Awesome

⚠️ This repository is not maintained anymore, I don't own a NUC9I7QNX anymore.

Hackintosh NUC9I7QNX OpenCore

I love Mac OS and I use it for years. I could buy a Mac Mini M1, but I wont buy an unrepairable and unupgradable desktop computer. I expect durable computers, as much as I can.

System Specification

• Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-9750H Processor (6 cores, 12 MB Cache, 2.6 GHz to 4.50 GHz)
• Network: Built-in Intel i210 (the bottom one) Built-in Intel i219-LM (the top one)
• Wifi/BT: Broadcom BCM94360CS2 :wrench: + Built-in Intel AX200
• Audio: Built-in Realtek ALC256
• Graphics: Sapphire Pulse RX 570 4GB ITX + Built-in Intel UHD Graphics 630 2048 MB
• Thunderbolt: Built-in Intel JHL7540
• Memory: G.Skill RIPJAWS 2x16 GB 2666 MHz DDR4
• Main Hard Disk: NVMe Samsung EVO 970 500 GB
• Secondary Hard Disk: M.2 Sata Sandisk 500GB

OpenCore

• Version: 0.7.8
• Generate SMBios using Macmini8,1 type and add to config.plist > PlatformInfo > Generic

Bios Settings

• BIOS Version: QXCFL579
• First, restore default BIOS config: F9 - Optimal Defaults

Configuration

• Advanced
  • USB > Legacy USB Support: Enabled
• Security
  • Security Features > Intel Platform Trust Technology: Unchecked
  • Security Features > Intel Software Guard Extension (SGX): Disabled
  • Security Features > Thunderbold Security Level: Legacy mode
• Boot
  • Secure Boot > Secure Boot: Disabled
  • boot Priority > Fast Boot: Unchecked
  • boot Priority > Network Boot: Disabled
  • boot Priority > Ethernet1 Boot: Unchecked
  • boot Priority > Ethernet2 Boot: Unchecked

Install

Due to USB error on Big Sur 11.3+ and image of 11.2 hard to find, a clean installation has to be done from Catalina using EFI_INSTALL. Once installed, upgrade to Big Sur 11.3+ and use EFI.

Don't forget to add the serial number etc in both config.plist files.

Hardware

• GPU acceleration: built-in Intel UHD 630
• GPU acceleration: RX 570 (out of the box)
• Ethernet :zap:
• Audio (Front Panel Headphone)
• Audio (Rear Panel Headphone)
• USB A ports
• SD card slot
• NVMe SSD
• Wifi :zap:
• Bluetooth :zap:
• USB C ports
• Airpods Pro (battery level/noise reduction mode switch)
• CPU power management (tested using Intel Power Gadget)

Software

• Installer, App Store, App updates
• Update MacOS directly from Apple
• APFS, SSD TRIM
• iMessage, iCloud, Siri, iTunes, other services
• Handoff, Continuity, Universal Clipboard: built-in Intel AX200
• Handoff, Continuity, Universal Clipboard: Broadcom BCM94360CS2
• Metal, GPU accelerated applications: built-in Intel UHD 630
• Metal, GPU accelerated applications: Sapphire Pulse RX 570
• Time Machine
• Sleep mode
• Shutdown/Sleep/Wake
• Schedule Start up or Wake
• Screenshare (VNC)
• Wake On Screenshare

:wrench: Add Broadcom BCM94360CS2 wifi card

The idea was to plug the wifi card on a M.2 slot and use built-in wifi card antenna with the new one. Hardware problem for the antenna: built-in cables are MMCX male and BCM94360CS2 are MHF4 (IPEX-4) female. The easiest way to have it running is to get antennas

Hardware needed

• Broadcom BCM94360CS2 wifi card
• BCM94360CS2 to M.2 Key-M adapter
• Antennas

Bios setting

To prevent any trouble, you should disable built-in wifi:

• Advanced
  • Onboard Devices > WLAN: uncheck

:zap: Errors and other

• Built-in wifi connect on 5Ghz network but does not uses ac protocol:
  
• Speedtest:
  

:zap: MacOS Monterey 12.2

• i210 ethernet (the bottom one) does not work, SmallTree causes kernel panic on Monterey (issue here)
• Broadcom BCM94360CS2 does not work: wifi card is listed in hardware but cannot be enabled

:zap: MacOS Big Sur 11.3

• No USB after update, to fix it:
  • Enable config.plist > Kernel > Add > USBInjectAll kext
  • Disable config.plist > Kernel > Add > USBMap kext
  • Disable config.plist > Kernel > Quirks > XhciPortLimit

Not tested Hardware

• Audio (Microphone, Toslink)
• HDMI/DP audio
• Video encoder/decoder hardware
• Multiple displays
• Thunderbolt 3 port
• Secure Boot (with High Security)

Not tested Software

• FileVault2
• SIP, Gate Keeper, all OSX security features

OS Version Tested

Here is my install/update history, the upper one is the latest:

• [update] MacOS Monterey 12.3.1 (21E258)
• [update] MacOS Monterey 12.2.1 (21D62)
• [install] MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 (19H15)
• [update] MacOS Big Sur 11.4 (20F71)
• [update] MacOS Big Sur 11.3 (20E232)
• [install] MacOS Big Sur 11.2.3 (20D91)

Tools

• MountEFI tool
• GenSMBIOS tool
• ProperTree tool
• USBMap tool
• OCConfigCompare
• gfxutil

Kexts

• Lilu v1.6.0
• VirtualSMC v1.2.8
• WhateverGreen v1.5.7
• Audio: AppleALC v1.6.9
• LAN: IntelMausi v1.0.7
• Bluetooth: IntelBluetoothFirmware v2.1.0
• Built-in Wifi: AirportItlwm v2.1.0
• USB: USBInjectAll v2018-1108
• NVMe: NVMeFix v1.0.9

Resources

• OpenCore Sanity Checker
• Hac Mini Guide
• PcPerspective - Nuc9 Chipset
• OpenCore Guide - config.plist
• OpenCore Guide - Generate SMBios
• OpenCore Guide - Choosing the right SMBios
• OpenCore Guide - HDD boot
• OpenCore Guide - Debug Mode
• OpenCore Guide - Update OpenCore