MP 6,1 Official macOS Support for the 6,1 ends with Monterey

[MisterAndrew]

macOS Ventura doesn't support the Mac Pro 6,1. Time for OpenCore?

macOS Sequoia

macOS Sequoia brings effortless window tiling, web browsing with fewer distractions, new iPhone Mirroring, and support for Apple Intelligence.

www.apple.com

 

[SpotOnT]

Ya noticed that. A bit disappointing….

 

[tsialex]

Apple did a massacre with Ventura, all these below were dropped when compared with Monterey:

• 2013 Mac Pro
• 2014 Mac mini
• 2015 iMac
• 2015-2016 MacBook Pro
• 2015-2017 MacBook Air
• 2016 12" MacBook

 

[liudayu]

Hello OpenCore my old friend...

 

[MisterAndrew]

Mr. Macintosh posted the Ventura beta download link. Let's see if we can get it working on our old Mac Pros.

macOS Ventura Full Installer Database. Download Directly from Apple!

Download macOS Ventura full installer with one click straight from Apple! Every version of Ventura Beta & Final available all in one place!!

mrmacintosh.com

 

[Soba]

I'm a little surprised they dropped the 6,1—but only a little. Apple seems to want to run away from Intel support as quickly as possible.

Assuming they continue on an annual macOS release cadence, security updates will stop for the 6,1 in 2024—less than 5 years after the last 6,1 systems were sold and thus the 6,1 won't even be classified as a "vintage" system at that point. Interesting times.

 

[SpotOnT]

What surprises me more is they dropped support for the iMac Pro.

 

[MisterAndrew]

What surprises me more is they dropped support for the iMac Pro.

iMac Pro is supported.

 

[cloudphrenia]

I want to be upset, but the 6,1 was the least reliable Mac I owned, and I'm glad its being laid to rest.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Well I haven't got it working with OpenCore. When I select the installer the computer just reboots and then goes into Recovery Mode. Maybe OpenCore needs to be updated to support the 6,1 and Ventura. I'm also not sure which settings to select in OpenCore. Under Settings I selected 'Allow native models' and under SMBIOS Settings I selected MacPro7,1 for SMBIOS Spoof Model and checked 'Allow Native Spoofs'. Should I try a different Spoof Model?

 

[startergo]

Well I haven't got it working with OpenCore. When I select the installer the computer just reboots and then goes into Recovery Mode. Maybe OpenCore needs to be updated to support the 6,1 and Ventura. I'm also not sure which settings to select in OpenCore. Under Settings I selected 'Allow native models' and under SMBIOS Settings I selected MacPro7,1 for SMBIOS Spoof Model and checked 'Allow Native Spoofs'. Should I try a different Spoof Model?

OpenCore does not support it yet.

 

[SpotOnT]

iMac Pro is supported.

Ah yes! My bad, I am reading things wrong today

 

[MisterAndrew]

Ah yes! My bad, I am reading things wrong today

It's close to the axing block though! If they keep up with this aggressive planned obsolescence...

 

[Dayo]

I haven't got it working with OpenCore.

Often, when support is dropped, all you need to get it working is to add "-no_compat_check" to your boot-args.
So, try sudo nvram boot-args="-no_compat_check $(nvram boot-args 2>/dev/null | cut -f 2-)" in Terminal and see what gives on reboot into Ventura (without OpenCore).

EDIT: SIP needs to be disabled to set the boot-args. Can be restored afterwards.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Often, when support is dropped, all you need to get it working is to add "-no_compat_check" to your boot-args.
So, try sudo nvram boot-args="-no_compat_check $(nvram boot-args 2>/dev/null | cut -f 2-)" in Terminal and see what gives on reboot into Ventura (without OpenCore).

Does SIP need to be disabled to do that? I tried it and it gave this error.

Error setting variable - 'boot-args': (iokit/common) not permitted.

 

[Dayo]

Does SIP need to be disabled to do that? I tried it and it gave this error.

It does. Should have mentioned that.

 

[MisterAndrew]

It does. Should have mentioned that.

