GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 RESOURCES
 macOS installation and resources for the Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 motherboard

OS X 10.11 EL CAPITAN INSTALLATION on the GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3

 

1. Update the BIOS to the latest UEFI version

   • ​See the guide here if you are updating from a legacy version of the BIOS (version F12 or earlier)

   • See the modified BIOS here​ if you want to use an NVMe SSD
      

2. Set the BIOS as follows:

   • Save & Exit > Load Optimized Defaults

   • M.I.T. > Advanced Frequency Settings > Advanced CPU Core Features > CPU EIST Function = Disabled

   • M.I.T. > Advanced Memory Settings > Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) = Profile1*
     *Set to Disabled if your RAM modules do not support Intel XMP

   • BIOS Features > Intel Virtualization Technology = Enabled

   • BIOS Features > OS Type = Other OS

   • BIOS Features > Boot Mode Selection = UEFI Only

   • Peripherals > SATA Mode Selection = AHCI
      

3. Follow the guide here to create a bootable USB drive to install OS X 10.11 El Capitan

   • Select UEFI Boot Mode in UniBeast

   • Replace EFI/Clover/config.plist on the USB with this config.plist

   • Place one of each kext from the folders in EFI/Clover/Kexts/ into into EFI/Clover/Kexts/Other

   • Delete all folders in EFI/Clover/Kexts except Other
      

4. Continue the guide through step 4 to install OS X 10.11 El Capitan but stop before step 5 (Post Installation with MultiBeast)
    

5. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and select Allow apps downloaded from: Anywhere
    

6. Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and set Computer sleep to Never (see note below on sleep issue)
    

7. Download El Capitan Post-Install Tools

   • Install Clover_v2.3k_r3320-UEFI.pkg (all default settings)

   • Install CustoMac Essentials.pkg
      

8. Restart the computer
    

9. Download and run Clover Configurator

   1. Click the Mount EFI partition button

   2. Open EFI:EFI/CLOVER/Config.plist

   3. SMBIOS > "Magic Wand" button to prefill most details

   4. Identify your CPU at Everymac.com and select the appropriate profile (e.g. MacPro 3,1 - LGA775 or iMac 12,2 - LGA1155)

   5. Click the shake buttons to generate a random serial number

   6. RTVariables > ROM = UseMacAddr0

   7. RTVariables > CsrActiveConfig = 0x67 (to fully disable System Integrity Protection or "SIP")

   8. Save and then quit Clover Configurator
       

10. Download GenericUSBXHCI.kext, unzip and copy to EFI:EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other
     

11. Delete all folders in EFI:EFI/CLOVER/kexts except Other
     

12. Download and run the audio_pikeralphaALC-110.command script (alternate source here)

    • ​Answer Yes to each question

    • Close when the script is finished
       

13. Restart the computer
     

14. ​Recommended additional steps to optimize CPU power management:

    1. Confirm that you have an active connection to the Internet

    2. Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal then copy and paste the following command in the Terminal window and hit Enter:
       curl -o ~/ssdtPRGen.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Piker-Alpha/ssdtPRGen.sh/master/ssdtPRGen.sh
       (ignore any warnings about incompatibility with your CPU)

    3. Next, paste this command in the Terminal window and hit Enter:
       chmod +x ~/ssdtPRGen.sh

    4. Finally, paste this command in the Terminal window and hit Enter:
       ./ssdtPRGen.sh

    5. Answer ‘N’ to the questions about copying and opening the ssdt files
       A customized SSDT.aml for your specific machine will now be in the /Users/yourusername/Library/ssdtPRGen directory
       (quickly access this directory in the Finder by holding the Option key (Windows key) while selecting the Go menu and then selecting Library)

    6. Copy SSDT.aml to /Volumes/EFI/EFI/CLOVER/ACPI/patched/
       (you may need to run Clover Configurator to mount the EFI partition)

    7. Run the Kext Utility app to repair permissions and rebuild the system cache, then restart the computer
        

15. Follow the steps here to create a bootable backup of your drive using SuperDuper​.
     

16. Optional: Install HWSensors to monitor temperatures, voltages and fan speeds. DO NOT install LPCSensors.kext - this can prevent system fans from operating properly.

