Custom Mac Pro 2010 & DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

tested: ProTools 9, Reaper 3/4, Metric Halo 2882/ULN2, Final Cut Studio 3, Logic Studio 2.1, Adobe CS5, …

This is project is aimed to build a reference system with favored- most recommended compatible and certified components not only for a Digital Audio Workstation,…
following criteria have been respected:

• OS X compliant (community recommended setup for smooth osx installation)
• Performance (x58 motherboard, i7 quadcore cpu,… )
• Noise (extra special silent components: case, cpu cooler, graphic card, power supply)
• Cooling (special high quality cooling performance: case, cpu cooler gpu cooler)
• Compatibility (compliant chipsets, eg. motherboard, pcie firewire card )

I've spent a lot of time researching the components for this system, especially to be osx compliant and certified to most audio devices (AVID/Digidesign/M-audio, RME, MOTU, Metric Halo, TC, Presonus, … )

If you like this documentation or have any questions about it, just drop me a line per mail (infos can be found at the contact site)

gaming performance: Please understand that this is not a high end gaming machine. Because I need to have a fully OS X compliant workstation I've chosen the graphic card ATI Radeon HD 5770 which can be found in native macpro models and it is known that it do not have the best gaming experience!

the build is based on tonymacx86 CustoMac described in his blog/forum:
FORUM: Building a CustoMac: CustoMac Pro 2010 [RECOMMENDED]
BLOG: Building a CustoMac: CustoMac Pro 2010
special thanks to this community!

• Download latest iBoot iso from http://www.tonymacx86.com and burn it to disc
• Download latest Multibeast from http://www.tonymacx86.com
• verify BIOS setting

for information about the installation refer to iBoot + MultiBeast: Install Mac OS Installation Guide: http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/04/iboot-multibeast-install-mac-os-x-on.html

1. Boot using iBoot disc ( > version 2.5.3 for unified graphics support)
2. Install OS X 10.6
3. Reboot with iBoot disc (select new installed OSX in Chameleon)
4. Remove iBoot disc.
5. Launch MultiBeast but don't let the installer run
6. Launch and install Mac OS X v10.6.8 Update (Combo) but do NOT click restart when it completes
7. for FD Bios version download proper DSDT Version from http://www.tonymacx86.com/ DSDT Database and store file on Desktop
8. Run MultiBeast (see below for proper options)

to speedup bootprocess, prevent superfluous kext injections
you can find implemented chipsets in the Advanced Information section, this may help to choose the right Kexts & Enablers

• UserDSDT
• System Utilities → Rebuild Caches
• System Utilities → Repair Permissions
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Audio → Realtek ALC8xx → ALC8xxHDA NOTE: if exists from any preversion, delete LegacyHDA from /Extra/Extenisons
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Audio → Realtek ALC8xx → AppleHDA Rollback ALC889
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Disk → JMicron36xeSATA JMicron JMB362
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Graphics → Enablers → ATY_Init Vervet NOTE: if exists, delete ATY_init.kext file in /System/Library/Extensions folder
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Miscellaneous → FakeSMC
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Miscellaneous → IOPCIFamily Fix
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Miscellaneous → USB 3.0 - NEC /Renesas
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Network → Lnx2Mac's Realtek RTL81xx Ethernet RealtekRTL8111E
• Drivers & Bootloader → Bootloaders → Chimera v1.4.1 r877 NOTE: GraphicsEnabler ATY_init is obsolete,… already since a while,…

additional options:

• Customization → Boot Options → 64-bit Apple Boot Screen usually a real mac runs 32bit kernel as its standard for compatibility reasons, but Mac Pro (Mid 2010) is the fist box using 64bit kernel.
• Customization → System Definitions → Mac Pro → Mac Pro5,1 → Core i7

The only thing which does not work any more after any Update > 10.6.4 is the audio stuff.
Therefore you will need to rerun the MultiBeast > 3.1 only with following options enabled to get the audio back working:

