EFI Editors to change CPU ID? OpenCore, Clover?

[MrCheeto]

I have spent a good long time getting to know OpenCore and well I give up. I can't make heads or tales of any of these editors. I've edited existing config files but how to make one from scratch?

My goal is to only change one aspect of my system. I just want to present a different CPU to the OS while booting. That's the only thing I need to change. Maybe I don't even need an EFI editor to spoof the CPU ID?

 

[DarkPremiumCho]

The OpenCore configuration requires the user to customize almost every aspect to match their hardware. Leaving everything else as default is not an option.

To edit the sample.plist, I recommend using ProperTree or Xcode. You can download sample.plist and Configuration.pdf from OpenCore's release page. The Configuration.pdf will guide you on how to get started from there.

It's important to determine whether you intend to emulate the CPU presented to the XNU kernel or simply change it for cosmetic purposes.

 

[MrCheeto]

I'm changing because the OS doesn't recognize the exact CPU model (intel) and needs to load the correct power management as well.

 

[DarkPremiumCho]

If I recall correctly, 'About this Mac' only displays text such as '4.2 GHz Intel Core i7' and not the model number, which is not a significant issue. I'm not sure about this aspect on real Macs, but on a Hackintosh, enabling power management requires more than just changing the CPU information.

 

[bogdanw]

Use Clover & Clover Configurator
https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/releases
https://mackie100projects.altervista.org/download-clover-configurator/
In Kernel and Kext Patches you can choose a FakeCPUID
https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/wiki/Configuration#fakecpuid

 

[MrCheeto]

Hm.

OpenCore offers a “sample” config to start with. But does it allow the kernel of the OS to be tricked?

Clover has a clear “fakeCPUID” field but does it offer a generic config for an otherwise factory standard Mac Pro 5,1?

How did people spoof their CPU ID on their Mac before these bootloaders came around?

 

[bogdanw]

Clover has a clear “fakeCPUID” field but does it offer a generic config for an otherwise factory standard Mac Pro 5,1?

"Clover will perform an automatic configuration based on the computer's hardware. Nevertheless, an automatic unit is never perfect and this is why the user can permanently change several parameters in the configuration file config.plist or on the fly in the GUI. " https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/wiki/Configuration

View ➢ config-sample.plist https://github.com/CloverHackyColor...ckage/CloverV2/EFI/CLOVER/config-sample.plist

How did people spoof their CPU ID on their Mac before these bootloaders came around?

By modifying system files.
https://github.com/dosdude1/macos-catalina-patcher

 

[MrCheeto]

Welp. I've had it. I've read so much documentation I'm nauseous. After three-weeks of trying to understand these tools, the mere thought of either makes me sick. I've got to find some way to hire somebody that knows what they're doing. It's just way waaaay over my head and after reading some reports I don't want to risk having a Mac that won't boot.

 

[bogdanw]

When you asked about Clover, I presummed you are trying to install macOS on a PC.
For Mac Pro 5,1, there is a huge OpenCore thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/opencore-on-the-mac-pro.2207814/ with attached config files.

 

[h9826790]

I'm changing because the OS doesn't recognize the exact CPU model (intel) and needs to load the correct power management as well.

What's wrong of the power management?

I can't remember any CPU that can work on the cMP but have power management issue in any supported macOS.

If you mean unsupported OS (e.g. Monterey), then the solution for you most likely is NOT by spoofing the CPU ident, but inject ASPP-Override.kext