What have you done with an early Intel recently?

[0423MAC]

I have been playing around with late 2006 C2D macbooks lately and man have we come a long way lol. The biggest limiting factor is the 3GB RAM. The CPU holds up surprisingly well for light tasks.

Can't do much on Lion and windows 10 is already pushing near the ram requirements. Even most modern linux distros are too demanding. antiX linux works fairly well though.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I have been playing around with late 2006 C2D macbooks lately and man have we come a long way lol. The biggest limiting factor is the 3GB RAM. The CPU holds up surprisingly well for light tasks.

Can't do much on Lion and windows 10 is already pushing near the ram requirements. Even most modern linux distros are too demanding. antiX linux works fairly well though.

Although I own earlier machines, for Intel DDs I look at 08 and later mostly because I can squeeze 8gb ram into them. Even with a lowly C2D cpu, 8gb ram alongside a SSD and I can do most mundane stuff (email, vids, word processing, surfing, discord etc.) I need to in reasonable time using either El Capitan+ or Ubuntu 22.04.2 (Granted discord just killed El Cap support).

Where I really feel the pinch on these old C2D machines is in virtual desktop environments. My 08/09 MB and MBPs seriously struggle with this to where I dont bother - pivot to my W10 desktop or cMP for that sort of need. It really is fun to push these old machines though & see what they still do reasonably well.

 

[rampancy]

I have been playing around with late 2006 C2D macbooks lately and man have we come a long way lol. The biggest limiting factor is the 3GB RAM. The CPU holds up surprisingly well for light tasks.

Can't do much on Lion and windows 10 is already pushing near the ram requirements. Even most modern linux distros are too demanding. antiX linux works fairly well though.

With patches like wowfunhappy's HTTPS fix, browsers like Pale Moon, wicnix's own SeaLion and Interweb, or ArcticFox, you can do most general web tasks on Lion with little issue, with some potential issues like Github's implementation of polyfill not working properly. Thanks to Chromium Legacy, apps like Discord and Slack still work too.

You can also do a respectable amount of gaming, through source ports and the legacy version of Wineskin. In general, a C2D MacBook with the RAM maxed out and an SSD running 10.7 or even 10.6 can still work surprisingly well as a daily driver, provided you don't expect too much (like 60 fps 1080p on YouTube). For cloud storage clients, sync.com's legacy client still works, even on 32-bit CD Macs.

For Linux, pretty much any lightwight Linux distro that still supports 32-bit EFI should work - Zorin 15.3 Lite has been my favorite (though security patch support stopped in May of this year), but I've also had good results with Peppermint OS and BunsenLabs Linux as well. Matt Gadient has some other options too.

 

[wicknix]

Just as an FYI, sealion also works properly with github and discord web. It's release is one step ahead of current PM. ;-)

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

You can also do a respectable amount of gaming, through source ports and the legacy version of Wineskin. In general, a C2D MacBook with the RAM maxed out and an SSD running 10.7 or even 10.6 can still work surprisingly well as a daily driver, provided you don't expect too much (like 60 fps 1080p on YouTube). For cloud storage clients, sync.com's legacy client still works, even on 32-bit CD Macs.

My son's mac is a 2006 white 17" imac running Lion. I have Wicknix's Arctic Fox on there which is what he uses to watch his (and his younger brothers) Youtubekids account and Nestopia & SN98x for his fav games. It works well for this and keeps him from getting into my vintage consoles LOL.

 

[0423MAC]

Although I own earlier machines, for Intel DDs I look at 08 and later mostly because I can squeeze 8gb ram into them. Even with a lowly C2D cpu, 8gb ram alongside a SSD and I can do most mundane stuff (email, vids, word processing, surfing, discord etc.) I need to in reasonable time using either El Capitan+ or Ubuntu 22.04.2 (Granted discord just killed El Cap support).

View attachment 2212314

Where I really feel the pinch on these old C2D machines is in virtual desktop environments. My 08/09 MB and MBPs seriously struggle with this to where I dont bother - pivot to my W10 desktop or cMP for that sort of need. It really is fun to push these old machines though & see what they still do reasonably well.

Glad to see these old machines still get use.

I went with the late 2006 model to serve as a baseline of what and what is not possible with these machines in 2023.

Interesting about the 08 models with 8GB of RAM! Does the system actually utilize more than 6GB? I have a few early 2009 5,2 models that would greatly benefit if that’s the case!

