setup,
"HPET Mode" set to "64-bit mode"

Then you install Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.

After the install, you install the "myHack Installer" to your hard disk

The second way to install

Download "Empire EFI", burn it to CD,

Then set the BIOS to this

(1) MB Intelligent Tweaker, leave it alone, just make sure it's correct for
your CPU

(2) Standard CMOS Settings,
"Floppy 3 Mode Support" set to Disabled

(3) Integrated Peripherals,
"SATA AHCI Mode" set to AHCI,
"Onboard IDE Controller" set to Disabled
"Onboard Serial Port 1" set to Disabled
"Onboard Parallel Port" set to Disabled
"USB Keyboard Function" set to Enabled
"USB Mouse Function" set to Enabled

(4) Power Management Setup,
"HPET Mode" set to "64-bit mode"

Then boot the CD, wait for the boot Screen, and then eject the CD,
wait about 30 seconds, swap the CD with the Mac OS X Retail DVD,
and wait for about 60 seconds now, then press "F5", and then select
your Mac OS X Retail DVD and install.

After the install, you install the "myHack Installer" to your hard disk


Problems

(1) Video not working

If its an ATI card, it may be "non reference design", or it could also be
your motherboard, during boot you have a few seconds to hit "TAB",
hit it two times then you can type in some options.

(A) PCIroot "-pci1" or "-pci0" tells the computer were the video card is.

(B) Verbose Mode "-v" lets you see the error messages.

You would hit Tab two times and type "-pci1 -v" and hit enter, or type
"-pci0 -v" and hit enter one of them might allow use your video card
or at least see the error message.

(2) Sound not working

Try this, its a AppleHDA.kext modified for ALC888

[GUIDE] Retail Snow Leopard (10.6.2) Install on Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3
(Core i7), Fully working 100%, ALC888 v1.8.3fc1 Included


(A) Find "AppleHDA.kext", back it up, and remove it from "/System/Library/Extensions"

(B) Download "AppleHDA.kext" from the above link, look for "ALC888"

(B) Find and download "Kext Utility"

(E) Drag "AppleHDA.kext" onto "Kext Utility" to install

BTW I was using VoodooHDA but it caused a kernel panic
after the 10.6.3 update

(3) Acceleration not working

(A) First edit the "com.apple.Boot.plist" in "/Extra", and add this

<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>
<string>y</string>

(Hint) You can copy "com.apple.Boot.plist" to your desktop, edit it,
and copy it back into "/Extra"

This turns on auto detection of you video card, does not always
work, you may also have to add "-pci1" or "-pci0" under
"Kernel Flags" like this, even then it may still not work.

<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string>-pci1</string>

or

<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string>-pci0</string>


(B) If Nvidia, Download EFIStudio and try that.

(C) If ATI, You could try dumping or downloading the ROM for your
video card and look here for info on how to use the ROM

http://netkas.org/?p=245#comments

And you can get the ROM from

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/

Or use GPU-Z under Windows to retrieve your ROM, and name it
correctly, and put in into the /Extra folder

-- read -- http://netkas.org/?p=245#comments

You would edit your "com.apple.Boot.plist" in "/Extra", and add -useatirom
some ware under "Kernel Flags" like this

<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string>-useatirom</string>

(D) Try another video card

(4) Bonjour not working

Go to Realtek's web page, and WOW there are Mac drivers, down
at the bottom of the page

Realtek Software: Drivers & Utilities

I would edit com.apple.Boot.plist and disable auto setup of the network
just incase it causes problems with the newly installed driver

Like this

<key>EthernetBuiltIn</key>
<string>n</string>

BTW if after installing the Realtek drivers your Hackintosh locks up
when downloading Torrents/P2P, or playing online games like WoW,
its a well known bug that even affects real Macs, the only way I have
been able to fix it, was to use the network settings and driver installed
by the "myHack Installer" but that also means no "Bonjour"

Here are some Links

WoW LEOPARD USERS: Current Issues & Resolutions

Transmission causes leopard slow death


DSDT

I am not going into details, instead I am just going to point you to a
place were to download your own, and how to use the Ubuntu Live
CD to get your own, and give you a few notes and tips

Head on over to http://efixusers.com/showthread.php?t=38 and
find your motherboard.

(Note) Its were I got the DSDT I am using now, I just added the fix to show
the SATA drives as internal.

