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Del of Guernsey
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: What's the most advanced OS X version I can get if I only have 1 GB memory?

Apple support today told me I could update my iMac 7,1 to El Capitan but now that I've tried, I'm told it requires 2 GB memory. So is there a way to upload El Capitan anyway or, if not, which verison can I go for?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 12:54 PM

by Carolyn Samit,Solvedanswer
Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit
Level 10 (120,143 points)
Apple Watch
A:

2GB's is the minimum but you'd be better off upgrading the memory prior to installing El Capitan.

 

OS X El Capitan requires one of the following Mac models and versions of OS X. It also requires at least 2GB of memory and 8.8GB of storage space.

 

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

 

Older OS X's are no longer available for download from the App Store.

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 1:12 PM

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Del of Guernsey

Q: What's the most advanced OS X version I can get if I only have 1 GB memory?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,Solvedanswer

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 29, 2016 1:12 PM in response to Del of Guernsey
    Level 10 (120,143 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 1:12 PM in response to Del of Guernsey

    2GB's is the minimum but you'd be better off upgrading the memory prior to installing El Capitan.

     

    OS X El Capitan requires one of the following Mac models and versions of OS X. It also requires at least 2GB of memory and 8.8GB of storage space.

     

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

     

    Older OS X's are no longer available for download from the App Store.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 29, 2016 1:12 PM in response to Del of Guernsey
    Level 9 (50,228 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 29, 2016 1:12 PM in response to Del of Guernsey

    No current version will work well in 1GB, fix your RAM first, it's easy and not expensive, then yu can have any one you want, incuding ElCapitan