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The Compendium · Chapter 3 of 20

List of Mac Models

9 min read · 4 sections

Best Options

Runners-up

Desktop Options

  • Maxed out 2014 Mac mini for overall performance, versatility, efficiency, and stability

Highest Priority Test Candidates

MacBook Air

QuadBook Air

MacBook

QuadBook

MacBook Pro

QuadBook Pro

Mac mini

QuadTop Mini

iMac

QuadTop

Mac Pro

QuadTop Pro

Legend

E 2005

X

X

X

PM10,1 P G4

ATI 9200

1.2 / 1.4

10.5.8 | WXP | ? | B/C

X

E

Early that year

M 2005

X

PM8,2 P G5

ATI 9600

17” (1.8) / 20” (2.0)

10.5.8 | WXP | ? | B/C

M

Middle of that year

L 2005

PM10,2 P G4

ATI 9200

1.3 / 1.5

10.5.8 | WXP | ? | B/C

PM12,1 P G5

ATI X600P

17” (1.9) / 20” (2.1)

10.5.8 | WXP | ? | B/C

L

Late that year

E 2006

X

X

1,1 A 15” CD EC

AMD X1600

1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 / 2.1

10.6.8 | WV(32) | ? | B/?

1,1 P

CS (1.5) / CD (1.6)

10.6.8 | WV(32) | ? | B/C?

4,1 P CD

AMD X1600

17” (1.8) / 20” (2.0)

10.6.8 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

X

X

Nothing released

1,2 A 17” CD EC

AMD X1600

2.1

10.6.8 | WV(32) | ? | B/?

Probably not 4-bootable,

but maybe 3-bootable

M 2006

1,1 C2D

1.8 PW / 2.0 PW/B

10.6.8 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

X

X

4,2 P 17” CD

1.8

10.6.8 | WV(32) | ? | B/C?

1,1 X 4-C

2.0 / 2.6 / 3.0

10.5.8 | WXP | ? | B/C

Might be 4-bootable,

but likely limitations,

and needs testing

L 2006

2,1 C2D

1.8 PW / 2.0 PW/B

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

2,2 A 15” C2D EC

AMD X1600

2.1 / 2.3

10.7.5 | WV(32) | ? | B/?

1,1 P CD

1.6 / 1.8

10.6.8 | WV(32) | ? | B/C?

5,1 P 17” C2D

AMD X1600

2.0 / 2.1

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

X

Probably 4-bootable

5,1 P 20” C2D

AMD X1600

2.1 / 2.3

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

Tested and proven 4-bootable

2,1 A 17” C2D EC AMD X1600

2.3

10.7.5 | WV(32) | ? | B/?

5,2 P 17” C2D

1.8

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

Aa

The most recommended Macs

6,1 P 24” C2D

Nv 7300GT

2.1 / 2.3

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

#,#

Apple ID

E 2007

X

X

X

X

X

2,1 X 8-C

3.0

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

P

Polycarbonate

M 2007

2,1 C2D

2.0 PW / 2.1 PW/B

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

3,1 A 15” C2D EC

Nv 8600M GT

2.2 / 2.4

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

2,1 P C2D

1.8 / 2.0

10.7.5 | WV(32) | ? | B/C?

7,1 A 20” C2D

AMD 2400XT

2.0 / 2.4

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

X

W

White

3,1 A 17” EC

Nv 8600M GT

2.4

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

7,1 A 24” C2D AMD 2600P

2.4 / 2.8

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

B

Black

L 2007

3,1 C2D

2.0 PW / 2.2 PW/B

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

3,1 A 15” C2D EC

Nv 8600M GT

2.6

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

X

X

A

Aluminum

3,1 A 17” EC

Nv 8600M GT

2.6

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

U

Unibody

E 2008

1,1 A 13” C2D

1.6 / 1.8

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

4,1 C2D

2.1 PW / 2.4 PW/B

10.7.5 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

4,1 A 15” C2D EC

Nv 8600M GT

2.4 / 2.5 / 2.6

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

X

8,1 A C2

 AMD 2400XT/2600P

20” (2.4) / 20” (2.6)

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

3,1 X

4-C (2.8) / 8-C (2.8 / 3.0 / 3.2)

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

##”

