Apple Intelligence is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!

📢 Newsroom Update

Apple’s new MacBook Pro features the incredibly powerful M4 family of chips and ushers in a new era with Apple Intelligence. Learn more >

📢 Newsroom Update

Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Big SUR ON OLDER MACPRO

What can be done as an upgrade for my mid 2012 MacPro to be able to install big Sur?

Posted on Nov 25, 2020 11:30 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 25, 2020 11:31 AM

How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur w/tech specs

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201475



Tech specs:

• MacBook (2015 or later)

• MacBook Air (2013 or later)

• MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later)

• Mac mini (2014 or later)

• iMac (2014 or later)

• iMac Pro (2017 or later)

• Mac Pro (2013 or later)



3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 25, 2020 11:31 AM in response to pol179

How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur w/tech specs

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201475



Tech specs:

• MacBook (2015 or later)

• MacBook Air (2013 or later)

• MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later)

• Mac mini (2014 or later)

• iMac (2014 or later)

• iMac Pro (2017 or later)

• Mac Pro (2013 or later)



Nov 25, 2020 11:41 AM in response to pol179

Apple does not support anything beyond Mojave on the 2010-2012 Mac Pro, and Mojave only if you have upgraded to a Metal-capable graphics card.


There are some well-behaved hobbyist hacks for MacOS up to and including Catalina, NOT for production -- install at own risk.


The hacker behind that series has said Big Sur is too complicated, and they will pass. They suggest others are working on promising hobbyist hacks for Macs that can support Metal graphics ONLY -- so no more support for older MacBooks with limited graphics.


Without Metal hardware acceleration, it seems to take 20-ish seconds to minimize a window into the Dock, completely unacceptable.

Big SUR ON OLDER MACPRO

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.