Intel NUC7/NUC8 using Clover UEFI (NUC7i7Bxx,NUC8i7Bxx,etc)

Overview

The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step guide to install Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, or El Capitan on the Kaby Lake Intel NUC7 series Intel NUC mini computers. My NUC7 is the NUC7i7BNH, although I expect the guide will work on other similar models. Preliminary support for the NUC8 "Bean Canyon" has also been added.

I installed with 8GB RAM (one stick), and an SM951/AHCI M.2 SSD. Recommend two sticks in dual-channel.

This guide does not use Unibeast nor Multibeast, but uses automated scripts to handle most of the post-installation details.

Some notes on the NUC7i7BNH

The NUC7i7BNH is similar to other NUCs. This particular NUC has a single M.2 slot for SSD and support for a 2.5" SATA SSD or HDD.

Like the previous Skylake NUC6 the NUC comes with MSR 0xE2 locked and there is no option in the BIOS to unlock it. And as with the previous generation, this NUC has soldered WiFi/BT, with no option to replace it. For networking, Ethernet is used.

The NUC7i7BNH has an HDMI port and a Thunderbolt3 (USB-C) port. I was able to use my DP screen using a USB-C->DP cable.

Some notes on the NUC7i7DNKE

Recently received a "Dawson Canyon" NUC7i7DNKE. This NUC also works by following this guide.

Highlights

• KabyLake-R Core i7-8650U
• Intel UHD 620 graphics
• Replaceable WiFi via M.2 2230 slot
• M.2 2280 for SSD
• Dual-HDMI at back panel
• 4x USB3 ports
• Ethernet works with IntelMausiEthernet.kext
• No analog audio
• No Thunderbolt, no USB type C

These "Dawson Canyon" NUCs are an excellent option due to their simplicity and replaceable WiFi hardware.

Some notes on the NUC8i7BEH

Preliminary support for the CoffeeLake NUC8 "Bean Canyon" has been added to the github project.

• Add EmuVariableUefi-64.efi to drivers64UEFI
• Use the nuc8 variant plists
• Use the nuc8 make install script
• In BIOS settings you must enable legacy boot

What you need

• Kaby Lake Intel NUC7 or NUC8 series mini computer
• macOS or OS X downloaded from the Mac App Store
• 8GB USB stick, possibly 16GB
• SATA SSD/HDD or M.2 SSD
• RAM

BIOS settings

The boot menu and BIOS setup can be accessed by pressing F2 during BIOS startup. After the main screen appears, choose Advanced.

Start by choosing Load Defaults or press F9.

• Boot > Boot Configuration: disable Network Boot
• Power > Secondary Power Settings: Wake on LAN from S4/S5 set to Stay Off
• Devices > Video: IGD Minimum Memory set to 64 MB or 128 MB
• Devices > Video: IGD Aperture Size set to 256 MB
• Boot > Secure Boot: Secure Boot disabled
• Security > Security Features: Execute Disable Bit enabled

Preparing USB and initial Installation

This guide assumes you're starting with nothing important on your HDD/SSD. Make sure you back up your important files before starting.

Special notes:

• This guide requires Clover v4658 or later.
• Copy IntelMausiEthernet.kext to Clover/kexts/Other.
• You do not need VoodooPS2Controller.kext.
• Use the createinstallmedia approach.
• Use config_install_nuc7.plist and copy it to EFI/Clover/config.plist.

Post Installation

Install Clover UEFI as described in the guide. After installing Clover and configuring it correctly, you should be able to boot from the HDD/SSD.

To start, the developer tools must be installed:

xcode-select --install

Create a project folder and clone the repository:

mkdir ~/Projects
cd ~/Projects
git clone https://github.com/RehabMan/Intel-NUC-DSDT-Patch nuc.git

Change into the project directory:

cd ~/Projects/nuc.git

Download and install the required tools and kexts:

./download.sh
./install_downloads.sh

Compile and install the patched ACPI files:

make
make install_nuc7

For the Dawson Canyon NUC7:

make
make install_nuc7dc

Power Management

Everything required for CPU/IGPU power management is already installed with the steps above. Hibernation is not well supported on Hackintosh systems and should be disabled.

sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0
sudo rm /var/vm/sleepimage
sudo mkdir /var/vm/sleepimage

Final config.plist

Mount the EFI partition:

./mount_efi.sh

Copy the final configuration:

cp config_nuc7.plist /Volumes/EFI/EFI/Clover/config.plist

For Dawson Canyon:

cp config_nuc7_dc.plist /Volumes/EFI/EFI/Clover/config.plist

After copying the config.plist from the repo to EFI/Clover/config.plist, customize the SMBIOS so you have a unique serial.

Skylake Spoofing

For versions of macOS or OS X prior to 10.12.6, there is no native KabyLake graphics support. For those systems, it is necessary to spoof the KabyLake graphics device as Skylake.

cp ./build/SSDT-SKLSPF.aml /Volumes/EFI/CLOVER/ACPI/patched

Or:

make install_nuc7spoof

Updates to the patch repositories

From time to time, updates may become available to the NUC repository.

git stash
git pull
make clean

What works

• UEFI booting via Clover
• DP/HDMI video/audio
• AirPlay mirroring to AppleTV
• Native USB3/USB2
• Native audio with AppleHDA
• Native power management
• Accelerated graphics
• Wired Ethernet
• Mac App Store
• Sleep with hibernation disabled
• Messages/FaceTime

Not tested / not working

• Internal USB headers
• 4K DP video not tested
• Thunderbolt 3 hotplug not reliable
• Intel Bluetooth/WiFi not well supported
• Monitor hotplug and dual monitors remain unreliable

Known Problems

• Find My Mac / Locking: Find My Mac does not work properly.
• No Ethernet after wake: Do not enable Wake for Ethernet Network Access if Wake on LAN is disabled in BIOS.
• Audio: Internal mic on the NUC7 does not work.

Other post-install tasks

If the Bluetooth Setup Assistant appears, open:

System Preferences > Bluetooth > Advanced

Then uncheck the boxes.

System updates

Before updating the system, update the repository first:

git stash
git pull
make clean
make
make install_nuc7
./download.sh
./install_downloads.sh

Also update Clover to the latest version using the Clover installer. Make sure only EFI/Clover/kexts/Other exists and remove version-specific directories below EFI/Clover/kexts.

Update config.plist at EFI/Clover/config.plist to the latest content from the repository and retain your own SMBIOS data.