Chimera: Unified Chameleon Bootloader

Chameleon is an open-source project with numerous development teams working in parallel creating various branches containing new and exciting features. The source code is organized using the Subversion version control system (SVN). SVN repositories are comprised of a trunk and branches. The Chameleon team keeps the trunk as the 'stable' version, whereas side-line or experimental development projects are done in branches.

The problem is some branches have features that other branches don't have, and many new features are still not merged into the trunk. While this is an inevitable side-effect of rapid open-source development, it creates some confusion for new users. The result of multiple branches not only increases the difficulty of choosing which version of the bootloader to use, but makes it impossible to support certain hardware.

To assist new users, MacMan started a project to merge the best features from the branches into a new branch based on the latest Chameleon 2.0 RC5 trunk version. He's also added some new capabilities and fixes to support the latest hardware. 

Today we're announcing the results of that project, Chimera. This version consolidates the best features from all of the available sources for maximum compatibility across platforms. We've decided to use the name Chimera to differentiate the project from the Chameleon trunk. Our focus for Chimera going forward is to support current, new, and future hardware, not to add legacy support for older hardware. 

Chimera Includes:

• All Current Features of Chameleon 2.0 RC5 Trunk 
• Intel Sandy Bridge Support 



In mythology, a Chimera is a creature
with parts from various animals. 

• Based on valv r709 and enhanced
• ATI 5xxx Graphics Support
• All known Device IDs and Framebuffers
• From Kabyl r748
• Improved NVIDIA Graphics Support 
• All known Device IDs
• From valv r709 and other sources
• Improved Core i CPU Detection and Reporting
• Intel LGA Socket 1155/1156/1366
• Hexacore i7 Support

This project will be maintained with full source available shortly. We have asked the Chameleon team to add Chimera as an official branch. In the meantime, we've set up a dedicated area in the tonymacx86 Forum for bug reporting and feature requests.

We've added Chimera to iBoot and MultiBeast as our default recommended bootloader. It contains all of the current features that were previously available in iBoot and MultiBeast along with these new capabilities. The updated versions are now available for download at tonymacx86.com/downloads.

This wouldn't have been possible without the Chameleon team, and especially Kabyl and valv for their hard work and effort. Stay tuned for updates!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

MultiBeast 3.5 Update

Today MultiBeast was updated to version 3.5.  The latest version is now available at tonymacx86.com/downloads.

Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites. 

Full list of changes:

• Added Chimera v1.0.0 r750 bootloader. This is MacMan's branch of Chameleon that merges Kabyl's ATI code and some of valv's Sandy Bridge code. 
• Changed EasyBeast and UserDSDT to use the Chimera bootloader by default
• Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to r750
• Added ATI 48xx Patch for 10.6.7 from netkas
• Added Realtek Gigabit Ethernet 2.0.6 plugin
• Changed UserDSDT script to install without a DSDT for a DSDT-Free install. Notification is in /private/var/log/install.log for whether a DSDT was installed or not.
• Added Marvell Yukon Ethernet, a patched AppleYukon2 plugin that adds support for the Marvell Yukon-88E8056 and Yukon-88E8057 ethernet controllers. (Removed 3.5.1)

If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

iBoot 3.0 Update

Today, iBoot has been updated to 3.0. Pick up the latest version at tonymacx86.com/downloads.

• Added 10.7.3 Kernel for native Sandy Bridge support
• Updated bootloader to Chimera v1.1.0
• Added iBoot Theme by Complx

Please do not upload or redistribute iBoot to any other sites.  

If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further iBoot development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Sandy Bridge Desktop CPUs and Motherboards [Updated]

It's certainly been a long road for Intel in a short time with the new Sandy Bridge Socket 1155 motherboards. Due to an early mistake in chipset design, every single motherboard produced by the manufacturers was recalled. Luckily over the past month, the manufacturers have released fixed models. Below is a list of all updated Gigabyte (B3) and ASUS (Rev. 3.0) motherboards, and links to our favorite online stores. We've also re-posted our top picks for the 2011 Intel Core-i3/i5/i7 lineup. 

Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3R-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD5-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7-B3 Amazon Newegg (Pro Pick)

Gigabyte GA-H67A-UD3H-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-H67A-USB3-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-H67M-D2-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-H67M-UD2H-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-H67MA-D2H-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 Amazon Newegg (Budget Pick)
Gigabyte GA-H67MA-USB3-B3 Amazon Newegg
Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3-B3 Amazon Newegg (HTPC Pick)

Asus Maximus IV Extreme Amazon Newegg (Pro Pick)

Asus P8P67 Amazon Newegg
Asus P8P67 Deluxe Amazon Newegg
Asus P8P67 EVO Amazon Newegg
Asus P8P67 LE Amazon Newegg 
Asus P8P67 PRO Amazon Newegg
Asus P8P67-M Amazon Newegg
Asus P8P67-M PRO Amazon Newegg
Asus Sabertooth P67 Amazon Newegg

Asus P8H67 Amazon Newegg
Asus P8H67-I Deluxe Amazon Newegg (HTPC Pick)

Asus P8H67-M Amazon Newegg
Asus P8H67-M EVO Amazon Newegg
Asus P8H67-M LE Amazon Newegg
Asus P8H67-M LX Amazon Newegg
Asus P8H67-M PRO Amazon Newegg  (Budget Pick)

All of the new Gigabyte motherboards will be edited, verified and added to the DSDT Database in the weeks to come. In addition, we'll be broadening the DSDT Database beyond our current Gigabyte offerings to include a verified library of pre-edited ASUS DSDTs.

Intel Core i7-2600K Amazon Newegg (Pro Pick)

4 cores/8 threads - 8 MB Cache, 3.4 GHz - Unlocked for Overclocking 

Intel Core i5-2500K Amazon Newegg (Budget Pick)

4 cores/4 threads - 6 MB Cache, 3.3 GHz - Unlocked for Overclocking 

Intel Core i7-2600 Amazon Newegg

4 cores/8 threads - 8 MB Cache, 3.4 GHz

Intel Core i5-2500 Amazon Newegg

4 cores/4 threads - 6 MB Cache, 3.3 GHz

Intel Core i5-2400S Amazon Newegg (HTPC Pick)

4 cores/4 threads - 6MB Cache, 2.5 GHz - 65W Low Power 

Intel Core i5-2400 Amazon Newegg

4 cores/4 threads - 6 MB Cache, 3.1 GHz

Intel Core i5-2300 Amazon Newegg

4 cores/4 threads - 6 MB Cache, 2.8 GHz

Intel Core i3-2120 Amazon Newegg

2 cores/4 threads -  3 MB Cache, 3.3 GHz

Intel Core i3-2100 Amazon Newegg

2 cores/4 threads - 3 MB Cache, 3.1 GHz

Intel Core i3-2100T Amazon Newegg (HTPC Pick)

2 cores/4 threads - 3 MB Cache, 2.5 GHz - 35W Low Power

For those of you buying new systems, we've opened a special section of the forum dedicated to Sandy Bridge.  Good luck!  Let us know how it goes with these new components!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

Related Posts: 
Mac OS X 10.6.7 Update for early 2011 MacBook Pro (Sandy Bridge)
Intel's New Sandy Bridge and Mac OS X
Sandy Bridge Overclocked on Mac OS X

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

DSDT Database Update: ASUS Socket 1156 H55/P55 Verified Edits

We've done a major update to the DSDT Database, adding hand edited, verified DSDTs for all ASUS Socket 1156 motherboards. We've supplied only the bare minimal edits, as most of these motherboards will function well without DSDTs. Special thanks to Beelzebozo for spearheading this effort! 

Here's a list of the 28 new DSDTs we've just added:

