macOS Tahoe 26 on Unsupported Macs Discussion

[deeveedee]

@bombardier10 Do yourself a favor - read this thread from the beginning. You're repeating stuff that has already been discussed and you're spreading incorrect information.

 

[Neon Ball]

The T2 chip shouldn't be a problem. I succesfull install macOS Tahoe on Lenovo computers from 2015 with 6th generation processors and HD530 graphics.
I even installed macOS Tahoe on a computer with a 3rd generation Intel processor from 2012, but the problem is the graphics that dont works . Graphics such as Nvidia Quadro or Intel HD 4000. Another limitation is the lack of AVX2 instructions in 3rd generation processors. Even if you get around it, you won't be able to run certain apps that really need AVX2.
In desktop computers where you can replace the graphics card with a Radeon, you can already try installing Tahoe on 4th generation processors. With a Mac, you can't replace the graphics card, and that's a problem. If we cannot resolve the graphics issue, it is evident that further installation is pointless.
OCLP support under Tahoe could continue by abandoning support for very old graphics because, for objective reasons, it will not work under Tahoe.

Comparing a T2 Mac to a Hackintosh is just completely useless. The T2 chip is replicating half a chipset by being an audio and storage controller as well, without it you don't get the SSD working and good luck installing an OS to an SSD you can't see. Hackintoshes don't have the T2 chip obviously, so there's no need to worry about it.

There is simply no options, the T2 has to be made working for OCLP to have any chance to work on them.

 

[chevyboy60013]

The T2 chip shouldn't be a problem. I succesfull install macOS Tahoe on Lenovo computers from 2015 with 6th generation processors and HD530 graphics.
I even installed macOS Tahoe on a computer with a 3rd generation Intel processor from 2012, but the problem is the graphics that dont works . Graphics such as Nvidia Quadro or Intel HD 4000. Another limitation is the lack of AVX2 instructions in 3rd generation processors. Even if you get around it, you won't be able to run certain apps that really need AVX2.
In desktop computers where you can replace the graphics card with a Radeon, you can already try installing Tahoe on 4th generation processors. With a Mac, you can't replace the graphics card, and that's a problem. If we cannot resolve the graphics issue, it is evident that further installation is pointless.
OCLP support under Tahoe could continue by abandoning support for very old graphics because, for objective reasons, it will not work under Tahoe.

According to documentation from oclp, the MacBook Air from 2018-2019 is not supported due to the T2 chip for sequoia or Tahoe, leaving them on the still supported Sonoma, which actually does everything I need it to do and does it extremely well, Just wanted the last version of macOS on it.

 

[chevyboy60013]

Comparing a T2 Mac to a Hackintosh is just completely useless. The T2 chip is replicating half a chipset by being an audio and storage controller as well, without it you don't get the SSD working and good luck installing an OS to an SSD you can't see. Hackintoshes don't have the T2 chip obviously, so there's no need to worry about it.

There is simply no options, the T2 has to be made working for OCLP to have any chance to work on them.

What amazes me is that they are not putting the 100% effort into patching the T2 chip since there are many of the 2018-2019 MacBook Air laptops used daily.

 

[Neon Ball]

What amazes me is that they are not putting the 100% effort into patching the T2 chip since there are many of the 2018-2019 MacBook Air laptops used daily.

It's a small team and one of the patch devs recently left the project, we're talking about ~5 people doing the work for over 50+ different Mac models completely in their free time and voluntarily.

 

[5T33Z0]

If they don't get passed the damned T2 chip, it will be Sonoma is the end for my 2018 MacBook Air.

The real challenge is not the T2 chip!

For example: there are 2 kext that can bypass the T2 Chip for receiving OTA updates in two different manners: RestrictEvents uses kernel patches to enable a special board-id which make it seem to update servers that macOS is running in a Virtual Machine which updates are served to. The 2nd, newer and relatively unknown kext – iBridged – fakes the presence of the T2 co-processor to Apple update servers so that OTA updates are served to systems with a T2 SMBIOS. As far as Audio is concerned, tere's also an alternative for using AppleALC for Analog Audio.

The real challenge – as stated already – is getting iGPU acceleration to work on all mac models from Sandy Bridge to Skylake – including the newly dropped ones. You need to understand: unless OCLP can work on ALL dropped model no new version can be released.

Another major challenge is the size of the team: the core of dortania consists of 5 people: one of them works for apple now, so he is probably legally tied not to work on it. Another one is dhinak G which is the most active. And the other 3 haven't released anything publiclay in months. So there's a project with 25+ million download thousands of people rely upon but less than 5 people are able to work as far as know-how is concerned. This is not something that can be done by so called "prompt engineers" on a weekend-session of so-called "vibe-coding". This takes expertise that I think 99% of us don't have.

