[GUIDE]Retail Snow Leopard 10.6 on a GA EP45-UD3R

[JFLNYC]

I'll post my EX58-UD3R specs here, inc ase anyone else is interested. Fair warning: I haven't yet got a satisfactory SL install. Basic install, no problem. Getting sound outputs and ethernet working correctly in both 32-bit and 64-bit, PROBLEM! About to do another clean install now.

 

Having said that, works great with 10.5.8.

 

OSX	Mac Box Set
Processor	Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler Cooler Master V8
Motherboard	GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366
Memory	G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Hard Drive	Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
Graphics Card	NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 512MB   
Audio/Ethernet	Onboard
Optical Drive	LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 22X DVD Burner
Case	Cooler Master CM 690 NVIDIA Edition - mid tower - ATX
PSU	OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7

[siriuxs]

This guide is functionally with GA-EP45-DQ6 ?

[MatthieuD]

This guide is functionally with GA-EP45-DQ6 ?

The guide yes, the files no, you have to adapt them

[newnekton1]

MY EP45-UD3R was throwing random panics for a few days until I:

 

1. Set the FSB speed in smbios.plist to the correct value of 333 for my setup and stopped using the default 400.

2. Removed my 1 TB Leopard hard drive and just run on main SL boot drive

3. Stopped leaving Skype (latest version) on all the time.

 

I am not sure which of these solved the problem but now it has been running for 2 days panic free.

[d00m42]

MY EP45-UD3R was throwing random panics for a few days until I:

 

1. Set the FSB speed in smbios.plist to the correct value of 333 for my setup and stopped using the default 400.

2. Removed my 1 TB Leopard hard drive and just run on main SL boot drive

3. Stopped leaving Skype (latest version) on all the time.

 

I am not sure which of these solved the problem but now it has been running for 2 days panic free.

 

Well the FSB is a no-brainer, I mentioned to set that in the guide -.-

 

Idk why removing the 1TB Leo drive would matter

 

I haven't had any issues with Skype actually, but then again this is all in x86.

 

I have to get x64 to stop throwing KPs for random apps sometimes...

[d00m42]

This simply provides the codes for certain DSDT hacks/mods although it is, nevertheless, very useful. I added it to the Useful Tools in the next version of the pack I'm building.

[IMHERETOSTAY]

Damn, I followed the usb install guide and like Edkroket I got a kp after i clicked the install button...

[machinist]

Well the FSB is a no-brainer, I mentioned to set that in the guide -.-

 

Idk why removing the 1TB Leo drive would matter

 

I haven't had any issues with Skype actually, but then again this is all in x86.

 

I have to get x64 to stop throwing KPs for random apps sometimes...

 

d00m42:

 

May I suggest you look to the bootloader as the possible source of your difficulties with -x64? Using pci-efi 9 this machine is solid with -x64. Try an old school Chameleon 1 installation ala projectsnow.net/index.php?/topic/18-guide-to-perfect-vanilla-snow-leopard-32-or-64-bit/ and see if you still experience the kps?

 

Chameleon can't deal with 1.5TB hds, and may have issues with 1TB too.

[tcreasy]

I got everything to work............finally. Only one thing wrong. My HDD's are not showing up on the desktop. Fix?

[Squirrelf]

JFLNYC I have the same case, but in regular black version

I have 14 fans running (including PSU, Video Card and CPU)... LOL

 

Eliade, any updates on KPs in various apps using x64? I'm in x86 atm and it's smooth as usual but last night while using x64 I had random KPs caused by various different apps...

 

so far so good, but I haven't actually worked on it yet

later tonight I will (photoshop, dreamweaver and indesign)

 

 

 

only thing I'd like to have is IDE from EFI partition only, any ideas ?

[d00m42]

Guys I have a HUGE issue lol... I am posting this from a stock Leopard install I just did impromptu because my SL can't boot to the desktop anymore. I made a few changes to my smbios.plist, but immediately reverted them after I kept getting a KP from kernel_task, and configd in either x86 or x64.

 

The only other change I made was that I clocked my CPU back up to what I had it running at before (4.03 GHz) from 3.8 GHz. I know 4.03 is stable, but for some reason of course it didn't work. AppleTyMCEDriver.kext was causing a problem so I deleted it, but I am restoring at as I speak to try and see if that was an issue.

 

Basically every time I boot, as soon as it goes to load the login window, I see a blue screen for a second, but it turns black with a little white corner in the top left corner. This black screen stays for 3-5 seconds, and it switches back to the blue screen, and then to the black screen etc. This is an endless loop.

 

Any ideas?

[MacModifier]

I got everything to work............finally. Only one thing wrong. My HDD's are not showing up on the desktop. Fix?

