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We should have a official list of the early intel Macs.

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TheMasterOfTech

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 21, 2021
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It is true though because I've seen 2012-13 Macs on here, and even I don't even really know what is classified as an "early intel Mac"
so I think there should be a list of them all. here is my concept of one:
MacBook (unibody): 2006-2010
MacBook Air: 2008-2011. the reason I included the 2011 is because it is actually a early intel Mac, and it can run snow leopard.
MacBook Pro: 2006-2011. the 2011 is included because it can natively support 10.6
iMac: 2006-2011. this one is hard to do because they had very mixed processors because of the year they were released, but since the 2011 can still boot 10.6 I included it
Mac Pro: 2006-2012. I know that 2012 isn't early intel, but it uses basically the some components as the 2010 and it can't run Catalina like other 2012s can.

Sorry if post has already been made I just thought this would be a good idea to have a list of all models. if anyone thinks any of this is wrong, tell me why and I will fix it
 
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I would personally draw the line at anything that can boot into OS X Snow Leopard without extra hacks and kexts... So the last supported devices would be:

MacBook: Mid 2006 to Mid 2010
MacBook Air: Early 2008 to Mid 2011?
MacBook Pro: Early 2006 to Late 2011 (L11 is identical to E11)
iMac: Early 2006 to Mid 2011
Mac Mini: 2006 to Mid 2010
Mac Pro: Late 2006 to Mid 2012 (with compatible GPU like the 5770)
 
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TheMasterOfTech said:
It is true though because I've seen 2012-13 Macs on here, and even I don't even really know what is classified as an "early intel Mac"
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Well, the official policy on this is:

forums.macrumors.com

Welcome to the Early Intel Macs forum!

This forum is for discussion of consumer and professional Mac models from the first few years following Apple's transition from PowerPC to Intel processors. Notebook and desktop models with Core 2 Duo, Core Duo, and Core Solo processors are covered in this group, which roughly corresponds to...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

This forum is for discussion of consumer and professional Mac models from the first few years following Apple's transition from PowerPC to Intel processors.

Notebook and desktop models with Core 2 Duo, Core Duo, and Core Solo processors are covered in this group, which roughly corresponds to machines introduced between 2006 and 2011. Mac Pro models from this time period should, however, be discussed in our Mac Pro forum.
Click to expand...

Officially or not, I would also hope that newer Macs running older OS's are included. But maybe I'm the only person doing that?
 
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Oh I didn't see any of that about only the core solo/duo/2 duo being the ones allowed. and I agree with @theMarble with the 2011 MBPs being included too
 
TheMasterOfTech said:
It is true though because I've seen 2012-13 Macs on here, and even I don't even really know what is classified as an "early intel Mac"
so I think there should be a list of them all. here is my concept of one:
MacBook (unibody): 2006-2010
MacBook Air: 2008-2011. the reason I included the 2011 is because it is actually a early intel Mac, and it can run snow leopard.
MacBook Pro: 2006-2011. the 2011 is included because it can natively support 10.6
iMac: 2006-2011. this one is hard to do because they had very mixed processors because of the year they were released, but since the 2011 can still boot 10.6 I included it
Mac Pro: 2006-2012. I know that 2012 isn't early intel, but it uses basically the some components as the 2010 and it can't run Catalina like other 2012s can.

Sorry if post has already been made I just thought this would be a good idea to have a list of all models. if anyone thinks any of this is wrong, tell me why and I will fix it
Click to expand...
I have purposefully avoided doing this for the same reason I always tried to help those with Early Intel Macs in the PowerPC section. Someone, usually from our own community comes in asking for help and…

…there's a defined list of Macs that qualify for help. Sorry, your Mac is not on the list, go somewhere else with your problem. We only help people who have Macs on the approved list or have the correct processor.

Or if we help anyway, then…'Hey you, user! Yeah you, you're encouraging people to post their problems in the wrong forum! Stop it!'

Now, that is what happens after everyone in the community has debated and hashed out just WHAT will be on the official list. Creating that list means you've got members of the community who have their own opinions about what should or should not be on it. Arguments ensue, feelings are hurt, community members leave.

Yeah, it's a simple thing - but straitjackets are designed for one simple purpose too. And that's what a list is. If it's not on the list, no help.
 
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The general rule of thumb, for the moment, is any Mac series capable of running Snow Leopard, even if Snow Leopard is tweaked a bit.

In short, this covers all the classic-enclosure Mac Pros through 2012; all the Xserves; all the Sandy Bridge MacBook Pros/MacBook Airs/Mac minis; iMacs sold through late 2011; and all MacBooks through 2010.

Additionally, there’s been welcomed discussion on here for some of the Ivy Bridge Macs — including ones which have been shown to run a modified version of Snow Leopard. These models include some of the 2012 and 2013 MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, Mac minis, and iMacs. Put another way, the unibody MacBook Pros (all of them), as all unibody era MBPs share many of the same basic components (e.g., displays, batteries, etc.).

Not yet included: Haswell-era Macs and later.
 
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B S Magnet said:
The general rule of thumb, for the moment, is any Mac series capable of running Snow Leopard, even if Snow Leopard is tweaked a bit.

In short, this covers all the classic-enclosure Mac Pros through 2012; all the Xserves; all the Sandy Bridge MacBook Pros/MacBook Airs/Mac minis; iMacs sold through late 2011; and all MacBooks through 2010.

