Now your options are vast and the installation process is fairly simple.
If youre looking for something newer, check out ouralways up-to-date guide.
First Things First: What Is a Hackintosh, Exactly?
A hackintosh is simply any non-Apple hardware that has been madeor hackedto run Mac OS X.
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.
CustoMac Pro Socket 2011: The most powerful single CPU system you’re free to build.
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.
To access BIOS/UEFI Setup, press and holdDeleteon a USB Keyboard while the system is booting up.
LoadOptimized Defaultsbefore doing anything else.
If your CPU supportsVT-d, find the setting and disable it.
If your system hasCFG-Lock, find the setting and disable it.
If your system hasSecure Boot Mode, find the setting and disable it.
Set OS throw in toOther OS, if applicable.
Your machine should reboot.
Step 2: Install Mac OS X Yosemite
Now its time to actually install OS X.
For this, youll need:
A copy ofOS X Yosemitefrom the Mac App Store.
(verify you have the latest version!)
An8GB thumb drive(or larger).
UniBeast, available from the Downloads page on tonymacx86.com.
MultiBeast, also available from the downloads page on tonymacx86.com.
when you’ve got everything, youll need to create your OS X 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 go for the Partition tab.
Click Current and choose 1 partition.
Click Options and choose Master Boot Record.
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 rig (usually F12 or F8).
Choose your flash drive when prompted.
At the Chimera boot screen, choose USB and press Enter.
If you have trouble reaching the installer, check outstep 4 on this pagefor more information.
Choose your language on the welcome screen, then head to Utilities > Disk Utility.
hit 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.
Clover has a completely different system of configuration with a decidedly steep learning curve.
It can be confusing for those who have only ever used the more traditional Chameleon or Chimera.
Clover is also in beta stage, and is not guaranteed to work well for all systems.
Development has been fast and furious, with many major changes appearing in the code all the time.
Clover can be a moving target, difficult to pin down- almost, it seems, by design.
If you want to try installing OS X with Clover, check outmy complete step-by-step guide here.
It also includes System Utilities to repair permissions and a collection of drivers and config files.
Chances are youll want to choose DSDT-free here, unless you have an older build that requires a DSDT.
Click Drivers for Audio, Graphics, and data pipe options.
Again, this will depend on your build but youll likely need drivers for audio.
Find out the chipset on your motherboard and choose the relevant AppleHDA 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 Customize for further options.
Changes here will vary based on your hardware choices, but those are the basics.
Click Print or Save to back up your configuration.
Click Build, then click Install.
Let MultiBeast do its thing.
power cycle your gear to complete the installation.
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 dofor OS X 10.9.3,10.9.4, and10.9.5).
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.
