In the past, Mac OS X didn't support integrated graphics cards, so you couldn't use the integrated graphics on the motherboard of your Hackintosh. However, this changed in 2011, when Apple released the Mac Mini and a new line of Macbooks. Now, with Mac OS X Lion, any Hackintosh with Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics can get full graphics support in a relatively easy process.
Find out if your processor is supported
Mac OS X Lion only supports Intel HD 3000 graphics, which are included in a few of Intel's newest 2nd-generation processors (known as 'Sandy Bridge' processors). Check out this list of Sandy Bridge desktop processors with HD 3000 graphics for more info. (A lot of laptop processors also have HD 3000, but there are too many to list.)
A vast majority of Intel processors still use the older HD 2000 graphics, which don't work with the method in this guide. However, you can enable basic HD 2000 support on Mac OS X with this alternative guide. If you want to find out whether your Intel processor uses HD 2000 or 3000, you can Google the model of your processor. For example, if I search 'Core i5-2500K' (my processor model) on Google, the first result is Intel's official page for the Intel Core i5-2500K. According to the 'Graphics Specifications' section of that page, my Hackintosh's i5-2500K processor uses 'Intel® HD Graphics 3000', which works with Mac OS X.
Additionally, your computer's motherboard has to support integrated graphics. For Intel's 2nd-generation processors, P67 motherboards are the only type of motherboards that don't support integrated graphics; the other three types of motherboards will work.
1. Adjust your BIOS
For starters, you need to change a graphics setting in your computer's BIOS (which is essentially the settings page for your motherboard). Boot your computer, and enter the BIOS. To enter the BIOS on a Gigabyte motherboard, you have to press the delete key when it boots (before the operating system starts). Different manufacturers set different keys for opening the BIOS.
If you have a Gigabyte motherboard, there will be a setting called 'On-Chip Frame Buffer Size', located in the 'Advanced BIOS Features' page. This sets how much video RAM your processor's HD 3000 graphics will use. Motherboards from different brands might call this setting something else.
If your Hackintosh has 4 GB of RAM, set video RAM to 384MB. If your Hackintosh has 8 GB of RAM, set video RAM to 480MB.
Once you've set up the BIOS, proceed to the next step.
2. Update to Mac OS X Lion
If your Hackintosh is still running Mac OS X Snow Leopard, update to Mac OS X Lion. This is worth repeating: Mac OS X Snow Leopard does not support HD 3000 graphics! Check out the following guides to installing Mac OS X Lion if you need help:
- How to update to Mac OS X Lion with Unibeast
- How to update to Mac OS X Lion with Kakewalk
- How to install Mac OS X Lion without installing Snow Leopard
NOTE: HD 3000 is not supported out of the box; after installing Lion, you'll have to make a few modifications before your screen will display at full resolution.
3. Install Chimera bootloader
Once you've installed Mac OS X Lion on your Hackintosh, install Chimera bootloader. Chimera is a popular bootloader for Mac OS X, made by MacMan from tonymacx86. (A bootloader is the program that boots your operating system when your computer starts.) Easybeast and UserDSDT (available in Multibeast) both install Chimera. If you aren't using Easybeast or UserDSDT to enable booting from the hard drive on your Hackintosh, you can also use Multibeast to install Chimera bootloader by itself (the option is located under Drivers & Bootloaders -> Bootloaders in Multibeast).
NOTE: You have to register an account on tonymacx86 to download Multibeast.
Chimera bootloader injects the device ID of your HD 3000 graphics card into Lion's default graphics drivers, so that you can get graphics support without a hassle.
4. Install the 'Mac mini' system definition
Finally, install the 'Mac mini' system definition in Multibeast. System Definitions pretend that your Hackintosh is a real Mac. When Mac OS X Lion sees that your Hackintosh is a 'Mac mini', which uses HD 3000 graphics, it enables the built-in HD 3000 drivers, which are otherwise turned off. You can also use the 'Macbook Pro 8,1' system definition, though 'Mac mini' is generally recommended.
Ending Notes
Reboot, and Mac OS X Lion should display in full resolution, and have graphics acceleration. However, here's a few things you should keep in mind about HD 3000:
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- Description Type OS Version Date; Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 for Windows 7* 32-Bit. This download installs Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver version 15.12.75.50.7.2230 (8.) for the integrated graphics controller of Intel® chipsets for Windows 7*, 32-bit.
