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Some necessary resources to install a copy of macOS on ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th

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macOS-ThinkPad-X1C6 (OpenCore)

US English, 中文版請見此

Notice

The README.md guide for OpenCore is being worked on. It will be published once the README.md for OpenCore is ready.

OpenCore OpenCore Version

Introduction

This repository provides some necessary resources to install a copy of macOS on ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th. There is no guarantee of success, therefore you are expected to find extra resources to meet your needs, and be responsible for any consequences. For Machine Type 20KH Only.

Objective

  • Gather resources for a successful macOS installation on ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th
  • To prevent myself from forgetting how to instal macOS on ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th
  • To share the resources for others who might want to do the same thing
  • To get used to OpenCore bootloader and port OpenCore configuration to other machines

Contents

  1. Hardware Specifications
  2. UEFI Setup Configuration
  3. Software Overview
    1. Guide Compatibility
    2. Features
      1. Base System
      2. Connectivity
      3. Networking
      4. Human Interface Devices
      5. Power Management
      6. Audio and Graphics
  4. General installation procedure
  5. More to know
  6. Useful utilities
  7. Credits

Hardware Specifications

This is the hardware specification of my ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th.

Item Description
Processor Intel Core i7-8550U
Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory Onboard 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz
Audio Codec Realtek ALC 285 (ALC3286)
WWAN Sierra Wireless EM7455 (Qualcomm Snapdragon X7 LTE-A Modem)
PCI Ethernet Intel I219V4 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
WLAN/ Bluetooth Module Dell DW1560
Bluetooth BCM20702A0
Wi-Fi Broadcom BCM94352Z
Media Card Reader Realtek USB3.0 Card Reader
Built-in Display Resolution 2560x1440 (2K)
UEFI Firmware Version 1.43 (N23ET68W)
Storage Samsung 860 EVO M.2. SATA 6Gb/s SSD
Thunderbolt Controller Intel Alpine Ridge DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 NHI

Back to Contents Page

UEFI Setup Configuration

Only listing values that matters. Feel free to configure other values to suit your needs.

Path Value Remarks
Config/Network/Wake On LAN Disabled Only 100M Ethernet if enabled
Config/USB/USB UEFI BIOS Support Enabled Enable UEFI USB boot
Config/Power/8254 Timer Clock Gating Auto -
Config/Power/Sleep State Linux -
Config/Thunderbolt (TM) 3/Thunderbolt Security Level No Security No Thunderbolt 3 if enabled
Config/Thunderbolt (TM) 3/Thunderbolt 3 BIOS Assistant Disabled No Thunderbolt 3 if enabled
Config/Thunderbolt (TM) 3/Support in Pre Boot Environment: Thunderbolt (TM) device Pre-boot ACL No Front Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C port) if changed to other values
Security/Intel (R) SGX/ Intel (R) SGX Control Disabled -
Security/Secure Boot Configuration/SecureBoot Disabled Unable to boot macOS if enabled (Requires digitally signed executables)
Security/Device Guard/Device Guard Disabled -

Back to Contents Page

Software Overview

Compatibility

  • macOS Mojave
    • 10.14.6
      • 2019-09-04
  • macOS Catalina
    • 10.15
      • 2019-10-06
    • 10.15.1
      • 2019-10-30
    • 10.15.2
      • 2019-12-18

Back to Contents Page

Features

Base System
Feature Status Dependency Remarks
macOS (10.14.x or 10.15.x) VirtualSMC.kext, Lilu.kext, Clover Bootloader Clover v2.5k R5100
iMessage/ FaceTime Apple ID, Valid SMBIOS Guide
App Store Apple ID -
iMessage/ FaceTime Apple ID, Valid SMBIOS Guide
iCloud Apple ID -
Siri Apple ID, Working audio recorder Needs AppleALC.kext
iTunes Video Playback WhateverGreen.kext, Apple ID (Optional) -
Filesystem (APFS/HFS+) Use SATA M.2. SSD or a Compatiable M.2. PCIe SSD No NVMe Power Management

