Install newer/latest OS on Mid 2011 Imac

[PeteMacMan]

Hi All,

I've been reading you can easily install a new OS vesion than High Sierra on a MID 2011 Imac. Current spec is
1TB SSD installed, 12GB Ram 2.7Ghz I5 & AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB / Wifi Dongle installed x3 Improved Wifi.

Can anyone answer the following.
Can this be done and how complex is it.
Is my spec ok to do so - if not what needs improving?
Pros and cons of doing so.
Can you easily reverse once done if found to be less than a positive move.

Prefer responses from those that have done so, with honest feedback or those very knowledgeable of this.

 

[gilby101]

Can this be done and how complex is it.

Yes. See this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2346881/page-254?post=32262789#post-32262789 You will be using OCLP https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/
When it works it is easy, when it doesn't work it can be hard to understand how to fix it.

Is my spec ok to do so - if not what needs improving?

The wifi dongle may be unsuitable - use an ethernet connection. Read documentation carefully as to how well your graphics card will run.

Pros and cons of doing so.

Pro: Latest (or more recent software)
Cons: Your old apps may no longer run without update.

Can you easily reverse once done if found to be less than a positive move.

Before starting create a backup of the whole system which you know is capable of a full system restore. Set this aside.
Then going back is creating a bootable installer, booting, erasing internal disk, installing and recovering data, apps and settings from backup.

If any of those steps are too intimidating - don't do it. If you do go ahead it will be a learning experience.

 

[theMarble]

AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB

Just so you know, these GPUs are guaranteed to fail at some point because of a manufacturing issue on AMD's behalf. However, in this iMac the GPU can be upgraded/replaced with a better card that also supports "Metal".

With the release of macOS Mojave (10.14) in 2018, Apple introduced a new graphics kit called Metal. What's important with this is that to run Mojave and newer releases with more than somewhat decent graphics performance, you need a GPU that supports Metal. The 6770M does not.

Thanks to OpenCore, macOS will run with a non-Metal GPU, however performance will sadly never be as good as any Metal-supported chip. If you intend on just browsing the web, watching H.264 videos (at 720p/1080p) and light photo work, a non-Metal GPU will be fine. I personally ran OpenCore on a 2010 MacBook that didn't support Metal, and for very light use it was fine.

However, do take replacing the GPU into consideration for the future. I highly suggest reading the guide to upgrading the GPU on a 2011 iMac.

Apart from the GPU, your iMac's specs will run newer macOS releases with OpenCore perfectly.