MultiBeast 3.7 Update

Today MultiBeast was updated to version 3.7.  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:

• Upgraded Chimera to v1.4.1 r877
• Upgraded Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to trunk r877
• Replaced IntelThermal with IntelCPUMonitor in FakeSMC Plugins.
• Removed Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental; superseded by Chimera.
• Removed Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Sandy Bridge; superseded by Chimera.

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!

Chimera 1.4.1 Update

Today, Chimera has been updated to version 1.4.1. iBoot has been updated to 3.0.4, including this version. Until MultiBeast is updated, we've created a standalone installer for Chimera, available at tonymacx86.com/downloads. 

Chimera v1.4.1 Changes:

• Based on Chameleon 2.0 RC5 trunk r877
• Fixed 32x multiplier BIOS limitation on Gigabyte Sandy Bridge Motherboards
• Fixed reboot loop with vanilla kernel on ASRock, Intel, and MSI Sandy Bridge Motherboards
• Fixed reporting incorrect Processor Interconnect Speed on LGA 1155/1156 systems
• Fixed RAM speed detection on LGA 1366 systems (Thanks Kabyl)
• Added Xeon CPU detection and reporting for System Profiler
• Added memory detection workaround for GeForce GT 420
• Added GraphicsEnabler auto-detection for the following cards:
• NOTE: Proper drivers are required for full support.

  

  Chimera 1.4.1 installer available

  at tonymacx86.com/downloads

  
  

• Gigabyte Radeon HD 6850
• AMD Radeon HD 6950 Series
• AMD Radeon HD 6870 Series
• AMD Radeon HD 6850 Series
• AMD Radeon HD 6790 Series
• GeForce GT 440
• GeForce GT 520
• GeForce GT 520M
• GeForce GT 530 
• GeForce GTX 560 Ti 
• GeForce GTX 570
• GeForce GTX 590
• GeForce 8400 GS additional ID
• GeForce GTS 450 additional ID

Chimera 1.4.1 is recommended for all systems. To update, simply overwrite your previous Chameleon version using MultiBeast. For bug reporting, feature requests, and general feedback please use the Chimera forum.

To read the full list of changes, and detailed explanation behind them, check out MacMan's Blog.

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

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

tonymacx86 Public Service Announcement: Chimera

Music and animation by Adamsmasher. Enjoy!

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

Chimera 1.3 Update

Today Chimera has been updated to version 1.3. iBoot and MultiBeast have been updated to include this version, and are available at tonymacx86.com/downloads.

Chimera v1.3 Changes:

• Based on Chameleon 2.0 RC5 trunk r760
• Added UseKernelCache=Yes|No to BootHelp
• Added basic support for AMD 6400 / 6500 / 6600 cards (Chimera 1.2)
• Additional smbios default edits (Chimera 1.2)

Chimera 1.3 is recommended for all systems. To update, simply overwrite your previous Chameleon version using MultiBeast. For bug reporting, feature requests, and general feedback please use the Chimera forum. 

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

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

MultiBeast 3.6 Update

Today MultiBeast was updated to version 3.6.  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:

• Upgraded Chimera to v1.3.0 r760
• Added ATI 1.6.34.13 to Graphics. This is the latest complete ATI drivers from the Mac OS X 10.6.7 Update for iMac (early 2011) that provides Radeon HD 6000 support.
• Removed ATI 1.6.32.12 from Graphics.
• Added NVIDIA 256.02.05f01 to Graphics. This is the latest complete NVIDIA drivers from the Mac OS X 10.6.7 Update for iMac (early 2011). 
• These drivers support 4xx Fermi cards, making this option a replacement for tonymacx86 NVIDIA Update 1.0, and equivalent to tonymacx86 NVIDIA Update 2.0. 
• Added iMac12,1 and iMac12,2 to System Definitions.
• Removed iMac11,3 from System Definitions.
• Renamed Chameleon Instant Menu to Instant Menu as it for Chimera and Chameleon.
• Changed the boot menu Timeout in all com.apple.Boot.plists from 1 to 2.

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!

Chimera Now An Official Chameleon Branch - Source Available!

Chimera has been officially accepted by the Chameleon team as a branch, and the source is now available for download. You can find it at:

http://forge.voodooprojects.org/p/chameleon/source/tree/HEAD/branches/Chimera

For bug reporting, feature requests, and general feedback please use the Chimera forum first before opening an issue at voodooprojects.

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

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

Apple Releases New Sandy Bridge iMacs [Updated]

Today, Apple released new iMac models, the first Mac "desktop" models containing Intel's Sandy Bridge platform. All systems also come with Thunderbolt ports, IPS displays, and a choice of ATI 6xxx cards.

• iMac 21.5" Intel Core i5-2400S 
• iMac 21.5" Intel Core i5-2500S
• iMac 21.5" Intel Core i7-2600S (built to order)
• iMac 27" Intel Core i5-2500S
• iMac 27" Intel Core i5-2400
• iMac 27" Intel Core i7-2600 (built to order)

A good update for Apple's all-in-one, but what does all of this mean for custom PC builders?

Sandy Bridge CPUs
All of the CPUs used are quad-core desktop chips. Intel's 2500S and the 2600S are lower power variants of the 2500 and 2600 specially designed for all-in-one systems. Apple most likely has chosen these to minimize heat output within the 21.5" case. The real power comes in the built to order models, which sport Intel's Hyperthreading technology. The 4 cores become 8 threads, giving each the performance of eight virtual cores.

AMD 6xxx Graphics

Apple's new iMacs contain AMD Radeon HD 6xxx mobile graphics cards. As we predicted, the drivers are supplied in the 10.6.7 Update for Early 2011 MacBook Pros. Read more details at netkas.org.

• AMD Radeon HD 6750M
• AMD Radeon HD 6770M
• AMD Radeon HD 6970M

Kernel Support
We already have initial vanilla kernel support with the Darwin 10.7.3 kernel supplied by the 10.6.7 Update for Early 2011 MacBook Pros. These new iMacs are most likely running a special build of 10.6.7, with kernel version 10.7.4.

EDIT: The iMacs are in fact running 10.6.6 build 10J4026 using Intel's unreleased Z68 Chipset.

EDIT2: On May 4th Apple released a 10.6.7 Update for 2011 iMacs with 10.7.4 kernel included.

This should provide desktop Sandy Bridge CPU Power Management, and Turbo support for the first time.

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

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

Chimera 1.1 Update

Today Chimera has been updated to version 1.1. iBoot and MultiBeast have been updated to include this version, and are available at tonymacx86.com/downloads.

Chimera v1.1 Changes:

• Based on Chameleon 2.0 RC5 trunk r753
• Fixed LGA 775 reboot loop
• Added Xeon CPU detection and reporting code
• Fixed DMI Table Overflow on Sandy Bridge
• Thanks to forum user AndyStubbs
• Added AMD 6xxx support to GraphicsEnabler 
• Thanks to forum user AndyStubbs
• Added GeForce GTX 560 Ti and GeForce GTX 590 Device IDs to GraphicsEnabler

Chimera 1.1 is recommended for all systems. To update, simply overwrite your previous Chameleon version using MultiBeast. For bug reporting, feature requests, and general feedback please use the Chimera forum. 

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

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