 

[Kevo]

I'm not sure I'd even want Tahoe at this point. I think the only thing I'd like to have is the ability to hook up some ai tools to XCode, but AFAIK that requires an Apple chip anyway, so I don't think there is any real benefit for me in Tahoe. So I will need to get an Apple M series machine of some sort within a year or so. No getting around it any more, but I got a lot of use out of my machine so I'm pretty happy. Hopefully I can get 10+ years out of the next one.

 

[jgleigh]

The real challenge – as stated already – is getting iGPU acceleration to work on all mac models from Sandy Bridge to Skylake – including the newly dropped ones. You need to understand: unless OCLP can work on ALL dropped model no new version can be released.

Since when has that been a limitation of releasing OCLP? There's always a limited list of supported models and configurations.

 

[deeveedee]

😂😂😂

This thread never disappoints.

 

[chevyboy60013]

😂😂😂

This thread never disappoints.

?

 

[K two]

@bombardier10 Do yourself a favor - read this thread from the beginning. You're repeating stuff that has already been discussed and you're spreading incorrect information.

He should do himseif another favor and change his handle to Tahoe Troll.🧐

 

[OKonnel]

Allow me to digress briefly to encourage anyone who cannot install Tahoe but, thanks to OCLP, can continue to enjoy an unsupported Mac that works perfectly with Sonoma or Sequoia.

So! Tomorrow, I will have to optimize the new MacBook with macOS for a mine relative acquired who she having difficulties with Tahoe.

Last week, instead, I had to intervene urgently to help a colleague who has been using Macs for twenty years and who has rarely asked me for help until now. Tahoe, in fact, completely disrupted his visual concentration, and I had to eliminate transparencies and optimize other aspects of macOS to give it a look that would not confuse him.

Perhaps I'm exaggerating, but until now I had never felt any discomfort with Macs, but only with PCs.
Conversely, I enjoy the new iOS 26 interface and so far it hasn't caused me any discomfort.

 

[bombardier10]

A new system is not necessarily better. Apple has to come up with a new OS every year. This pressure does us more harm than good. It's obviously marketing, and if you have some knowledge, you can deal with it. But if you're a beginner, you'll be chasing new releases endlessly. The point of a computer is not to replace software, but to increase productivity 🙂

 

[amaze1499]

Out of curiosity: A Macbook Neo is around 500$ entry. Performance is the same like a MacBook Air M1 2020. The prices for those should plummet in the aftermarket right now. The new M5 max machines copies a full Tahoe installer in less then 2secs now.

Is this the end of OCLP or will you guys stick to your machine as long as possible? What makes you stick with older hardware rather than picking up a used M(x) machine?

In fairness, the M1 MBA will likely be marked obsolete with the next MacOS release.

 

[coolio.fit]

Out of curiosity: A Macbook Neo is around 500$ entry. Performance is the same like a MacBook Air M1 2020. The prices for those should plummet in the aftermarket right now. The new M5 max machines copies a full Tahoe installer in less then 2secs now.

Is this the end of OCLP or will you guys stick to your machine as long as possible? What makes you stick with older hardware rather than picking up a used M(x) machine?

In fairness, the M1 MBA will likely be marked obsolete with the next MacOS release.

Well for people living in 3rd world countries, that $500 could easily climb to $1400, so they still buy 2017 - 2021 macbooks in 2026. For that reason, I don't think it's the end of OCLP but the end is coming soon for sure.

 

[Kevo]

For a lot of people the older machines do everything they need. If you aren't involved in software development, media production, CAD or some other demanding profession or hobby, you don't need much more than a decent machine from around 2012. So buying something newer if what you have is already working is a waste of resources.

At least the price of entry level machines is coming down. I thought I got a great deal back in the early 90s when I bought a Performa on closeout from Wal-Mart of all places for $600. To be able to get a really fast Mac Mini for under $500 or a really good laptop for under $600 from Apple is pretty sweet.

I still won't be buying an M* mac until I actually need one, but it's probably going to be within a year or so.

 

[sinbad21]

There is also the problem that Apple has abandoned Intel, which I personally regret. That means that old software that I appreciate so much will not run anymore in macOS 27, and Boot Camp was sacrificed with the transition to silicon processors.

 

[StefanAM]

There is also the problem that Apple has abandoned Intel, which I personally regret. That means that old software that I appreciate so much will not run anymore in macOS 27, and Boot Camp was sacrificed with the transition to silicon processors.