 

Notes

• For more consistent USB 3.0 performance, install an OS X-compatible PCIe USB.3.0 card

• Sleep does not function correctly. Follow the progress on this issue here:
  http://www.tonymacx86.com/el-capitan-desktop-support/170781-no-display-usb-after-wake-10-11-a-11.html

• Clover bootloader resolutions can be enabled by following the steps in the video here

• A simple method for custom key remapping is available here

 

Sources

• http://www.tonymacx86.com/el-capitan-desktop-guides/176256-success-el-capitan-10-11-clover-ga-z68x-ud3h-b3-amd-6870-2600k.html

• https://github.com/toleda/audio_CloverALC

• http://www.osx86.net/file/1008-gigabyte-z68x-ud3h-b3-pack/

• https://bitbucket.org/RehabMan/os-x-generic-usb3/downloads

 

 

RECOMMENDED OS X COMPONENTS

​

Graphics Card (AMD): SAPPHIRE AMD Radeon RX 580

• No configuration necessary

• Automatically recognized by macOS with full Metal compatibility for El Capitan

• Up to 12.5x better performance than integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000

• Monitors should be connected to DisplayPort outputs on the card rather than DVI or HDMI, if possible.

​

Graphics Card (Nvidia): ZOTAC GeForce GT 730 Zone Edition

• No configuration necessary

• Automatically recognized by macOS with full Metal compatibility for El Capitan

• Up to 3x better performance than integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000

​

Wireless + Bluetooth Adapter: Fenvi T919 Broadcom BCM94360CD Adapter

• No configuration necessary

• Automatically recognized by macOS as built-in AirPort and Bluetooth

• Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Airdrop, Handoff, and Bluetooth 4.0 in BIOS/UEFI and Bootloader

• Install in PCIe x1 slot

​

USB 3.0 Adapter: Inateck KT4006 2-Port PCIe USB 3.0 Express Card

• No configuration necessary

• Automatically recognized by OS X as built-in USB 3.0 Hi-Speed Bus/SuperSpeed Bus

​

Keyboards: Apple Wireless Keyboard or Apple Wired Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

Any standard USB keyboard will work with this system, but Apple keyboards provide the functionality of various macOS-specific key mappings

 

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MODIFICATIONS and TROUBLESHOOTING

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Modified BIOS for NVMe Drive Booting

• The modified U1n BIOS available here will enable booting from NVMe drives

• Follow the included instructions to flash using the Q-Flash utility

• Recommended NVMe drive: Western Digital Black SN750 NVMe SSD

• Recommended NVMe PCIe adapter: NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter Host Controller Expansion Card

source

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BIOS Boot Loop

If the computer does not boot and continually restarts, the BIOS may have become corrupt. To restore the backup BIOS and resolve this issue:

​

1. Unplug the computer

2. Press and hold the computer's power button

3. While holding the power button, plug the computer in again

4. As the computer turns on (in one or two seconds) unplug the computer again

5. Wait a few seconds, plug in the computer and then start the computer
    

A dialog box will open up and show the progress of the backup BIOS overwriting the primary BIOS. This should resolve the boot loop and allow the computer to start normally.

source

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Copy Main BIOS to Backup BIOS

Press <Alt>+<F10> at startup to copy the main BIOS to the backup BIOS. This will keep the same BIOS version on both BIOS chips rather than the version that shipped with the motherboard.

source

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Ethernet Port Not Working

If the onboard Ethernet port is not being detected by the operating system the Realtek RTL8111E chip can be reset by following these steps:

1. Shut down and unplug the computer

2. Remove the CMOS battery shown here

3. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds

4. Insert the CMOS battery and plug in the computer

5. Power on the computer and adjust the BIOS settings as necessary (they will be reset to default values)

 

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SUPPORT and DOCUMENTATION

 

• Official Gigabyte Downloads and Resources for GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3

• User's Manual GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Rev 1.3

• Installation Guide GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3

• Intel Smart Response Technology Guide