51nb X210 macOS 10.15-10.16 Hackintosh EFI

[lulujyc]

This EFI config is first shared on 51nb.com by myself, you can find the original discussion here: https://forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=vi ... id=1928499

*IMPORTANT*
You MUST update the WhateverGreen kext before installing/ upgrading to 10.15.4, otherwise your OS won't boot! For those already upgraded, enter Safe Mode to download the kext and put it into somewhere accessible, and get into macOS Revovery or a Windows PE to remove the old one and install the new!

Specs for my X210:
I used the X61H mod as the chassis, which contains a 1400*1050 SXGA screen. (So don't ask for HiDPI since I have a different screen)
Wireless card is DW1820a. It is supported in this config, but I suggest anyone who is interested in using the hackintosh as daily driver to use DW1830 instead for better vanilla support.
The BGA CPU is 8550u.
Memory is 2666mhz 8g*2.
System disk is 512G Toshiba XG3.

Prerequisite:
You MUST use the latest 190111 BIOS with patched EC, otherwise many functions related to power management won't work. It's recommended to disable CFG lock and CSM (well if you don't want to dual-boot Windows7 or older systems).
You can find the patched EC here: viewtopic.php?f=80&t=128267&start=60

Bugs:
1. Middle key scrolling: You can fix that by installing Smart Scroll in macOS
2. Brightness control: Can't figure a way to fix it in the EFI right now, installing Brightness Slider in Mac App Store is recommended.
3. Sleep: Kinda unstable. You can help yourself to get a more stable sleep using one of the two ways:
(1) Turn off WiFi in macOS each time manually before you press Fn + F4, or
(2) use "sudo pmset -a tcpkeepalive 0" which automatically helps you to do that.
4. No video output after reboot from time to time. You can fix this by either manual rebooting or press Fn + F4 then press the power key.
5. You tell me.

What's working:
1. Everything else except for those mentioned above. Also Fn + F3, Fn + F4, Fn + Up/ Down/ Left/ Right/ Thinklight works fine.

Not tested:
1. EDP screen or 12.6/ 13.0 High-res screens (Don't have one to test)
2. Installing on a test/ first/ second batch of the X210. If the CPU you have is different, then you might need to change the SSDT to have a working Turbo Boost.
Update: 1st batch X210 board with 8250u is supported by this EFI natively.
3. Installing on other versions of the BIOS or BIOS that doesn't have a fixed EC installed. (190111 + fixed ec is recommended)
Update: You must use the newest BIOS with patched EC, otherwise sleep and battery will not function well.
4. Installing on the fourth batch (X2100) in the future. Anyone interested in that could use mine as a reference to build yours.

Download:
Baidu Netdisk: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1LsrWSgjyUPEwMkGDBCvy2w Password: 3y3c
MEGA: https://mega.nz/#!XU8wTYBB!N7HN_YRt2U19 ... 59BLYJylec

NEW experimental Big Sur EFI: https://mega.nz/file/aJdHmYTL#iFpzkQVOQ ... lvuNVPZz6g

Reminders:
1. You need to use TRIM Enabler or "sudo trimforce enable" to enable TRIM on your SSD after install.

Photo:

[L29Ah]

I used the X61H mod as the chassis

Can you tell more about the mod? What cooling system have you used?

[lulujyc]

I used the X61H mod as the chassis

Can you tell more about the mod? What cooling system have you used?

I used the 17m19 3-heatpipe cooling kit. The heat under macOS is significantly reduced compared when running Windows, especially when I had a low CPU usage.
The X61H is a mod by 51nb.com forum member jxz1111111 (https://forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=vi ... id=1857675), based on the experiences on the X60H mod by robou (https://forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=vi ... id=1674617).
The mod includes cutting the back case & the top case, re-mounting screw holes on the two cases, switching a modded screen cable from the X200 and modding the battery.
You can find instructions here:
https://forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=vi ... id=1881530
https://forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=vi ... id=1879555
You might be also interested in the X61K, another mod for X61 to install a X201 mb that requires less case modifications, however several changes on the motherboard is required. X210 mb compability is not tested.
https://forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=vi ... id=1892975
The 51nb forum member jxz1111111 made 10 X61H kits and is no longer making them now. You can use Google translation to view these threads and possibly make one for yourself.

[flyingfishfinger]

How did you get the GPU working?

I have a somewhat-working install of Sierra, but I spent a few days playing with different ig-platform-ids to no avail. Intel HD620 should work, according to this document..

R

[lulujyc]

How did you get the GPU working?

I have a somewhat-working install of Sierra, but I spent a few days playing with different ig-platform-ids to no avail. Intel HD620 should work, according to this document..

R

Try using my EFI. The iGPU is fully working in my system.

[flyingfishfinger]

Will it work with Sierra / High Sierra?

R

[lulujyc]

Will it work with Sierra / High Sierra?

R

Haven't tested so no idea. Catalina is confirmed working with this EFI after all. Hopefolly it will work or it only needed minor changes.

[flyingfishfinger]

We need a Baidu account to download this?

Would it be possible to upload somewhere that does not require creating an account?

