macOS on Dell XPS 9360

This repository contains a sample configuration to run macOS (Currently High Sierra 10.13.6) on a Dell XPS 9360

Used Hardware Configuration

• Dell XPS 9360

  • Intel i7-8550U
  • 16GB RAM
  • Sharp SHP144 LQ133Z1 QHD+ (3200x1800) Touchscreen display
  • Western Digital Black 512GB SSD (WDS512G1X0C-00ENX0) on latest firmware
    • Formatted for APFS with 4K sectors, using nvme-cli using this guide
  • Dell DW1560 Wireless (eBay)
    • Wi-Fi device ID [14e4:43b1], shows as Apple Airport Extreme due to FakePCIID_Broadcom_WiFi.kext
    • Bluetooth device ID [0a5c:216f], chipset 20702A3 with firmware v14 c5882 using BrcmPatchRAM2.kext
  • Sonix Technology Webcam, device ID [0c45:670c], works out of the box
  • Validity Inc. Finger print scanner, device ID [138a:0091], linux open-source project
  • Disabled devices
    • Touchscreen (though it works out of the box if enabled)
    • SD card reader, macOS open-source project

• Firmware Revisions

  • BIOS version 2.8.1
  • Thunderbolt Controller firmware version NVM 26

• External Devices

  • Caldigit USB-C Dock
    • Supports USB-C PD (Power Delivery), Ethernet, 3x USB-3, USB-C, HDMI & DisplayPort connections
  • Dodocool 7-in-1 USB-C Hub
    • USB-C PD (Power Delivery), Ethernet, 1x USB-3 & HDMI connections
  • Benfei USB-C Adapter
    • USB-C PD (Power Delivery), Ethernet, 1x USB-3 & HDMI connections

• Monitors

  • HP E273q 27" QHD TFT
  • HP E272 27" QHD TFT
  • HP E222 21.5" HD TFT

Preparation

This repository has been tested against Dell XP 9360 bios version 2.8.1 with Thunderbolt firmware NVM 26.1. For best results ensure this is the bios version of the target machine.

UEFI Variables

In order to run macOS successfully a number of EFI BIOS variables need to be modified. The included Clover bootloader contains an updated DVMT.efi, which includes a setup_var command to help do just that.

DVMT.efi can be launched from Clover directly by renaming it to Shell64U.efi in the tools folder.

The following variables need to be updated:

Variable	Offset	Default value	Desired value	Comment
CFG Lock	0x4de	0x01 (Enabled)	0x00 (Disabled)	Disable CFG Lock to prevent MSR 0x02 errors on boot
DVMT Pre-allocation	0x785	0x01 (32M)	0x06 (192M)	Increase DVMT pre-allocated size to 192M for QHD+ displays
DVMT Total Gfx Memory	0x786	0x01 (128M)	0x03 (MAX)	Increase total gfx memory limit to maximum

Clover Configuration

All Clover hotpatches are included in source DSL format in the DSDT folder. If required the script --compile-dsdt option can be used to compile any changes to the DSL files into ./CLOVER/ACPI/patched.

AppleHDA

In order to support the Realtek ALC256 (ALC3246) codec of the Dell XPS 9360, AppleALC is included with layout-id 56.

Alternatively, a custom AppleHDA injector can be used. The script option --patch-hda option generates an AppleHDA_ALC256.kext injector and installs it in /Library/Extensions for this purpose, in this case the layout-id is 1.

Display Profiles

Display profiles for the Sharp LQ133Z1 display (Dell XPS 9360 QHD+) are included in the displays folder.

Profiles can be installed by copying them into /Users/<username>/Library/ColorSync/Profiles folder, additionally the macOS built-in ColorSync utility can be used to inspect the profiles.

Profiles are configured on a per display basis in the System Preferences -> Display preferences menu.

CPU Profile

In order for macOS to effectively manage the power profile of the i7-8550U processor in the Dell XPS 9630 model used here, it is necessary to include a powermanagement profile for X86PlatformPlugin.

A pre-built CPUFriend.kext and CPUDataProvider.kext is included in the kext folder for the i7-8550U.

Instructions on how to build a power mangaement profile for any other CPU types can be found here:

https://github.com/PMheart/CPUFriend/blob/master/Instructions.md

Undervolting

Warning undervolting may render your XPS 9360 unusable

Essentially it allows your processor to run on a lower voltage than its specifications, reducing the core temperature.

This allows longer battery life and longer turbo boost.

Credits for this go to jkbuha at tonymacx86.

The undervolt settings I use are configured in UEFI, with the following settings:

• Overclock, CFG, WDT & XTU enable
  0x4DE -> 00
0x64D -> 01
0x64E -> 01

• Undervolt values:
  0x653 -> 0x64 (CPU: -100 mV)
  0x655 -> 01 (Negative voltage for 0x653)
  0x85A -> 0x1E (GPU: -30 mV)
  0x85C -> 01 (Negative voltage for 0x85A)

Remember, these values work for my specific machine, but might cause any other laptop to fail to boot!

Credits

• OS-X-Clover-Laptop-Config (Hot-patching)
• Dell XPS 13 9360 Guide by bozma88
• VoodooI2C on XPS 13 9630 by Vygr10565
• USB-C Hotplug through ExpressCard by dpassmor
• Kext authors mentioned in kexts/kexts.txt