Best Motherboards for Hackintosh

This entry has been published on April 4, 2021 and may be out of date.

Last Updated on November 17, 2022 by admin

Best Motherboards for Hackintosh – One constant feature of Hackintosh is that they are easier to install on a desktop than a laptop. The reason for this is due to the ease of access to all needed hardware in a place. These motherboards have a near hundred percent guarantee to work. Using this guide of the best Hackintosh motherboard, you can be sure of getting the best quality and usage.

Macintosh computers got created in such a way that makes them get locked down. Users are not able to install extra RAM or even replace the damaged hard drive. The belief is that most MAC users do not bother about upgrading, hence designing it for expansion seemed like a bad idea.

ROUND UP

The choice of building a Hackintosh presents a better alternative for those who want to enjoy the benefits of the Apple OS X. Here are some of the unique benefits of using the Hackintosh.

1.GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO

The Z390 Aorus Pro goes some way to justifying its cost with excellent aesthetic design.

The rear IO cover, the heatsink at the top of the board and the southbridge heatsink have brushed metal and dramatic angles, and you get more RGB LEDs on this board than in any of its affordable rivals – they’re in the two major heatsinks, the audio circuitry and between the memory slots.

Gigabyte’s board looks good, and it ticks more specification boxes than most of its slightly cheaper rivals.

2.Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I

A highly effective Bluetooth band dual-frequency expansion card is now available! Welcome to the best of the best, the Gigabyte GC-WB867D-ISound technology is changing, bringing in new ideas to better our lives.

This review is going to look into this highly recommended expansion card. This product has some pretty cool features; you do not want to buy an outdated card that barely the purpose for which you purchased it.

This product matches the specific wants of gamers and music listeners. With this information, would you still go to another product? Well, let me show you why you shouldn’t.

3.GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA

In Gigabyte’s AORUS line of Z390 motherboards there are actually eight total. Sitting right in the middle is the Z390 AORUS Ultra, which offers pretty every feature you would want in a Z390 motherboard, but also some nice extras. First you have that signature AORUS design with RGB lighting in multiple places on the board plus RGB headers. Then there is a 12+1 power phase design with some pretty beefy VRM cooling as well as three integrated M.2 heatsinks.

Finally you have 802.11ac 2×2 WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.1 gen 2 support, an integrated I/O shield, and Gigabyte’s AMP-UP audio. Is this the motherboard you need for your Z390 build? Read on as we find out!

4.MSI Z390-A PRO LGA1151

The main difference between the MSI Z390-A PRO and the rest of MSI’s Z390 product stack is that this board isn’t specifically targeted towards gamers. The aesthetics are simple with a coffee colored PCB which does include silver patterning across it; primarily around the edges of the board and around the silver and black heatsinks.

The main selling point of the MSI Z390-A PRO is in its value with a good selection of controllers including an Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet controller and a Realtek ALC892 HD audio codec handling the onboard audio.

5.MSI MPG Z390

They’re a necessary means to an end for most PC gamers, and that’s fine. So long as a new motherboard does its job, doesn’t get in the way, and allows you to get the most out of the rest of your expensive PC hardware, that’s all you can ask.

Unless you’re planning on strapping a bunch of graphics cards together, along with an unwieldy RAID array, then most of us PC gamers can get by with a relatively modest motherboard as the base of their PC.

And that’s what MSI’s MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC is looking to offer. But, despite its relatively low price for a top-end chipset board, this MSI Z390 still has the sort of lengthy feature set you’d want for your gaming PC. What’s not to like?

6.ASRock Z490 PRO 4

The Z490 Taichi is an ATX motherboard with prominent heatspreaders that cover the bulk of its surface. More of the board is exposed around the CPU socket and RAM slots, but large sections nearby are covered by a pair of large heatsinks and the cooling and component bulk around the board’s rear I/O shroud.

If you’re looking for a motherboard for extreme gaming and overclocking, and don’t want to pay flagship-class prices, this Asrock platform is a perfect choice for upper-end 10th Generation Core CPUs.

7.ASUS ROG Strix Z370-F

Overclocking on this ASUS board was a breeze. Between its easy to use BIOS and AI Suite 3, it was as simple as raising power limits, Vcore, and CPU Ratio and away we went. The board managed to reach 5.1 GHz before our cooler ran out gas and the CPU became too hot for our liking. This result was right in line with all overclocking motherboards tested.

On the storage side of things, the board offers users two different storage options, SATA and M.2. There are six SATA ports capable of using RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 which should be plenty for most users. On the M.2 side, the Z370-F Gaming includes two M.2 slots, both capable of PCIe 3.0 x4 with the primary (bottom) slot also supporting SATA based M.2 modules (please see manual for shared port information).

8.H370M DS3H

9.ASUS PRIME

Do you really need the overclocking capability of a Z-series chipset, or will a cheaper board do? Isn’t it cheaper to choose a mid-priced CPU (such as the Core i3-8350K) and overclock it, than to pair a higher-model CPU with a cheaper locked board?

