Hackintosh Advice
Hackintosh Advice
TL;DR: My 2013 MacBook Pro stopped working today. I need to dual boot my PC for MacOS 11 or 12. My setup isn’t ideal for a hackintosh, but I’m hoping for help. I’m using Windows 10 Home with an Intel i7 and several high-end GPUs. I want to start with MacOS and eventually triple boot. I plan to use OpenCore as the bootloader and need advice on fixing GPU settings, enabling Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and getting everything to work smoothly.
Your GPU poses the main challenge. macOS doesn’t support the 3070, meaning you’d have to link your display to the motherboard to utilize the integrated graphics.
I used to run Hackintosh when the hardware was more compatible, but I still wouldn’t recommend it. Are there any requirements for MacOS that you can’t meet in Windows or Linux? You might be able to make it work, though you’ll likely face some annoyances. My main advice is: 1) try it with your current setup (delete all other drives during installation), and 2) seek assistance from the Tonymac86 forums—they have a huge user base.
Thank you for the guidance. I rely on MacOS software, especially QLab, since alternatives aren't always reliable. I tend to pick workflows that work smoothly on both platforms.
I use an M1 Mac both for work and my main PC all day without any problems. You referred to QLab and confirmed it functions on ARM. Are you concerned about specific hardware or software limitations? I’m asking since you’re open to replacing parts, but I don’t think it’s the best moment to attempt an x86 build. Also, buying a low-end Intel Mac wouldn’t make sense unless you truly need it for work. The only Mac I’d consider right now is the Mac Pro, and even that is for professional use.
Which M1 Mac do you have? I’m hesitant about swapping to a new Macbook Pro right away because I mainly want the latest models, which are quite expensive. I also don’t like how tricky they can be to fix—my previous Mac had to undergo two tough battery swaps, and it seems harder now. There are rumors some apps don’t run smoothly on ARM, but if that’s not what you’ve experienced, it’s reassuring. I’m open to buying decent new gear (a fresh laptop plus a few desktop add-ons). The hacking PC I mentioned is only a year old.
In reality, this claim isn't accurate. Apple employed a powerful adhesive to secure the batteries in all Retina MacBook Pros from 2012 to 2020. This method complicated battery swaps significantly. However, the newer 14" and 16" M1 Pro/M1 Max models use a completely different design, making battery replacement straightforward. The cells are secured with adhesive pull tabs, allowing easy removal of the tabs and batteries.
I’ll need to align with others in this discussion... Hackintosh is tough enough when you tailor your gear for it, but adapting it to whatever hardware you already own adds extra complexity. Moreover, seeking advice from hackintosh forums about compatibility problems might lead you to hear things like, "didn’t you check the hardware compatibility lists?" An M1 Mac Mini could also work since you can attach an external GPU and set up any monitors you prefer. Just my take. pm