Build Recommendations for older versions of OS X using older Chipsets

[tonymacx86]

​

New chipsets and graphics cards are not backwards compatible with many older OS X versions.

The Evolution of Core-i Processors
http://www.tonymacx86.com/376-evolution-intel-s-core-i-processors.html

The table in the post above shows the CPU and motherboard combos that are compatible with each version of OS X back to 10.6 Snow Leopard. Haswell support starts with 10.8.5 Mountain Lion. The older the system, the earlier the supported OS X version.

This site has maintained parts guides and compatibility reports since 2010. The best compatible builds for each major OS can be viewed by checking out the above post and comparing to some older buyer's guides.

Supported 10.6.2+

Buyer's Guide (5 Series)
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2011/02/building-customac-three-updated-lga.html

Buyer's Guide (X58 / Socket 1366)
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/08/building-customac-customac-pro-2010.html

Supported 10.6.8+

Sandy Bridge Buyer's Guide (6 Series)
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2011/11/building-sandy-bridge-customac-buyers.html

Supported 10.7.5+

Ivy Bridge Buyer's Guide (7 Series)
http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/building-a-customac-buyers-guide-august-2013.106788/

Supported 10.8.5+

Haswell Buyer's Guide (8 Series)
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/building-a-customac-buyers-guide-september-2014.151979/

Haswell Buyer's Guide (9 Series)
https://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/archive/haswell-9-series/

Supported 10.11.4+

Skylake Buyer's Guide (100 Series)
https://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/archive/skylake-100-series/

Supported 10.12.6+

Kaby Lake Buyer's Guide (200 Series)
https://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/archive/kaby-lake-200-series/

Supported 10.13.0+

Coffee Lake Buyer's Guide (300 Series - Current Generation)
https://www.customac.com

 

[barry505]

Is there any information on what is the newest OS each system would support?

 

[shadewalker]

Is there any information on what is the newest OS each system would support?

They are all able to run 10.9 Mavericks. I assume that is what you were asking.

 

[spang1974]

All,

Must be lucky, but I am able to boot 10.6.8 with my Series 7 Gigabyte motherboard and my Ivy-bridge processor. I like to install and use older versions for fun (or the challenge depending how it works out). Specially Snow Leopard for its support of older Power PC apps.

Spang1974

 

[tonymacx86]

All,

Must be lucky, but I am able to boot 10.6.8 with my Series 7 Gigabyte motherboard and my Ivy-bridge processor. I like to install and use older versions for fun (or the challenge depending how it works out). Specially Snow Leopard for its support of older Power PC apps.

Spang1974

Just to add-

There is a modified kernel on the iBoot Ivy Bridge and iBoot Haswell CDs which enables backwards compatibility. This makes it possible to install OS X directly from retail DVD without access to a Mac. The Snow Leopard installation hence is for the sole purpose of using the Mac App Store.

http://www.tonymacx86.com/snow-leopard-desktop-guides/78960-install-mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard-ivy-bridge-based-pcs.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/snow-leopard-desktop-guides/106903-install-mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard-haswell-based-pcs.html

 

[spang1974]

Just to add-

There is a modified kernel on the iBoot Ivy Bridge and iBoot Haswell CDs which enables backwards compatibility. This makes it possible to install OS X directly from retail DVD without access to a Mac. The Snow Leopard installation hence is for the sole purpose of using the Mac App Store.

http://www.tonymacx86.com/snow-leopard-desktop-guides/78960-install-mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard-ivy-bridge-based-pcs.html
http://www.tonymacx86.com/snow-leopard-desktop-guides/106903-install-mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard-haswell-based-pcs.html

Those guides were great help when I went to install Snow Leopard, and are even better for those wanting to use the App store to immediately upgrade up to Mavericks. To be honest I am not even 100% sure how I got it working but I can definitely boot into my fully updated 10.6.8 without the iBoot Ivy Bride disc, and from Chimera 3.0.1, even though everything I read said it wasn't possible

Thanks for All the help now and in the future!
Spang1974

 

[VioletDragon]

even the intel G31 and G41 chipset with a core 2 duo or core 2 quad is still supported you can run Yosemite and mavericks etc perfectly fine on older chipsets such as G31 or G41

 

[Gordo74]

A good note here is that you can use the latest add-in cards (such as Wifi AC cards, GTX 9xx, etc) with these older boards as well.

 

[VioletDragon]

i don't really see no point in upgrading when you have a core i7 3770k my main system has a Z77-DS3H board and it still works perfect to me a i7 is a i7 also same goes with a core 2 quad why upgrade when it works perfect in OSX? I've also got a core 2 duo with a G41M-COMBO board also with a core 2 quad and it still works perfect

 

[Hayastanzy]

ahhh I miss my X58.