Connectivity
Feature Status Dependency Remarks
Micro SD Card Reader Patched AppleUSBCardReader.kext -
USB 3.1 USBInjectAll.kext , SSDT-UAIC.aml -
DisplayPort on Thunderbolt 3 Dock SSDT-TB3.aml, IOElectrify.kext -
Thunderbolt 3 Dock (Port Replicator) SSDT-TB3.aml, IOElectrify.kext -
Thunderbolt 3 Hotplug SSDT-TB3.aml, IOElectrify.kext -
ThinkPad TB3 Dock Ethernet ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock (40AC), AppleRTL815XComposite109.kext, AppleRTL815XEthernet109.kext Item page

Networking
Feature Status Dependency Remarks
AirDrop BT4LEContiunityFixup.kext, Working Blutetooth and WiFi setup -
Bluetooth BrcmFirmwareRepo.kext, BrcmPatchRAM3.kext, BrcmBluetoothInjector.kext -
Continuty BT4LEContiunityFixup.kext, Working Blutetooth and WiFi setup -
Sidecar iPad with iPadOS 13 Tested with iPad Pro with iPadOS 13.1.2
PCIe Ethernet IntelMausiEthernet.kext -
Wi-Fi Swapping Intel WLAN card with Dell DW1560, AirportBrcmFixup.kext, Lilu.kext -
Sierra Wireless EM7455 Legacy_Sierra_QMI.kext No internet

Human Interface Devices
Feature Status Dependency Remarks
TrackPoint Patched VoodooPS2Controller.kext -
TrackPad VoodooPS2Controller.kext -
Built-in Keyboard VoodooPS2Controller.kext -

Power Management
Feature Status Dependency Remarks
Battery life Non-NVME SSD, proper power management setup (CPU Power Management, GPU Power Management) Drops 10% per hour for light programming tasks
Battery Percentage Indication Patched DSDT.aml Use MaciASL
CPU Power Management (SpeedShift) XCPM -
IGPU Power Management XCPM -
Hibernation - Disabled
Sleep - Disabled

Audio and Graphics
Feature Status Dependency Remarks
Audio Recording AppleALC.kext with Layout ID = 11 -
Audio Playback AppleALC.kext with Layout ID = 11 -
Full Graphics Accleration (QE/CI) WhateverGreen.kext, Custom device properties in config.plist -
HiDPI (Optional) ⚠️ Shell Script from xzhih Click Here May have werid scaling issues after wake up

Back to Contents Page


General installation procedure

Flowchart

flowchart


#### Step by Step Procedure
STEP 1: Create Installation Media
Checklist
  • A working computer with macOS (or Mac OS X 10.7 or later)
  • A working computer with Linux
  • A working USB drive with 16GB or more capacity
  • Internet connection (Not required if you already have the installer)
  • A copy of macOS installation medium
    • For macOS Mojave click here to get the application to download a copy of macOS Mojave installer.
    • For macOS Catalina click here to get the application to download a copy of macOS Catalina installer.
    • Download macOS Catalina from the App Store
Procedure
If you are using macOS
  1. Follow the gudie here
  2. Copy boot files to the USB such that it is bootable on ThinkPad
    1. Mount EFI System partition using diskutil
      1. Check the identifier for the EFI System partition of the USB using diskutil list
      2. Mount it, e.g. diskutil mount disk3s1
      3. You should see a new EFI volume appeared in Finder, that is the EFI System partition of the USB.
    2. Copy boot files
      1. Go to the EFI folder of this repository
      2. Copy the entire EFI Folder to the root of the EFI System partition of the USB.
      3. You have copied the boot files.
    3. Finished. Move on to step 2.
If you are using Linux
  1. Use the script here: https://github.com/notthebee/macos_usb (Credit: notthebee)

STEP 2: Boot into installer
Checklist
  • A working ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Type 20KH
    • Permission to change boot order
  • A properly created macOS installer in a bootable USB (That you might have created in step 1)
Procedure
  1. Plug in the USB Installer into the USB 3.0 Type A port of the ThinkPad.
  2. Press F12 on your ThinkPad while it boots
  3. Select your USB in the boot menu using arrow keys and press Enter to boot.
  4. You should see a boot menu screen, select an item named 'Install macOS (version name) 'and press Enter
    1. Install macOS Catalina for macOS Catalina
    2. Install macOS Mojave for macOS Mojave
  5. You should see long text running in a black background for some time, this is normal.
  6. You should see macOS Installer menu, move on to step 3.

