This repository contains personal work and files, developed and maintained for a successful use with OpenCore EFI bootloader on this specific Intel NUC model. There are no ready, pre-packaged EFI solutions provided; instead, the needed configuration and ACPI files are published for those interested in studying the code, while creating their own bootloader configurations.
Table Of Contents
- Platform Generation
- Product Generation: Wilson Canyon (2013)
- Processor Generation: Haswell (2013)
- Geekbench
- Product Overview
- Compatible Models
- Current Setup
- Required BIOS Settings
- Active Configuration
- Intel HD Graphics 5000 Properties
- Original USB Port Mapping on NUC Chassis
- CPU Fan Reading Support
- CPU Power Management
- Sandy Bridge = All Core ix-3xxx (HD Graphics 3000)
- Ivy Bridge = All Core ix-3xxx (HD Graphics 4000)
- Haswell = All Core ix-4xxx (HD Graphics 4600)
- Broadwell = All Core ix-5xxx (Iris Pro Graphics 6200)
- Skylake = All Core ix-6xxx (HD Graphics 5xx)
- Kaby Lake = All Core ix-7xxx (UHD/Iris Plus Graphics 6xx)
- Coffee Lake = All Core ix-8xxx (UHD/Iris Plus Graphics 6xx)
Specifications: see Intel website here
Downloads: N/A (original Intel website no longer exists)
CPU: Intel Core i5-4250U @ 1.30 GHz up to 2.60 GHz / 2 Cores / 4 Threads
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 5000 / 200 MHz up to 1.00 GHz / 3280x2000 @ 60Hz (maximum)
Specifications: see Intel website here
V4 Scores: https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/search?q=Core+i5-4250U
V5 Scores: https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/search?q=Core+i5-4250U
V6 Scores: https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/search?q=Core+i5-4250U
Mac Model: MacMini7,1
CPU: i5-4260U @ 1.40 GHz up to 2.70 GHz / 2 Cores / 4 Threads
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 5000
Everymac: https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=Macmini7,1
Board ID: Mac-35C5E08120C7EEAF
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.0220.B00.1409291751
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.0224.B00.1708080033
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.0226.B00.1709290808
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.0232.B00.1806051659
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.0234.B00.1809171422
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.1812201005
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.1902151233
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.2002051745
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.2004161539
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.2012171735
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.2102221743
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.2106131851
EFI Revision: MM71.88Z.F000.B00.2110271854
Memory: 8GB in 2 x 4GB PC3-12800 SO-DIMM (1.35V)
RAM: Corsair "Vengeance" DDR3L @ 1600MHz CL9 (Model CMSX8GX3M2B1600C9)
WLAN: Broadcom BCM94352HMB (AzureWave AW-CE123H) [14e4:43b1]
BTLE: Broadcom BCM20702A0 (Combined Controller) [413c:8143]
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO mSATA 120GB (Model MZ-M5E120BW)
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO SATA III 500 MB (Model MZ-75E500B/EU)
Intel Product Compatibility Tool: N/A (original Intel website no longer exists)
For the essential but required BIOS settings, as well as previous firmware releases, see BIOS folder.
- No CPU ID faking required, power management is native; MSR
0xE2remains locked; - External USB 3.0 ports work as expected; using generated
USBPorts.kext; - Internal USB 2.0 headers not used; they are disabled in BIOS;
- Intel graphics acceleration works as
0x0A260006with WhateverGreen; - Analogue audio output works as layout ID
0x01with AppleALC; - Digital audio output works right out-of-the-box (using a MiniDP to MiniDP cable);
- Embedded Intel LAN interface works with IntelMausi;
- Replaced WLAN module works with AirportBrcmFixup;
- Replaced BTLE module works with BrcmPatchRAM;
- CPU fan readings work natively with VirtualSMC;
- Sleep/Wake both work without issues; see "Power" section in Hackintool;
- Both mSATA and SSD SATA interfaces work with no effort nor kext needed.
For the complete list of all detected PCI hardware components and their respective addresses via lspci -nn command (in Ubuntu, loaded via USB) see here. This list was created with all devices enabled in BIOS and is used as a device "map" so that PCI IDs can be detected before tweaking the hardware (and BIOS) to run macOS.
The AAPL,ig-platform-id property set to 0x0A260006 is used for WhateverGreen to successfully enable acceleration on this graphics device [8086:0a26]. This ID represents the following properties and connectors:
| Properties | Current Value(s) |
|---|---|
| Platform ID | 0x0A260006 i.e. 0600260A → BgAmCg== |
| Device ID | 0x0A260000 i.e. 260A0000 → JgoAAA== |
| Mobile | Yes |
| Stolen Memory | 32 MB |
| Framebuffer Memory | 19 MB |
| Video Memory (VRAM) | 1536 MB |
| Total Stolen Memory | 52 MB |
| Total Cursor Memory | 1 MB |
| Maximum Stolen Memory | 116 MB |
| Maximum Overall Memory | 117 MB |
| Model Name | Intel HD Graphics 5000 |
| Camellia | CamelliaDisabled (0) |
| Connector Count | 3 |
| Pipe / Port #0 | Bus ID 0x00 Pipe 8 Connector LVDS |
| Pipe / Port #1 | Bus ID 0x05 Pipe 9 Connector DP |
| Pipe / Port #2 | Bus ID 0x04 Pipe 9 Connector DP |
| Patching Required | Yes (to change DP to HDMI connector) |
WhateverGreen.kext there was a need to change the Platform ID from 0x0D220003 to 0x0A260006 as graphics acceleration exhibited problems:
| Properties | Previous Value(s) |
|---|---|
| Platform ID | 0x0D220003 i.e. 0300220D → AwAiDQ== |
| Device ID | 0x0A260000 i.e. No Change |
Read more at Intel® HD Graphics FAQs on the WhateverGreen repository.
| USB 2.0 Port Name | USB 3.0 Port Name | Hardware Location | Controller |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP11 to HP18 | N/A | Internal PR11 Hub | EHCI |
| HS01 | SS01 | Front RIGHT socket | XHCI |
| HS02 | SS02 | Front LEFT socket | XHCI |
| HS03 | SS03 | Rear BOTTOM socket | XHCI |
| HS04 | SS04 | Rear TOP socket | XHCI |
| HS07 | N/A | Internal BTLE port | XHCI |
The above active and working USB ports are listed in Hackintool, while the two internal (USB 2.0) headers and Consumer IR are all disabled in BIOS and all unused or non-referenced USB ports are removed. In any other situation, ports such as HS05, HS06, HS08, HS09, HS10, USR1, USR2, SS05 and SS06 may be listed. All ports in the above table are defined in USBPorts.kext according to their electrical connector.
However, one could also disable the EHCI controller for improved stability and compatibility (including sleep) by redirecting all USB connections to the XHCI controller. For this, we must use SSDT-EHCI-OFF.aml as well as the newer version of the generated USBPorts.kext in Hackintool. This also implies that there is no longer a need to rename the device EHC1 to EH01 etc. as before.
Support for the NUC's embedded Nuvoton NCT5577D chipset was already available in VirtualSMC (and more specifically SMCSuperIO.kext).
With the injection of SSDT-PLUG.aml we can verify that Power Management is present and active as X86PlatformPlugin is attached to the first CPU core CPU0 per the Dortania Guide.
