If you want to learn everything about Hackintosh or are considering an installation of the MacOS operating system on a non-Apple PC, then this guide will provide you with everything you need. In this way, you can count on the prior knowledge necessary to make the best purchase of your desktop and portable equipment so that everything works correctly and we do not have too many problems.

In this article we will recommend the best configurations for both desktop PCs and laptops, something that many other guides forget and it is important for many users to have macOS on a laptop as well. Here you will find everything step by step so that the system works correctly as if it were on a Mac.

All About Hackintosh

What is Hackintosh?

As you can imagine, the word Hachintosh is a mix between the word Hack and Macintosh, as Apple teams are known. It is used to designate any machine or practice to install the Apple macOS operating system on a non-Cupertino brand computer, that is, it is about creating a clone Mac in a somewhat “forced” way by default somehow.

I say this, because until 1997, Apple allowed to install its operating system on other computers that were not its own brand, but as of that date they wanted to monopolize this sector and thus sell the entire Mac platform, that is, software and hardware. But made the law, made the trap … Since then, many projects have been created to allow continuing doing this, although it is not legal, since the EULA license only allows the installation in original Macintosh.

However, the EULA license is based on US regulations, and there are no laws in many other countries about this, so Hackintosh is in limbo of illegality. In this way, any user can use macOS both on an original Apple computer and on a clone computer using Hackintosh, which are usually much cheaper…

That does not mean that the practice is legal, since Apple has had battles in the courts about it to prohibit certain manufacturers from selling clone equipment with their OS and although the users who practice it are not persecuted, you should know that you have to do it. Under your responsibility.

In addition, getting the image of the operating system will be somewhat complicated if you do not already have a Mac or know someone who has it and can download it for free from the Apple App Store and do you the favor of recording it in some medium so that you can use it for installation. You could find it in direct download; by Torrent or ed2k networks or similar if the previous alternative is not your case…

Why Do I Need A Hackintosh?

As I have said, acquiring an Apple team is not always available to everyone, and worse, although we can pay for it, the platform has its limitations in many ways, while the PC is somewhat freer and in case you want to opt for other options we would have freedom for it without any problem. Compatible software or hardware (drivers), as well as being free from the influence of Apple.

You can always buy an Apple and install another operating system, like GNU / Linux on it, but this is only a good idea in case you like the hardware of this company and see some benefits in terms of convenience when buying the complete equipment, with the operating system already pre-installed, and not assemble it piece by piece, carry out the installation, configuration…

Think that using macOS can have its advantages, since it is a UNIX operating system in which you will not have too many problems with malware as in Microsoft Windows, it is stable, and it allows you to work in a more productive way against the problems that I was able to raise the Microsoft system. Another advantage is if you are a developer or you need some specific software for macOS that is not for another platform and you do not want to buy an original Apple.

In general, the motivations that lead users to this go beyond what I tell you. Some are fans of Apple, but are looking for cheaper computers, or simply are not satisfied with the models offered by Apple and are looking for hardware to demand more of. This is because PCs are very flexible and you can choose from a multitude of models, and if you don’t like any, you can mount yours as you like. At Apple things do not work like that, but it would be something like: We offer you this, if you like it well and if you do not leave it!

Apple and other related companies or portals, have published studies on how wonderful it is to have an Apple and that, despite what everyone thinks of its price, it is not so expensive. On the other hand, not all of us suck our thumbs, and we cannot deny the world of possibilities that opens up when choosing a clone over an original.

You have to invest time in everything to work, and you may not save too much or nothing (depending on the configuration you choose) when choosing your Hackintosh, but I think that if you do not want to be tied hand and foot when choosing hardware, the best option for you is Hackintosh. And if you like DIY, surely when you finish the process you will feel more than proud of what you have achieved … At Apple they give you the goal, with Hackintosh you walk the path to that goal, which is sometimes really gratifying.

Because It Can?

You should know that there was a time with classic macOS that Apple teams have used a multitude of different architectures, from the mythical MOS Technology 6500 to the PowerPCs of IBM and Motorola with that alliance known as AIM (Apple, IBM and Motorola). But in 2005 it was announced that PPCs would be abandoned to start using an x86 platform with Intel chips.