STEP 3: Partition your disks
Checklist
  • A working ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Type 20KH
    • Booted to macOS Installer
  • A properly created macOS installer in a bootable USB (That you might have created in step 1)
Procedure
  1. Open Disk Utility
  2. Partition your disks according to your wish and your needs
  3. Format the partitions with APFS (Apple File System)
  4. You have partitioned your disks. Move on to step 4.

STEP 4: Begin installation
Checklist
  • A working ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Type 20KH
    • Booted to macOS Installer
    • Created approproiate partitions for macOS installations
  • A properly created macOS installer in a bootable USB (That you might have created in step 1)
Procedure
  1. Click Install macOS
  2. Select the partition that you have created as the destination
  3. Click install, the installation will start
Remarks
  1. Your computer will restart for a few times
  2. When the ThinkPad is restarted, repeat Step 2 to continue the installation
  3. When the installation is completed, move on to Step 5.

STEP 5: Setup macOS
Checklist
  • A working ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Type 20KH
    • Installed a fresh copy of macOS
  • A properly created macOS installer in a bootable USB (That you might have created in step 1)
Procedure
  1. Follow on-screen instructions to setup your macOS installation.
  2. You should see macOS Desktop when you have finished, move on step 6.

STEP 6: Post Install Tweaks
Checklist
  • Post installation materials
    • Located in post folder in this repository
  • A working ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Type 20KH
    • Installed macOS
Procedure
  1. Install required kernel extensions kexts
    1. Get the required materials
      1. Download and Open the Kext folder inside post folder in this repository
        • post/Kext
      2. Download kextbeast
    2. Install the kexts
      1. Drag and drop all kext files from post/kext to your desktop
      2. Open Kextbeast
      3. Select /Library/Extensions as the package to install
      4. Click install and wait until a big green tick appeared on screen
      5. You have successfully installed the required kexts
    3. Copy boot files
      1. Mount EFI System partition using diskutil
        1. Check the identifier for the EFI System partition of the installation disk using diskutil list
        2. Mount it, e.g.diskutil mount disk0s1
        3. You should see a new EFI volume appeared in Finder, that is the EFI System partition of the installation drive.
      2. Copy boot files
        1. Go to the EFI folder of this repository
        2. Copy the entire EFI Folder to the root of the EFI System partition of the installation drive.
        3. Configure SMBIOS using the guide here: Link
          1. System Model should be MacBookPro14,1
            • Reason: To enable HWP for better power management
        4. You have copied the boot files.

Back to Contents Page


Fine-tuning your "MacBook"

  • iMessage Guide

  • Battery life improvement

    • Basic concepts of Laptop CPU/GPU Power Management
    • Do not use NVMe (PCIe) SSD for Hackintosh if you care about battery life
  • ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Dock (Type 40AC) Tweaks

    • Ethernet drivers for Ethernet on 40AC Dock
  • Thunderbolt Tweaks

  • Configuring EC and USB Power

    1. Create USB Map, test EC configuration
      1. Link to the guide here: USBMap
  • Graphics fix on macOS

    1. Know your hardware, the following configuration is tested for the following CPUs only

      1. Intel Core i7-8650U (Intel UHD 620)
      2. Intel Core i7-8550U (Intel UHD 620)
    2. Use WhateverGreen

    3. In Config.plist/DeviceProperties/Add/PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x2,0x0), add the following

      Key Type Value
      AAPL,GfxYTile Data 01000000
      AAPL,ig-platform-id Data 04002759
      device-id Data 16590000
      framebuffer-con1-enable Data 01000000
      framebuffer-con1-type Data 00080000
      framebuffer-fbmem Data 00009000
      framebuffer-patch-enable Data 01000000
      framebuffer-stolenmem Data 00003001
    4. Result (Xcode as plist editor)igfx-fix

    5. Reboot

  • USB SD Card Reader patch

    • Dependency

      1. Configuring EC and USBX Power
      2. All USB ports injected
    • Original Guide for the patch

    • Gather Information

      1. Open System Report in About this Macabout-this-mac

      2. Go to Hardware/USB/USB3.0-CRWusb-card-info-list

      3. Pay attention to Product ID and Vendor ID, convert them to decimal

        Item Value (Hex) Value (Dec)
        Product ID 0x0328 808
        Vendor ID 0x0bda 3034
      4. Update idVendor and idProduct in Apple_internal_SD_Card_Reader_1_00 and Apple_internal_SD_Card_Reader_2_00 dictionary found in /System/Library/Extensions/AppleStorageDrivers.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBCardReader.kext/Contents/Info.plist.