Good morning!

 

[OKonnel]

Out of curiosity: A Macbook Neo is around 500$ entry. Performance is the same like a MacBook Air M1 2020. The prices for those should plummet in the aftermarket right now. The new M5 max machines copies a full Tahoe installer in less then 2secs now.

Is this the end of OCLP or will you guys stick to your machine as long as possible? What makes you stick with older hardware rather than picking up a used M(x) machine?

In fairness, the M1 MBA will likely be marked obsolete with the next MacOS release.

Here is my answer on this matter.
A) My late 2013 iMac is like new and super powerful for my needs (see my signature using the smartphone in landscape mode).
B) Thanks to BetterDisplay Pro, the screen is recognized by the system as a Studio Display and sets the icons to high resolution. The fonts are ultra-sharp even when I activate Zoom and maximise the desktop. In System Settings, the graphics settings appear as they do for Retina Displays. (But be aware that it takes a lot of effort and determination to set up BetterDisplay Pro, and I have found that some people give up or don't have a concrete reference point for how Studio Display enhances the Mac).
C) I CAN RUN Windows 11 Pro perfectly thanks to Parallels Desktop 26, and although I never use it, there are circumstances where it's important to have it on hand to run professional programs that unfortunately only run on Windows.
D) I don't feel any need for Tahoe's bells and whistles, and when I use it to optimize the new Macs of friends and family, I don't feel any desire to have a Silicon Mac.

Finally, I remember that the Neo is a downgraded MacBook M1, with little RAM and, ABOVE ALL, a NON-backlit keyboard... So it's better to look for and find an M2 or higher, used and well maintained, with 16 GB of RAM, than to settle for the Neo, except for young children or those who use the Mac for browsing, sending emails, and writing.
As for the battery not being 100%, when it needs to be replaced, it can be done easily for about $100.

 

[basslik]

Out of curiosity: A Macbook Neo is around 500$ entry. Performance is the same like a MacBook Air M1 2020. The prices for those should plummet in the aftermarket right now. The new M5 max machines copies a full Tahoe installer in less then 2secs now.

Is this the end of OCLP or will you guys stick to your machine as long as possible? What makes you stick with older hardware rather than picking up a used M(x) machine?

In fairness, the M1 MBA will likely be marked obsolete with the next MacOS release.

2010 supped up Mac Pro.

Working and cutting Pro Tools audio tracks for 15 years ( ROCK SOLID).

In the audio world, stability is paramount. The latest and greatest is for chasing.

Along with my dinosaur hardware 2010 Mac Pro. My old Digi 003 BLA Signature Mod interface is still rocking. ☺️

Just got off my audio forum, and a current topic, is the expensive S1 controllers falling apart, and they are not that old.

 

[chevyboy60013]

Had several people tell me I shouldn't be in a hurry to have a patch for my 2018 MacBook Air since Sonoma is very good

 

[idenis42]

I work in the 10.6.8 system. The system is very beautiful and the design is excellent. The older the mac os x system, the worse the design. The Tahoe system has the dullest design. The icons are unclear.
I'm still working with the 10.6.8 system on an iMac 12.2 computer. Everything is working perfectly and fast!

 

[TOM1211]

Out of curiosity: A Macbook Neo is around 500$ entry. Performance is the same like a MacBook Air M1 2020. The prices for those should plummet in the aftermarket right now. The new M5 max machines copies a full Tahoe installer in less then 2secs now.

Is this the end of OCLP or will you guys stick to your machine as long as possible? What makes you stick with older hardware rather than picking up a used M(x) machine?

In fairness, the M1 MBA will likely be marked obsolete with the next MacOS release.

My MacBook is 15 inch , the keyboard Lights up and it’s got a 2tb nvme fitted, a new battery (well about a year ago) . My MacBook isn’t the only old device I own the Neo doesn’t have a usb slot and a sd card reader lol.

 

[MacNB2]

I work in the 10.6.8 system. The system is very beautiful and the design is excellent. The older the mac os x system, the worse the design. The Tahoe system has the dullest design. The icons are unclear.
I'm still working with the 10.6.8 system on an iMac 12.2 computer. Everything is working perfectly and fast!

Yes I still love 10.6.8 but browsing the web is near impossible. even if you try various Firefox ESR's, etc nothing really works well with modern websites.

 

[chevyboy60013]

Yes I still love 10.6.8 but browsing the web is near impossible. even if you try various Firefox ESR's, etc nothing really works well with modern websites.

I thought he was talking about snow leopard, was a great release but pretty useless now for anything besides already installed apps on it or games.