This was a turning point, not only for Apple, but also for Hackintosh, since the operating system and all the software were ported to run on compatible x86 chips, that is, the ones we all use on our desktops and laptops at present. Also, little by little the requirements for the hardware to work properly under macOS have been reduced and it is currently very easy to make macOS work in a clone.

Does It Have An Expiration Date?

Although many say yes, that it will have an expiration date, I would not dare so much. Some portals have ventured to estimate 2020 as the deadline for the end of Hackintosh, when Apple abandons the x86 platform and starts using its own ARM-based microprocessors or SoCs . They are developing some of them really powerful lately, and it would be a way of not depending on Intel.

But it is also true, although this makes things difficult on x86 PCs, especially if they restrict execution by using some security chips such as the famous Apple T-Series. But who knows if other doors could be opened for Hackintosh in teams with ARM, etc. However, until the operating systems released for the last x86 that would come until that year are no longer supported, you could still enjoy them for a few more years after 2020. Read Reviews on Saim deals about the stuff which you want to get the information about and get benefit from that.

Hackintosh Support Projects

There are many projects dedicated especially to developing patches, tools and providing guides with everything you need to be able to do this practice with zero problems. In addition, there are communities and forums there where you can discuss and find solutions if you encounter any obstacles. These sites where you can download material are:

OSx86 Spain: You will find guides and resources in Spanish.

InsanelyMac: You also have a community where you can discover news, resources and tutorials.

Evosx86: more resources at your disposal in Spanish.

There are also the English versions, such as the portals Hackintosh.com, Tonymacx86.com, Hackintosher, AMD-OSX, etc. There is everything you need, help, patches, how to create macOS installation media, etc.

Recommendations

To make a Hackintosh as functional, stable and problem-free as possible, it is best to observe what Apple does and try to recreate it perfectly in a clone built by us. For example, we can take two specific models of iMac and MacBook Pro that have the following characteristics:

• iMac: Intel Core i5 2.3-3.6Ghz, 8GB DDR4 2133Mhz, Intel UHD 640 or AMD Radeon Pro 580, 1TB HDD 7200RPM
• MacBook: Intel Core i5 2.3Ghz, 8GB LDDDR, Intel Irus Plus HD 640, PCIe SSD

Well, a good option would be to use those settings as a basis to show our Hackintosh. But what happens if we don’t want those configurations, and even if we want to base our Hackintosh on AMD chips or NVIDIA graphics cards. The truth is that it could be done without too many problems, but keeps in mind one thing, avoid AMD APUs and opt for Ryzen CPUs, since APUs could give problems as they are extremely different from the chips used by the original platform.

Honestly, the RAM, the hard disk and other elements or peripherals are the ones that you should pay the least attention to; what’s more, many peripherals have support for Mac without problems, so you will find drivers for macOS easily. Therefore, if you can choose those elements better than others that do not specify that they have support, much better. Keep in mind, that although there is no support for a keyboard or mouse, to give an example, that does not mean that they will not work. But it is better to be cautious.

The two most conflictive elements are the CPU and GPU, since if they are not supported or do not work properly with the macOS XNU kernel, they will be the main sources of problems for your Hackintosh. Therefore, we give you a list with some of the graphics cards and CPUs that are stable and have been tested to verify that they work without problem:

List Of The Best Cpus For Hackintosh:

As for the most stable CPUs for Hackintosh and that should not give us problems, we have:

• Intel configuration: almost any, although preferably the Core i5, although the Xeon, Core i3, Core i7 and Core i9 of 8th Gen or 9th Gen would also be worth it. Avoid Atom, Pentium and Celeron. With the Intel platform you will have it easier for Hackintosh than with AMD.
• AMD configuration: any, although preferably the Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7, without integrated graphics. APUs might have some issues; in fact even Ryzen with iGPU could make the integrated GPU not work in Hackintosh…

List of the best GPUs for Hackintosh:

Here are some of the graphics cards supported in macOS without problems. You could buy graphics cards with these chips even if they are from other board assemblers, for example, if it is an ASUS, EVGA, MSI card, etc., they will generally work fine if they have the graphics chip listed here, although keep in mind that some of the features that these cards include and that are activated through the installation of additional software, may not work…

