Now your options are vast and the installation process is fairly simple.
First Things First: What Is a Hackintosh, Exactly?
A hackintosh is simply any non-Apple hardware that has been madeor hackedto run macOS.
This could apply to any hardware, whether its amanufacturer-madeor personally-built computer.
For the purposes of this guide, were only discussing a tried-and-true method for building a hackintosh thatyoubuild.
This is not a project for beginners, but it is something that anyone can learn to do.
How Does This Guide Work?
Although this is true, it doesnt change that much.
It can be a little scary sometimes, but thats part of the fun.
Thankfully, were here to do a lot of the work for you!
CustoMac Mini Deluxe: A larger, but still below-average sized computer with some significant power behind it.
CustoMac mATX: A mid-sized build with a quad-core CPU, maxed out RAM, and lots of expandability.
CustoMac Budget ATX: A powerful desktop build with budget-minded parts and no graphics card.
CustoMac Pro: A full-sized build with a quad-core CPU, maxed out RAM, and lots of expandability.
Alternatively, you might check out our list of individual components and build your own custom system.
Use our Buyers Guide as a shopping list or as a jumping off point for further customization.
Youll have to take those steps, too, but after quite a bit of prep work.
If youre installing on a recommended CustoMac desktop with AMI UEFI BIOS, the options are simple.
Step 2: Install macOS Sierra
Now its time to actually install macOS.
Our recommended bootloader is called Clover.
Clover is a new and exciting open source EFI bootloader.
For this, youll also need:
A copy ofmacOS Sierrafrom the Mac App Store.
(see to it you have the latest version!)
An16GB thumb drive(or larger).
UniBeast, available from the Downloads page on tonymacx86.com.
MultiBeast, also available from the downloads page on tonymacx86.com.
once you nail everything, youll need to create your installation flash drive.
double-check it appears in /Applications.
Insert your 8GB+ USB drive and open /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.
Highlight the USB drive in the left column and press the Partition tab.
Click Current and choose 1 partition.
At the Clover boot screen, choose USB and press Enter.
If you have trouble reaching the installer, check outstep 4 on this pagefor more information.
Under Format choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
When its finished, close Disk Utility and run UniBeast.
Finish clicking through the wizard to create your USB drive.
This should take about 10-15 minutes.
Drag MultiBeast to your new flash drive so you have it for later.
Insert your new installer flash drive into your soon-to-be hackintosh.
Boot up the system and press the hotkey to choose a boot gadget (usually F12 or F8).
Choose your flash drive when prompted.
Choose your language on the welcome screen, then head to Utilities > Disk Utility.
nudge the Options button and select GUID Partition Method.
Close Disk Utility when the process is finished.
Go through the rest of the installation wizard to complete the process.
This is a somewhat condensed version of the installation process, which should get you through everything you need.
It also includes System Utilities to repair permissions and a collection of drivers and config files.
If you have a newer UEFI based system, choose UEFI Boot Mode.
Legacy Boot Mode is recommended for older desktops with BIOS based systems.
Next, choose drivers from the Drivers tab.
This will depend on your build but youll likely need drivers for audio.
Find out the chipset on your motherboard and choose the relevant driver for it.
You may also need Ethernet drivers.
Most everything else will be determined by whether or not you chose other natively compatible hardware like your GPU.
Some GPUs require special drivers, and others work by default.
Click Print or Save to back up your configuration.
Click Build, then click Install.
Let MultiBeast do its thing.
reset your gear to complete the installation.
Alternate NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
NVIDIA releases alternate graphics drivers separately on the web for each macOS build.
These are different from the drivers Apple ships as standard, and should be considered experimental.
You canread more about these drivers and download them here.
(For example,heres what you had to do for OS X 10.11.6).
How to Troubleshoot Your Hackintosh
Hackintoshes arent perfectthings can go wrong for any number of reasons.
Its unlikely youll create one without running into, at least, a minor dilemma.
If you run into some problems, you will likely be able to find support ontonymacx86.com.
No matter what you think, youre going to screw something up at some point.
You wont regret it.