Screen Size

4,1 A 17” C2D EC

Nv 8600M GT

2.5 / 2.6

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

8,1 C2D

AMD 2600P / Nv 8800GS

24” (2.8) / 24” (3.0)

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

X

CS

Core Solo

M 2008

X

X

X

X

CD

Core Duo

L 2008

2,1 A 13” C2D

Nv 9400M

1.6 / 1.8

10.11.6 | W7(32)  | ? | B/C

5,1 AU C2D

Nv 9400M

2.0 / 2.4

10.11.6 | W7(32)  | ? | B/C

5,1 AU 15” C2D EC

Nv 94/9600M GT

2.4 / 2.5 / 2.8

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

C2D

Core 2 Duo

E 2009

X

5,2 PW C2D

Nv 9400M

2.0

10.11.6 | W7(32)  | ? | B/C

5,2 AU 17” C2D EC

Nv 94/9600M GT

2.6 / 2.9

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

3,1 P C2D

2.0 / 2.2

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C?

9,1 A C2D

Nv 9400M

2.6

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

4,1 X

4-C (2.6 / 2.9)

8-C (2.2 / 2.6 / 2.9)

10.11.6 | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

CM

Core Mobile processors

5,1 AU 15” C2D EC

Nv 94/9600M GT

2.6 / 2.9

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

9,1 A 24” C2D

Nv GT120/130

2.6 / 2.9 / 3.0

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

i#

Modern Intel Core processors

M 2009

2,1 A 13” C2D

Nv 9400M

1.8 / 2.1

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

5,2 PW C2D

Nv 9400M

2.1

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

5,2 AU 17” C2D EC

Nv 94/9600M GT

2.8 / 3.0

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

X

9,1 A 20” C2D

Nv 9400M

2.0 / 2.2

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

X

X

Xeon

5,3 AU 15” C2D SD

Nv 94/9600M GT

2.6 / 2.8 / 3.0

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

#-C

Number of cores in Xeon processor

5,4 AU 15” C2D SD

Nv 9400M

2.5

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

#.#

Processor speed (hyperlinked)

5,5 AU 13” C2D SD

Nv 9400M

2.2 / 2.5

10.11.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C

EC

Express Card

L 2009

X

6,1: PUW C2D

Nv 9400M

2.2

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C

X

3,1 P C2D

Nv 9400M

2.2 / 2.5 / 2.6

10.11.6 | W7(32) | ? | B/C

10.1 A 21.5” C2D SD

Nv 9400M

3.0 / 3.3

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C

SD

Secure Digital Card

10,1 A 27” C2D SD

AMD HD4670

3.0 / 3.3

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C

SDXC

Secure Digital Extended Capacity

11,1 A 27” SD

AMD HD4850

i5 / i7

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C

4,1 X 4-C

3.3

10.11.6 | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

R

Retina Display

E 2010

X

X

6,1 AU 17” EC

Nv 330M

i5 / i7 (2.6)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

X

X

X

TB

Touchbar

6,2 AU 15” SD

Nv 330M

i5 (2.4) / i5 (2.5) / i7 (?.?)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

T1

T1 Chip

7,1 AU 13” C2D SD

Nv 320M

2.4 / 2.6

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C?

T2

T2 Chip

M 2010

7,1 PUW C2D

Nv 320M

2.4

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | G

X

4,1 P C2D SD

Nv 320M

2.4 / 2.6

10.13.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C?

11,2 A 21.5” SDXC

AMD HD4670/5670

i3 (3.0) / i3 (3.2) / i5

10.13.6 | W7(64) | ? | G

5,1 X

4-C (2.8 / 3.2)

6-C (3.3)

8-C (2.4)

12-C (2.6)

12-C (2.9)

10.14.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

AMD

Dedicated AMD graphics card

11,3 A 27” SDXC

AMD HD5670/5750

i3 / i5 (2.8) / i5 (3.6) / i7

10.13.6 | W7(64) | ? | B/C?

Nv

Dedicated Nvidia graphics card

L 2010

3,1 A 11” C2D

Nv 320M

1.4 / 1.6

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C?

X

6,1 AU 17” EC

Nv 330M

i7 (2.8)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

X

X

X

/

or

3,2 A 13” C2D SD

Nv 320M

1.8 / 2.1

10.13.x | W7(64) | ? | B/C?