- you need to register in order to download, and you put the
"DSDT.aml" into the "/Extra" folder


To make your own using the "Ubuntu Live CD", open the "Terminal", type in

"cd Desktop"

and then

"sudo cat /proc/acpi/dsdt > dsdt.aml"

save the "dsdt.aml" on your desktop to a thumb drive

- go here for a better understanding -

http://aserebln.blogspot.com/2009/10...pare-dsdt.html

Now you just need to patch it, and for that you need to do a lot of reading


-A few notes-

(A) A DSDT can be different depending on how its dumped

- If your running on OSX, using a hacked dsdt.aml
- If you extract from a downloaded BIOS file
- If you extract from a running system, not using a dsdt.aml, like Linux

Its best to extract on a running system, one that is not using a dsdt.aml file, "no DSDT injection"

(B) There is an awesome DSDT editor over at http://www.osx86.es/?p=610









Hints and tips

(A) Use Time Machine to back up your system, saves you a lot of
trouble, you will need to reapply any hacks or modifications after
a restore.

(B) Save a copy of your modifications, tools, web links, documents
and notes on the install, to a thumb drive.

(C) Install the "myHack Installer" to a thumb drive, or burn a copy
of "Empire EFI" and keep it handy.

(D) Install most modifications, hacks, and KEXTs into the "/Extra"
folder, if you screw up, you can reboot with "myHack Installer"
installed to a thumb drive, or "Empire EFI" and fix it easily, else
enjoy doing a system restore or a reinstall.

(E) DOCUMENT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, save it in a text file or something,
believe me, it will end up saving you time and headaches.

(F) Check out the guides for the the "GA-EP45-DS3L" motherboard,
they are almost exactly the same.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-EP45-DS3L & GA-EP43-UD3L

Chipset

1. (A) North Bridge: Intel P45 Express Chipset for the GA-EP45-DS3L
(B) North Bridge: Intel P43 Express Chipset for the GA-EP43-UD3L
2. South Bridge: Intel ICH10


Audio

1. Realtek ALC888 codec
2. High Definition Audio
3. 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
4. Support for S/PDIF In/Out
5. Support for CD In

LAN

1. Realtek 8111C chips (10/100/1000 Mbit)

I/O Controller

1. iTE IT8718 chip
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just remember to use the correct DSDT for your motherboard,
not a DSDT from another.

(G) Do you want to run Windows applications under Mac OS X ?

(1) VirtualBox, over at virtualbox.org for free.

(2) CrossOver Mac over at Codeweavers, $39 to $69

(3) Parallels over at parallels.com for $50 to $80.

(H) Want to run brand new Windows games ?

Unless you are trying to play games like Bejeweled, go setup
a dual boot. (Note) Parallels and CrossOver Mac will play older
3D games just fine, stuff like Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam,
and such, and setting the game to use OpenGL seems to give
better results

(I) Having trouble editing or changing a file,

Drag it to the desktop, make the change or edit, and copy it
back you might also want to make a backup copy.

(J) Web Cams,

There is a driver that supports a few hundred different web
cams over at

Macam, USB webcam support for Mac OS X

(K) Xbox 360 Controller.

It works just fine with Mac OS X, get the driver at

Tattiebogle.net - Mac OS X, Xbox 360 Controller driver

(L) Some Applications (like emulators) store ROMS, BIOSes,
configuration files, and other files inside themselves, right
click on the file and select "Show Package Contents" to show
the files and directory's


The ZIP file I uploaded has my DSDT and CODEC dump inside, It
works just fine for me, but it may not for you, if not, you are going
to have to make your own, sorry.

Attached Files

GA-EP43-UD3L_CODEC_AND_DSDT_FILES.zip (8.2 KB, 221 views)

I was looking threw the DSDT I was using and noticed that it had the patch
for ALC889a audio, and this motherboard uses ALC888, so I decided to
make two DSDT files one with no audio hack/patch and one with ALC888
audio, both work with VoodooHDA.

Not a big change, but I thought I would share.

BTW I got the ALC888 info at
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/ind...ic=181509&st=0

The two DSDT files have all the patches needed to be used, there is only one
thing that might be a problem, its sleep, but its not something I use.