• System Utilities → Rebuild Caches
• System Utilities → Repair Permissions
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Audio → Realtek ALC8xx → ALC8xxHDA
• Drivers & Bootloader → Kexts & Enablers → Audio → Realtek ALC8xx → AppleHDA Rollback

Upgrade to Lion 10.7.2

• Mac OSX 10.7.2 Lion Retail Appstore app or with unibeast created bootable OSX 10.7 USB Drive for clean and fresh Lion Install
• xmove to create 10.7 Installation partition (→ only required if not using UniBeast created USB Drive)
• Multibeast >4.1

1. BACKUP: clone existing Setup to a new drive using carbon copy cloner
   the cloned system will not be bootable as no boot manager is installed at the bootblack (this is not part of the cloning process). to get it boot try to boot with rboot cd and install Chimera Bootmanager
2. Download Mac OSX Lion 10.7.2 app from app store
3. ProTools 9.0.5 will work after upgrade. before upgrading delete following Extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiDal.kext , otherwise this will always cause kernel panic when booting new Lion kernel!
4. For the upgrade process follow steps described at tonymacx86 blog or the UniBeast way
5. choose “Lnx2Mac's RealtekRTL81xx Ethernet v0.0.90” driver at Network as this is the only one which is stable (don't forget to donate on lnx2Mac's site) the “Realtek Gigabit Ethernet 2.0.6” is known to cause kernel panics in conjunction with Skype, Teamspeak etc,…
6. Multibeast 4.1 screenshot:
   
   
7. Post: After the Installation, some modifications may be necessary. check out the next steps :
   1. /Extra/org.chameleon.boot.plist , check that kernel flag arch=i386 is NOT set !
      

      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
      <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
      <plist version="1.0">
      <dict>
      	<key>Kernel</key>
      	<string>mach_kernel</string>
      	<key>Kernel Flags</key>
      	<string>npci=0x2000 darkwake=0</string>
      	<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>Timeout</key>
      	<string>2</string>
      	<key>Legacy Logo</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>EthernetBuiltIn</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>GenerateCStates</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>GeneratePStates</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>UseKernelCache</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>Hide Partition</key>
      	<string>hd(1,2) hd(1,3)</string>
      	<key>Boot Banner</key>
      	<string>Yes</string>
      	<key>Graphics Mode</key>
      	<string>1680x1050x32</string>
      </dict>
      </plist>

   2. /Extra/smbios.plist
      

      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
      <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
      <plist version="1.0">
      <dict>
      	<key>SMfamily</key>
      	<string>MacPro</string>
      	<key>SMproductname</key>
      	<string>MacPro5,1</string>
      	<key>SMboardproduct</key>
      	<string>Mac-F221BEC8</string>
      	<key>SMserial</key>
      	<string>G8031889GWR</string>
      	<key>SMbiosversion</key>
      	<string>MP51.007F.B03</string>
      	<key>SMcputype</key>
      	<string>1793</string>
      	<key>SMmemspeed</key>
      	<string>1600</string>
      <!-- 
      	<key>SMexternalclock</key>
      	<string>200</string>
      	<key>SMmaximalclock</key>
      	<string>3600</string>
       -->
      </dict>
      </plist>

   3. /Extra/Themes/Default replace standard chimera theme with the beautiful hd-recording mac like theme default.zip
      more about themes → Theme

simple:

1. get a proper working OSX installation on the first sata drive and if everything runs stable, buy an additional drive, yes, a second seperate drive,… no, don't ask… → buy a second drive
2. disconnect sata drive were OSX is located
3. mount and connect the new sata drive on a different (but higher) channel (don't use the same sata channel/cable, eg.: if OSX drive is located on SATA_2 then the win drive must be connected min. on SATA_3 and NOT SATA_1)
4. install windows 7 onto the new drive
5. re-connect the OSX sata drive

now system will bootup from the first drive and bootloader will detect the new windows drive and you can choose between osx and windows,…