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    Alienware M17x R4 - Booting into Mac OSX?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by tinker_xp, Nov 29, 2014.

  1. tinker_xp

    tinker_xp Notebook Consultant

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    Hi All,

    Has anyone ever tried getting the Mac OS X running on the Alienware M17x R4?

    The Mrs was thinking about a Mac but she has the Alienware that beats a mac easily spec wise.So why not have the best of both worlds? Plus I do like a challenge and she'll be using my R5 whilst I play about with her R4.

    Specs:
    CPU - Intel Core i7-3630QM
    GPU Integrated - Intel HD 4000
    GPU Dedicated - Nvidia GTX 680M
    HDD - 512GB standard hard drive
    CD - Blu-Ray Drive
    RAM - 6gb
    Bluetooth - Intel Centrino Wireless 4.0
    WIFI - Intel Centrino N-2230
    LAN - Atheros AR8151
    Sound - Sound Blaster Recon3Di.

    tonymacx86.com seems like a really helpful website with guides and tips etc. But was curious if anyone from here has done it?
     
    tinker_xp, Nov 29, 2014
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  2. lingenfr

    lingenfr Notebook Geek

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    I've done a few Hackintosh's. None that worked better than my MBA and certainly not my MBPR, but they work. I primarily used older hardware (like by OQO 2) and older versions of OS X (Leopard, Snow Leopard) which tends to be a pain and the result is of limited use by todays standards. It will probably come down to whether the peripherals are supported. Do your research. As you say there is a lot of info out there and just like linux, BSD and others, folks are adding drivers and devices all the time. I may see about a virtual machine in Virtualbox at some point just for the education. I have my AW as my only windows machine, so I have no interesting in adding another OS. Good luck.
     
    lingenfr, Nov 29, 2014
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  3. LinkRS

    LinkRS Notebook Consultant

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    Howdy tinker_xp,

    The TonyMac site is your best resource for this, but something to keep in mind is that there is currently no legal way to obtain a license for OS X without first buying a Mac. Even then the legality is questionable as the license explicitly states that you must run it using Apple provided hardware. The only way to obtain a current version of OS X right now is through the Mac App Store, you can't purchase it on the shelf any longer. Even when you could purchase it, that version is actually an "upgrade" to the version pre-installed on the Mac when you purchased it. The "upgrade"/"full version" distinction is not actually enforced anywhere so it poses no real limitations. I suggest you spend some time at the TonyMac site doing your research, and perhaps get a "scratch" hard drive to test on, as it is likely it will take you a few tries to get it to work (assuming the M17xR4 hardware is supported). Good luck!

    Rich S.
     
    LinkRS, Nov 29, 2014
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