CG艺术实验室

Preface#

At the end of September, I got a ZhiKe SER5 Max mini host, and after about 3 months of heavy use, it has been basically well-tuned.

Actually, I have long wanted to buy a Mac mini for development and testing, as the 16GB memory of the MacBook Pro is not sufficient. If you are familiar with the mini host market, you might ask, "Why choose a two-year-old model at this point in time when the new M4 Mac mini has just been released?"

It's simple, based on needs:

• As far as I know, this is currently the most mature and stable AMD mini host for Hackintosh solutions.
• 
• A few years ago, I tinkered with a dual-platform Hackintosh desktop (now kept at my hometown as a backup workstation), and it still receives minor updates, so I occasionally browse forums and Discord, and I was surprised to find that AMD platform support has recently been added, with drivers for integrated graphics, and some experts have even open-sourced the boot files.
• Extreme cost-effectiveness; I configured 32GB+1TB+2TB SSD for just over 2000, while the same configuration Mac mini costs 13,000. I'd rather invest in a 50 series NVIDIA card for my desktop next year.
• I already have a main desktop workstation and don't play games.
• I have a 27-inch 4K monitor sitting idle, which would be a waste to sell.
• The Windows platform offers more freedom and better expandability, and it can serve as a TV box (which it can do anytime) or a small server in the future.

So I placed the order.

Here, I want to emphasize that unless you have specific macOS software or development and design needs, neither "Hackintosh" nor "real" Mac should be your consideration.

Hardware Configuration#

The appearance is compact and exquisite, chosen in gray. After heavy use, I can already see dust accumulating in the top air intake, but as a designer, I can't stand the big red power button on the black version.

The thickness is just right, allowing it to fit under the monitor stand alongside a 68-key keyboard.

The configuration is as follows:

I checked the [detailed performance test of the CPU](AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor – Benchmarks and Specs – NotebookCheck.net Tech), the 5800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, built on a 7nm process, sufficient for my needs. It is not particularly power-saving, but can be adjusted through the BIOS. This is my first time using an AMD processor, and I found that the standby temperature in winter is over 50 degrees, which is quite high. Just opening a few web pages can cause the fan to spin above 2500 RPM, so I made some optimizations before installing the dual system.

Power Consumption and Noise Tuning#

1. Enter BIOS
2. In the Advanced section, find Smart Fan Function
3. In Smart Fan Function, find Smart CPU Fan Mode and select Automatic Mode
4. Change the Fan start PWM value to 50, PWM SLOPE SETTING to 2 PWM, and Fan full speed temperature limit to 80

With these settings, the default 54W full-load performance mode remains unchanged, ensuring it can run at maximum speed while significantly reducing noise under light load. The trade-off is that the standby temperature is a bit higher (55-65 degrees). A mini host can tolerate higher temperatures; it won't break down, and its heat doesn't affect me. In contrast, I care more about fan noise.

If the standby temperature is bothersome, and you want to lower it, consider creating a new power mode in the control panel and disabling CPU Turbo Boost in the advanced power options, which essentially changes the CPU's maximum performance from 100 to 99. Note that this will result in a 5-10% loss in single-core peak performance (macOS has a similar adjustment method, but I need full power for development, so I won't set it).

Modifying Integrated Graphics Memory#

It is highly recommended not to exceed 8GB, as the memory for integrated graphics is actually system memory, and the DDR4 memory channel performance is average. Setting the memory too high can actually hinder performance.

Installing Win11#

If you bought a quasi-system version like I did, you will need to install the operating system yourself. The installation of Windows is relatively simple, so I won't elaborate on that, as I believe anyone reading this won't have issues with it.

It's worth mentioning that the host came with a system installation USB drive, version 23H2, which includes all the factory official hardware drivers, making one-click installation very convenient.

Installing macOS#

Before installing macOS, you first need to partition the disk. I divided the 1TB NVMe SSD in half for the system disk. Note that when installing Win11, the system will automatically create an EFI boot partition, usually around 200MB, and it's recommended to expand it to 300MB.

The image shows my system disk partition situation under macOS Disk Utility, where disk0s3 is the Win11 partition. It's advisable to adjust partition sizes using DiskGenius or other third-party tools within Win11.

Preparation Tools#

• A functioning Windows PC
• macOS system image
  • The downloaded image can be created by yourself or sourced from someone else's one-click installation version online. A well-known source is Hackintosh's Xiao Bing, and my boot files are modified versions based on his work.
• OpenCore boot files
  • You can use my files directly from https://github.com/cgartlab/Beelink-SER5-Max-Hackintosh, or find more suitable ones online.
  • ⚠️ Note: I am using the official Intel ax200 network card, which works fine for internet access but does not support AirDrop, Continuity, etc. (because I don't use them). If you need those features, please purchase an Apple driver-free network card from Taobao.
• An idle 16GB USB drive

Creating the System Installation Disk#

There are many tools for writing images, and I recommend balenaEtcher, which is open-source and free.