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- Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 Driver for Windows XP 64 bit* (exe) Installs graphics driver version 14.37.50.4.64.5260 (6.) for the integrated graphics controller of Intel® chipsets for Windows XP 64*.
Find out if your processor is supported
Mac OS X Lion only supports Intel HD 3000 graphics, which are included in a few of Intel's newest 2nd-generation processors (known as 'Sandy Bridge' processors). Check out this list of Sandy Bridge desktop processors with HD 3000 graphics for more info. (A lot of laptop processors also have HD 3000, but there are too many to list.)
A vast majority of Intel processors still use the older HD 2000 graphics, which don't work with the method in this guide. However, you can enable basic HD 2000 support on Mac OS X with this alternative guide. If you want to find out whether your Intel processor uses HD 2000 or 3000, you can Google the model of your processor. For example, if I search 'Core i5-2500K' (my processor model) on Google, the first result is Intel's official page for the Intel Core i5-2500K. According to the 'Graphics Specifications' section of that page, my Hackintosh's i5-2500K processor uses 'Intel® HD Graphics 3000', which works with Mac OS X.
Additionally, your computer's motherboard has to support integrated graphics. For Intel's 2nd-generation processors, P67 motherboards are the only type of motherboards that don't support integrated graphics; the other three types of motherboards will work.
1. Adjust your BIOS
For starters, you need to change a graphics setting in your computer's BIOS (which is essentially the settings page for your motherboard). Boot your computer, and enter the BIOS. To enter the BIOS on a Gigabyte motherboard, you have to press the delete key when it boots (before the operating system starts). Different manufacturers set different keys for opening the BIOS.
If you have a Gigabyte motherboard, there will be a setting called 'On-Chip Frame Buffer Size', located in the 'Advanced BIOS Features' page. This sets how much video RAM your processor's HD 3000 graphics will use. Motherboards from different brands might call this setting something else.
If your Hackintosh has 4 GB of RAM, set video RAM to 384MB. If your Hackintosh has 8 GB of RAM, set video RAM to 480MB.
Once you've set up the BIOS, proceed to the next step.
2. Update to Mac OS X LionIf your Hackintosh is still running Mac OS X Snow Leopard, update to Mac OS X Lion. This is worth repeating: Mac OS X Snow Leopard does not support HD 3000 graphics! Check out the following guides to installing Mac OS X Lion if you need help:
- How to update to Mac OS X Lion with Unibeast
- How to update to Mac OS X Lion with Kakewalk
- How to install Mac OS X Lion without installing Snow Leopard
NOTE: HD 3000 is not supported out of the box; after installing Lion, you'll have to make a few modifications before your screen will display at full resolution.
3. Install Chimera bootloader
Once you've installed Mac OS X Lion on your Hackintosh, install Chimera bootloader. Chimera is a popular bootloader for Mac OS X, made by MacMan from tonymacx86. (A bootloader is the program that boots your operating system when your computer starts.) Easybeast and UserDSDT (available in Multibeast) both install Chimera. If you aren't using Easybeast or UserDSDT to enable booting from the hard drive on your Hackintosh, you can also use Multibeast to install Chimera bootloader by itself (the option is located under Drivers & Bootloaders -> Bootloaders in Multibeast).
NOTE: You have to register an account on tonymacx86 to download Multibeast.
Chimera bootloader injects the device ID of your HD 3000 graphics card into Lion's default graphics drivers, so that you can get graphics support without a hassle.
4. Install the 'Mac mini' system definition
Finally, install the 'Mac mini' system definition in Multibeast. System Definitions pretend that your Hackintosh is a real Mac. When Mac OS X Lion sees that your Hackintosh is a 'Mac mini', which uses HD 3000 graphics, it enables the built-in HD 3000 drivers, which are otherwise turned off. You can also use the 'Macbook Pro 8,1' system definition, though 'Mac mini' is generally recommended.
Ending Notes
Reboot, and Mac OS X Lion should display in full resolution, and have graphics acceleration. However, here's a few things you should keep in mind about HD 3000:
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- Dual-monitor setups will work.
- The VGA port on your monitor will not work (real Macs don't have VGA ports). You have to use either the DVI or HDMI port on your monitor to connect it with your computer.
- You may see occasional artifacts on your screen, but this is normal. You may be able to fix these artifacts by installing FakeSMC 4.2.
And that's all there is to it. Your integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics should be fully supported now.