        1. Before before-change-usbcr
        2. Afteraffter-chagne-cr
      5. Update Physical Interconnect Location field from Internal to External in Apple_internal_SD_Card_Reader_1_00 and Apple_internal_SD_Card_Reader_2_00 dictionary found in /System/Library/Extensions/AppleStorageDrivers.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBCardReader.kext/Contents/Info.plist.after-change-to-external-usbcr

      6. Run the following in terminal

        sudo kextcache -v -i /
      7. Reboot

  • If you have other other suggestions

    • Talk on Github

Back to Contents Page

List of kexts and their purposes

/L/E stands for /Library/Extensions

EFI stands for EFI/OC/Kexts and an entry in Config.plist/Kernel/Add

/L/E or EFI stands for those kexts can be installed in either location

Kext name Purpose Arguments Location
AirportBrcmFixup.kext /L/E
AppleALC.kext Enabling sound APPL,layout-id=11 /L/E or EFI
BT4LEContinuityFixup.kext /L/E
BrcmBluetoothInjector.kext Enabling bluetooth - EFI
BrcmFirmwareData.kext Enabling bluetooth - EFI
BrcmPatchRAM3.kext Enabling bluetooth - EFI
CPUFriend.kext CPU Power Management - /L/E or EFI
CPUFriendDataProvider.kext Customize CPU Power Management Scheme Configured by: one-key-cpufriend /L/E or EFI
HibernationFixup.kext Eliminate sleep wake issues - /L/E
IntelMausiEthernet.kext Enabling PCI Ethernet - /L/E or EFI
IOElectrify.kext Enabling thunderbolt 3 Hotplug - /L/E or EFI
Lilu.kext Kext patcher Lilu plugins /L/E or EFI
NoTouchID.kext Prevent password prompt delays - /L/E
SMCBatteryManager.kext SMC Emulation - /L/E or EFI
SMCLightSensor.kext SMC Emulation - /L/E or EFI
SMCProcessor.kext SMC Emulation - /L/E or EFI
SMCSuperIO.kext SMC Emulation - /L/E or EFI
Thunderbolt3Unblocker.kext Allow all thunderbolt 3 devices to be used - /L/E
USBInjectAll.kext Inject all usuable USB ports on macOS SSDT-UIAC.aml /L/E or EFI
USBMap.kext Configured by: USBMap /L/E or EFI
VirtualSMC.kext SMC Emulation - /L/E or EFI
VoodooInput.kext TrackPad gesture recognization - /L/E or EFI
VoodooPS2Controller.kext Enabling Built-in Keyboard, TrackPoint and TrackPad - /L/E or EFI
WhateverGreen.kext Fixes Graphics problems in macOS Device properties in Config.plist /L/E or EFI

List of SSDTs and their purposes

SSDT Purpose
SSDT-ALS0.aml Creates emulated light sensor to save Backlight information
SSDT-BATT.aml Enable battery percentage indication
SSDT-DMAC.aml Expose DMA Controller on macOS (More like real Mac)
SSDT-EC.aml Configures Embedded Controller, related to USB power
SSDT-EXT3-LedReset-TP.aml -
SSDT-EXT4-WakeScreen.aml -
SSDT-HPET.aml Fixes HPET on macOS
SSDT-Keyboard-X1C6.aml Configures Keyboard mapping on macOS
SSDT-MCHC.aml Expose Memory Controller on macOS (More like real Mac)
SSDT-PLUGIN_TYPE.aml Enables XNU CPU Power Management and HWP
SSDT-PNLF.aml Enables brightness adjustment
SSDT-PTSWAK.aml Fixes Sleep, wake issues
SSDT-SBUS.aml Allow correct identification of SMBus on macOS
SSDT-TB3.aml Enable Thunderbolt 3 functionality and hot-plug support
SSDT-UIAC.aml Unblock all USB ports
SSDT-USBX.aml Configures USB Power
SSDT-X1-Carbon-Trackpoint.aml Configures TrackPoint speed

Useful utilities

Back to Contents Page


Credits

Back to Contents Page


Last update: 2020-01-11 (Taipei Time)

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