• ASUS Maximus III Extreme - BIOS 1204
• ASUS Maximus III Formula - BIOS 2104
• ASUS Maximus III GENE - BIOS 2103
• ASUS P7H55 - BIOS 0901
• ASUS P7H55 USB3 - BIOS 1606
• ASUS P7H55-M - BIOS 1101
• ASUS P7H55-M LE - BIOS 0706
• ASUS P7H55-M PRO - BIOS 1604
• ASUS P7H55 -M USB3 - BIOS 0901
• ASUS P7H55D-M EVO - BIOS 1604
• ASUS P7H55D-M PRO - BIOS 1604
• ASUS P7H57D-V EVO - BIOS 1606
• ASUS P7P55 LX - BIOS 1102
• ASUS P7P55 M - BIOS 0904
• ASUS P7P55 WS SUPERCOMPUTER - BIOS 1201
• ASUS P7P55D - BIOS 2003
• ASUS P7P55D DELUXE - BIOS 2003
• ASUS P7P55D EVO - BIOS 2004
• ASUS P7P55D LE - BIOS 2003
• ASUS P7P55D PREMIUM - BIOS 2003
• ASUS P7P55D PRO - BIOS 2003
• ASUS P7P55D-E - BIOS 1504
• ASUS P7P55D-E DELUXE - BIOS 1504
• ASUS P7P55D-E EVO - BIOS 1504
• ASUS P7P55D-E LX - BIOS 1602
• ASUS P7P55D-E PREMIUM - BIOS 1504
• ASUS P7P55D-E PRO - BIOS 1602
• ASUS Sabertooth 55I - BIOS 2003

Instructions on how to use with MultiBeast's UserDSDT are available here.  Good luck, and let us know how it goes with these new additions to the DSDT Database!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

Related Posts: 

ASUS Socket 1156 H55/P55 Motherboards: DSDT and DSDT-Free Functionality

tonymacx86 Public Service Announcement: DSDT

Minimal Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1156

Minimal Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1366

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

DSDT-Free and UserDSDT Solutions for ASUS Socket 1156 H55/P55 Motherboards

I've always been a Gigabyte fan. When looking at last year's ASUS specs for 1156, standard Realtek ALC HDEF audio made Gigabyte the best choice. However, we recently picked up the ASUS P7H55-M LE. We figured it would be an important board to test, as many people buy ASUS, and would like them better supported. 

I was astounded that when booting without a DSDT, most of everything just worked! No kernel panic on power management, built in USB hubs, SATA recognized- and best of all sleep worked! 

As far as buying advice goes, because of the Sandy Bridge onslaught, there are some amazing deals on both Gigabyte and Asus 1156 stuff right now, and they're 100% supported. Here are 2 methods you can use for Post-Installation on most ASUS 1156 motherboards.

ASUS 1156: DSDT-FREE METHOD

Using a DSDT is not necessary for most ASUS Socket 1156 boards using a recent BIOS. Most implement RMH (Rate Matching Hubs) for USB, use VIA audio, and initiate Power Management on their own with no further tweaks. This means sleep works, even without DSDT edits! Please note that you'll still have to install audio, graphics, and network support separately.

1. Backup and delete your /Extra folder
2. Run MultiBeast
3. Install choices below and reboot.

ASUS 1156: UserDSDT METHOD

In general, a DSDT is a helpful thing to have if you are planning on tweaking and optimizing. If you want to configure 2 graphics cards via DSDT graphics edit, or if you want to add support for HDMI (HDAU edit) you need a DSDT. To utilize AppleHDA instead of VoodooHDA for Realtek ALC8xx audio, you need a DSDT. Please note that you'll still have to install audio, graphics, and network support separately.

1. Backup and delete your /Extra folder
2. Download your motherboard's DSDT from the DSDT Database
3. Place the .aml file on Desktop
4. Run MultiBeast
5. Select UserDSDT + System Utilities
6. Reboot

OUR BUDGET PICK

ASUS P7H55-M PRO - AMAZON / NEWEGG  $99.00

Please report back in comments if the DSDT-Free method works for you!  Thanks!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

Related Posts: 
DSDT Database Update: ASUS Socket 1156 H55/P55 Verified Edits

tonymacx86 Public Service Announcement: DSDT

Minimal Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1156

Minimal Edits for Gigabyte Socket 1366

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Apple to Allow Mac OS X Lion on Generic PC Hardware [April Fools]

Apple announced today a stunning move to open up OS X to run on generic PC desktops. Founder and CEO Steve Jobs in a statement announced, "We have decided that we simply cannot produce a product that meets our standards and be priced between an iMac and Mac Pro. Our top engineers have researched this and determined that the tonymacx86.com solution of iBoot and MultiBeast is the finest solution available and will be included in Mac OS X 10.7 Lion."

Stay tuned for details.

April Fools from tonymacx86 and MacMan.