Attached Files

	EP43-UD3L_ALC888_hacked_audio_dsdt.zip (6.6 KB, 153 views)
	EP43-UD3L_no_hacked_audio_dsdt.zip (6.5 KB, 71 views)

I Found out that I don't even need to use "AppleHDA Patcher" and
that AppleHDA.kext" might even interfere with "VoodooHDA.kext",
so I have corrected my main post, I am leaving this here for future
reference

Also you may need to remove a file that gets created buy AppleHDA Patcher,
"ALCinject.kext".

If your Nvidia card still does not work correctly

You could try this, may not help, but at least it a chance

(1) Its only going to work if you can get video working enough to see
the screen

(2) Its only going to fix Video ports that are are not working correctly,
needing to swap connectors, or using some trick to see the desktop

You may end up having to get your NVCAP info, you would dump
the Video ROM under windows or dos and run it threw NVCAP Maker
on the mac, I use GPU-Z under Windows to dump Video ROMs

(Do not dump the Video ROM under a Virtual Machine, it wont work)

The NVCAP info, its info on the video output ports on you video card,
you will get a set of numbers like this

"04000000 00000300 0C000000 00000007 00000000"
or
"04000000000003000c0000000000000700000000"

Now go into EFI studio and select your video card, click "Add Device"
now click "Save XML" now open that file with ether "PlistEdit Pro"
or "Property List Editor" and add your NVCAP info and save the file
now open EFI studio and click on File then Open XML File, and install
like you would normally with EFI studio.

Or if you are worried about it not working, and preventing you
from booting, just edit your "com.apple.Boot.plist" file in the
"/Extra" folder, and use "Empire EFI Boot CD" or the the
"myHack Installer" installed to a thumb drive, to boot with if
you are unable to boot after the changes

This way is almost the same as before

Go into "EFI studio" and select your video card, click "Add Device"
now click "Save XML" now open that file with ether "PlistEdit Pro"
or "Property List Editor" and add your NVCAP info and save the file.

Now copy "com.apple.Boot.plist" from the "/Extra" folder to the desktop
open it with "TextEdit" and add

Like this

Now open "EFI studio" and click on "File" then "Open XML" File, now click
on "Hex String to Clipboard" and paste were "PASTE YOUR HEX HERE"
was.




And now copy it back to /Extra folder

I found some NVCAP numbers for you to try

Dual Display working through VGA and S-video on Go7400 on HP, NVinjectGO did it!

and

[DVI SOLVED] Gainward 8600GT 256mb VGA-DVI-HDMI

nice guide..

i have a same mobo.. its so easy to get a working osx with this mobo... lol...

---

Intel Core2Quad Q8400
Gigabyte GA-EP43-UD3L
4 GB kit DDR2 PC 6400 G-Skill BlackEdition
500 Gb Seagate Baracuda SATA
GeForce 9600 GT 512 MB GDDR3 256Bit
Mac OS X 10.6.2 || Leopard 10.5.8 || Windows 7

Visit my OSX86 Blog : http://osx86.boeaja.info

If my first and second video cards would have worked, it would have saved me a week of pain and frustration

Oh well, I may re-try them later, along with getting Surround sound working,
I may just give up on the motherboard sound, it never worked good even
under Windows LOL

Hi,

Is it possible that you know how to do the "dump videorom (from windows) + injecting NVCAP + making own EFI string" in ATI cards? Is there an equivalent "NVCAP" in ATI? Maybe ATICAP?

I'm using GraphicsEnabler in my ATI 4650 and im just getting output in VGA port. I have full QI/CE. Maybe if I try EFI string and inject an "ATICAP or something" ill work with other ports.

Thanks

As far as I know there is no ATICAP, but I hope that by using a ROM file
along with GraphicsEnabler, it will do what you need.

Your "com.apple.Boot.plist" in "/Extra" would be something like this

You could also do this instead

Now just get your ROM and rename it with the "Device ID" and "Vendor ID"
and put it into your "/Extra" folder

Hey Thanks for the reply.

I actually tried that method already. Dumping my Video ROM in Windows and converting .bin file to .rom (then rename it to the proper format that -useatirom understands) and use that rom with -useatirom in chameleon .. Unfortunately, it didn't work.

You're reply has been very helpful. I'll just try other steps or wait better drivers from Apple.

I have found that sometimes a program will take a "BIN" file that's
simply renamed "ROM" without any conversion, as should be the
case with GPU-Z files and "-useatirom"

Also don't dump under a Virtual Machine