Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion or newer?

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Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion or newer?

I have a mid '09 iMac with 2GB memory and 10.6.8 OS. I don't mind upgrading to 4 or 8 GB memory but haven't yet. I recently purchased an Airport Extreme that requires at least 10.7.5 OS. I've backed up the computer and I'm ready to upgrade the OS but I'm not sure if I should simply move up to Mountain Lion or all the way to El Capitan? Something in-between? I have been satisfied with Snow Leopard and I just want stability and familiarity with my system. I'm not sure which OS has the best reputation for those who are not techincally savy. Any thoughts? Thanks!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz

Posted on Dec 19, 2015 4:36 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 19, 2015 4:43 PM in response to goof9603

Better to upgrade to El Capitan if your Mac meets the requirements. v10.8 Mountain Lion is outdated.

El Capitan offers the best security > About System Integrity Protection on your Mac - Apple Support

OS X El Capitan - Technical Specifications

OS X v10.6.8 or later
2GB of memory
8.8GB of available storage
Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac, then choose More Info. These Mac models are compatible with OS X El Capitan:

MacBook (Early 2015)
MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
Xserve (Early 2009)

Very important to read this user tip prior to upgrading from Snow Leoaprd > Upgrading to 10.7 and above, don't forget Rosetta! | Apple Support Communities

Make sure to backup all your important data prior to upgrading to a newer OS X.

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

685,323 points

Dec 20, 2015 7:18 AM in response to goof9603

You will need to add more RAM to get the best performance. The 2 places I’ve seen recommended most to buy reliable RAM are below. I have purchased RAM several times from Other World Computing and have always been very satisfied with the product and service. They have on-line instructions on how to replace the RAM. OWC has also tested RAM above what Apple states is the maximum. I now have 6GB installed on a early 2008 iMac supposedly limited to 4 GB and noticed an improvement.

Crucial

Other World Computing

Check to make sure your applications are compatible. PowerPC applications are no longer supported after 10.6.

Application Compatibility

Applications Compatibility (2)

El Capitan 10.11 Compatibility information

Do a backup before installing, preferable 2 backups on 2 different drives.

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