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OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

dortania.github.io

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Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#71

Post by vlovich123 »

goosedragons wrote: post #65
vlovich123 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do competitors offer?

Whatever Microsoft offers. Or occasionally Linux. Which are usually considerably better than the support lengths Apple offers. For example Windows 7 was supported for over 10 years, 8/8.1 for over 10 years. They also don't tend to sell the same model for literally years.

Linux is a totally different story. “Linux” doesn’t support anything. It’s a kernel and doesn’t remove things out of tree so comparability is rarely removed so you could build things. But user space / distros and binary drivers can be a different beast (DKMS helps). Anyway. Linux is choose your own adventure and not comparable.

For Windows you’re not comparing the same thing. Apple ships a new major OS release on a yearly cadence compared with Microsoft’s 7 years. Some people might prefer Microsoft’s approach. People buying into the Apple ecosystem understand Apple takes a different approach. Also Microsoft isn’t your one stop shop for support. While Windows may be supported for 7 years, i doubt your OEM is supporting your firmware for that long. Apple ties firmware to operating system so that is easier to understand.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#72

Post by planb »

ChildOfChaos wrote: post #13

I have a 2015 iMac, that I spec'ed up as a custom build from Apple, so annoying they don't reconize the power of these machines still and cut support. I have an 4ghz i7, 32gb ram and a Radeon 395x graphics card, but support is cut. The machine still runs beautifully on Monterey, so I am hesitant to use the OpenCore legacy patcher, but may have to one day if apps i use drop support. I love my iMac, but in future, I th…

I have a 2015 iMac too and it runs fine with opencore legacy patcher on Ventura. I don’t complain that Apple did drip support for this machine in their newest os, but I complain that so much of their software comes only with the latest os. I had to update because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to use my HomeKit setup and the shared photo library on this device.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#73

Post by Maursault »

j1elo wrote: post #12

The fact that simply patching the O.S. can be enough to make it work on older hardware is a testament on how Apple could make it work on it too, if they wanted, and without much effort. Which in my book reads as an artificial way to cut support for otherwise perfectly working machines. Forcing people to upgrade, buy more hardware, and discard the older one, even when they wouldn't otherwise have needed to do it (like…

> The fact that simply patching the O.S. can be enough to make it work on older hardware is a testament on how Apple could make it work on it too, if they wanted, and without much effort.

Don't fall for it. It's the same OS whether it has a cute new name or not. The only reasons to upgrade are a desire to use specific new features, to fix bugs that specifically affect you, patching pressing security issues that specifically affect you, and/or lack of restraint. For 99.9% of users, it is the last reason and only that reason. The real reason behind Apple's fast and furious upgrade schedule is to attract developers, i.e. to break software so that users will be forced to purchase the same software again and again.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#74

Post by goosedragons »

vlovich123 wrote: post #71
goosedragons wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whatever Microsoft offers. Or occasionally Linux. Which are usually considerably better than the support lengths Apple offers. For example Windows 7 was supported for over 10 years, 8/8.1 for over 10 years. They also don't tend to sell the same model for literally years.

Linux is a totally different story. “Linux” doesn’t support anything. It’s a kernel and doesn’t remove things out of tree so comparability is rarely removed so you could build things. But user space / distros and binary drivers can be a different beast (DKMS helps). Anyway. Linux is choose your own adventure and not comparable. For Windows you’re not comparing the same thing. Apple ships a new major OS release on a y…

Is firmware what people care about or is it running up to date and secure software? Windows and Linux distros offer that. MacOS doesn't.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#75

Post by TMWNN »

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #4

Datapoint: I upgraded a min-2012 MacBook Pro to Monterey using this approach and it performs reasonably well for basic use. I also swapped the hdd for an ssd and maxed the memory to 16gb.

I did the same (upgrade from Catalina) and had no problems. I only bought an Apple Silicon MacBook because the mid-2012's hinge got too loose to keep the display upright. Yes, the new computer is significantly faster, but I could have lived with the older one. So, three cheers for OCLP!

PS - the mid-2012 is now a backup, so is still useful.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#76

Post by mschuster91 »

1over137 wrote: post #20
jeroenhd wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Supporting old hardware costs money because you need to write more tests. Of course there aren't technical limitations for any but the lowest specced Macs. Things have changed the past few years but for a while upgrades to CPU performance weren't that meaningful between generations. A CPU that's over ten years old will still perform fine for light desktop use, because that's honestly all you need in most cases. All y…

>Supporting old hardware costs money because you need to write more tests. Not supporting old hardware has major costs too: ewaste pollution. But of course those costs are 'externalized' and not borne by Apple, but by everyone else.

For what it's worth, Apple supports old hardware for extremely long times. Even after Treble or whatever it was called, Android smartphones have way less support. macOS Ventura is supported on machines that are six years old. macOS Big Sur, which is the oldest supported macOS, runs on machines that are ten years old. And OCLP pushes that even further.

In contrast, just look at how ridiculously short many component drivers in the Windows area are maintained. Yes you can run modern Windows, but good luck getting security fixes for all the third party component drivers. In contrast,

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#77

Post by mjsweet »

I possess a 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro, which I handed down to my son for his use. Regrettably, he is unable to participate in the shared photo library, as it is exclusively supported by the Ventura version of Photos. The laptop presently operates on Monterey, its final supported version. Consequently, we plan to upgrade later today with the assistance of OpenCore.

This is a fantastic project that will allow us to maintain the use of shared features in macOS across all our family's devices, regardless of the age of the machines and Apple support for them.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#78

Post by ivraatiems »

I'm typing this from a 2011 iMac (3.4ghz, 4-core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD 6700 series GPU) on which I've just installed Mac OS Ventura using OpenCore. It's working great. Performance is not distinguishable from the performance of the same system on High Sierra, so far. The process was also pretty easy, it walked me through every step. Just highlights how absurd it is that these systems aren't still supported.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#79

Post by cglong »

ivraatiems wrote: post #78

I'm typing this from a 2011 iMac (3.4ghz, 4-core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD 6700 series GPU) on which I've just installed Mac OS Ventura using OpenCore. It's working great. Performance is not distinguishable from the performance of the same system on High Sierra, so far. The process was also pretty easy, it walked me through every step. Just highlights how absurd it is that these systems aren't still supported.

Does your iMac have an SSD? Mine doesn't, and I'm wondering if that would cause more issues.

Re: OpenCore Legacy Patcher – Use new macOS versions on old hardware

#80

Post by BlackLotus89 »

j1elo wrote: post #12

The fact that simply patching the O.S. can be enough to make it work on older hardware is a testament on how Apple could make it work on it too, if they wanted, and without much effort. Which in my book reads as an artificial way to cut support for otherwise perfectly working machines. Forcing people to upgrade, buy more hardware, and discard the older one, even when they wouldn't otherwise have needed to do it (like…

Got a few old iMacs here (10 years+) and they run with newer Mac OS versions, but they don't run well. Upgrading iMacs is a pain as well and since the ones I got have only 4G Ram it kind of hurts using them this way.

I was given the task to get a "modern", "minimal" System up on it for non technical users. Windows 7 ran ok on them, old Mac OS ran great Win 10 crashed/had audio bugs, FreeBSD somehow ended in a bppt loop and now I got a system running kde plasma on it and I have to hope that my client will find this acceptable as well. I would, but that's just me.

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