• AMD Radeon RX 470
• AMD Radeon RX 480
• AMD Radeon RX 570
• AMD Radeon RX 580
• AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100
• AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
• AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
• AMD Radeon Vega Frontier Edition Air
• AMD Radeon Pro WX 9100
• AMD Radeon Vega 56
• AMD Radeon Vega 64

With this, you would have everything ready to mount your Hackintosh and minimize possible inconveniences …

List Of The Best Motherboards For Hackintosh:

Here are the best motherboards for Hackintosh:

• ASUS PRIME Z390-A
• ASUS PRIME Z390-P
• ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI Code
• ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI Formula
• ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI Hero
• ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI Extreme
• ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Game
• ASUS ROG STRIX Z390-H Game
• ASUS TUF Z390-Plus Gaming
• ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming
• Gigabyte Z370 HD3
• Gigabyte Z370XP SLI
• Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming
• Gigabyte Z370M-DS3H
• MSI H370 Gaming Pro Carbon
• MSI H370M Bazooka
• List of the best RAM modules:
• Here are the best DDR RAM modules:

Our Selection With The Best Settings For Hackintosh:

If you want us to make it even easier for you, we have already chosen some configurations that work well and will make your macOS practically “not find out that it is in a clone and not in an original” and you can have all the functionalities available without problems :

Best Desktop For Hackintosh:

In this section, we have taken into account everything said above to choose the configuration most similar to the original Apple, so that macOS “feels at home” running on this hardware. For this we have made our own choice that is the one we recommend above the rest (a more expensive version and a cheaper one), and also a brand PC that can be adapted well to Hackintosh. So, if you prefer to clone an iMac or Mac Pro with your desktop Hackintosh, the best settings are:

Guiahardware Special Selection (Enthusiasts):

• CPU :  Intel Core i7-9700K
• Cooling:  Corsair Hydro Series H100x
• Motherboard :  Asus Prime Z390-A
• Memory :  16GB GSkill Trident Z 3600 Mhz
• GPU :  EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 XC Gaming 8GB GDDR6
• Case :  Corsair Obsidian Series 750D Airflow Edition
• Hard Drive :  Samsung 970 Pro 512GB M.2
• Secondary Hard Drive :  Toshiba 3TB
• Power supply :  Corsair RM V2 750W 80Plus

Guiahardware Special Selection (Standard):

• CPU :  Intel Core i5-9400F
• Motherboard :  MSI Z390-A Pro
• Memory :  16GB Kingston HyperX Fury Black DDR4 at 3200MHz
• GPU :  MSI GeForce RTX 2060 OC 6GB GDDR6
• Case :  Corsair Obsidian Series 750D Airflow Edition
• Hard Drive :  Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500GB M.2
• Power supply :  Corsair CX Series CX650M

Best Brand PC For Hackintosh:

• Name: HP Slimline 290-P0054NS
• CPU: Intel Core i5-8400
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• GPU: AMD Radeon 520
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Connectivity: WiFi, LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, HDMI, USB, VGA, audio, card reader …

Best Laptops For Hackintosh:

Choosing laptops with AMD graphics cards and Intel CPU configurations is tricky, as NVIDIA has almost monopolized the notebook industry and it’s hard to pick. However, as I have said before, that they are NVIDIA and not AMD, does not mean that they are not supported or that we are going to find problems. That said, if you want to clone an Apple MacBook Pro , here are the best options for Hackintosh:

Hp Pavilion Gaming 15-Cx0002ns:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-8300H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Screen: 15.6 ″
• Connectivity: WiFi, LAN, Bluetooth 4.1, USB, HDMI, card reader

Asus Rog Strix Gl703ge-Ee013:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
• Storage: 1TB SATA3 HDD + 256GB SSD
• Screen: 17.3 ″
• Connectivity: WiFi, LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB

ASUS Zenbook UX390UA-GS152T:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-7500U
• RAM: 16GB DDR3L
• GPU: Intel UHD 520
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Screen: 12.5 ″
• Connectivity: WiFi, USB, audio

Dell XPS 9570:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Screen: 15.6 ″
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, Thunderbolt 3, USB, HDMI

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-735J:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8750h
• RAM: 12GB DDR4
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
• Storage: HDD 1TB SATA3 + SSD 128GB
• Screen: 17 ″

Connectivity: WiFi, LAN, USB, HDMI, card reader