How to Build a Hackintosh PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building a Hackintosh—a non-Apple computer that runs macOS—has been an exciting challenge for tech enthusiasts for many years. It allows users to build custom PCs with more power or flexibility than official Macs, often at a fraction of the cost. However, with the advent of Apple's new proprietary processors, the future of Hackintosh is uncertain. This guide walks through the process of building a Hackintosh and explores its future in light of recent developments.

History of Hackintoshing

The Hackintosh journey began as far back as 1996, during Apple’s brief experiment with licensing its Macintosh System 7 operating system to third-party manufacturers like Motorola. This effort ended with Steve Jobs' return to Apple in 1997, as he swiftly ended these licensing agreements by releasing Mac OS 8. However, the seeds for a non-Apple Macintosh had already been planted.

Hackintoshing in its modern form became viable in 2005 when Apple announced its switch from PowerPC to Intel processors. This made it possible to run macOS on hardware outside Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem. The first successful Hackintosh builds emerged in 2005 with macOS Tiger 10.4.1 running on Intel-based PCs. Communities like OSx86 and developers such as Maxxuss contributed patches and bootloaders like Chameleon (released in 2008) and later Clover (released in 2012, the same year I started my Hackintosh journey) to enable macOS to run smoothly on custom hardware. Today, OpenCore has become the standard bootloader for Hackintosh users.

My Hackintosh Journey

My personal Hackintosh journey began in November 2012, when I built my first Hackintosh using a Gigabyte B75M motherboard and an Intel i3 processor. At the time, I was 22, and my budget was limited, but I was eager to get macOS running on custom hardware. Having recently taken courses in system design and operating systems, I was excited to dive into this project, which was made possible thanks to the availability of tools like Clover.

Fast forward to 2019, and I decided to go all out with an RGB Hackintosh build. I used an Intel Core i7-8700K Coffee Lake processor and a Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro motherboard, which I purchased from Microcenter in Brooklyn. By then, I had gained more experience with Hackintosh, and this new setup offered both power and style, giving me a fantastic system for daily use and development work.

My Hackintosh Build

Here’s a look at my current Hackintosh setup, which provides high performance while running macOS:

[!CAUTION]

Disclaimer: This specific build may not work for everyone, as Hackintosh setups depend heavily on hardware compatibility with macOS. Be sure to research each component thoroughly to ensure it will function correctly with your version of macOS.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Hardware

Selecting compatible hardware is the most important part of building a Hackintosh. You’ll need components that work well with macOS, and Intel-based systems are typically the most reliable. Popular brands for Hackintosh-compatible motherboards include Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI. For graphics, AMD Radeon cards such as the RX 580 or RX 6600 XT are ideal, while newer Nvidia cards are not supported by macOS.

Step 2: Preparing macOS Installer

Before you can install macOS, you’ll need to create a bootable installer using a Mac.

1. Download macOS: Use the Mac App Store to download the latest macOS version.
2. Create a Bootable USB Drive: Insert a 16GB USB drive and create the installer using this Terminal command:

   sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyUSB
   

3. Install OpenCore Bootloader: OpenCore is the most popular bootloader for Hackintoshes due to its stability. Download OpenCore from OpenCore’s GitHub page and configure it according to your hardware.

Step 3: Configuring the EFI Partition

The EFI partition is crucial for booting macOS on a Hackintosh. This is where you’ll store Kexts (drivers) and your config.plist file, which defines how OpenCore handles your hardware.

Mount the EFI Partition: Use a tool like Clover Configurator or MountEFI to access your USB drive’s EFI partition. Add Kexts: Essential Kexts include:

• Lilu.kext (for general system patches)
• WhateverGreen.kext (for graphics support)
• AppleALC.kext (for audio)
• VirtualSMC.kext (for system management)
• Configure Config.plist: Use ProperTree to edit your config.plist file based on your hardware. This file will control how macOS boots and interacts with your system.

Step 4: Installing macOS

Now that your USB installer is ready, you can begin the installation process.

Enter BIOS Settings: Adjust the BIOS on your motherboard to support macOS. Disable Secure Boot, set SATA Mode to AHCI, and enable XMP for RAM. Boot from USB: Boot your PC using the USB installer. The OpenCore bootloader will allow you to select the macOS installer. Install macOS: Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS on your SSD. The process will take several reboots.

Step 5: Post-Installation

After macOS is installed, you’ll need to copy the EFI folder from your USB drive to your macOS boot drive. This will allow the system to boot without needing the USB installer. You may also need to fine-tune your Kexts and configuration depending on your specific hardware setup.

The Future of Hackintoshing

Apple’s transition to its own proprietary Apple Silicon processors marks the beginning of the end for Hackintoshes. The new M1 and M2 chips are System on Chip (SoC) designs, integrating the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine on a single chip. These chips are not available for sale, and macOS is being optimized specifically for these ARM-based processors, effectively shutting the door on building new Hackintoshes using Apple's future hardware.

Despite this, there’s still some life left in the Hackintosh community. Apple has committed to supporting Intel-based Macs until at least 2025, so Hackintosh users with Intel setups can continue to use and maintain their systems for a few more years. However, as Apple’s ecosystem moves further into ARM-based architecture, Hackintosh will become increasingly difficult to sustain.

Some enthusiasts may attempt to run macOS on ARM-based PCs, but this will likely be an uphill battle. Apple’s chips are deeply integrated into their ecosystem, and it's unlikely that macOS will be easily ported to other ARM-based systems. Security features, like signed bootloaders and app restrictions, will make it nearly impossible to bypass Apple’s controls.

Conclusion

While the Hackintosh community will continue to thrive for a few more years, Apple’s move to Apple Silicon signals the beginning of the end. By 2025, when Apple fully drops support for Intel-based Macs, Hackintosh as we know it will likely be obsolete. However, for now, building a Hackintosh is still a rewarding project, and for many enthusiasts like myself, it has been a thrilling journey of technical exploration and discovery.