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- Jul 22, 2018
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- 2xAMD RX 580 8GB
- OS X/macOS
- 13.x
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- Mac mini
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Laptop Hardware Compatibility for OS X and macOS [Intel/AMD]
What's the best compatible Laptop?
Most of the time, people ask "Is my laptop compatible". You'll have all your answers in this post!
First of all, getting macOS to work on Laptop is always difficult unless there's a well-written guide. But then also, it may not be possible to get the features that work on Windows or you want to make it work on macOS. This is because of the hardware limitation in the Laptops and the limited support available for such hardware.
You can find the complete Laptop Hardware Compatibility List including limitations.
CPU
For a complete list of CPU Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below including the limitations as well.
elitemacx86.com
Storage
Generally, all SATA (2.5inch) drives are supported and a majority of NVMe drives as well. However, there are a few exceptions.
For Storage Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below including the limitations as well.
elitemacx86.com
Graphics
Many laptops have dual graphics such as AMD Radeon or NVIDIA Geforce which utilizes a switching mechanism to switch from the integrated graphics (IGPU) to the discrete graphics as per the graphics demand. The Technology used by NVIDIA is commonly is referred to as Optimus Technology and for AMD it is Switchable Graphics. This type of switching/technology isn't supported on macOS and must be disabled. Disabling discrete Graphics is mandatory when having an Optimus or Switchable Graphics Technology to save Battery life within OS X/macOS, which will generate less heat and noise. When Discrete Graphics isn't disabled, the GPU draws power even if it does not work on OS X/macOS. This can also cause sleep/wake failure.
For a complete list of Graphics Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.
elitemacx86.com
elitemacx86.com
elitemacx86.com
Displays
Almost all displays panels are fully supported. However, there are a few limitations.
Keyboard/Trackpad
For most of the time, the laptops use the PS/2 interface for the keyboard and trackpad. The PS/2 keyboard and trackpad can be made to work using a PS/2 driver. RehabMan has developed a VoodooPS2Controller driver which does the job. There are some other drivers which have been developed by other developers like EMiLyDiNeSh. Newer laptops are using I2C trackpad widely, which requires different drivers than the PS/2. Such drivers are work in progress. But Alexandre Dauod, a developer who has written drivers for I2C devices named VoodooI2C has made this possible and the trackpads can be made to work using his drivers. However this isn't easy as using PS/2 drivers.
Audio
Audio is not supported OOTB, however, it can be made to work using AppleALC+Lilu along with a proper Layout ID. Note that, almost every Laptop requires DSDT patching for proper Audio implementation. Patching AppleHDA is no longer required unless the Codec is not supported by AppleALC. Patching AppleHDA for any audio codec is possible, but is a complex process and requires technical skills you may not have, and is time consuming.
For a complete list of Audio Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.
elitemacx86.com
Ethernet
Generally, the ethernet port is built-in into the laptop motherboard. Most of the Ethernet chips found on Laptops are normally supported. Some old chips may be difficult to configure.
For a complete list of Ethernet Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.
elitemacx86.com
WiFi and Bluetooth
Recent Laptops are not being shipped with a built-in ethernet port, except for a few. For a Laptop, WiFi is required for portability. Most of the Laptops are either being shipped with Intel WiFi/BT Cards and the other few options are Qualcomm and Realtek. There are very few WiFi models which are supported by macOS. With this, there are some laptops that have a whitelist in the BIOS which prevents you to replace the WiFi hardware. Such BIOS allows certain specific models only which are branded specifically by the manufacturer of the laptop. Sometimes, the BIOS can be unlocked and the whitelist can be removed but sometimes the BIOS can be encrypted. The service manual for your laptop may provide you with a list of compatible cards on your specific model and if one of those WiFi models is compatible with macOS, then you can search for the card and try to replace it. Some laptops such as In many cases, the specific WiFi model with the laptop is not specified when you purchase.
For most of the time, the Bluetooth is built-in to the WiFi card (on the USB bus). Bluetooth works best when using Broadcom Bluetooth hardware.
For a complete list of WiFi and Bluetooth Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.
elitemacx86.com
Camera
For most of the time, the built-in camera is USB, some are connected to USB2, and some to USB3. Some will work and some won't. There's no specific pattern.
Touchscreen
OS X and macOS doesn't support touchscreen but gestures. However, few laptops have a touchscreen. The touchscreen can be either on the USB bus or the I2C. The touchscreen which is on a USB bus can be made to work without any need for additional drivers. However, the I2C touchscreen will require a different driver. I2C Touchscreen can be made to work using VoodooI2C.
Fingerprint
Fingerprints cannot be emulated to the Touch ID sensor and as a result, none of the fingerprint sensors will work in any OS X and macOS version.
Card Readers
Card Readers are either on the PCI bus and some are on the USB bus. Card Readers based on PCI bus works using a third party driver, however, there are drivers available from the manufacturer for certain Card Readers. USB buses are mostly Plug and Play which work using the class driver built-in to OS X/macOS, however, this may not be possible in every case. You can't know until you try.
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt is supported including HotPlug capability. For a complete list of Thunderbolt Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.
elitemacx86.com
Installing macOS on a Laptop is not easy. You should not expect that you can get everything working. However, there are several successes with Laptops with each and every function working, and that's only possible when you have the right hardware! There are many different laptops that have different hardware configurations and each hardware is unique. It is very likely possible that a laptop might not work even if the hardware mentioned above meets the requirements.
If you want 100% compatibility with all the hardware such as discrete graphics, perfect WiFi and Bluetooth, and no hassles, don't look for installing macOS, buy a MacBook instead. This will not only save you from less trouble but also from wasting your time.
What's the best compatible Laptop?
Most of the time, people ask "Is my laptop compatible". You'll have all your answers in this post!
First of all, getting macOS to work on Laptop is always difficult unless there's a well-written guide. But then also, it may not be possible to get the features that work on Windows or you want to make it work on macOS. This is because of the hardware limitation in the Laptops and the limited support available for such hardware.
You can find the complete Laptop Hardware Compatibility List including limitations.
CPU
For a complete list of CPU Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below including the limitations as well.

