Fixing Hardware Acceleration for GTX 970 on macOS High Sierra

Here's a guide to troubleshoot the issue of no hardware acceleration with a GTX 970 graphics card on macOS High Sierra:

GUIDE STEP BY STEP:

1. Verify NVIDIA Web Driver Version:

• Ensure you are using the NVIDIA web driver that corresponds to your specific version of macOS High Sierra.

2. Correct Boot Arguments:

• Use the nvda_drv=1 boot argument to enable the NVIDIA web driver.
• You may also need to add the boot argument nv_disable=1 temporarily to bypass potential driver issues during troubleshooting.

3. Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP):

• Reboot into Recovery Mode (Restart your computer and hold down Command+R until the Apple logo appears).
• Open Terminal from the Utilities menu.
• Enter csrutil disable to disable SIP.
• Reboot normally.

4. Set Proper Graphics Mode:

• Set the Graphics Mode boot argument to match your monitor's resolution, such as Graphics Mode="1920x1080x32".

5. Enable Quartz Extreme/Core Image (QE/CI):

• Without QE/CI, you won’t have full hardware acceleration.
• Research specific patches or kext modifications that might enable QE/CI for the GTX 970 on High Sierra.

6. Use the "nvidia-update" Tool:

• This tool automates the process of downloading and installing the latest drivers.
• Visit the nvidia-update GitHub page and follow the instructions.

7. Post-Installation Checks:

• After successfully booting, check System Information > Graphics/Displays to confirm that the GTX 970 is recognized and has the correct VRAM listed.
• Verify that hardware acceleration is working by observing system animations and performance.

8. If Needed, Update macOS and Use OCLP:

• If you opt to update macOS beyond High Sierra, use the OpenCore Legacy Patcher to maintain GPU support.

CREATE config.plist:

• The config.plist for GTX 970 will vary based on the rest of your hardware and system configuration.
• Use Clover Configurator to generate and customize your config.plist.
• Ensure that your config.plist has the correct system definitions and SMBIOS settings for High Sierra.

Please note, this guide assumes you have a working knowledge of Hackintosh systems and are comfortable with system modifications. Always back up your current system before making changes, and proceed with caution.

The issue of having no hardware acceleration even after installing the web driver for your GTX 970 on High Sierra suggests that the driver may not be correctly supporting your graphics card, despite having nvda_drv_vrl=1 in your boot arguments. Since NVIDIA graphics cards require specific support, and macOS High Sierra natively supports certain NVIDIA cards, it could be a problem related to the specific build of the OS or a mismatch in driver version.

Here are some steps you can follow to attempt to resolve this issue:

1. Ensure Correct Driver Version: Make sure you are using the correct version of the NVIDIA web driver for your specific build of macOS High Sierra.

2. Boot Arguments: Double-check your boot arguments. You mentioned using nvda_drv_vrl=1, which appears to be a typo. The correct boot argument should be nvda_drv=1. This instructs macOS to use the NVIDIA web driver instead of the default drivers.

3. Disable SIP: System Integrity Protection (SIP) might prevent the correct loading of the necessary kexts for your GPU. To disable SIP, you can use csr-active-config=0x67 as suggested in the discussion, but be aware that this makes your system less secure.

4. Use Correct Graphics Mode: As indicated in the guide, you might need to set the "Graphics Mode" boot argument to match your monitor's resolution, for example: Graphics Mode=1920x1080x32. This ensures the system attempts to initiate the display at the correct resolution and color depth.

5. Quartz Extreme/Core Image (QE/CI): If your graphics card is unsupported or the driver isn't working, you won't have access to features like Quartz Extreme/Core Image, which are necessary for full graphics acceleration. You may need to find a solution specific to the GTX 970 for enabling QE/CI on High Sierra​​.

6. Alternative Methods: If the web driver is still not providing acceleration, you could try alternative methods such as using the "nvidia-update" tool from Benjamin Dobell, which is designed to simplify the process of obtaining and installing the latest drivers for NVIDIA GPUs on macOS.

7. Patch with OCLP: If none of the above works and you decide to upgrade your macOS version, you could then use the OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) to add support for your GPU on newer versions of macOS.

Remember to back up your system before making these changes, and proceed with caution, as modifying system files and disabling security features can lead to system instability or security risks.