 

[0423MAC]

With patches like wowfunhappy's HTTPS fix, browsers like Pale Moon, wicnix's own SeaLion and Interweb, or ArcticFox, you can do most general web tasks on Lion with little issue, with some potential issues like Github's implementation of polyfill not working properly. Thanks to Chromium Legacy, apps like Discord and Slack still work too.

You can also do a respectable amount of gaming, through source ports and the legacy version of Wineskin. In general, a C2D MacBook with the RAM maxed out and an SSD running 10.7 or even 10.6 can still work surprisingly well as a daily driver, provided you don't expect too much (like 60 fps 1080p on YouTube). For cloud storage clients, sync.com's legacy client still works, even on 32-bit CD Macs.

For Linux, pretty much any lightwight Linux distro that still supports 32-bit EFI should work - Zorin 15.3 Lite has been my favorite (though security patch support stopped in May of this year), but I've also had good results with Peppermint OS and BunsenLabs Linux as well. Matt Gadient has some other options too.

Matt Gadient’s tool is what has helped me get to antiX-64 running without issues!

I try to stay away from unsupported macos installations as they tend to cause more issues than it’s worth because not only are you dealing with an OS that has not received a security update in many years, but need patched software to open modern websites. Glad to see that work is being done however, I do miss the macOS look and feel on these old machines. Unfortunately elementaryOS is just a bit too much to run on a system maxed out at 3GB ram.

 

[Amethyst1]

Interesting about the 08 models with 8GB of RAM! Does the system actually utilize more than 6GB?

https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/9102-secret-firmware-lets-late-08-macbooks-use-8gb/

 

[0423MAC]

Wow, what a nice update that slipped under my radar.

Never did own those 2008 models, but was a bit jealous it was the only ‘MacBook’ of that era to have that nice aluminum finish and backlit keyboard on the 2.4 GHz model…

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Glad to see these old machines still get use.

I went with the late 2006 model to serve as a baseline of what and what is not possible with these machines in 2023.

Interesting about the 08 models with 8GB of RAM! Does the system actually utilize more than 6GB? I have a few early 2009 5,2 models that would greatly benefit if that’s the case!

My a1278 2008 aluminum unibody mac officially supports 4gb ram but upgrading to Boot ROM Version MB51.007D.B03 provides 8gb support. Just make sure you are running 10.6 or higher before you update.

 

[0423MAC]

My a1278 2008 aluminum unibody mac officially supports 4gb ram but upgrading to Boot ROM Version MB51.007D.B03 provides 8gb support. Just make sure you are running 10.6 or higher before you update.

That’s awesome, but it appears it’s only for that specific MacBook model that would benefit from that boot rom.

I would have definitely given it a try on one of my early 2009 5,2 models.

Edit:
It looks like 8GB might work on these models, man where have I been? It looks like I have some tinkering to do this weekend!
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2751054

 

[eyoungren]

Today's work, 2009 MacPro, InDesign 2021, Photoshop 2021.

Every variation is an advance. I've got both sides nailed now. The stuff 'inside' the book is still up in the air but better.



Anya Taylor-Joy on the right, actress. I think the green balances the blue nicely.

 

[eyoungren]

I think we're done here…



When I got started on this for the Late 2009 Mini I had a magic symbol in the background between two other characters. I'm kind of going full circle here. However, the symbol I previously used, I just can't get the background out of correctly. It was an old image search and I do not have the original.

So a new search for a transparent symbol got me this one - which I think is way better.

My main issue is stopping myself from dropping in everything but the kitchen sink. Simple is better and I don't want to detract from the two characters on the edges.

Note: the magic symbol means nothing to me, and by magic I'm talking about the kind you use in traditional roleplaying games.

PS. I made some mods…cleaned up the cutout of Anya Taylor-Joy a bit and cut out the top half of the trees in the background. That way, the starmap I put in flows BEHIND the trees and not in front of it. A couple things I was meaning to fix.

 

[chaosbunny]

Ordered a new battery for my white 2010 MacBook. When I got it about a year ago it had 50% of its original capacity and lasted about an hour, which is fine for watching an episode of My Little Pony (or something similar) with my daughter or browsing on the couch - I use it for this almost daily. However yesterday it went from 60% straight to 23% so I thought it's time for a new battery before it starts swelling and damages something.

 

[0423MAC]

That’s awesome, but it appears it’s only for that specific MacBook model that would benefit from that boot rom.

I would have definitely given it a try on one of my early 2009 5,2 models.

Edit:
It looks like 8GB might work on these models, man where have I been? It looks like I have some tinkering to do this weekend!
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2751054

8GB 800 MHz DDR2 CONFIRMED ON ALL 5,2 MODELS I HAD LAYING AROUND!