CPU Compatibility List For macOS [Intel/AMD]
CPU Compatibility List For OS X and macOS [Intel/AMD] Overview OS X and macOS do not support a major number of CPUs, unlike Windows or Unix. QUICK INFO: OS X & macOS support all CPUs till date, starting from Pentium 4 CPUs with 32-bit architecture only support OS X 10.4.1 to 10.6.8 CPUs...

Storage
Generally, all SATA (2.5inch) drives are supported and a majority of NVMe drives as well. However, there are a few exceptions.
For Storage Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below including the limitations as well.

Storage Compatibility for macOS
Storage Compatibility for macOS Intel AHCI and RAID Controllers Vendor Chipset Series VEN ID:EV ID Support Kext Intel 5 Series Chipset 8086:3b29 8086:3b22 8086:3b2f Intel 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SATA RAID Controller 8086,3b25 8086,3b2C Intel 6 Series Chipset 8086:1c02 8086:1c03...

Graphics
Many laptops have dual graphics such as AMD Radeon or NVIDIA Geforce which utilizes a switching mechanism to switch from the integrated graphics (IGPU) to the discrete graphics as per the graphics demand. The Technology used by NVIDIA is commonly is referred to as Optimus Technology and for AMD it is Switchable Graphics. This type of switching/technology isn't supported on macOS and must be disabled. Disabling discrete Graphics is mandatory when having an Optimus or Switchable Graphics Technology to save Battery life within OS X/macOS, which will generate less heat and noise. When Discrete Graphics isn't disabled, the GPU draws power even if it does not work on OS X/macOS. This can also cause sleep/wake failure.
For a complete list of Graphics Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.

Intel GPU Compatibility List for macOS
Intel GPU Compatibility List for macOS QUICK INFO: Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge display must specify AAPL00,DualLink in Device Properties. 0 for 1366x768 and 1 for 1600x900 and higher displays. Some Haswell systems may require Legacy/CSM in BIOS to fix the glitches and artifacts. Haswell...


NVIDIA GPU Compatibility List for macOS
NVIDIA GPU Compatibility List for macOS 100 Series (Tesla) Model Metal 10.6.x 10.7.x 10.8.x 10.9.x 10.10.x 10.11.x 10.12.x 10.13.x 10.14.x 10.15.x 11.x 12.x 13.x GeForce G 100 Yes Yes Yes (With patch No No No No GeForce GT 120 Yes Yes No No No No No GeForce...


AMD GPU Compatibility List for macOS
AMD GPU Compatibility List for macOS AMD APU Compatibility https://elitemacx86.com/threads/amd-apu-compatibility-list-for-macos.1157/ 1. Desktop Series II. Radeon X500 Series Supported Since: 10.3 Max Native Support: 10.7.5 Max Patched Support: Metal: Not Supported H.264: H.265: Not...

LIMITATIONS
|
Displays
Almost all displays panels are fully supported. However, there are a few limitations.
LIMITATIONS
|
Keyboard/Trackpad
For most of the time, the laptops use the PS/2 interface for the keyboard and trackpad. The PS/2 keyboard and trackpad can be made to work using a PS/2 driver. RehabMan has developed a VoodooPS2Controller driver which does the job. There are some other drivers which have been developed by other developers like EMiLyDiNeSh. Newer laptops are using I2C trackpad widely, which requires different drivers than the PS/2. Such drivers are work in progress. But Alexandre Dauod, a developer who has written drivers for I2C devices named VoodooI2C has made this possible and the trackpads can be made to work using his drivers. However this isn't easy as using PS/2 drivers.
LIMITATIONS
|
Vendor | I2C Input Device Model | Support | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
ELAN | ELAN1000 | I2C patching required | |
ELAN | ELAN0100 | I2C patching required | |
ELAN | ELAN0600 | ||
ELAN | ELAN0651 | Basic Multitouch | I2C patching required |
ELAN | ELAN1200 | I2C patching required | |
ELAN | ELAN1300 | I2C patching required | |
Synaptics | SYNA7500 | I2C patching required | |
Synaptics | SYNA0000 | I2C patching required | |
FocalTech | FTE | I2C patching required | |
Cypress | CYPA0000 | I2C patching required | |
I2C patching required |
Audio
Audio is not supported OOTB, however, it can be made to work using AppleALC+Lilu along with a proper Layout ID. Note that, almost every Laptop requires DSDT patching for proper Audio implementation. Patching AppleHDA is no longer required unless the Codec is not supported by AppleALC. Patching AppleHDA for any audio codec is possible, but is a complex process and requires technical skills you may not have, and is time consuming.
For a complete list of Audio Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.

