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User profile for user: DLKahan
DLKahan Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Which OS system for a 2017 iMac

I am a graphic designer using Creative Suite (inDesign Illustrator and Photoshop mostly) and I'm about to buy a Used (new for me) 2017 21.5 in iMac. I'm wondering what OS system I should put on it? It has Mojave on it now. My computer at work (mid 2015) got updated to Monterey not too long ago and I had to bring it back down to High Sierra because it ran turtle slow after updating. It was awful. And from what I hear - Adobe is not fixing compatibility issues fast enough. All that to be said - which operation system should I put on it? Catalina, Big Sur? Keep Mojave. Or should I buy a newer model - 2020? Thoughts please.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Mar 7, 2022 3:18 PM

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User profile for user: TinenTech
TinenTech
User level: Level 1
72 points

Posted on Mar 7, 2022 3:55 PM

A 2017 iMac is certainly compatible with Monterey. Your problem with Monterey before may have been due to not having enough memory, or it not having an SSD drive. I still have Mojave and it's working fine, but there haven't been any security updates from Apple for a long time, and I'm going up to Catalina after installing an SSD to replace the SATA drive. Generally, I upgrade to the latest system a Mac can take, after a 6-month bug shakeout period...and make some bootable clones of older systems in case old software doesn't work with the new macOS.


Generally, if you have enough memory and plenty of space on an SSD, upgrading is a good idea. Running Disk Utility First Aid is also, if you have issues.

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User profile for user: TinenTech
TinenTech
User level: Level 1
72 points

Mar 7, 2022 3:55 PM in response to DLKahan

A 2017 iMac is certainly compatible with Monterey. Your problem with Monterey before may have been due to not having enough memory, or it not having an SSD drive. I still have Mojave and it's working fine, but there haven't been any security updates from Apple for a long time, and I'm going up to Catalina after installing an SSD to replace the SATA drive. Generally, I upgrade to the latest system a Mac can take, after a 6-month bug shakeout period...and make some bootable clones of older systems in case old software doesn't work with the new macOS.


Generally, if you have enough memory and plenty of space on an SSD, upgrading is a good idea. Running Disk Utility First Aid is also, if you have issues.

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User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
92,497 points

Mar 8, 2022 4:31 AM in response to DLKahan

Tips Monterey Upgrade 


Tips Big Sir Upgrade


The most important is Due Diligence on the part of the User and is a Prerequisite for a smooth upgrade.  


Are the installed Applications / Extensions compatible with Big Sur / Monterey.


Check with the Developer for compatible Apps / extension or do they offer updates. Same goes for Third Party Drivers for Printer, Scanners etc

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Which OS system for a 2017 iMac

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