Build Recommendations for older versions of OS X using older Chipsets

Discussion in 'Buying Advice' started by tonymacx86, Sep 11, 2014.

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  1. tonymacx86

    tonymacx86 Administrator Staff Member

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    Sep 11, 2014 at 7:22 PM #1
    tonymacx86

    tonymacx86 Administrator Staff Member

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    customac.png ​
    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)
    http://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/march/2016

    Supported 10.11.4+

    Skylake Buyer's Guide (100 Series)
    https://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/july/2017/

    Supported 10.12.6+

    Kaby Lake Buyer's Guide (200 Series)
    https://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/march/2018/

    Supported 10.13.0+

    Coffee Lake Buyer's Guide (300 Series - Current Generation)
    https://www.customac.com
     
    firstbuild286, Chad414, andreboyrock and 1 other person like this.
    GA-Z170X-UD5 TH |  i5 6600K |  HD 530
    GA-Z97-D3H |  i7 4790K |  GeForce GT 740
    GA-Z87X-UD7-TH |  i7 4770K |  GeForce GTX 770
    GA-Z77X-UP5-TH |  i7 3770 |  GeForce GTX 560
    GA-H67N-USB3-B3 |  i3 2105 |  HD 3000
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2018
  3. barry505

    barry505

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    Sep 12, 2014 at 2:32 PM #2
    barry505

    barry505

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    Is there any information on what is the newest OS each system would support?
     
    asheenlevrai likes this.
  4. shadewalker

    shadewalker

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    Sep 12, 2014 at 2:36 PM #3
    shadewalker

    shadewalker

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    Performa, Power Mac, Quadra, SE
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    They are all able to run 10.9 Mavericks. I assume that is what you were asking.
     
  5. spang1974

    spang1974

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    Sep 12, 2014 at 3:20 PM #4
    spang1974

    spang1974

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    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
     
    Francesco96 likes this.
    GA-B75M-D3H |  i3 3225 |  HD 4000
    GA-Z97-HD3 |  i7 4790 |  HD 4600
  6. tonymacx86

    tonymacx86 Administrator Staff Member

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    Sep 12, 2014 at 3:20 PM #5
    tonymacx86

    tonymacx86 Administrator Staff Member

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    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-leop...x-10-6-snow-leopard-ivy-bridge-based-pcs.html
    http://www.tonymacx86.com/snow-leop...os-x-10-6-snow-leopard-haswell-based-pcs.html
     
    GA-Z170X-UD5 TH |  i5 6600K |  HD 530
    GA-Z97-D3H |  i7 4790K |  GeForce GT 740
    GA-Z87X-UD7-TH |  i7 4770K |  GeForce GTX 770
    GA-Z77X-UP5-TH |  i7 3770 |  GeForce GTX 560
    GA-H67N-USB3-B3 |  i3 2105 |  HD 3000
  7. spang1974

    spang1974

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    Sep 12, 2014 at 5:17 PM #6
    spang1974

    spang1974

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    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
     
    GA-B75M-D3H |  i3 3225 |  HD 4000
    GA-Z97-HD3 |  i7 4790 |  HD 4600
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2014
  8. VioletDragon

    VioletDragon

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    Apr 30, 2015 at 3:11 PM #7
    VioletDragon

    VioletDragon

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    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 :thumbup:
     
    GA-H77N-WIFI |  i7 3770 |  HD 4000
    GA-Z77-DS3H |  i3 3225 |  HD 4000
    GA-H97N-WiFi |  i3 4360 |  HD 4600
    H67 Board |  i7 2600K |  HD 3000
  9. Gordo74

    Gordo74

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    Apr 30, 2015 at 3:31 PM #8
    Gordo74

    Gordo74

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    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.
     
    P8Z77-I DELUXE |  i7 3770 |  GeForce GTX 970
    Z77 Pro4-M |  i5 2500K |  GeForce GTX 660 Ti
  10. VioletDragon

    VioletDragon

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    Apr 30, 2015 at 10:22 PM #9
    VioletDragon

    VioletDragon

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    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 :thumbup:
     
    GA-H77N-WIFI |  i7 3770 |  HD 4000
    GA-Z77-DS3H |  i3 3225 |  HD 4000
    GA-H97N-WiFi |  i3 4360 |  HD 4600
    H67 Board |  i7 2600K |  HD 3000
  11. Hayastanzy

    Hayastanzy

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    May 2, 2015 at 8:59 AM #10
    Hayastanzy

    Hayastanzy

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    ahhh I miss my X58. :cry:
     
    Other |  i7 5930K |  GTX 980 G1 Gaming
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