rlreddick

Q: will my mac mini run OS X 10.9?

Will my mini run 10. 8 or 10.9? If so, how do I purchase it?


Hardware Overview:

 

  Model Name: Mac mini

  Model Identifier: Macmini4,1

  Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

  Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

  Number Of Processors: 1

  Total Number Of Cores: 2

  L2 Cache: 3 MB

  Memory: 4 GB

  Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

  Boot ROM Version: MM41.0042.B00

  SMC Version (system): 1.65f2

  Serial Number (system): C07FW1CKDD6L

  Hardware UUID: 90E469B2-AA0F-50F3-B1C2-3CFC14436CF3

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8), contained in post

Posted on Aug 11, 2016 6:44 PM

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Q: will my mac mini run OS X 10.9?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by theratter,Solvedanswer

    theratter theratter Aug 14, 2016 7:54 AM in response to rlreddick
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2016 7:54 AM in response to rlreddick

    Yes. It originally came with a proprietary version of Snow Leopard 10.6.3. Just reinstall the original OS, upgrade it to 10.6.8 (Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1) then download 10.9 from the App Store.

  • by Phil0124,Apple recommended

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Aug 11, 2016 7:02 PM in response to rlreddick
    Level 7 (26,860 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 11, 2016 7:02 PM in response to rlreddick

    Yes, it will run 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, and 10.11.

     

    You don't purchase any of them. All those updates were free when they were available. If you did not download them then, you cannot download them now, and would only be able to update straight to 10.11 El Capitan.

     

    If you are currently running 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, simply open the Mac App Store, and update to el Capitan Directly. no need to re-install anything.

     

    http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/

  • by rlreddick,

    rlreddick rlreddick Aug 14, 2016 8:15 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2016 8:15 AM in response to Phil0124

    My concern is whether the hardware will handle. I still have an aluminum-case tower MacPro -- that I love -- but had to retire because the BIOS or some other part of the hardware / firmware won't handle anything past Lion. And frankly, Lion has problems. People at Apple told me Snow Leopard is probably the best OS for that dual Xeon processor wonder.

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Aug 15, 2016 7:55 AM in response to rlreddick
    Level 10 (187,749 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 15, 2016 7:55 AM in response to rlreddick

    The Macmin4.1 (2010) should have no problem with any OS with at least up to Sierra provided it has enough memory. 2 GB is really not enough, 4 GB is marginal  more is better. Also using an SSD will make it run better since the 5400 RPN HD Apple installed in the Mini is slow.

     

    The problem with the Mac Pro silver towers is that the 2006-2007 ones only have a 32 bit EFI/firmware. Mountain Lion and above are only 32 bit OS' so the oly way to run later than Lion on those is with a hack