Thanks,
R

[lulujyc]

We need a Baidu account to download this?

Would it be possible to upload somewhere that does not require creating an account?

Thanks,
R

MEGA link updated

[Libre_ME]

Hi, do I understand correctly that the x210 board has to be cut in order to fit this board in the x61? Also, has anyone in the 51nb group ever fitted an x230 board into an x60/x61? Thanks!

[lulujyc]

Hi, do I understand correctly that the x210 board has to be cut in order to fit this board in the x61? Also, has anyone in the 51nb group ever fitted an x230 board into an x60/x61? Thanks!

If you want to use the X61K mod yes. X61H instead requires only chassis mod. Since X230 uses a 16:9 chassis, the board will be too long to fit into a X60 chassis. If you want an easy X61 mod for a 2c4t cpu, check out the X62 and X63.

[Libre_ME]

Thanks for your reply! My actual intention was to find out if it's possible to modify an x230 board, by cutting it, to fit in the x60/x61 chassis. I'd have an x62 now, but I need a Coreboot bios in it. I'm not smart enough to port it and there are no precompiled x62 Coreboot images that I'm aware. There are precompiled x230 coreboot images and a tool available, Ivyrain, to install that bios firmware that I want. I was hoping to hear "yes, it's been done and it's perfectly doable". but that didn't happen. Again, thanks very much for replying!

[lulujyc]

Thanks for your reply! My actual intention was to find out if it's possible to modify an x230 board, by cutting it, to fit in the x60/x61 chassis. I'd have an x62 now, but I need a Coreboot bios in it. I'm not smart enough to port it and there are no precompiled x62 Coreboot images that I'm aware. There are precompiled x230 coreboot images and a tool available, Ivyrain, to install that bios firmware that I want. I was hoping to hear "yes, it's been done and it's perfectly doable". but that didn't happen. Again, thanks very much for replying!

You're welcome. You could consider the X61H + X210 mb mod which is so far the only 4:3 thinkpad with coreboot mod. Otherwise a X230 with a **20 keyboard and palmrest should still fit most of your need.

[flyingfishfinger]

Hi-
Just want to report this is working ok with the 2880x1920 screen as well.

I'm sure there's some way to get it working with proper brightness control as well but I haven't tried anything.

Thanks for the EFI!

R

[lulujyc]

Hi-
Just want to report this is working ok with the 2880x1920 screen as well.

I'm sure there's some way to get it working with proper brightness control as well but I haven't tried anything.

Thanks for the EFI!

R

thanks for testing the 12.6 screen!

[flyingfishfinger]

No worries, a dual boot with Windows 10 works great as well.

The only issue I have now is that the Clover version doesn't seem to work with coreboot + Tianocore at all, but I've been told to use OpenCore instead. Have you tried an install with OpenCore, and if so do you have a guide / tips?

Thanks,
R

[lulujyc]

No worries, a dual boot with Windows 10 works great as well.

The only issue I have now is that the Clover version doesn't seem to work with coreboot + Tianocore at all, but I've been told to use OpenCore instead. Have you tried an install with OpenCore, and if so do you have a guide / tips?

Thanks,
R

Sorry I didn't try the custom firmware and the stock bios is good enough for me. Migrating Clover to OpenCore is a lot of work and since the modified ACPI tables in my EFI work only with macOS but not Windows/ Linux I'll suggest to stick with Clover (well there's a modded branch of OpenCore but that might sometime be no longer supported). You may try that since there're some documents on OpenCore, but sorry I'm not very familiar with that Did you try upgrading Clover itself?

[lulujyc]

Experimental 10.16 efi updated

[flyingfishfinger]

Hi,
Did you have any issues using the miniDP port?

I'm still running Mojave with Clover (works great except for brightness which is fine, thanks for the rest of the EFI), but the miniDP port is behaving weirdly. I've updated Lilu kext to the latest already.

If I boot with an external screen connected, it works as an extended display (main desktop stays on internal LCD), except that the internal LCD then turns off and I don't know why. "Displays" correctly report both my internal LCD and external monitor.

If I plug it in post-boot, the internal LCD turns off and I don't get anything on the external monitor either.

Have you experienced this, and if yes, do you have a fix?

Thanks,
R

[lulujyc]

Hi,
Did you have any issues using the miniDP port?

I'm still running Mojave with Clover (works great except for brightness which is fine, thanks for the rest of the EFI), but the miniDP port is behaving weirdly. I've updated Lilu kext to the latest already.

If I boot with an external screen connected, it works as an extended display (main desktop stays on internal LCD), except that the internal LCD then turns off and I don't know why. "Displays" correctly report both my internal LCD and external monitor.

If I plug it in post-boot, the internal LCD turns off and I don't get anything on the external monitor either.

Have you experienced this, and if yes, do you have a fix?

Thanks,
R

Hello,

Mini DP is working in my configuration, but I used Catalina and Big Sur which is the current supported OS of this EFI.

If you encounter further issues with mini DP I personally encourage you to migrate to OpenCore (which is something I planned to do in the far future...) as the current Clover configuration can be messy and cause trouble between OS updates.