What is Hackintosh?
Hackintosh is ordinary PC based computer running Mac OS X operating system. This become possible after Apple switch from Motorola CPU’s to Intel CPU’s.
Hardware choices are quite restricted … Now your options are vast and the installation process is fairly simple.
Is my computers hardware compatible with Os X?
Well, you will not know for sure until you try it. Any Intel Core2duo CPU or later is supported so if you own one there are good chances for your success, especially if you are using gigabyte main board. Intel Pentium Dual Core CPU is not supported since version 10.7 Lion, it is still possible to install it on 10.6.x Snow Leo but only with modified kernel.
Also for AMD users, you will need to use modified kernel for your CPU. Also another important part of your hardware is graphics, not all of them are compatible with Os X. To be sure that your hardware is or is not compatible check osx86project for detailed hardware compatibility list. Be sure to use lalest version of BIOS on your motherboard and update it if needed.
What is bootloader and where to get it?
Bootloader is the program that boots Mac OS X, or any other OS, there are also possibility of dual or triple boot systems. For hackintosh computers you will need a bootloader, first to start the installation of the system (used on USB install drive or DVD), and than later in after installation procedures to make your system bootable. Some of popular bootloaders are Chameleon, Clover, Chimera…, and to install them there are numerous ways like myHack, Unibeast, Kakewalk, Boot132, iBoot,… You can get them easily, check this link or just make simple google search for your desired bootloader from above.
What are the boot flags and where to put them?
Boot flags are options that change the way that your bootloader runs at startup. So boot flags are used in OS X to fix some eventual boot problems.
There are two ways to apply your boot flags.
First way, which is not permanent, is to enter your desired flags when boot loader starts, just press any key on the bootloader countdown and then enter your flag. For example: -v -s GraphicsEnabler=No and than press enter.
Second way of entering the flags is to write them inside of the boot.plist file, which will be permanent at every boot. By default, Boot.plist file is placed in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration folder on your system hard drive and its called com.apple.Boot.plist. Modified chameleon Boot.plist file is called org.chameleon.Boot.plist and its placed in /Extra folder. If you are using modified Boot.plist file than make all your modifications there and do not edit default file. Check here for list of the Os X Boot flags.
What is dsdt.aml
DSDT (Differentiated System Description Table) is a file used to tell OS X how to locate and enable features of your computer mainboard without checking of BIOS. It can be placed at the root of your system hard drive or in /Extra folder which depends on your installation method. It is possible to install and use Os X without dsdt.aml simply using Unibeast with checked EasyBeast option but it’s not prefered cause you will need to use some extra kexts to enable some devices.
What are kexts?
Kext is the Mac OS equivalent to a Windows driver so .kext is an extension for a driver file on Os X. They are placed by default in /System/Library/Extensions or in /Extra/Extensions folder on your system HDD. In some cases it’s not possible to run hardware just with DSDT file, so you need to find a kext for exact type of hardware you use. Best resource for kext files is http://www.kexts.com/, to install simply drag and drop them to small app called Kext Utillity.
More to come…