It officially supports versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can be used right after downloading.

The usage is straightforward: select the image, select the USB drive, and write. It takes about ten minutes to complete.

Booting from the USB Drive#

Press del or F7 during startup to enter BIOS or the boot menu, and select the USB drive to boot.

If all goes well, the installation options should appear.

Then proceed with the normal installation of macOS. Currently, the boot files support Sequoia, but for stability, I chose Ventura, and after successful installation, the version can be directly updated to 13.7.1.

When formatting the disk, it is recommended to choose APFS format for the system partition. If you, like me, installed a SATA SSD, it is advisable to format it as exFAT so that both systems can share the same storage disk without interference.

Be sure not to log in to your Apple ID account yet, as you will need to modify the system registration code later.

Replacing Boot Files#

Download OC AuxiliaryTools, which is a key tool for modifying and replacing boot files and is essential for macOS to function properly.

After installing and opening it, in the menu bar: Edit ➡️ Mount ESP ➡️ USB Drive ➡️ Mount.

Don't forget that you are currently using the USB drive to boot the system, and the boot partition you are modifying is also on the USB drive. To achieve a dual system, the boot files for both macOS and Win11 need to be placed together.

Open Finder and copy all files from the EFI partition on the USB drive to the system EFI partition, at which point the USB drive can be removed. If you encounter boot issues later, you can still use the USB drive to boot.

Updating Drivers and Boot Files#

Similarly, in the menu bar: Edit ➡️ Mount ESP ➡️ System Disk ➡️ Mount and open the xxx configuration file.

After opening, first set the system registration code. It’s best to generate a random one and check its availability on the official website.

Then select "Upgrade OpenCore and kexts." OpenCore is the core component of the boot process, and kexts are the hardware driver files.

Check for Kexts updates; files with available updates will show a small red square. Select them and update. It is not recommended to choose beta driver versions.

After updating, save the EFI files and exit.

Rebuilding Cache and Repairing System Permissions#

Download and install Hackintool.

After opening, first select the "Power" section and check if the sleep wake parameters are set to "0." If not, you can click the screwdriver button below to repair it, ensuring the system can achieve sleep and wake.

Then select the Tools section, click the white square in the lower right corner, enter the system password, and confirm. This will repair system permissions and driver cache. This method is generally the least error-prone.

Finally, restart and select macOS to log in to your Apple ID normally.

Achieved Effects and Software Compatibility#

System information.

This is the state while I was writing this article.

As for software compatibility, at least among the software I have used in the images below, there have been no crashes or restarts except for those caused by my own actions.

Conclusion#

The best is what suits you. The key significance of choosing based on needs and personalized configuration lies in:

1. Precisely meeting usage needs
   Everyone's work and life scenarios vary. For example, I have needs for development testing, multi-system usage, and utilizing idle devices. Choosing based on needs and personalized configuration ensures that the device aligns closely with performance and functionality requirements, avoiding resource waste or functional deficiencies. For development work, sufficient memory (like the higher memory configuration mentioned in the article) and a stable system (achieved through careful installation and optimization) are crucial; for daily entertainment or backup scenarios, the freedom and expandability of the Windows system can shine, such as transforming the device into a TV box or small server.
2. Optimizing cost-effectiveness
   There is a significant price difference between devices with different configurations. The official price of the Mac mini with the same configuration mentioned in the article is much higher than that of a self-assembled solution. By choosing based on needs, one can find the most cost-effective combination while meeting functional requirements. For instance, choosing an AMD platform mini host and configuring storage oneself achieves a similar or even superior user experience to high-priced devices at a lower cost, making financial investment more reasonable and maximizing cost-effectiveness.
3. Enhancing user experience and flexibility
   Personalized configuration allows for adjustments to device performance based on personal habits and preferences, such as optimizing power consumption noise and adjusting integrated graphics memory, making the device operate more in line with user expectations. Additionally, multi-system installations (like dual systems of Win11 and macOS) provide greater flexibility, allowing users to switch systems based on different tasks, seamlessly connecting different work and entertainment environments, fully leveraging the advantages of each system, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
4. Stimulating technical exploration and self-control
   This process encourages me to delve into hardware and software knowledge, such as BIOS settings, system partitioning, and boot file handling. Through independent research and practice, I can not only solve practical problems but also enhance my sense of control over the device, stimulating a spirit of technical exploration, laying the foundation for future challenges and personalized needs, and achieving a transformation from a device user to a technical "driver."

I hope my experience can provide a reference for those in need, helping everyone avoid detours in device selection and configuration, and better meet their work and usage needs.

References:

• https://heipg.cn
• https://blog.daliansky.net
• https://post.smzdm.com/p/a8p7k0m6/
• https://github.com/cgartlab/Beelink-SER5-Max-Hackintosh

This article was first published on CGArtLab