Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Relative "safety" and "security" of non-upgradable Mac OS?
- Thread starter tm3
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
No one here suggested running a newer version of macOS in a Virtual Machine. Keep Monterey for the official hardware support, use non critical apps in Monterey, install Sonoma in a VM (best balance between support, and performance for VMWare Fusion 13.5.2 (latest supported on Monterey), and run the critical apps in the VM. You have the supported host install, and macOS VMs are supported by Apple on a Mac. So, you have a supported configuration vs OCLP.
Also, you can enable ParaVirtualization in the VM for improved performance, and metal support in the VM. Adjusting some graphical settings in the guest such as reduce motion, may also increase performance. I have the same iMac, and am considering switching from Sequoia back to Monterey, and setting up a VM for newer stuff that aren't intense graphically, and run fine in a VM. About a running VMs though, one of the lower tier iMacs with a 1TB fusion drive wont work as well due to having a smaller SSD. So, I recommend the 2TB fusion, or 3TB, or dedicated SSD for best performance. Also when I bought my iMac I had VMs in mind, so I upgraded from the stock 8 GB RAM to 32 GB using 2 16 GB Curtial mac RAM upgrade kits from amazon, much cheaper than buying through Apple.
I'm also making this reccomendation because of the nature of how OCLP patches, and on certain macs core graphics functionality can be slightly broken, depending on the tasks. There are certain limitations in VMs as well, but at least if you have Monterey as the host, you can still install Windows 11 in a VM, and use 3D acceleration, and have a current OS, if you'd rahter have a Wimndows VM over a macOS one. Linux fits the bill too.
I've followed the OCLP threads for a while, and I've used it myself for a while as well, and while I have minimal issues with it, the ones highlighted above are factors I've condiered. The other thing is, as agressivly Apple has started pushing upgrades, I don't see Apple any better than Microsoft these days, and the only real options to be sure of a stable system, and you want, or need macOS, is either get a new Mac, or run an older Mac with the last supported OS, and use VMs for newer stuff. That way you'll be sure that Apple won't force an unsupported update and brick your computer. If you don't need macOS use Linux, if it will work in your setup.
Also, you can enable ParaVirtualization in the VM for improved performance, and metal support in the VM. Adjusting some graphical settings in the guest such as reduce motion, may also increase performance. I have the same iMac, and am considering switching from Sequoia back to Monterey, and setting up a VM for newer stuff that aren't intense graphically, and run fine in a VM. About a running VMs though, one of the lower tier iMacs with a 1TB fusion drive wont work as well due to having a smaller SSD. So, I recommend the 2TB fusion, or 3TB, or dedicated SSD for best performance. Also when I bought my iMac I had VMs in mind, so I upgraded from the stock 8 GB RAM to 32 GB using 2 16 GB Curtial mac RAM upgrade kits from amazon, much cheaper than buying through Apple.
I'm also making this reccomendation because of the nature of how OCLP patches, and on certain macs core graphics functionality can be slightly broken, depending on the tasks. There are certain limitations in VMs as well, but at least if you have Monterey as the host, you can still install Windows 11 in a VM, and use 3D acceleration, and have a current OS, if you'd rahter have a Wimndows VM over a macOS one. Linux fits the bill too.
I've followed the OCLP threads for a while, and I've used it myself for a while as well, and while I have minimal issues with it, the ones highlighted above are factors I've condiered. The other thing is, as agressivly Apple has started pushing upgrades, I don't see Apple any better than Microsoft these days, and the only real options to be sure of a stable system, and you want, or need macOS, is either get a new Mac, or run an older Mac with the last supported OS, and use VMs for newer stuff. That way you'll be sure that Apple won't force an unsupported update and brick your computer. If you don't need macOS use Linux, if it will work in your setup.