And once you figure out that the overclocked mid-priced processor is your own better option, would it be better to buy a new graphics card at today’s inflated prices, or carry over a pair of cards from your previous machine? Now that you need a reasonable price and SLI capability, you’re starting to figure out where the board we praised so highly, for doing so well, so cheaply, falls short. Then Asus gives you a nudge and says, “Psst, hey bud…got an extra twenty?”

10.Asus Z170 LGA1151

In the world of technology, you could speculate if there is ever a golden age, or a renaissance. All the time we expect technology to grow and improve, being better than the last. Sometimes there is nostalgia, but it never stops us using the latest because it provides the user experience we expect at a minimum.

Like all the motherboard manufacturers, I’ve followed ASUS for years, and observed their constant iteration as platforms evolve. The newest Skylake platform is upon us, and we review the ASUS Z170-A motherboard to see their interpretation of the desktop this generation.

Best Motherboards for Hackintosh – BUYER’S GUIDE

Form Factor

You will need to choose a form factor at first. ATX motherboards are quite common in this regard, so also are micro ATX. When purchasing a new motherboard and not clear on the size that would fit, ensure to measure the old motherboard and compare it with diverse sizes

Socket

Upon selecting a form factor, you will have to look for a processor socket. There are several processor socket types out there that have gotten used in the past. Currently, there are three of them that are applicable currently. These include the PGA, LGA, and BGA. AMD uses PGA while Intel uses LGA. BGA sockets aren’t as used as the others because they come pre-fixed with the motherboard hence they can’t get upgraded or serviced.

Note that the type of socket you have on your motherboard will determine the processor you buy. Hence, you will have to consider the CPU you want first before you buy the motherboard.

The RAM

The RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Note that the motherboard you buy will dictate the type and amount of RAM you should get. Hence, you need to be conscious of these before you buy a motherboard. You should opt for a motherboard that can accommodate a minimum of 16 GB. Even if you do not desire to use this much memory, you may use the space later.

Also, search for a motherboard that offers at least 4 memory slots. You will be able to install 2 RAM modules to start with and have a spare room for an upgrade in the future.

PCI slots

The PCI slot is a port that is on the motherboard. They have served as the standard type of expansion slots for a long time now and they give room for expansion cards to get connected. Depending on the way you intend to use your computer, you may need to consider if the motherboard has the ideal slots for you.

For those who are into gaming, they will need to get at least a full-speed PCI Express x16 slot.

Flexibility

Instead of using only Apples’ Macs, OS X can operate on different PC stocks. The users will also be able to create their OS X systems for defined needs. It doesn’t matter if you are looking to use it for home theatre setup, video editing, or for recording your shows, it will serve the purpose.

Cost

Macs are very costly when compared with other PCs. The cheapest Mac Pro by Apple goes for thousands of dollars. One can assemble a solid Hackintosh tower with the same features for far less. One thing you can be sure of when using a Hackintosh is that it will never be more expensive than a Mac.

Graphics capability

Note that Apple’s Mac Pros hold the reputation of being the only Macs that come with user-replaceable graphics cards. All other products either have soldered-in components from AMD or they do not have discrete graphics. As a user who builds your own Mac, you will have the choice of using a wider array of graphics controllers and be able to change them as the need arises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Hackintosh?

A Hackintosh is a computer made into running macOS.

Can any computer get converted into a Hackintosh?

Not all PCs can get made into a Hackintosh. But, all those that can run macOS can get used. What this implies is that later generation computers with Core-based CPUs can get used.

Is Apple concerned about me using the macOS?

Yes Apple cares. The Apple End User License Agreement indicates that the MacOS can only get operated on Apple based computers. The legality of this document is subject to dispute.

Is it difficult to construct a Hackintosh?

You can assemble a Hackintosh using the available parts and get it up and running within an hour. Note that the time it will take varies from one person to the other depending on experience and skill. For those who can put together a PC, assembling a Hackintosh shouldn’t be an issue.

Why should I build a Hackintosh when I can buy a Mac?

If you cannot build one yourself or have someone who can, this question may not be relevant to you. But, some can construct this system for you at a reduced rate. It means you will be getting a powerful system that has the same features as a Macintosh at a reduced rate. Without a doubt, the inherent cost is the main reason why people go for Hackintosh over Mackintosh.

What is the performance of a Hackintosh over a Mac?

because you can select from the array of options available with regards to the available PC hardware, you can create a Hackintosh that will do better than the best Mac in the market.

WRAP UP

Best Motherboards for Hackintosh –  In case you are wondering, the hardware that goes inside an iMac is quite dated even for the latest models, and especially the price you are paying for that hardware is quite ridiculous.

Now the good thing about the hardware in iMac is that it’s closely working injunction with the OS itself, so if there is to be any outside hardware change, the whole eco-system just may crash.

-4% GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO
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Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I
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-2% GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA
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MSI Z390-A PRO LGA1151
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MSI MPG Z390
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-6% ASRock Z490 PRO 4
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ASUS ROG Strix Z370-F
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GIGABYTE H370M DS3H
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ASUS PRIME Z370-A LGA1151
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Asus Z170 LGA1151
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