Don’t Throw Old PCs — Install macOS and Be Amazed!

One Sentence Summary

I install macOS Big Sur on a Dell Optiplex 7020 to prove a budget Hackintosh can feel like a Mac.

Main Points

• Uses OpenCore Legacy Patcher to enable macOS on old hardware.
• Chooses Big Sur for balance on fourth-gen Intel CPUs.
• EFI folder generation customizes the Dell hardware for macOS.
• Secure Boot must be disabled in BIOS to boot from USB.
• After install, copy EFI from USB to the main drive’s EFI partition.
• macOS Big Sur boots quickly and feels fluid on this Dell.
• App Store, Maps, and Safari run natively on the Hackintosh.
• 4K YouTube playback and multi-tab browsing remain smooth.
• Minecraft runs at 1080p with ~40 FPS on an i5-4590.
• Overall takeaway: budget PCs can run macOS with Apple-like experience, avoiding the hardware tax.

Takeaways

• Always start with a compatibility check using OpenCore Legacy Patcher.
• Disable Secure Boot before attempting the USB macOS installer.
• After installation, use a Mount EFI tool to copy the proper EFI to the main drive.
• For older hardware, prefer macOS Big Sur for better performance vs. newer versions.
• Be prepared for a setup process and community-guided steps; it’s not official Apple support.