Dual-Booting Windows 11 and macOS on an i5-9500 PC with Multiple Drives

Dual-booting Windows 11 and macOS on a PC requires careful preparation to ensure both operating systems work without interfering with each other. Here's a step-by-step guide tailored to your hardware specifications:

Guide Step by Step:

1. Choose macOS Version:

   • Since you have an Intel-based system, you can opt for macOS Catalina, Big Sur, or even Monterey. Check for the compatibility of your R9 380 as newer macOS versions may not support it.

2. Prepare Hardware:

   • Ensure your BIOS is updated to the latest version.
   • Your water cooling pump should be fine, as macOS does not interact with the cooling system's hardware controls directly.

3. BIOS Settings:

   • Switch off Secure Boot.
   • Set SATA mode to AHCI.
   • Disable CSM (Compatibility Support Module) if it's enabled.
   • Enable XMP if you want to use your RAM's profile for 2666 MHz.

4. Prepare Installation Media:

   • Create a macOS bootable USB using a tool like UniBeast or OpenCore.
   • Create a Windows 11 bootable USB using the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.

5. Partition Scheme:

   • Since you have multiple drives, it's best to use separate SSDs/HDDs for each OS.
   • Use the 256 GB SSD for Windows 11 as you planned.
   • Partition one of the 500 GB HDDs for macOS (GUID Partition Table scheme).

6. Install Windows 11:

   • Install Windows 11 first to avoid Windows overwriting macOS's bootloader.
   • During installation, select the 256 GB SSD and proceed with the installation.

7. Install macOS:

   • Boot from your macOS USB installer.
   • Use Disk Utility to format the chosen 500 GB HDD with APFS (if installing Catalina or newer) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for older versions.
   • Install macOS on this HDD.

8. Post-installation for macOS:

   • Install the Clover or OpenCore bootloader to the EFI partition of your macOS drive.
   • Install necessary kexts like Lilu, WhateverGreen, and AppleALC using a tool like KextBeast or manually.

9. EFI Partition:

   • Configure the EFI partition with proper drivers and kexts for your system.
   • For Clover, this will be in the EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other directory.
   • For OpenCore, this will be in the EFI/OC/Kexts directory.

10. Dual-Boot Setup:

    • You can use the OpenCore bootloader to manage both operating systems or use your BIOS boot menu key (often F12 or F8) to select the OS at boot time.

11. Fine-Tuning:

    • Once both systems are installed, you may need to fine-tune settings such as SMBIOS, DSDT patches, or additional drivers for full hardware compatibility.

12. Backup:

    • Always keep a backup of your EFI folder and important data.

13. Troubleshooting:

    • If something goes wrong, use verbose mode (-v) in macOS and Safe Mode or Recovery in Windows to diagnose issues.

Remember, while this process can be very rewarding, it can also be challenging and time-consuming, especially for those new to Hackintoshing or system administration. Always seek help from the Hackintosh community if you encounter problems you can't solve.