 

[Alexis Trinquet]

Well, guess what came down my way? A 2011 27in iMac, it isn't mine to keep but rather it's for a client that I'm fixing it up (and hitting brick wall after brick wall in the process).

The symptoms? It doesn't boot at all, and the disk is making worrysome "spining rust thrashing" noises, so now I'm fighting the darn thing trying to clone it on a SSD. Or in theory, that's what I'm trying to acheive.

The reality? It doesn't even want to boot, it loads up to the "loading bar " thingamabob then it just falls flat, belly up and shuts down.

Oh well, time to open that beast (it ain't light either, and I thought my G3 and my 2008 24in were heavy enough to be contenders!) and swap the hard drive for a SSD and call it a da-- Oh, right... Apple made the hard drives on these somewhat proprietary (to keep it short, the thermal sensor which on preceding iMac models would be glued to the drive's shell has been made internal, and it uses two normally unused* pins on the SATA_PWR connector) and I can't just swap the drive with a new one without having the fans go bananas... Unless I buy one of these OWC inline adapter cables. Oh Apple, what a dirty, dirty, dirty little trick. Tsk tsk tsk...

(*: unused? Sort of. It was used in server backplanes to delay the drive startup, so all drives don't start all at once and overload the PSU's 12V rail with the inrush current)

I've ordered the OWC cable, at 40 euros it wasn't cheap, but since it's not my Mac, I'd rather have the tranquility of installing it and not having to rely on an app, besides, it's not my Mac, so... I had no other options 🤣

At least one good thing is that this iMac has a magnetic frame around the front glass, just like my A1225. Although the magnets on this one are much more stronger than they are on the A1225 (and my fingers can attest to that... ouch!)

Forgot to mention a few weeks ago I repaired its 21in cousin (I don't remember if this was a 2011 or a 2012), and that one had a glued-on glass panel... That one was fun, but at least it was a direct swap, just CCC'd the old HDD to the new SSD and off to the races it went! (opening that one up was fun... had to ask my father to open it up as he has more experience when it comes to prying open glued-shut iDevices LOL). Yet this one 27 is really putting up a hell of a fight.


iMacs, as beautiful they are, they can be a pain sometimes.

 

[GMShadow]

Ordered a new battery for my white 2010 MacBook. When I got it about a year ago it had 50% of its original capacity and lasted about an hour, which is fine for watching an episode of My Little Pony (or something similar) with my daughter or browsing on the couch - I use it for this almost daily. However yesterday it went from 60% straight to 23% so I thought it's time for a new battery before it starts swelling and damages something.

I put a new battery in mine years ago, but it only lasted about a year before calling it quits (and then swelled and nearly cracked the trackpad), and at that point I wasn't much interested in buying yet another. Did you grab one on eBay or from someplace like OWC?

 

[ncbill]

I gave up on the "plastic" Mac laptops after dealing with case cracking & hooptie repairs w/ clear packaging tape.

But I have an aluminum C2D for playing PPC games & my daily driver is a 2012, 13" MBP running 10.13.

 

[VivienM]

I bought a 2010 Mac Pro today - does that count?

 

[m1maverick]

I bought a 2010 Mac Pro today - does that count?

Heck ya!

 

[VivienM]

Heck ya!

Now if I could just get High Sierra installed on this thing...

 

[m1maverick]

Now if I could just get High Sierra installed on this thing...

I'm sure you can. Someone here or in the Mac Pro forum has probably already done it.

 

[VivienM]

I'm sure you can. Someone here or in the Mac Pro forum has probably already done it.

Oh, probably It's installing now, actually...

... but I had to install Snow Leopard and upgrade that to El Capitan (my attempts at making a Sierra USB having failed) before I could install the firmware update needed to be able to (clean) install High Sierra from the flash drive I made yesterday.

So it's been a multi-hour project just to get to where I thought I would be 5 hours ago.

 

[GMShadow]

I don’t think Apple ever posted it officially, but IIRC the most you can jump the OS is five versions ahead, so Snow Leopard to El Cap sounds like the most you’d have been able to do anyway.

 

[VivienM]

I don’t think Apple ever posted it officially, but IIRC the most you can jump the OS is five versions ahead, so Snow Leopard to El Cap sounds like the most you’d have been able to do anyway.

I was starting from a wiped SSD; it would have been nice to start and end with High Sierra rather than download 3 additional versions of macOS and actually install two of those...