Last year, we published an article examining the Dell XPS 8300, one of the few prebuilt computers in the retail market that had been confirmed to work Mac OS X. Since then, however, the XPS 8300 has been superseded by newer computers, with faster processors and updated graphics cards. Instead of the XPS 8300, we now have its successor to work with: the XPS 8500.
Dell XPS 8500 ($800+)
OS Name Microsoft Windows 8.1 Version 6.3.9600 Build 9600 System Model XPS 8700 System Type x64-based PC System SKU 0x05B7 Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz, 3601 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s) BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. A11, 7/9/2015 SMBIOS Version 2.7 Embedded Controller Version 255.255 BIOS Mode UEFI BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc. BaseBoard Name Base Board. Follow this step if you are setting up Hackintosh Installer on a Mac or existing Hackintosh. Plug your USB drive into Mac, and open Disk Utility (located in Applications-Utilities in your main hard drive). Select your USB drive in the sidebar of Disk Utility and erase the drive, with the “Format” set to “Mac OS Extended (Journaled. About This Mac If you are looking for tutorial on how to install Lion instead of Snow Leopard then you should read my journal. I’ve been using a dual boot configuration between Mac OS X Snow Leopard (vanilla kernel) and for more than a year, and always want to write down and share the steps that I’ve taken to successfully install OS X 10.6 on my Dell XPS M1330 but I never got the time.
What You Get: The XPS 8500 is essentially an exact copy of its Hackintosh-friendly predecessor, the XPS 8300. Like its predecessor, the XPS 8500 is one of the few prebuilt computers in the retail market that works almost entirely with Mac OS X. And unlike most 'prebuilts', the XPS 8500 uses an Intel Core processor from the relatively new Ivy Bridge generation (Ivy Bridge processors have model numbers in the 3000's, like the i7-3770).
Beyond the processor, the XPS 8300 includes a DVD/Bluray drive, 8 to 12 GB of RAM, and a 7200 RPM hard drive. Some models of the XPS 8500 also have a WiFi adapter. Every model of the XPS 8500 includes a separate graphics card, but the specific card that you get depends on which model you purchase (more on this in the next section). Like most prebuilt computers, the XPS 8500 comes in a relatively small mid-tower case. This makes it more portable, but also makes it a pain to upgrade with new parts.
The XPS 8500 has only been confirmed to work with OS X Mountain Lion. While Lion will likely also work, you probably won't be able to install Mac OS X Snow Leopard, since the XPS 8500 uses an Ivy Bridge processor. While it's technically possible to install Snow Leopard on an Ivy Bridge processor, the support is experimental and always will be.
NOTE: The motherboard of the XPS 8500 uses UEFI. Mac OS X does not yet support UEFI, so you may have to enter the BIOS of your XPS 8500 and turn off 'UEFI mode' and 'Secure boot' for the installation process to start properly.
SOURCE: Guide: Dell XPS 8500 [tonymacx86]
Mini SATA Install To Upgrade 32GB to 480GB
In our post on the Dell XPS 8700 overview, including a video, I mentioned how we would upgrade the mSATA SSD on the motherboard from 32GB to a larger Solid State Drive that we could run everything from. The original Dell configuration (which was not done correctly…) was to have the small – by today’s standards – 32GB SSD act as a cache for frequently accessed data on the 2TB 7200rpm conventional SATA hard drive.
Windows 8 does run better with an SSD cache, but if you can keep your really big files on a partition other than your Windows partition then why not run everything on a super fast SSD and speed up your PC as much as possible?
Install Osx On Dell Xps 8700 Download
I have been running on SSD’s for several years now and writing about the performance benefits. So the only difference on this Dell XPS is that since it has a mini-SATA or mSATA on the motherboard it’s the obvious choice for my SSD upgrade. The cost of an mSATA SSD over 2.5″ model is only $10 on the Crucial m500 I bought. That $10 price advantage, BTW, would be negated by the 2.5″ to 3.5″ drive adapter I would have to buy in order to mount a 2.5″ SSD (perfect size for laptop) in a desktop PC.
Mini-SATA SSD Advantages
I really don’t know if the mSATA on the motherboard is better performing than a conventially installed SSD; it kind of makes sense that it COULD be, but it does save a hard drive slot if you want additional drives mounted inside of the computer case and results in fewer cables tangled up in your case.
Should I ever want to use the mini-SATA SSD elsewhere on a PC that does NOT have the mount on the motherboard, simply spend $10 on an adapter and you are good to go.
In fact, that is what I am doing with the 32GB mSATA from the Dell XPS, putting it on a Syba mSATA SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA Adapter (SY-ADA40050) and installing in an Asus EEE PC for a great speed up on that machine. And 32GB is plenty for an EEE PC.
How To Install A mSATA SSD
As you can see in the video below, installing the mSATA SSD on the motherboard is quick and easy. Here are the steps.
Install Osx On Dell Xps 8700 Desktop
- BACKUP any data on the PC (ALWAYS a good idea, but especially before making hardware changes)
- If the mSATA is currently being used as a cache, I would suggest disabling cache and freeing up the mSATA using the software provided by your computer manufacturer (Intel in my case).
- UNPLUG the computer
- Place on static free, clean, workspace. Counter tops are fine but if you can NOT be standing on carpet all the better. Use an anti-static wrist guard if necessary.
- Take the cover off the PC and WAIT until any glowing LEDs on the motherboard go out. LEDs lit indicate there are still traces of power in the system.
- Remove any cables or add-in cards (like video) that are in the way
- Remove the two retaining screws on the mini-SATA SSD card, it should then spring-up to about a 30 degree angle or so
- Remove the mSATA by pulling straight out (should come out EASILY) at the “popped up” angle, place in anti-static container (like the plastic package the new one came in)
- Install new mSATA SSD by gently inserting at that same “popped up” angle. I used a Crucial m500 mSATA
- Gently push down to motherboard
- Insert and snug the two retaining screws
- Reinstall any cables or cards removed
- Put the cover back on
- Power up and see if all looks good
Install Osx On Dell Xps 8700
BIOS Settings
See BIOS settings screen shots here.