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vernonlloyd's Skylake Build: Core i5-6500 - GA-Z170N-GAMING 5 - 32GB RAM - Intel HD 530

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Oct 1, 2015
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Motherboard
Asrock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming-ITX/ac
CPU
i5-7500
Graphics
HD 630
Mac
  1. MacBook Pro
Mobile Phone
  1. iOS
vernonlloyd Skylake Build: Core i5-6500 - GA-Z170N-GAMING 5 - 32GB RAM - Intel HD 530


full

Components

GIGABYTE GA-Z170N-GAMING 5 LGA1151 Intel Z170 Mini-ITX Motherboard
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014W2000Q/

Intel Core i5-6500 Skylake 3.20GHz LGA 1151 65W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80662I56500
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010T6CWI2/

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OAJ412U/

CRUCIAL TECHNOLOGY 16GBx2 32GB Kit, DDR4 2133 DIMM 288 CT2K16G4DFD8213
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YPB1NK/

Cougar QBX Computer Case
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZV5YKY6/

SilverStone Technology 450W SFX Form Factor 80 PLUS GOLD Modular Power Supply, Active PFC ST45SF-Ghttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VQ2Y4K/

Broadcom BCM94352Z DW1560 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN + Bluetooth 4.0 M.2 NGFF Mini Card 867Mbps
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0156DVQ7G

Already Owned

WD Black 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache 2.5-Inch Hard Disk Drive WD7500BPKX
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSUTX3O/

HGST Travelstar 7K1000 2.5-Inch 1TB 7200 RPM SATA III 32MB Cache Hard Drive 0J22423
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4QESVQ/

Dell UltraSharp U2715H 27-Inch LED-Lit Monitor
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P0EQD1Q/

Logitech G502 Proteus Gaming Mouse
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRHE892

Apple Wired Keyboard with Numeric Keypad MB110LL/B
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DPF08E/


Comments
My previous Mac machine, a custom built MacBook Pro 15" early 2011, served me well until I was hit by Radeongate. Apple had a free repair program but unfortunately they refuse to fix mine. This led me to decide to build a hackintosh system. I wanted it small, fast and reliable so I opted for a CustoMac Mini based on the July 2016 Buyer's Guide.

Motherboard
Although I am not going to overclock, I decided to spend an extra to acquire GA-Z170N-GAMING 5 instead of GA-H170N-WIFI. It has Intel Controller on USB 3.1 for future proofing.

CPU
The Core i5-6500 is the best bang for the buck CPU for around $200. My work involves running one to three virtual machines and figured the i5-6500 should be enough to get me started.

Memory
I just got the slowest and cheapest 32GB Kit from Crucial. I think the memory speed doesn't really add that much oomphh to the overall system performance.

Case
I like good designs and was looking at NCASE, Cerberus, Taku and DAN Cases. They are really great but very expensive! The Cougar QBX showed up while I was searching. I like the design and most importantly, the price is cheap. It can support a full-size video card and ATX power supply.

Power Supply
I plan to acquire a full-size video card preferably the Nvidia GTX 1070. From what I read, if I put a full-size ATX power supply, the video card needs to bend in an uncomfortable level. The Silverstone SFX PSU will prevent that problem with full-size video cards. I calculated the system load using OuterVision Power Supply Calculator - eXtreme Outer Vision and 450W is enough for my needs.

Other
The Western Digital 750GB was salvaged from my MBP. The HGST 1TB is my external/backup drive.

Installation
- I followed ammulder's [GUIDE] El Capitan on the GA-H170N-WIFI and Anachronaut's boot entries fix thread.
- I used a Sandisk Extreme 64GB USB3.0 flash disk for UniBeast installer
- My motherboard's firmware is F4
- I used a MacBook Pro 13" 2011 to get El Capitan

From Ammulder's Guide (with some changes specific to my build)
  1. Get El Capitan
  2. Other Things to Download (Specific to my build):
    • UniBeast
    • MultiBeast
    • Clover Configurator
    • KextBeast
    • attachment h170n-wifi-intel-config.aml
    • USBInjectAll.kext
  3. BIOS Settings
    • I loaded Optimized Default Settings
    • BIOS Features
    • Peripherals
      • Initial Display Output = IGFX
      • Legacy USB Support = Auto
      • XHCI Hand-off = Enabled
    • Chipset
      • Internal Graphics = Enabled
      • DVMT Pre-Allocated = 512MB
      • DVMT Total Gfx Mem = MAX
  4. Prepare Bootable USB Drive Installer
    • I skipped step 7
  5. Install El Capitan
  6. Post-Installation Configuration
    • In step 4, in addition to ALC1150, I also selected 100 Series Audio
    • I skipped step 5 and 6
    • In step 7, I chose iMac17,1
    • I skipped step 15
    • In step 21, the maximum memory that I can set per slot is only 8GB and I need 16GB. I set it to 8GB initially. (fix is at my installation video log 25:26)
    • In step 27, my audio was not working when it came back from reboot.
    • Again, I followed step 2,4,9,10 and 25. The audio was working after that.
  7. Appendix: Windows 10 Dual Boot (same drive)
I then followed Post #84 by fishsticks in Anachronaut's [GUIDE] Remove extra Clover BIOS boot entries and prevent further problems thread. (28:00)