 

 

 

I had the same problem, thought something was wrong, asked the same question, Solution:

 

 

Snow Leopard install default is with the hard drives hidden. Go to the Finder Preferences and Turn on the hard drives there and you should see them.

[d00m42]

I'm going to try now with everything the way I used to have it except the slightly higher clicked processor and report back. (I restored all kexts/other mods)

[JFLNYC]

JFLNYC I have the same case, but in regular black version

I have 14 fans running (including PSU, Video Card and CPU)... LOL

 

Now I like you even more! The CM 690 case is a fantastic case and a great value. I thought 9 fans was enough, though, but I guess not!

 

BTW, another Mac Clone I have is in an Antec Skeleton.

[d00m42]

GUYS!!

 

I've restored everything that I changed back to the way it was, and I STILL get the blue screen/black screen with cursor at boot. Can someone post their Extensions.mkext from /S/L/E (ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS AN UNMODIFIED 100% STOCK /S/L/E!!!) For some reason I can't create one. I'm going to try messing with AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext or w/e, because a few of the KPs had to do with that. Man.. I REALLY don't want to have to reinstall SL : ( I had a lot of things set up already...

[xgenius]

Thanks a lot everyone.. Appreciate the detailed instructions. I upgraded my hack from 10.5.8 to SL.

 

Followed the USB install route.. got a few KPs during install, but everything appears to be rock stable now. All of my regular apps seems to working with no issues in X64 mode.

[d00m42]

No one seems to care, so I've decided to go ahead and attempt a re-install.

[blueMaC]

Doom attached is your mkext from SLpack4.

 

Also could some one please look at my DSDT?

 

I have unsuccessfully compiled it and thanks to Koalala for instructions. My main issue is when i go to fix the BIOS bug it will not compile back into the original .aml. Attached is my attempt at making the DSDT file via Koalala's instructions and the F5 BIOS which is on my EP45C-DS3R. I know i should be learning this but I have been ripping my hair out for the last week to get this working.

 

I posted my spec's a page or two back. If i could please get any help or point me in the right direction. I would love to get this MB working and then start working on SL server.

 

I am heading to bed and will check back in the morning.

 

Thanks to Doom and the rest of the crew working on this

EP45C_DS3R_for_DSDT.zip

[d00m42]

Doom attached is your mkext from SLpack4.

 

Also could some one please look at my DSDT?

 

I have unsuccessfully compiled it and thanks to Koalala for instructions. My main issue is when i go to fix the BIOS bug it will not compile back into the original .aml. Attached is my attempt at making the DSDT file via Koalala's instructions and the F5 BIOS which is on my EP45C-DS3R. I know i should be learning this but I have been ripping my hair out for the last week to get this working.

 

I posted my spec's a page or two back. If i could please get any help or point me in the right direction. I would love to get this MB working and then start working on SL server.

 

I am heading to bed and will check back in the morning.

 

Thanks to Doom and the rest of the crew working on this

 

I needed an mkext from /S/L/... not /E/

 

I reinstalled anyways, and this time am trying a few things differently. Tomorrow through Saturday or Sunday I will probably work on guide v2, which will be immensely different, and possibly even not directly on the forum, I might host it on a different site because I am considering making it into a full featured pdf.

 

We'll see tomorrow. In the meantime I need sleep, Econ quiz tomorrow : (

 

So far I'm slowly getting back to the way I had things before, but it will take me a good hour or two more to be back at "normal". Reinstalling sucks, but it's not awful if you know what folders to back up for all your app preferences etc.

 

Goodnight everyone.

[Squirrelf]

No one seems to care, so I've decided to go ahead and attempt a re-install.

 

if you had waited just a little more ....

I wasn't home for the last few hours...

 

just wanted to say, in Leo, using voodoo kext, was an issue with overclocking, from 2.4 I could go up to 2.9Ghz max, over that it would kp during boot, without it I was able to boot and run atable at 3.5Hgz (temperature was just at the limit due to my cpu fan, and vcore was at the limit too)

just saying that even if your machine can physically handle the overclock mac os may not like it, the problem is probably different, but may be similar,,,

 

or maybe your cpu just need more juice in the vcore / mch core, it may boot fine but may be right at the limit of unstability/stability....

 

did you run mprime for mac to check for stability?

 

Now I like you even more! The CM 690 case is a fantastic case and a great value. I thought 9 fans was enough, though, but I guess not!

 

BTW, another Mac Clone I have is in an Antec Skeleton.

 

LOL

 

the skeleton is a cool looking case, I thought of buying it, but was a little too expensive for me, I would have needed the big version of it, because I use so many HD (6 now, and I trust only two of them... I've already spend so much money on that computer, monitor was a priority for what I do so now I have dual 23" full HD )

[d00m42]

if you had waited just a little more ....

