/hpelitebook850g5-opencore

Opencore for HP EliteBook 850 G5

Primary LanguageASL

HP EliteBook 850 G5 Hackintosh

Opencore Hackintosh for HP EliteBook 850 G5. I'm using always latest BIOS version, OpenCore, additional kexts and macOS.
Current version is 100% macOS 11.0.1 Big Sur compatible!
For my specific laptop configuration almost everything works except SmartCard reader, that I even don't use.
I'm still working on improvement and clean ups.

Massive overhaul

Hack is now based almost on pure OpenCore patches and hack. I followed this guide and this guide. Thank to @Joaotcs that pushed me to do it. There left only few thing from RehabMan repo. There are still some things that could be rewriten and I will do it when I figure out hot to do it.

Huge thanks to Acidanthera team for OpenCore.
Extra credit goes to @usr-sse2 for help with battery.
Also specialy thanks to @RehabMan because it's was based on his work.

Installation instructions

  1. Put whole EFI folder into you EFI partition (you can try USB drive at first).
  2. Generate your own serial numbers with GENSMBIOS generator and change corresponding values (MLB, SystemSerialNumber, SystemUUID) in EFI/OC/config.plist according this GUIDE.
  3. Generate you own ROM value.
  4. If you want stay with full security, you need to generate ApECID value and replace zeros value in EFI/OC/config.plist. If you have already installed macOS, make sure, that you followed additional step in instructions from Recovery.
    If you don’t need full security, just remove ApECID parameter from EFI/OC/config.plist.
  5. If you want the best security and you are advanced user, you can try enable SecureBoot.
  6. Try to boot to existing macOS.
  7. IMPORTANT! If you want to install macOS, you need to change property ScanPolicy to 0 along with ShowPicker to true in EFI/OC/config.plist otherwise you don't see BaseSystem option in OpenCore boot menu!

My configuration

  • Intel Core i5-8350U
  • Intel UHD 620
  • 32 GB DDR4 (2x 16GB Kingston KVR24S17D8)
  • Full HD non-touch display (1920x1080)
    • UVC Camera VendorID_1480 ProductID_945 (Foxlink/Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
    • No ambient light sensor
  • Corsair Force MP510 960GB M.2 SSD NVMe
  • Fenvi BCM94360NG M.2 card (still hope that there will be some BT 5.0 card with wifi AX)
  • Very nice i-tec Thunderbolt3/USB-C Dual DisplayPort 4K Docking Station with JHL7440 (Tortilla) chipset. This dock connects to my laptop only over TB3 port that also powers it.
  • i-tec Thunderbolt 3 Dual DP Video Adapter that allows me to connect 2 DP displays (I'm using laptop display + two external HP E233 displays)

BIOS settings

Currently I'm using BIOS 01.14.01 Rev.A. (06.11.2020) and latest released version of macOS 11.x Big Sur.
Start with BIOS reset to defaults and then disable all kind of security and TPM. Video Memory size set to 64 MB. It’s useless to set more. Disable LAN/WLAN auto switching. System works well with Fastboot enabled, but for debugging and playing with your setup is better to disable Fast Boot. It's also recommended to disable Intel TXT technology and then disable Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VTd). OpenCore config disables this instead. Disable all devices that you don’t use (for example I don’t use Smart Card). Thunderbotl PCIe Hot plug Mode set to Native + Power saving. Other options you can set by your choice (for example FN keyboard mapping etc.).

Make sure, that you leave option "Intel Management Enginge (ME)" enabled in "Advanced - Remote Management Options".

Disabling this option will cause applications hangs and freezes after waking from sleep. It's called IMEI in hackintosh and WhateverGreen take care about HECI to IMEI rename.

Currently not working + solutions

  • Bundled Intel Wifi card (8265NGW)
    • For out of the box support you need Airport BCM94360CS2 with M.2 adapter (cca. 20 USD) that I had, but it fits to laptop case very hard. And I had waves on my keyboard :).
    • Better, but more expensive (cca. 50 USD) solution is Fenvi BCM94360NG M.2 card that is based on Airport card and fits into laptop perfectly. The best thing - you also don't need any kexts for Wifi nor bluetooth and works out of the box.
    • For cheaper (12 - 15 USD) solution you can use DW1820A. There is new ASPM fix, that solves freezing issues.
  • Trackpoint with buttons (that point in center of G, H, B keys), but we have great touchpad with all gertures.
  • Hibernation (I think it can be done somehow, but I don't need it and I use FileVault2 full disk encryption).
  • DRM (Apple TV+, Netflix in Safari), but there is workaround use different browser (Vivaldi for me). There is also web version of Apple TV+ that works from browser.
  • Dual display port output on HP Ultraslim dock 2013 and other docking stations. Both DP works as one because macOS doesn't support DisplayPort MST (Multi Stream or daisy-chaining). It's not issue with Hackintosh but macOS itself. If you want output to more than 1 external display, you need simple USB-C -> HDMI/DP adapter or TB3 -> Dual Display Port dongle with DisplayLink 6950.