What MacOS should I install on my mid 2014 Macbook pro?

[Eytanbbb]

Hi all, new here

I am running at the moment El Capitan and need to upgrade at least to 10.13 in order to install capture one.
My Macbook Pro is pretty powerful as you can see and I don't wish to buy a new one until ARM comes out.

What version of MacOS would fit me well but will not turn my mac to a slow machine?

Thanks!
Eytan

 

[BrianBaughn]

Without knowing what software you use or what hardware you ever connect to the MBP it's hard to know what to tell you.

Having said that you're probably OK to install Mojave…which runs nicely and is much more backward compatible than Catalina.

 

[pldelisle]

Always the latest release available for your Mac. Catalina 10.15.6 is fine.

My Late-2013 is as fast on Big Sur than when I opened it first on Mountain Lion back in 2013.

 

[dumiku]

Mojave all the way to Catalina will not slow down your mac, I have 2014 Macbook Air and did not notice any major lags on those latest version, I am currently running Big Sur and my mac still run faster
I think you can just wait untill macOS 11 is release or go for macOS 10.15.5, 10.15.6 has some issues I think

 

[BrianBaughn]

Those recommending Catalina are assuming you have no software or hardware that relies on 32-bit code.

 

[pldelisle]

Those recommending Catalina are assuming you have no software or hardware that relies on 32-bit code.

I haven't use any 32 bits software for a while...

 

[Eytanbbb]

Thank you for all the replies - I am not using any 32 bit SW, mostly web-based stuff and Graphic related SW: Capture One, Lightroom, AutoCAD, Sketchup.

So installing Catalina it is I guess - I am now downloading the update and plan on restoring to a clean install after the update using the restore bootup function - any recommendation in regards to the install?

How can I install 10.15.5 and not 6 when updating?

 

[BrianBaughn]

Most of the unsolvable 32-bit issues I've seen are with the drivers for older devices such as cameras.

 

[pldelisle]

How can I install 10.15.5 and not 6 when updating?

I don't think you can even download 10.15.5 now. It will automatically fall on .6.

 

[dumiku]

How can I install 10.15.5 and not 6 when updating?
[/QUOTE]

If you don't mind getting the dmg file from a different source than app store (not really recommanded), There are tech website where you can download it, a lower version in my opinion then dowload the 10.15.5 combo update here Download (apple website) and install.

Or install 10.15.6, backup then erase from recovery and install the 10.15.5 combo update

take a look at this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/downgrade-to-10-15-4.2241950/

 

[MJWMac1988]

Thank you for all the replies - I am not using any 32 bit SW, mostly web-based stuff and Graphic related SW: Capture One, Lightroom, AutoCAD, Sketchup.

So installing Catalina it is I guess - I am now downloading the update and plan on restoring to a clean install after the update using the restore bootup function - any recommendation in regards to the install?

How can I install 10.15.5 and not 6 when updating?

If you have enough free space available on your internal drive (or on an external drive), why don't you temporarily install Catalina on a new, temporary partition of about 50 GBs? Then run a bunch of tests before you fully commit to it. I've been doing this since the mid to late 1990s, and it has always worked great for me. If there are no problems, then erase the temporary partition and install it on the main (only) partition.

P.S. High Sierra very quickly makes my Late 2009 27" iMac run very hot; therefore, I mostly use Sierra (they are both installed on separate partitions on an internal SSD). My Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro also gets warm a lot faster with High Sierra and Mojave than it does with Sierra (I used DosDude's patch to install Mojave).

 

[pldelisle]

P.S. High Sierra very quickly makes my Late 2009 27" iMac run very hot; therefore, I mostly use Sierra (they are both installed on separate partitions on an internal SSD). My Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro also gets warm a lot faster with High Sierra and Mojave than it does with Sierra (I used DosDude's patch to install Mojave).

From high Sierra, most of the desktop is Metal accelerated. That use GPU more and heats more.

 

[Fishrrman]

I would recommend Mojave and NOT Catalina (for backward compatibility).
Mojave has a good rep as a smooth and solid OS.
Catalina, not so much...

 

[pldelisle]

I would recommend Mojave and NOT Catalina (for backward compatibility).
Mojave has a good rep as a smooth and solid OS.
Catalina, not so much...

The reputation of Catalina isn't very good, but it's quite good since 10.15.4.

 

[Eytanbbb]

Solution found - I called Apple support and got a very simple solution - they sent me a link to download Mojave - installed and everything works great!

Thank you everyone for your help! I reapply appreciate it!