Guide: How you can get macOS Sonoma running on your AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

Step 1: Preparing for Installation

1. Create a Bootable USB Installer for macOS Sonoma

• Download the macOS Sonoma installer from the Mac App Store on a macOS system (or a Hackintosh or macOS VM if needed).
• Use macOS Terminal to create a bootable USB installer:

  bash
  Copy code
  sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyUSB
  

• Replace MyUSB with the name of your USB drive.

2. Download OpenCore Bootloader

• OpenCore is highly recommended for AMD systems due to its flexibility and support for AMD-specific configurations. Download the latest version from OpenCore's GitHub repository.

3. Gather Kexts and AMD-Specific Files

• You’ll need specific kexts (kernel extensions) and patches to get your Ryzen CPU working properly with macOS:

  • Lilu.kext (required for general system compatibility)
  • VirtualSMC.kext (provides SMC services for Hackintosh)
  • WhateverGreen.kext (for GPU and graphical support)
  • AppleALC.kext (for onboard audio)
  • RealtekRTL8111.kext (for Ethernet, if needed)
  • AMD CPU patches (specific patches for Ryzen CPUs, added to OpenCore config.plist)

  You can find these kexts on GitHub or in the Dortania OpenCore Guide.

Step 2: Configure OpenCore

1. Configure config.plist for AMD Ryzen

• Ryzen CPUs require specific patches to boot macOS properly. These are added to the config.plist file.
  • Use ProperTree to edit your config.plist. Follow the AMD OpenCore guide for the exact patches needed for your Ryzen 5 5600G.
  • Add the necessary AMD kernel patches for macOS Sonoma (find them in the AMD Vanilla Guide or in Hackintosh communities like r/hackintosh on Reddit).

2. Set SMBIOS

• Set an appropriate SMBIOS for macOS Sonoma. For the Ryzen 5 5600G, you can use a model such as iMacPro1,1 or MacPro7,1 depending on your setup. This ensures macOS believes it's running on an Apple machine.
  • Use GenSMBIOS to generate valid serial numbers.

3. Enable GPU Acceleration for Vega Graphics

• The Ryzen 5 5600G uses Vega integrated graphics (Vega 7), which may require special attention for GPU acceleration.
  • WhateverGreen.kext will help enable GPU acceleration, but ensure the framebuffer patches are applied in your config.plist under the DeviceProperties section for your iGPU.

Step 3: BIOS Settings

Make sure to set your BIOS correctly:

• Disable: Secure Boot, Fast Boot, CSM, Serial/COM Port, VT-d (unless using OpenCore’s VT-d patch), and TPM.
• Enable: Above 4G Decoding, XHCI Hand-off, EHCI Hand-off, and UEFI Boot Mode.

Step 4: Install macOS Sonoma

1. Boot from the USB Installer: Insert the USB drive into your computer, boot into the BIOS, and select the USB drive as the boot device.
2. OpenCore Boot Menu: The OpenCore bootloader will appear, and you should see the macOS installer. Select it to begin the installation process.
3. Installation: Follow the standard macOS installation steps. The installer might reboot multiple times during the process.

Step 5: Post-Installation

1. Fix Bootloader on Drive

• After installing macOS successfully, you will need to transfer OpenCore from your USB to your system drive so you can boot without the USB.
  • Mount your EFI partition using a tool like MountEFI.
  • Copy the EFI folder from the USB drive to the EFI partition of your system drive.

2. Apply Post-Installation Patches

• Apply any necessary post-installation patches for the AMD CPU or Vega iGPU (for full GPU acceleration). You may need to tweak power management, USB ports, and other features depending on your specific setup.

3. Testing and Debugging

• Ensure all major features are working:
  • Graphics acceleration: Check if the GPU is properly accelerating by monitoring CPU usage when performing graphics-intensive tasks.
  • Audio and network: Verify if onboard audio and Ethernet/Wi-Fi are functioning correctly. Use additional kexts if necessary.
  • USB: Make sure your USB ports are working properly. You may need a USB port map for full functionality.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Kernel Panics: This may happen if a patch is missing or if you haven't applied the correct settings in the config.plist. Check the verbose logs (-v boot flag) to diagnose the problem.
• No GPU Acceleration: If macOS isn’t using your Vega iGPU correctly, double-check your framebuffer patches and ensure WhateverGreen.kext is working properly.
• Ethernet or Wi-Fi Issues: If you experience network issues, ensure you’ve installed the correct kext for your network interface.

Conclusion

Running macOS Sonoma on an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is possible with the proper bootloader configuration, kexts, and patches. OpenCore is the preferred bootloader for Hackintosh on AMD systems, and by carefully setting up your config.plist, ensuring BIOS settings are correct, and installing necessary kexts, you can get a stable macOS installation running on your Ryzen 5 5600G. However, some functionality (like iGPU or certain hardware features) may require additional tweaking.

For further assistance, Hackintosh communities and guides like those from Dortania can provide invaluable help.