HT201364: OS X Mavericks system requirements

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cliff82
Level 1 (8 points)
iLife

Q: Can a late 2006 iMac be modified to accept Mavericks?

Can a late 2006 iMac be modified to accept Mavericks?

Posted on Jan 27, 2014 8:26 AM

by cliff82,Solvedanswer
cliff82 cliff82
Level 1 (8 points)
iLife
A:

I think you've explained the problem and I am destined to be a Lion user for the future.  There were many conflicting explanations, but the clincher for me was your explanaton of the chip-set as a cpu/gpu differentiation and my Mac shows the chipset type as being GPU.   Tho it seems that everything else could work, I'm too chicken to take a chance and download Mavericks.  Don't know what issues that would lead to.  So, many thanks for the help from you and all others - I do hope appreciate it and hope that some day I'll be able to return the favors.  

Posted on Feb 18, 2014 10:29 AM

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cliff82

Q: Can a late 2006 iMac be modified to accept Mavericks?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Grant Lenahan,

    Grant Lenahan Grant Lenahan Jan 27, 2014 8:27 AM in response to cliff82
    Level 4 (1,468 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 27, 2014 8:27 AM in response to cliff82

    If it has a core2duo it can run 10.9. If it has a core due, it cannot. Needs a 64bit chip.

  • by Michael Black,Helpful

    Michael Black Michael Black Jan 27, 2014 8:32 AM in response to cliff82
    Level 7 (25,306 points)
    Jan 27, 2014 8:32 AM in response to cliff82

    No, not possible.  Mavericks requires a mid-2007 or newer iMac model.  For the 2006 iMac, it is not an issue with the cpu, I think it is an issue with the gpu.  The gpu chip-sets on the 2006 models are 32-bit and cannot run Mavericks with its fully 64-bit system code.

  • by Grant Lenahan,Helpful

    Grant Lenahan Grant Lenahan Jan 27, 2014 8:33 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 4 (1,468 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 27, 2014 8:33 AM in response to Michael Black

    Aha. That's interesting. I never thought of that!

     

    G

  • by cliff82,Solvedanswer

    cliff82 cliff82 Feb 18, 2014 10:29 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Feb 18, 2014 10:29 AM in response to Michael Black

    I think you've explained the problem and I am destined to be a Lion user for the future.  There were many conflicting explanations, but the clincher for me was your explanaton of the chip-set as a cpu/gpu differentiation and my Mac shows the chipset type as being GPU.   Tho it seems that everything else could work, I'm too chicken to take a chance and download Mavericks.  Don't know what issues that would lead to.  So, many thanks for the help from you and all others - I do hope appreciate it and hope that some day I'll be able to return the favors.  

  • by frannbug,

    frannbug frannbug May 23, 2014 3:47 PM in response to cliff82
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    May 23, 2014 3:47 PM in response to cliff82

    Well, I for one wish someone would invent a way around this. Although bought in 2007 my late 2006 MacBook Pro is far from finished. It has a wonderful big screen with room to create graphics comfortably and 1.5TB storage inside in the form of a 500gb SSD and a 1TB hard drive where the Superdrive used to be. If only I could upgrade the trackpad, increase the RAM from 3gb and use the latest operating system. Every time I think of buying a new one I think, "…and lose that 17" screen and have nowhere to put all my storage inside it?" and it gets put off for another year. Isn't there a whizzkid with a soldering iron and foolhardy courage somewhere who can offer these upgrades to dinosaurs like me?

  • by frannbug,

    frannbug frannbug May 28, 2014 1:57 AM in response to cliff82
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    May 28, 2014 1:57 AM in response to cliff82

    I was a little surprised by Michael Black's reply as I always thought my late 2006 model had a 64 bit chip. It turns out it does as everymac confirms. It also has core2duo, Grant Lenahan. So there must be some other reason it cannot run Mountain Lion or Mavericks. I'd still love to know the answer, if anyone has another suggestion!

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E May 28, 2014 4:30 AM in response to frannbug
    Level 9 (50,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 28, 2014 4:30 AM in response to frannbug

    frannbug wrote:

     

    So there must be some other reason it cannot run Mountain Lion or Mavericks. I'd still love to know the answer, if anyone has another suggestion!

    The EFI is 32-bit.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 28, 2014 4:31 AM in response to cliff82
    Level 9 (51,412 points)
    Desktops
    May 28, 2014 4:31 AM in response to cliff82

    cliff82 wrote:

     

    I'm too chicken to take a chance and download Mavericks.  Don't know what issues that would lead to.

    It won't lead to any issues, you won't be able to download it if your Mac can't run it.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 28, 2014 4:32 AM in response to frannbug
    Level 9 (51,412 points)
    Desktops
    May 28, 2014 4:32 AM in response to frannbug

    frannbug wrote:

     

    I was a little surprised by Michael Black's reply as I always thought my late 2006 model had a 64 bit chip. It turns out it does as everymac confirms. It also has core2duo, Grant Lenahan. So there must be some other reason it cannot run Mountain Lion or Mavericks. I'd still love to know the answer, if anyone has another suggestion!

    As Barney stated, it has a 32bit EFI, Lion is the limit.