(July 27, 2016): There was an issue with my computer time where if I login to Mac then Windows and vice-versa, the date and time in both Windows and Mac does not sync. Followed a fix from SwampFox82 - Fix incorrect time in Windows + OSX dual boot thread.

(July 29, 2016): In the BIOS under BIOS Features, set Windows 8/10 Features = Windows 8/10 UEFI and CMS = Disabled. This fixed Clover Boot Screen distorted graphics.

(August 17,2016): The replacement WiFi/Bluetooth m.2 card has arrived. Followed Ammulder's Guide, Post-Installation Configuration:
  • Step 15
  • Step 16
  • Step 17
  • Step 25
What Works:
- Intel HD 530 HDMI port @ 2560x1440 @ 60Hz
- USB3.0 ports (Full speed on all ports)
- Sleep
- Audio ports front and back
- WiFi and Bluetooth (using the Dell DW1560 (BCM94352Z chip) m.2 WiFi/Bluetooth card)

What Doesn't Work
- WiFi and Bluetooth card that came with the motherboard

To Be Tested
- USB Type-C

To Be Addressed
- USB3.1 (I tried my USB3.0 flash drive and it didn't work but the USB mouse and keyboard worked.)
- Boot screen distorted graphics (just a very minor cosmetic problem)

UPDATES:
July 26, 2016: Updated installation notes. Added 7. Appendix: Windows 10 Dual Boot (same drive)
July 27, 2016: Fixed incorrect time in Windows and OSX Dual Boot.
July 29, 2016: Fixed Clover Boot Screen distorted graphics.
August 17, 2016: Replaced motherboard WiFi/Bluetooth card with Dell DW1560 (BCM94352Z chip) m.2.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Do you have app store app installation problems?
 
Do you have app store app installation problems?
No problems. All my previous app purchases were installed just fine via App Store. I haven't tried purchasing a new one though.

Do you have an issue?
 
No problems. All my previous app purchases were installed just fine via App Store. I haven't tried purchasing a new one though.

Do you have an issue?

Yes I am having problem with account verification. I could download fine on my macbook pro, however, my build keep getting "unexpected error" when prompted to sign in, prior to download.
 
Yes I am having problem with account verification. I could download fine on my macbook pro, however, my build keep getting "unexpected error" when prompted to sign in, prior to download.
Strange. I have no idea.

Maybe a network reset or try to create new local user and try App Store from there.
 
To fix boot screen graphics, set the "Windows 8/10 Features" setting in your BIOS to "Windows 8/10 WHQL", and "CSM Support" to "Disabled". Be sure to clear any manually entered screen resolution you may have entered into your Clover config.plist. When you boot, it should use the native resolution of your display. Works for me with the GA-Z170MX
 
To fix boot screen graphics, set the "Windows 8/10 Features" setting in your BIOS to "Windows 8/10 WHQL", and "CSM Support" to "Disabled". Be sure to clear any manually entered screen resolution you may have entered into your Clover config.plist. When you boot, it should use the native resolution of your display. Works for me with the GA-Z170MX

Thank you! Clover Boot Screen was fixed

But I am still having this:
 
I'm really not sure about that one, sorry.
 
do you plan to use a native wifi / bluetooth card in the pci slot? i am considering this board for my build but it seems that a graphics card in the pci16 slot will block the pci1 slot for the wifi card. you could put the graphics card in the pci8 slot but then it blocks the pci4 slot for future expansion. because of this issue i was leaning towards the asus maximus gene board which doesn't have those issues
 
do you plan to use a native wifi / bluetooth card in the pci slot? i am considering this board for my build but it seems that a graphics card in the pci16 slot will block the pci1 slot for the wifi card. you could put the graphics card in the pci8 slot but then it blocks the pci4 slot for future expansion. because of this issue i was leaning towards the asus maximus gene board which doesn't have those issues
No but I will be replacing the BT/WiFi card with BCM94352Z DW1560 M.2 NGFF.
 
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