Should I attempt to update to Catalina?

[karim-e]

I built my Hackintosh back in 2013. Feels like a lifetime ago. I don't remember much but I do remember the forums were incredibly helpful.

Here's my setup from back in the days:

GB Z87MX-D3H
i7-4770k
60gb mushkin msata ssd system drive
1 TB seagate barracuda SATA drive
Sony optiarc DVD
4 x 4gb gskills ripjaws
BENQ 24" connected through DVI cable
Use the build in graphics (HD4600).

Still running OSX 10.9 Mavericks.

Does this setup sound reasonable to run Catalina on? Or should I also upgrade the hardware? Just asking if by experience, this "should" perform fine. Not trying to do anything special with this one. No big 3D software, no gaming.

Thanks in advance.

 

[trs96]

Yes, you can use it as is. HD4600 graphics will work with Catalina. Instead of an upgrade over your existing SSD, buy a new 120 or 240GB SSD and try a clean install of Catalina first. You can use either Clover or OpenCore depending on how far you want to go. If you want Big Sur eventually, then use the 15,1 iMac SMBIOS and the OC bootloader instead of Clover. iMac 14,2 will not work with Big Sur. I'm assuming that is what you are using currently.

 

[karim-e]

Thanks! Appreciate the help.

Don't know anything about Clover or OpenCore so will start reading.

 

[trs96]

Don't know anything about Clover or OpenCore so will start reading.

So you used Unibeast for Mavericks, which included the Chimera bootloader. Everything just worked and you saw no need to update ? That's perfectly ok, I really liked Mavericks better than most versions but waiting about 8 years to update leaves a lot of catch up work to get current again. You could use Unibeast for Catalina, which includes Clover. That will make your learning curve much less steep.

UniBeast: Install macOS Catalina on Any Supported Intel-based PC

The following guide is a complete walkthrough for updating to or installing a fresh version of macOS Catalina. It requires no experience and all of the basic installation and post-installation tools are available on tonymacx86.com. Table of Contents Step 1: Download macOS Catalina Step 2...

www.tonymacx86.com

 

[Jamesbond007]

I built my Hackintosh back in 2013. Feels like a lifetime ago. I don't remember much but I do remember the forums were incredibly helpful.

Here's my setup from back in the days:

GB Z87MX-D3H
i7-4770k
60gb mushkin msata ssd system drive
1 TB seagate barracuda SATA drive
Sony optiarc DVD
4 x 4gb gskills ripjaws
BENQ 24" connected through DVI cable
Use the build in graphics (HD4600).

Still running OSX 10.9 Mavericks.

Does this setup sound reasonable to run Catalina on? Or should I also upgrade the hardware? Just asking if by experience, this "should" perform fine. Not trying to do anything special with this one. No big 3D software, no gaming.

Thanks in advance.

Your motherboard is the GA-Z87MX-D3H and not "OSX 10.9" so please change that in your Personal Details.

As mentioned your system is still compatible with MacOS Catalina. But since it seems you have not updated your OS for 8 years and are not using Clover, you may not be able to download Catalina from your system directly.

You may have to use another Mac or working hackintosh to download Catalina and use Unibeast to make a bootable USB stick for use on your system.

 

[trs96]

You may have to use another Mac or working hackintosh to download Catalina and use Unibeast to make a bootable USB stick for use on your system.

The other option is to use gibMacOS if none of those other options are available.

gibMacOS Tutorial ~ How to Download macOS Directly from Apple

When your Mac is ineligible to download Catalina or Newer macOS versions If your Intel Mac is from approximately 2011/12 or older (see post #2) you won't be able to download Catalina from the Mac App Store. Follow the instructions in these videos to enable the download of Catalina or newer...

www.tonymacx86.com

 

[Armoured]

I built my Hackintosh back in 2013. Feels like a lifetime ago. I don't remember much but I do remember the forums were incredibly helpful.
...
Does this setup sound reasonable to run Catalina on? Or should I also upgrade the hardware? Just asking if by experience, this "should" perform fine. Not trying to do anything special with this one. No big 3D software, no gaming.

I have a system based on the same board with an i5. Completely usable even though technically a bit long in the tooth, you should have no concerns about running Catalina on it. It won't be the fastest system on earth but for your uses will be fine. I do photo editing on mine - reasonably heavy usage - and I'm happy with it (I don't really do video or gaming though).

I think the suggestion of getting a new/additional SSD and doing a clean install would be the easier way for you to proceed and test things out (you could just unplug your existing system drive). Clover/multiboot will be the easiest way to do it. It may or may not be worth it to you to use OpenCore - it will require some time, but if you don't expect to upgrade to BigSur anytime soon, nothing wrong with that solution.

My one warning is that with a system that out of date, I don't think you want to migrate your existing system folder and all that. Segregate your data/program files and also figure out what programs you won't be able to use (notably 32-bit). Assume you're not using any 'classic' programs.

 

[karim-e]

So you used Unibeast for Mavericks, which included the Chimera bootloader. Everything just worked and you saw no need to update ? That's perfectly ok, I really liked Mavericks better than most versions but waiting about 8 years to update leaves a lot of catch up work to get current again. You could use Unibeast for Catalina, which includes Clover. That will make your learning curve much less steep.

UniBeast: Install macOS Catalina on Any Supported Intel-based PC

The following guide is a complete walkthrough for updating to or installing a fresh version of macOS Catalina. It requires no experience and all of the basic installation and post-installation tools are available on tonymacx86.com. Table of Contents Step 1: Download macOS Catalina Step 2...

www.tonymacx86.com

Yes exactly. Worked fine for what I was doing but starting to be more and more problematic.

Unibeast for Catalina sounds good. Will read. Thanks!

 

[karim-e]

Your motherboard is the GA-Z87MX-D3H and not "OSX 10.9" so please change that in your Personal Details.

As mentioned your system is still compatible with MacOS Catalina. But since it seems you have not updated your OS for 8 years and are not using Clover, you may not be able to download Catalina from your system directly.

You may have to use another Mac or working hackintosh to download Catalina and use Unibeast to make a bootable USB stick for use on your system.

Sorry about the personal details. Not sure how it ended up like that. Corrected.

Yes I was planning on downloading Catalina with another Mac.

 

[karim-e]

The other option is to use gibMacOS if none of those other options are available.

gibMacOS Tutorial ~ How to Download macOS Directly from Apple

When your Mac is ineligible to download Catalina or Newer macOS versions If your Intel Mac is from approximately 2011/12 or older (see post #2) you won't be able to download Catalina from the Mac App Store. Follow the instructions in these videos to enable the download of Catalina or newer...

www.tonymacx86.com

Oh! interesting! Thanks for that