Thanks. I tried it. It shows the Apple logo and progress bar, but it doesn't do anything.

 

[MisterAndrew]

I think Apple made abundantly clear that the future of the Mac is Apple Silicon. They totally ignored the Mac Pro during the keynote today (when they showed "all Macs" it was not there) and prematurely axed macOS support for Macs sold new less than 3 years ago. So I've decided the 6,1 will be my last Intel Mac. It really sucks for the people who spent big bucks on a 7,1. I bet macOS will totally drop Intel support in just a few years.

However, with Apple Silicon following a much faster development pace I think it would be a waste to spend big bucks on a 1st gen M1 Mac also. It would probably be smart to go for a low-end Studio until the high-end M2 chips arrive.

 

[loby]

I think Apple made abundantly clear that the future of the Mac is Apple Silicon. They totally ignored the Mac Pro during the keynote today (when they showed "all Macs" it was not there) and prematurely axed macOS support for Macs sold new less than 3 years ago. So I've decided the 6,1 will be my last Intel Mac. It really sucks for the people who spent big bucks on a 7,1. I bet macOS will totally drop Intel support in just a few years.

However, with Apple Silicon following a much faster development pace I think it would be a waste to spend big bucks on a 1st gen M1 Mac also. It would probably be smart to go for a low-end Studio until the high-end M2 chips arrive.

Mac Pro will probably get its own show this time around, as it was said “..and that is for another day”.

Yes..those who spent “big bucks” on the Intel may be left at the door. Companies have the freedom to “change their minds” or direction if needed. It is what it is.

No surprise for Mac Pro 6,1. Apple would like to put it out in the pasture and call it a day. Nice effort..but time to move on.

 

[prefuse07]

I think Apple made abundantly clear that the future of the Mac is Apple Silicon. They totally ignored the Mac Pro during the keynote today (when they showed "all Macs" it was not there) and prematurely axed macOS support for Macs sold new less than 3 years ago. So I've decided the 6,1 will be my last Intel Mac. It really sucks for the people who spent big bucks on a 7,1. I bet macOS will totally drop Intel support in just a few years.

However, with Apple Silicon following a much faster development pace I think it would be a waste to spend big bucks on a 1st gen M1 Mac also. It would probably be smart to go for a low-end Studio until the high-end M2 chips arrive.

Hope your workflow doesn't need anything that uses x86 arch, because ARM arch is not very well supported (yet), and Rosetta is a joke. Hoping that changes, but I know for sure that with legacy software it for sure wont.

Just something to think about before diving 100% into AS. Again, if your workflow won't be affected, then no issues, but for most of us, that sucks.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Hope your workflow doesn't need anything that uses x86 arch, because ARM arch is not very well supported (yet), and Rosetta is a joke. Hoping that changes, but I know for sure that with legacy software it for sure wont.

Just something to think about before diving 100% into AS. Again, if your workflow won't be affected, then no issues, but for most of us, that sucks.

Okay, that's a good point, but you can use a Windows PC for that, with better hardware at a lower cost. x86 just isn't part of the macOS picture in the near future.

 

[prefuse07]

Okay, that's a good point, but you can use a Windows PC for that, with better hardware at a lower cost. x86 just isn't part of the macOS picture in the near future.

Yeah, not everyone wants to have 2 separate machines, especially when current Mac Pros can run both OS', but enjoy!

 

[MisterAndrew]

Yeah, not everyone wants to have 2 separate machines, especially when current Mac Pros can run both OS', but enjoy!

You can complain to Apple, but I don't think it will change their direction. There are some really great Windows workstations that aren't terribly expensive, such as a Lenovo ThinkStation P620.

 

[prefuse07]

You can complain to Apple, but I don't think it will change their direction. There are some really great Windows workstations that aren't terribly expensive, such as a Lenovo ThinkStation P620.

Still, why would I go from 1 machine that can do it all to 2 separate machines?...

 

[MisterAndrew]

Still, why would I go from 1 machine that can do it all to 2 separate machines?...

Or you could ask, why would I keep one old obsolete system that is not supported when I could have 2 new machines with better hardware that are supported?