Supported Audio Codecs List for OS X and macOS
Supported Audio Codecs List for OS X and macOS Audio Limitations and Compatibility Not every Audio Codec is supported by AppleALC on macOS. With some of the hardware, there are some limitations as well. Refer to the compatibility guide linked below for more information...

Ethernet
Generally, the ethernet port is built-in into the laptop motherboard. Most of the Ethernet chips found on Laptops are normally supported. Some old chips may be difficult to configure.
For a complete list of Ethernet Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.

Ethernet Compatibility List for macOS [1GbE, 5GbE, 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, 50GbE, 100GbE]
Ethernet Compatibility List for macOS AQuantia AQC-107 AQC-113 ASUS XG-C100C TP-Link TX401 GIGABYTE GC-AQC113C Myri10G Drivers and Tools Supported models: 10G-PCIE-8A-xx, 10G-PCIE2-8B-xx, 10G-PCIE2-8C-xx and 10G-PCIE3-8E-xx Manufacturer Model Chipset Speed 10.6.x 10.7.x 10.8.x 10.9.x...

WiFi and Bluetooth
Recent Laptops are not being shipped with a built-in ethernet port, except for a few. For a Laptop, WiFi is required for portability. Most of the Laptops are either being shipped with Intel WiFi/BT Cards and the other few options are Qualcomm and Realtek. There are very few WiFi models which are supported by macOS. With this, there are some laptops that have a whitelist in the BIOS which prevents you to replace the WiFi hardware. Such BIOS allows certain specific models only which are branded specifically by the manufacturer of the laptop. Sometimes, the BIOS can be unlocked and the whitelist can be removed but sometimes the BIOS can be encrypted. The service manual for your laptop may provide you with a list of compatible cards on your specific model and if one of those WiFi models is compatible with macOS, then you can search for the card and try to replace it. Some laptops such as In many cases, the specific WiFi model with the laptop is not specified when you purchase.
For most of the time, the Bluetooth is built-in to the WiFi card (on the USB bus). Bluetooth works best when using Broadcom Bluetooth hardware.
LIMITATIONS
|
For a complete list of WiFi and Bluetooth Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.

WiFi Compatibility List for OS X and macOS [Broadcom, Atheros, Intel and Realtek]
WiFi Compatibility List for OS X and macOS [Broadcom, Atheros, Intel and Realtek] Following are the list of compatible and non-compatible WiFi models for Mac. For Broadcom https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/how-to-enable-broadcom-wifi.606/ For Atheros...

Camera
For most of the time, the built-in camera is USB, some are connected to USB2, and some to USB3. Some will work and some won't. There's no specific pattern.
LIMITATIONS
|
Touchscreen
OS X and macOS doesn't support touchscreen but gestures. However, few laptops have a touchscreen. The touchscreen can be either on the USB bus or the I2C. The touchscreen which is on a USB bus can be made to work without any need for additional drivers. However, the I2C touchscreen will require a different driver. I2C Touchscreen can be made to work using VoodooI2C.
LIMITATIONS
|
Fingerprint
Fingerprints cannot be emulated to the Touch ID sensor and as a result, none of the fingerprint sensors will work in any OS X and macOS version.
Card Readers
Card Readers are either on the PCI bus and some are on the USB bus. Card Readers based on PCI bus works using a third party driver, however, there are drivers available from the manufacturer for certain Card Readers. USB buses are mostly Plug and Play which work using the class driver built-in to OS X/macOS, however, this may not be possible in every case. You can't know until you try.
LIMITATIONS
|
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt is supported including HotPlug capability. For a complete list of Thunderbolt Compatibility, refer to the compatibility guide linked below.

Thunderbolt Compatibility List for macOS
Thunderbolt Compatibility List for macOS Controller Family 10.6.x 10.7.x 10.8.x 10.9.x 10.10.x 10.11.x 10.12.x 10.13.x 10.14.x 10.15.x 11.x 12.x 13.x 82523EF Light Ridge 82523EFL Light Ridge DSL2310 Eagle Ridge...

RECOMMENDATIONS
|
Installing macOS on a Laptop is not easy. You should not expect that you can get everything working. However, there are several successes with Laptops with each and every function working, and that's only possible when you have the right hardware! There are many different laptops that have different hardware configurations and each hardware is unique. It is very likely possible that a laptop might not work even if the hardware mentioned above meets the requirements.
If you want 100% compatibility with all the hardware such as discrete graphics, perfect WiFi and Bluetooth, and no hassles, don't look for installing macOS, buy a MacBook instead. This will not only save you from less trouble but also from wasting your time.
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