Razer Blade 15 Advanced 2018 - Hackintosh (macOS)
March 11, 2023 · View on GitHub
Note: I WILL NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MESS UP YOUR COMPUTER USING THIS GUIDE!
Intro
📸 Screenshots
About Mac
Extra~ About Big Sur
Monterey
Big Sur
Hardware Upgrades and Tools
The bundled WiFi and NVMe is not compatible with macOS and should be replaced. Please find below the recommended replacement parts, already tested for compatibility. Usually I need to deploy for testing 4-5 node Kubernetes cluster with at least 4Gb per node. So 32GB is a necessary upgrade for me.
📃 Hardware
BIOS
This BIOS is actual only for Razer Blade 15 Advanced (2018)
| Version | |
|---|---|
OpenCore | 0.6.4 (RELEASE) |
Catalina | 10.15.7 (19H114) |
| - | - |
OpenCore | 0.7.5 (DEBUG) |
Big Sur | 11.7.1 (20G918) |
Monterey | 12.6.1 (21G217) |
| - | - |
OpenCore | 0.9.0 (RELEASE) |
Ventura | 13.2.1 (22D68) |
System BIOS | 1.08 |
EC FW | 1.02 |
MCU FW | 1.00.00.00 |
Razer Blade Advanced 2018 - RZ09-02385
| Specifications | macOS 13 Ventura Compatibility | |
|---|---|---|
Chipset | Mobile Intel HM370 | No issues |
CPU | Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 6 Cores / 12 Threads, 2.2GHz / 4.1GHz, 9MB Cache | No issues |
Memory | 16GB dual-channel DDR4-2667MHz, up to 32GB | No issues |
GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | No issues |
dGPU | Nvidia 1060 Max-Q (6GB GDDR5 VRAM) | Nvidia Drivers absent for Catalina. ACPI should be patched to disable dGPU |
Storage | Samsung SM961 256GB NVMe M.2 | No issues |
Screen | 15.6" Full HD 60Hz, 1920 x 1080 IPS | No issues |
Webcam | Windows Hello built-in IR HD webcam (1MP / 720P) | No issues. Windows Hello is not supported in macOS |
WiFi | Intel Wireless-AC 9560NGW | No issues, using itlwm.kext and Heliport. I've replaced with DW1820A (BCM94350) |
Input & Output | USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB-A) x3 | No issues |
| - | Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) | No issues |
| - | HDMI 2.0B | HDMI connected directly to Nvidia GPU and will not work in macOS |
| - | Mini DisplayPort 1.4 | Mini DisplayPort connected directly to Nvidia GPU and will not work in macOS |
Soundboard | Realtek ALC298 | No issues. ACPI patch should be added to solve sleep issue |
Battery | 80Wh | About 3-5h after proper Power Management configuration. ACPI should be patched to enable battery stats |
Keyboard | Per-key RGB powered by Razer Chroma N-Key rollover backlit | No issues. Original Razer Chroma software absent for macOS. Many thanks to BlvckBytes for MenuBar app to control Razer Blade keyboard and logo RGB lighting |
Touchpad | Precision Glass | No issues. ACPI should be patched to enable trackpad |
Dimensions | 17.8mm x 235mm x 355mm | - |
Weight | 2.21 kg | ACPI patches will not help with this. |
Power | 230W power adapter | - |
🛠 Tools
Accessories
| Accessories | Description | Amazon URL |
|---|---|---|
USB mouse | Trackpad will be unavailable during macOS installation procedure | Amazon |
USB storage with at least 16GB storage | Installation USB media | Amazon |
USB-A to USB-C cable | For USB ports detection procedure | Amazon |
Wireless Card
| WiFi Module | Description | eBay or AliExpress URL | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
BCM94352Z (DW-1560) | Recommended. 2 antennas. No issues. Additional kext's are required. Easily to find for $24-60 on | eBay | community |
BCM943602BAED (DW-1830) | 3 antennas. RBA have only 2. Works out of the box. About $60-120 on AliExpress | AliExpress | community |
Storages
Note: I do recommend to use at least 1TB NVMe for dual boot with Windows 10.
| NVMe | 4k Support | Amazon URL | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
Samsung EVO 970 NVMe | NO | Amazon | community |
Samsung EVO 970 Pro NVMe | NO | Amazon | community |
Samsung EVO 970 Plus NVMe | NO | Amazon | Do the Samsung 970 Evo Plus drives work ? New Firmware Available for testing 5/20/19 |
Sabrent Rocket NVMe | YES | Amazon | stonevil |
WD Black SN750 NVMe | - | Amazon | community |
HP EX900 M.2 NVMe | - | Amazon | konohasaint |
Samsung PM981 | NO | Bundled with Razer Blade | suyukai |
RAM
| Memory module | Modules size | Speed | CL | Amazon | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ballistix Sport LT 32GB | 2x16Gb | 2666 | CL16 | Amazon | stonevil |
Kingston Technology HyperX Impact 32GB | 2x16Gb | 2666 | CL15 | Amazon | Razer Blade 15 Advanced RAM upgrade |
Credits
🔄 Usage
How to install
-
Use stonevil's guide for modding BIOS
-
Fill the SMBIOS section at PlatformInfo in config.plist file
-
Use OpenCore Vanilla Laptop guide to doing config.plist and create Bootable USB
~Extra~
-
Please create USBMap or
USBPort.kext(Use Hackintool to do this) after install for best USB plug experience -
Extra Method to Mapping USB Ports is using USBToolBox on Windows, the method is similar to USBMap but you can mapping your USB Ports on Windows.
-
Create one-key cpufriend if you often use battery, power-plug always is not recommended for best battery life
😇 Gratitude
Credits
- Dortania - for Vanilla guides
- Acidanthera - for OpenCore and lots of kexts
- RehabMan - for ACPI patching guides
- Stonevil - for BIOS mod and hardware suggestions
📩 Specific things
Helpful Utilities
- MountEFI - Help to mount /EFI folder
- ProperTree - The way to open and edit config.plist
- USBToolBox - Tool to Mapping USB Ports right on Windows
- USBMap - Tool to make a USB Map
- GenSMBIOS - Apple serial generator
- Lilu-and-Friends - To update kexts
BIOS
You will have to change DVMT pre-alloc size to 64MB, and you can't do that via stock BIOS, please see how-to in here - BIOS Unlock - stonevil
WiFi + Bluetooth
You have to find out your WiFi Card to attach kexts to the EFI and config.plist
GPIO Pinning
There are hotpatches & ssdts that might be specific for a particular laptop, I think trackpad GPIO pinning might be one of them, please check your pin number as per - GPI0 Pinning, and modify SSDT-I2C if needed (currently pin number is set to 0x64 in there)