6,2 AU 15” SD

Nv 330M

i7 (2.8)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

10.6.x

Snow Leopard

E 2011

X

X

8,1 AU 13” SDXC

i5 / i7

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

X

X

X

10.7.x

Lion

8,2 AU 15” SDXC

AMD 6490M/6750M

i7 (2.0) / i7 (2.2) / i7 (2.3)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

10.8.x

Mountain Lion

8,3 AU 17” EC

AMD 6750M

i7 (2.2) / i7 (2.3)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

10.9.x

Mavericks

M 2011

4,1 A 11”

i5/i7

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

X

5,1 A SDXC

AMD 6630M

i5 (2.3) / i7 (2.7)

10.13.6 | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

12,1 A 21.5” SDXC

AMD HD6750/70M

i5 (2.5) / i5 (2.8) / i7

10.13.6 | W8.1(64) | ? | G

10.10.x

Yosemite

4,2 A 13” SD

i5 / i7

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

12,2 A 27” SDXC

AMD HD67/6970M

i5 (2.7) / i5 (3.1) / i7 (3.4)

10.13.6 | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

10.11.6

El Capitan

L 2011

X

8,1 AU 13” SDXC

i5 / i7

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

X

X

10.12.x

Sierra

8,2 AU 15” SDXC

AMD 6750M/6770M

i7 (2.2) / i7(2.4) / i7(2.5)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

10.13.x

High Sierra

8,3 AU 17” EC

AMD 6750M

i7 (2.4) / i7 (2.5)

10.13.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C?

10.14.x

Mojave

E 2012

X

X

X

X

X

X

10.15.x

Catalina

M 2012

5,1 A 11”

i5 / i7

10.15.x | W10(64) | ? | G?

9,1 AU 15” SDXC

Nv 650M

i7 (2.3) / i7 (2.6) / i7 (2.7)

10.15.x | W10(64) | ? | B/C?

5,1 X

4-C (3.2)

6-C (3.3)

8-C (2.4)

12-C (2.6)

12-C (3.0)

10.14.x | W8.1(64) | ? | B/C

11.x

Big Sur

9,2 AU 13” SDXC

i5 / i7

10.15.x | W10(64) | ? | G

12.x

Monterey

5,2 A 13” SD

i5 / i7

10.15.x | W10(64) | ? | B/C?

10,1 AU 15” R SDXC

Nv 650M

i7 (2.3) / i7 (2.6) / i7 (2.7)

10.15.x | W10(64) | ? | B/C?

13.x

Ventura

10,2 AU 13” R SDXC

i5 / i7

10.15.x | W10(64) | ? | B/C?

14.x

Sonoma

L 2012

X

X

6,1 A SDXC

i5 (2.5)

 i7 (2.3) / i7 (2.6)

10.15.7 | W10(64) | ? | B/C?

13,1 A 21.5” SDXC

Nv 640M/650M

i5 (2.7) / i5 (2.9) / i7 (3.1)

10.15.7 | W10(64) | ? | B/C

X

15.x

TBD

13,2 A 27” SDXC

Nv 660M/675MX

i5 (2.9) / i5 (3.2) / i7 (3.4)

10.15.7 | W10(64) | ? | B/C

16.x

TBD

E 2013

X

X

10,1 AU 15” R SDXC

Nv 650M

i7 (2.4) / i7 (2.7) / i7 (2.8)

10.15.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

X

X

X

WXP

Windows XP

10,2 AU 13” R SDXC

i5 / i7

10.15.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

WV

Windows Vista

M 2013

6,1 A 11”

i5 / i7

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | G?

X

W7

Windows 7

6,2 A 13” SD

i5 / i7

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

W8.1

Windows 8.1

L 2013

X

11,1 AU 13” R SDXC

i5 (2.4) / i5 (2.6) / i7 (2.8)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

14,1 A 21.5” SDXC

i5 (2.7)

10.15.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

6,1 X

AMD D300x2

4-C (3.7)

6-C (3.5)

8-C (3.0)

12-C (2.7)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

W10

Windows 10

11,2 AU 15” R SDXC

i7 (2.0) / i7 (2.3) / i7 (2.6)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | G

14,2 A 27” SDXC

Nv 755M

i5 (3.2) / i5 (3.4) / i7 (3.5)

10.15.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

W11

Windows 11

11,3 AU 15” R SDXC

Nv 750M

i7 (2.3) / i7 (2.6)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

14,3 A 21.5” SDXC

Nv 750M

i5 (2.9) / i7 (3.1)

10.15.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

W12

Windows 12

E 2014

X

X

X

X

X

X

(32)

32-bit version

M 2014

6,1 A 11”

i5 / i7

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | G?

