When/How will my Mac die?
Discussion
I was using my 2008 Mac Pro 3.1 until recently. It had already been at the point where it was unable to be updated, and some newer applications refused to work with the older OS. But then it suddenly started getting a garbled screen after a few minutes of operation. It's either memory corruption or the graphics card, but I decided not to throw good money after bad trying to find the cause and spend money on replacement parts.
Apple have just released a new Mac Studio and I'm umming and ahing about buying one. I'm a complete cheapskate when it comes to my computers and only use scrap-bin finds and freebies and never change when I don't absolutely need to. In the interim I've been using my 2012 Thinkpad T420 but I would like something faster to process 45MP raw photos - I have rather a lot and I can't cope with the slowness any more.
But you'll likely find yourself unsupported before the thing breaks. And even then you can extend its life by applying patches that allow you to install OS updates after Apple stops supporting your machine.
Apple have just released a new Mac Studio and I'm umming and ahing about buying one. I'm a complete cheapskate when it comes to my computers and only use scrap-bin finds and freebies and never change when I don't absolutely need to. In the interim I've been using my 2012 Thinkpad T420 but I would like something faster to process 45MP raw photos - I have rather a lot and I can't cope with the slowness any more.
But you'll likely find yourself unsupported before the thing breaks. And even then you can extend its life by applying patches that allow you to install OS updates after Apple stops supporting your machine.
I have three MacBook Pros which can be summarised as follows...
- 2008 17" - Still works perfectly but is very out of date so won't support the latest browser versions so is basically useless for going online.
- 2017 15" - Still works perfectly but I had to stop updating the OS at High Sierra to stop my Adobe Creative Suite from ceasing to work.
- 2023 16" - Totally up-to-date and biblical performance.
- The 2008 needed a new logic board while it was still current but hasn't caused any issues since. Also, the battery is done. It has to be connected to the mains.
- The 2017 suffered the flexgate issue and needed a repair which I got an independent specliast to do as Apple just want to replace the whole screen at huge cost. Also, there's an odd issue with the speakers which I think is software related. When you turn the volume up above a certain level there's a pop and all the bass drops out. If you switch to headphone output in the audio settings and then switch back to speakers they work normally again until you turn the volume up and then pop! Same issue again!
Assuming it's a last of the 'thick' MBPs with the proper keyboard (and a full set of ports) then really quite a long time. The follow-on generation (USB-C only) had a flakey keyboard and soldered memory, but your should be the last of the upgradable ones!
As you say, SSD will eventually fail, as will the battery, but spares, tools and instructions easily available - try ifixit.com as a starter.
Eventually the thermal interface material between the cpu chip and cooler will start to degrade, but clean the old stuff off with some IPA, add some fresh paste and you are good to go Sian.
As you say, SSD will eventually fail, as will the battery, but spares, tools and instructions easily available - try ifixit.com as a starter.
Eventually the thermal interface material between the cpu chip and cooler will start to degrade, but clean the old stuff off with some IPA, add some fresh paste and you are good to go Sian.
nuyorican said:
So what will likely happen with regards to updates?
At the minute I get the occasional 'updates are available, would you like to install?' notification. Will that just stop happening one day? Or will something more dramatic happen?
Monterey support ended in late November, though Apple sometimes release security updates after official support end.At the minute I get the occasional 'updates are available, would you like to install?' notification. Will that just stop happening one day? Or will something more dramatic happen?
I'm running MacOS 15 on lots of 'unsupported' hardware now. Can be sluggish, but basically works. That gives me time to save for replacements!
dundarach said:
My iPad2 from 2011 is still getting strong, used daily.
Really? My iPad from 2012 effectively stopped being usable a few years back once its updates stopped and loads of apps became unusable.My Macbook from 2012 lasted about 8 eight before something when pop on the motherboard, I still managed to sell it (minus the HD) on ebay for a couple of hundred quid.
My Mum is still using a Mac Mini of, i think, 2013 vintage.
it still does what she needs, but we have just hit a bit of a stumbling block. Safari and Chrome are both throwing up errors saying they can't open certain sites (including icloud.com) and the apps need to be upgraded.
When you try to upgrade Chrome, it says it no longer supports whatever version of MacOS the machine is running, and it needs to be updated.
When you try to upgrade the OS, it says it no longer supports a Mac Mini that old.
Currently its not a major issue, but i guess once more websites start using whatever code it is that the old Chrome can't process then it will be FUBAR.
it still does what she needs, but we have just hit a bit of a stumbling block. Safari and Chrome are both throwing up errors saying they can't open certain sites (including icloud.com) and the apps need to be upgraded.
When you try to upgrade Chrome, it says it no longer supports whatever version of MacOS the machine is running, and it needs to be updated.
When you try to upgrade the OS, it says it no longer supports a Mac Mini that old.
Currently its not a major issue, but i guess once more websites start using whatever code it is that the old Chrome can't process then it will be FUBAR.
Sequoia has been out for a good while, and OpenCore has been updated to work stably with it. You have to remember to re-patch when the OS updates though, which it prompts you to do.
I would jump straight up, mostly for the support cycle length. Make sure you have a backup if you intend to upgrade on top - if the process fails it may leave it unbootable (though you will have a bootable USB stick to try again with).
I would jump straight up, mostly for the support cycle length. Make sure you have a backup if you intend to upgrade on top - if the process fails it may leave it unbootable (though you will have a bootable USB stick to try again with).
With my Mac Pro having multiple disks/SSDs, I alternate between the latest-but-one and latest MacOS full releases installed onto two disks (you can choose which disk to boot from), which gives me a fall-back. Sometimes a new release takes a while before it’s fully working and stable on OCLP
That’s not going to be an option with the MacBooks, so you may want to stay a MacOS release back from the cutting edge, or check what people are saying is working in forums
That’s not going to be an option with the MacBooks, so you may want to stay a MacOS release back from the cutting edge, or check what people are saying is working in forums
nuyorican said:
AB said:
I’m going to go against the consensus in this thread and say get a new one before it becomes a pain.
Not much more than a tenner a month if it lasts you another 10 years!
This is true. Or even a 'new to me' one. After all, I didn't buy mine new. Can't remember how much it was ten years ago. About £600 from memory. Bargain.Not much more than a tenner a month if it lasts you another 10 years!
I use similar all day every day, it’s brilliant.
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