OS X 10.8.4 on Gigabyte Z77 DS3H w/ Intel 3570K HD 4000: Hackintosh

Custom Mac's or Hackintosh computers; running OS X on non-Apple, PC hardware, is becoming easier and easier with new Gigabyte motherboards that boast Dual UEFI BIOS. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) provides a software interface between an operating system and the platform hardware, replacing the traditional basic input/output system (BIOS). This relieves hackintosh builders of the tedious task of creating a custom and/or unique Differentiated System Description Table (DSDT) to allow the operating system to utilize available platform hardware; audio, video, network, memory, etc.

Recently I assembled a "hackintosh" utilizing the Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77-DS3H and the Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor with Intel HD 4000 graphics. Installation via tonymacx86's UniBeast with OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.3, later updated with Combo Update 10.8.4, was a walk in the park however, enabling HD 4000 graphics was not so much.

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The Build:
NZXT Source 210 Midtower Case

Corsair Builder Series CX 600 Watt ATX/EPS  80 PLUS (CX600)

Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77-DS3H

        Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core  LGA 1155

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2x4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3
EVGA GeForce GT 620 1024MB GDDR3, DVI, VGA and HDMI Graphics Card

OCZ Technology 128GB Vertex 4 Series SATA 6.0 GB/s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive 

Below are the MultiBeast installation options used:

After completing the MultiBeast installation, while booting, the Apple boot screen would not go away, and the progress indicator would spin indefinitely. At this time I was using a VGA display which is not supported by the Apple HD4000 kernel extension. After switching to an HDMI display I was no longer haunted by the eternal Apple boot screen, but rather an astoundingly quick boot followed by a complete loss of signal to the HDMI display. After trying the go to troubleshooting technique of unplugging and re-inserting the HDMI cable in the motherboard to no avail, I realized that the computer had booted completely but left me with no video signal.

Using boot flag PCIRootUID=1, the system would boot completely, but the HD4000 graphics were not functioning as they should, and appeared to be using only basic generic drivers/kexts rendering the graphics flickering and laggy. I thought, at least now I will be able to test the audio, NOPE! No audio output or input options were available in System Preferences>>Audio.

After installing, uninstalling, and reinstalling various drivers for Intel HDA with only partial successes, cracking and popping, but now with available inputs and outputs displayed in Audio preferences, I reinstalled OS X Combo Update 10.8.4 to reset all audio kexts I had messed with. This time booting with PCIRootUID=0 and using a GeForce 8400 GS graphics card I was able to boot flawlessly  into OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.4 with adequate graphics performance and crystal clear audio!

It would seem to me that the Intel HD 4000 graphics may not be fully or properly supported on the Gigabyte Z77-DS3H motherboard or within OS X. For those considering a similar build I recommend ditching the integrated graphics and spending a few bucks on a well supported Nvidia graphics card. This will surely save you much head banging while installing your build.

Ubuntu Edge, the campaign, and WHY it may be in TROUBLE.

Ubuntu Edge.

The next generation smart phone is upon us. Ubuntu Edge will be one of the first smart phone designs to cross the barrier between personal computing and personal telephone use, giving users a pocket computer that is able to make phone calls. Design no doubt takes after the ground breaking iPhone design; attention to detail, practical durability, and sleekness, which Apple prides themselves on. Software development for the Ubuntu Edge however, will fall far far away from the distribution and authentication norms currently visible with the iPhone and Apple App Store. The operating system on the Edge will likely mimic that of the Android OS, giving users hack-ability and customization opportunities; the roots of open source Linux software.

The Ubuntu Edge case will be precision engineered and will feel like a good solid peace of hardware. The canonical logo, circle of friends, is elegantly embossed on the rubberized backing of the smart phone. Size wise, the Edge is slightly smaller than a Samsung Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It is slightly larger in size than the Apple iPhone 4.

It will have the fastest multi-core processor on the market, as well as boasting 4 GB of ram and 120 GB of storage, excellent for carrying around music, videos, and applications. These incredible hardware specifications will allow the phone boot a fully functioning Ubuntu OS as well as Android, making it the first dual-booting device on the market. The Ubuntu Edge will also come with an 4.5" HD Screen at 1280 x 720 pixels protected by a super hard Sapphire Crystal display. It has an 8 mega-pixel low light camera on the back and a 2 mega-pixel front camera.

As far as the connectivity is concerned it will have 4G LTE, 802.11 N Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.