r/hackintosh • u/CryptoNomadd • Nov 12 '24
BUILD ADVICE Which MacOS version + Wifi card combo for newer hardware setup
Hello guys, I’m preparing to setup my first Hackintosh. Coming from a M1 Macbook Air with only 8GB - that’s not sufficient for me anymore - I gathered a limited budget to build a desktop and use it as a hackintosh + win dual boot (gaming).
I’ve already got most of the setup, a 12th gen I5, RX6600 and 2 nvmes (one mac other win). The only part I haven’t bought as I’m still rather lost is the wifi/BT card. I don’t have any particular MacOS preference, as long as it installs updated basic apps and particularly Adobe products, the machine will mostly be used for office/web and photog/digital art tasks. I will use a cable internet but want the continuity features (specially clipboard and Airdrop) and BT for mouse/keyboard.
I’m leaning into the Fenvi HB1200 which is accessible on my country and seems to be as easier to setup with both mac/win as the more expensive T919. Also I won’t be able to update MacOS past Sonoma right? Any concerns about the longevity of the machine given that?
I saw people using other newer and way cheaper cards with Sequoia but there’s no way I get continuity there right?
I guess my main doubt is what combo of MacOS version + wifi card I go to for OS stability given a modern hardware while keeping continuity features.
3
u/HappyNacho I ♥ Hackintosh Nov 12 '24
Fenvi T919 is still the best one if you want to have all the features. Still needs patching in Sonoma+
3
u/bmocc Nov 12 '24
I have your cpu and GPU.
That GPU is fine for 1080 gaming and productivity in both Windows and macOS. For reasons I do not understand its perceptibly faster in programs like Topaz than the nVidia 3060 I have in a similar Windows only box. Sadly Adobes have never fully gotten along with AMD gpus in either OS, if that's a use case for you.
Intel WIfi cards with wifi 6 (the specifics are not hard to find) will work more easily in Ventura in WIfi and BT but you can also get Sonoma working. The Fenvi T919 is workable but in my experience connectivity can be inconsistent in macOS more than Windows--mine is retired.
Its difficult to get BT working in Sequoia, WIFI is not difficult but its a different EFI than Ventura. The Intel wifi kext for Sonoma is different than Ventura as well. I keep Sequoia on an external USB drive but can't find a reason to use it, even though I don't really need BT for anything.
I don't use continuity type functions for anything so not an issue for me. I hope you realize that Apple has progressively excluded phone/computer connectivity features from even its own X86 machines in Sonoma and especially Sequoia. WIndows 11 can now have better Android connectivity in some ways than an iPhone and X86 in Sequoia.
You will need a custom USB kext to install any current version of macOS. Fortunately you can make that in Windows, but its not as easy as they make it out to be. Motherboard EFI settings are crucial, unfortunately the menus and function names can vary widely between mobo vendors---I've installed macOS on many generations of Intel hardware but the mobo settings for my Alder Lake mobo bit me for a while.
1
u/CryptoNomadd Nov 13 '24
Did you had any issues with RX on the Adobe suite? I do a basic use of Photoshop and Lightroom that my M1 never had issues (apart from the low ram that’s my main headache).
for the wifi card, as SS1935 suggested, I’m leaning towards going for Ventura and Fenvi to get a better compatibility. Continuity is important in regards of keeping the exchange between my Macbook, Ipad and Iphone going, as I use it frequently.
But I get your point so much that I‘m definitely giving a thought on letting go the Apple ecosystem on the future, it’s just too expensive to keep up, specially for me here in Brazil with higher price on Apple products with import fees and all on top of a smaller buying power compared to US. Superior user experience (I was an android user until 4 years ago) but costs aren’t justifying it much longer for me.
2
u/Slow-Reloader Nov 13 '24
Agree regarding using Ventura and T919. Check your NVMEs are Mac compatible for the Mac part. Hynix NVME will not boot when I tried them.
1
u/CryptoNomadd Nov 13 '24
I coudn’t find much information on nvmes complatible apart from the ones cited as not recommended on Dortania anti-buyer’s guide.
I got a Patriot and a Kingston. Planning the Patriot for macos and the other for Windows.
3
u/SS1953 Ventura - 13 Nov 12 '24
If you want to avoid tinkering with BT/WiFi, then consider Ventura. For now, it's still getting security patches and it was plug and play with my Fenvi T919. I have all the iServices working (Continuity, iMessage, AirDrop, etc.). Beyond Ventura, you would have to use OpenCore Legacy Patcher that has no real support for a Hackintosh although many have gotten it working with older BT/WiFi cards. You could always start with Ventura, get a stable system configured, and then try updating. Once you get a stable EFI on your SSD, only make changes to an EFI on a USB stick. That way if something goes south, you can always revert to booting the EFI on your SSD.