I wasn't home for the last few hours...

 

just wanted to say, in Leo, using voodoo kext, was an issue with overclocking, from 2.4 I could go up to 2.9Ghz max, over that it would kp during boot, without it I was able to boot and run atable at 3.5Hgz (temperature was just at the limit due to my cpu fan, and vcore was at the limit too)

just saying that even if your machine can physically handle the overclock mac os may not like it, the problem is probably different, but may be similar,,,

 

or maybe your cpu just need more juice in the vcore / mch core, it may boot fine but may be right at the limit of unstability/stability....

 

did you run mprime for mac to check for stability?

 

I am about to go to bed, but just wanted to say a few things.

 

First, I tested 4.03 GHz in Windows a while ago and it was stable with prime95 running for 6 hours on constant small FFTs, with no load temps over 63 or so. It idles around 33-38C as well. This is on 1.2625 Vcore, 1.2 MCH, 1.94 Vdimm (it's 800 ram and i'm running it at 850, cpu is at 425*9.5 atm).

 

It's not ROCK ROCK solid as 3.8 GHz is, but it's extremely stable and by far useable for everyday tasks. It actually brought my x86 geekbench score to 5700, which probably means my x64 will be over 6000. I don't have the time to test x64 atm, but I will tomorrow as I plan to use it. Reinstalling SL completely took maybe 1 hour of total work and all I have to do is set up my widgets again, and re-install Photoshop. Tiny added benefit is I'm using Chameleon 2.0 RC2 on my hidden EFI partition, instead of RC1. It's a little neater than RC1, hiding non-system drives and loading stuff more cleanly (and it obviously has less bugs).

 

I didn't know there was a prime95 type program for Mac. Well, I knew there WAS, but not any specific one. I'll check mprime out. I was KPing before at my low-threshold 3.8 GHz before, which is what I had when I wrote this guide... Anyways I'm past that, and for now, at least, I'm in the clear in terms of booting.

 

Thanks though!

[Squirrelf]

I didn't know there was a prime95 type program for Mac. Well, I knew there WAS, but not any specific one. I'll check mprime out.

 

yeah, my ud3r never ever saw windows natively , only mac os, so to play with overclock I did everything in mac, mprime is all done from the terminal but the result is very clear...

 

 

about RC2 did you modify the boot file (the pci efi 10.1 from netkas ), or you used the one given by RC2 ? cause I've heard it was unstable with SL

[d00m42]

Lol I can't sleep.. but I really gotta get some sleep tonight : (

 

And Yes, I modified the file. I'll include it with the new guide version which is gonna be quite an overhaul. The only thing I don't really like/get is the USB install method... I just do it with the disk image and it works 100% fine.. No errors, no conflicts... When I DID try to use the USB method when I just reinstalled now, it failed hard... I got KPs whenever I tried to boot up the USB, even though I set it up exactly the way it was supposed to be.

 

Btw, my x64 Geekbench score is now 6150, and that's without adding in 2 more gigs of RAM lol... It's amazing how much 4.03 GHz is better than 3.8 GHz lol. It's also the RAM clocks though.. 850 MHz is faster than 800.

[richtig]

DSDT Simple Editor version 1.21:

http://www.osx86.es/?p=610

Translated from Spanish:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...6.es/%3Fp%3D610

 

Another web site (don't remember the link) mentioned using a beta version Chameleon 2.0, RC3.

(Didn't offer a download link, but did provide a screen shot).

The new feature being: adds to the Chameleon boot menu screen, the option of the retail OSX install DVD (besides any bootable hard drives).

[Squirrelf]

Lol I can't sleep.. but I really gotta get some sleep tonight : (

 

And Yes, I modified the file. I'll include it with the new guide version which is gonna be quite an overhaul. The only thing I don't really like/get is the USB install method... I just do it with the disk image and it works 100% fine.. No errors, no conflicts... When I DID try to use the USB method when I just reinstalled now, it failed hard... I got KPs whenever I tried to boot up the USB, even though I set it up exactly the way it was supposed to be.

 

Btw, my x64 Geekbench score is now 6150, and that's without adding in 2 more gigs of RAM lol... It's amazing how much 4.03 GHz is better than 3.8 GHz lol. It's also the RAM clocks though.. 850 MHz is faster than 800.

 

with the usb you did boot in 32bit ?

anyway it doesn't really matter since you installed SL whatever way you did...

 

do you still have IDE access? that thing really bothers me, I'm so close to pure vanilla

 

go to sleep !

I'm mountain time so here it's not as late as your time