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Charlesdu59 Posted messages 5 Status Member -  
_Ritchi_ Posted messages 21130 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -
Hello,

I currently have version 10.5.8 of macOS.
I would like to update the operating system but I'm not sure which OS to turn to. I’ve seen that support for Snow Leopard has ended. I would like to have the most recent OS that runs properly on my MacBook, which has the following general information:

Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2GB DDR2 SDRAM
Startup Disk: Macintosh HD

What do you recommend?
Charles

2 answers

  1.
    dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 370
     
    Hello,

    This information alone is not enough; is it a laptop or a desktop Mac, like an iMac?

    In any case, you will need to go through the Snow Leopard phase, which is mandatory to eventually install the latest OS (10.10) for free.

    10.6 can be purchased from the store:
    https://www.apple.com/fr/shop/refurbished

    It's a first step to take, and I admit I use this OS, which I consider to be the most refined of Apple's OS.

    However, 2 GB of memory is a bit short, but you need to know the exact model of the Mac to determine how much memory it can support and its type.

    To learn everything about the Mac, go to the Apple menu/About this Mac/more info/hardware.

    --
    When it's urgent, it's already too late (Talleyrand)
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    1. Charlesdu59 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       
      Thank you, Dédé, for your help!
      This is a portable MacBook and here are the additional details.
      Hardware Information:

      Model Name: MacBook
      Model Identifier: MacBook4,1
      Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
      Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
      Number of Processors: 1
      Total Number of Cores: 2
      Level 2 Cache: 3 MB
      Memory: 2 GB
      Bus Speed: 800 MHz
      Boot ROM Version: MB41.00C1.B00
      SMC Version (system): 1.31f1

      This is not my computer; I'm updating it for a friend. What I mean is that I would like to avoid having to update it again soon. From what you say, Snow Leopard is the most advanced, but if it becomes obsolete soon, I will have the same problems as now with installing/updating Skype, Deezer, and others. That's why I was thinking of installing the latest macOS that can run on the MacBook.

      Thanks for your advice!
      0
    2. dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 370 > Charlesdu59 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       
      So, this motherboard can't go beyond 10.7.5; it dates back to 2008.
      It can support a maximum of 6 GB of 200-pin PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM memory, which means one 4 GB stick and one 2 GB stick.
      Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) is still available in the store, but, as mentioned above, you need to go through 10.6 first.

      install Mac OS X 10.6

      install Lion Mac OS X 10.7
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    3. Charlesdu59 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       
      Thank you for this response, I will therefore buy Snow Leopard.
      When you say this MB cannot go beyond 10.7.5 because it dates from 2008, do you mean that the type of OS depends on the version of the MacBook and not just on the technical specifications (processor, memory, ...)?
      Do you think it’s worth adding memory to extend its lifespan, will I see a real difference?

      Charles
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    4. dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 370 > Charlesdu59 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       
      If you leave this Mac on 10.6, it can manage with 4 GB of memory, which will allow it to run somewhat demanding apps, but if your friend’s usage is basic, the current 2 GB will be sufficient.
      However, it is certain that with 4 or 6 GB of RAM, it will be faster.
      As for its upgrade beyond 10.7, I'm not knowledgeable enough to provide a technical explanation, but I suppose that the components are not designed to support a higher OS; the architecture of the MacBook is more basic than that of the MacBook Pro, making it a more budget-friendly Apple laptop, let’s say, at a lower price point ;-)
      0
    5. Charlesdu59 Posted messages 5 Status Member
       
      You're welcome!
      0
  2. _Ritchi_ Posted messages 21130 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   6 135
     
    Hello

    "If I switch to a configuration with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, do you think I can install Yosemite? "
    The amount of RAM is a comfort criterion for switching to Yosemite, but it's not what will prevent you from upgrading.

    "When you say this MB can't go beyond 10.7.5 because it dates back to 2008, do you mean that the type of OS depends on the version of the MacBook and not just on the technical specifications (processor, memory, ...)? "
    Up until Lion (10.7), the Kexts (Kernel extensions) of the OS X system were based on a 32-bit architecture but also existed in a 64-bit version for Macs designed with a 64-bit architecture.

    Since Mountain Lion 10.8, Apple has removed the 32-bit Kexts from its new OS X systems and made a whole series of motherboards (and thus Macs) based on a 32-bit architecture incompatible.
    Thus, relying solely on the type of processor to determine whether one can upgrade to a specific system is insufficient.
    For example:
    Your MacBook from 2008 is based on a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This same processor is in my mid-2007 24" iMac. Despite this, my iMac is running Yosemite 10.10.3 today, while your MacBook cannot go beyond Lion 10.7.5.

    So some frustrated developers, due to this situation, tinkered with the Mountain Lion system to reintroduce 32-bit Kexts and thus run their Mac with OS 10.8. While Mountain Lion started to work on their Mac, some applications worked and others did not.
    The best option for you is to buy the OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard DVD which is an excellent version and to put 4GB (2 sticks of 2GB) or even 6GB (1 stick of 4GB and 1 of 2GB) of memory of the type "200-pin PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM" in your MacBook.

    Ritchi
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