Just as I did back in 2002 when the 17 inch PowerBook was introduced and dove into macOS to switch from Windows, now I dove headlong into the Razer Blade Pro. It will never run Windows natively as long as I breathe air. First thing I did before turning it on was to remove the SSDs and swap out for two 970 EVOs and replaced the network card with an Intel. Yes I know should have gone with Broadcom for compatibility. But that is not what this about.
My plan is to get High Sierra working on this setup and to post a comprehensive guide for Razer Blade Pro users as this space is unfilled. So far I have a vanilla installation with the latest 10.13.6 that supports the NVIDIA graphics driver needed after the 2018-03 update from Apple. The 2 MP camera, USB, keyboard is supported. It boots, has no networking or sound and I am very excited to be on this journey. Eventually will migrate to Mojave with correct graphics driver support from NVIDIA - be patient it will be a while.
In full disclosure I have two MacBook Pro machines. One is from 2014 and was bought new at the Apple Store; the other is a 2013 version I put together from parts from eBay, Amazon, and several other great vendors to source old stock new parts. They both work well and I plan to keep them till non-functional and only recycle them if Louis Rossman can not repair them. Models from 2015 onward from Apple do not fit my requirements for some modularity to be worth the asking price. Modularity gives some "options" for repair and upgrades and keeps an exit door to the "walled garden" that is now housed in a round building in Cupertino.
Here is where I am as of 12/15/2018.
1) Networking should be Intel in these machines to match the performance of the CPU, which is overclocked quad-core i7 (I don't care about core i8-9 types for laptops as likely will not have a thermal solution capable to match the performance - sometimes the answer is not more cores as equals more heat.)
The Intel Wireless-AC 9260, 2230, 2X2 AC+BT, Gigabit, vPro has features I may not use right away, but is the next generation with BT version 5 and onboard gigabit. The Hackintosh to get this working will be something else, especially were that network performance is supported. Eventually 5G will be everywhere and a KEXT for this card will be found or developed as I have no plans for dongles. Give me ports on my machines! The Razer Blade Pro has a bunch.
2) NVIDIA graphics must be supported. I have no issue with ATI, just prefer NVIDIA who supposedly is working on Mojave support. NVIDIA is my discrete graphics in the 2014 MacBook Pro and never has been an issue.
3) Sound is my current dilemma. Layout 11 in Clover Configurator yields controls but no output using the AppleALC.kext. Layout 8 and 30 give some type of feedback microphone type noise but no audio.
4) Trackpad - not working yet.
5) Flashcard port - not working yet.
6) Keyboard RBG lighting looks cool but is not why I have the machine. Thankfully FN-F10 can turn this down to off.
More to come. Feel free to post comments, I don't care about positive or negative replies. I am not doing this to be boastful. This thread will be dedicated to those crazy enough like me to see the simple beauty of this machine and aspire to use it whatever way desired. Razer made some stinker machines for sure (just as they all do to fill a SKU) but if you see what I see in the Blade Pro come with me.
Michael Rebar
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