Additionally, there’s been welcomed discussion on here for some of the Ivy Bridge Macs — including ones which have been shown to run a modified version of Snow Leopard. These models include some of the 2012 and 2013 MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, Mac minis, and iMacs. Put another way, the unibody MacBook Pros (all of them), as all unibody era MBPs share many of the same basic components (e.g., displays, batteries, etc.).

Not yet included: Haswell-era Macs and later.
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Rule of thumb. Which gives you some leeway, versus a list.
 
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I don't think that there will be some kind of rule, I mean here are a lot of knowledge and at least for me its a very healthy subforum as well as the powerpc forum, I don't see the same in all subforums. At the end, many machines, OSes or problems share the same workarounds and you people, very kindly offer you knowledge.

Finally with more macs being "obsolete" or left behind what will be the solution for getting help o just talking? Creating another subforum? After early intel but not than newer mac forum.
?
 
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How things evolve with time and how this community moves to approach inclusion of future Intel systems will be worth sticking around for.

If I were to go out on a limb, the next big subforum or additions to this forum might hinge on post-Ivy Bridge Macs whose internals are: a) somewhat replaceable, such as SSDs; and b) those systems lacking the (dreaded) T1 chip (along with cryptographically-paired components). Products released after those milestones tend enter a new realm entirely — one which makes bringing second lives to sold/discarded Macs a great deal more challenging, if not infeasible.
 
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B S Magnet said:
How things evolve with time and how this community moves to approach inclusion of future Intel systems will be worth sticking around for.
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When I'm looking at my Macs, the newest are 2015s. I have a very hard time classifying those as early, nevermind that they'll soon be seven years old.
2012 and 2013/2014 ones are also difficult IMO, especially since mine are MBPs with "Retina" displays but I can see them entering the realm soon.
Anything older than 2012 is definitely early in my book (reasons: no USB 3.0; can't officially run a still-supported version of macOS).
 
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I figure at some point there will be another MacPro, most likely a 2010 model. But if Apple continues its march to locking things down and making things inaccessible I will, as I've mentioned, switch back to PC at some point. Not that Windows or Microsoft are much better, but I know Linux has come a ways. And quite possibly, I won't even have to switch brands.

It's a bridge I see coming in the future, I'm just not there yet. Apple could change, but that's unlikely.
 
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I'd say any Core Mac (CoreSolo, Duo). The ones like my 2011 mini and those 2011 MBP's could certainly fit here, since they're limited to 10.13 also.

To me, the final straw of this forum should be with a maximum Mac OS of 10.13. If it can only run 10.13 or earlier, then it likely belongs here.
 
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MysticCow said:
I'd say any Core Mac (CoreSolo, Duo). The ones like my 2011 mini and those 2011 MBP's could certainly fit here, since they're limited to 10.13 also.

To me, the final straw of this forum should be with a maximum Mac OS of 10.13. If it can only run 10.13 or earlier, then it likely belongs here.
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The early 2008 C2D MacBookPro4,1 is capable of running Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, and possibly even Monterey.

Under your description, this model is excluded.
 
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If we’re sharing where we draw our line in the sand between what qualifies as early Intel and what isn’t, my qualifier has generally been the inclusion of native USB 3. That cuts things off around the 2012 mark.

That said, if someone comes in here looking for help with an Intel Mac that won’t run the latest OS (take the 2013 iMac I have at school in my office), I won’t tell them to buzz off. It’s a moving target, always has been, always will be. As time goes on and the main forums get filled with people that tell people with older machines “LOL Go buy a new one that thing is ancient”, then this becomes their home and place to find help.

I can easily see this evolving into the “Intel Macs” sub forum in a few years, just like the PowerPC forum. Everything from a 6100 to a G5 is equally obsolete in most people’s eyes, and some day in the not too distant future all Intel machines will be in that same bucket.

I just can’t wait for the threads about “How do I get smooth YouTube playback on my 2020 10-core i9 iMac?” Sounds stupid, yes, but imagine someone telling you about that thread about a 4-core G5 back in 2005 :p
 
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MultiFinder17 said:
That said, if someone comes in here looking for help with an Intel Mac that won’t run the latest OS (take the 2013 iMac I have at school in my office), I won’t tell them to buzz off.
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This is one of this subforum’s greatest virtues — we don’t tell anyone to buzz off. :)

MultiFinder17 said:
I just can’t wait for the threads about “How do I get smooth YouTube playback on my 2020 10-core i9 iMac?” […]
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Do you think YT will still be around in, lemmeguess, 2035? :p
 
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eyoungren said:
Exactly why I object to a black and white list.
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I wouldn't want or imagine the list to be black and white. It should be a list of Macs which are definitely considered early Intel, with an implicit or explicit rule that newer machines are also welcome if their owner has been, uh, “directed” here or found their way here. :)
 
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Amethyst1 said:
I wouldn't want or imagine the list to be black and white. It should be a list of Macs which are definitely considered early Intel, with an implicit or explicit rule that newer machines are also welcome if their owner has been, uh, “directed” here or found their way here. :)
Click to expand...
I see this forum as more of a "Most of the rest of the forum doesn't want to talk about anything more than three years old, so if you're getting nowhere with them, come here" kind of place.
 
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