11,1 AU 13” R SDXC

i5 (2.6) / i5 (2.8) / i7 (3.0)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

14,4 A 21.5” 5K SDXC

i5 (1.4)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

(64)

64-bit version

11,2 AU 15” R SDXC

i7 (2.2) / i7 (2.5) / i7 (2.8)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | G

L(A(##)

Ideal Linux version

6,2 A 13” SD

i5 / i7

11.x | W10(64) | 23 | B/C?

11,3 AU 15” R SDXC

Nv 750M

i7 (2.5) / i7 (2.8)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

U(##)

Ubuntu

L 2014

X

X

7,1 A SDXC

i5 (1.4) / i5 (2.6) / i5 (2.8)

 i7 (3.0)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | G

15,1 A 27” 5K SDXC

AMD M290/5X

i5 (3.5) / i7 (4.0)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

A(##)

Arch

E 2015

X

8,1 A CM

1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B?/C?

X

X

X

X

E(##)

EndeavorOS

M 2015

7,1 A 11”

i5 / i7

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

X

12,1 AU 13” R SDXC

i5 (2.7) / i5 (2.9) / i7 (3.1)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

15,1 A 27” 5K SDXC

AMD M290

i5 (3.3)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

G(##)

Gentoo

11,4 AU 15” R SDXC

i7 (2.2) / i7 (2.5) / i7 (2.8)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

Ma(##)

Manjaro

7,2 A 13” SD

i5 / i7

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | G

11,5 AU 15” R SDXC

AMD R9 M370X

i7 (2.5) / i7 (2.8)

11.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

T(##)

Tails

L 2015

X

X

16,1 A 21.5” SDXC

i5 (1.6)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

C(##)

Centos

16,2 A 21.5” SDXC

i5 (2.8) / 4K i5 (3.1) / 4K i7 (3.3)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

F(##)

Fedora

17,1 A 27” 5K SDXC

AMD M380/90

i5 (3.2) / i5 (3.3) / i7 (4.0)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

D(##)

Debian

E 2016

X

9,1 A CM

m3 / m5 / m7

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B?/C?

X

X

X

X

R(##)

Red Hat

M 2016

X

M(##)

Mint

L 2016

13,1 AU 13” R

i5 (2.0) / i7 (2.4)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

K(##)

Kubuntu

13,2 AU 13” R TB T1

i5 (2.9) / i5 (3.1) / i7 (3.3)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B?/C?

B

Brunch will likely work

13,3 AU 15” R TB T1

AMD 450/455/460

i7 (2.6) / i7 (2.7) / i7 (2.9)

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

B

Brunch won’t work on:

1.     Older intel CPUs

2.     dGPUs

E 2017

X

X

X

X

X

X

B?

Brunch might work, but needs testing

M 2017

7,2 A 13” SD

i5 / i7

12.x | W10(64) | U23 | G

10,1 A CM

m3 / i5 / i7

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B?/C?

14,1 AU 13” R

i5 (2.3) / i7 (2.5)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

18,1 A 21.5” SDXC

i5 (2.3)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

C

chromeOS Flex likely works

14,2 AU 13” R TB T1

i5 (3.1) / i5 (3.3) / i7 (3.5)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B?/C?

18,2 A 21.5” 4K SDXC

AMD P555/560

i5 (3.0) / i5 (3.4) / i7 (3.6)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

C

chromeOS Flex isn’t expected to work

on most dGPUS, especially from Nvidia

14,3 AU 15” R TB T1

AMD RP555/560

i7 (2.8) / i7 (2.9) / i7 (3.1)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

18,3 A 27” 5K SDXC

AMD P570/75/80

i5 (3.4) / i5 (3.5) / i5 (3.8) / i7 (4.2)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

C?

chromeOS Flex might work,

but limitations may exist and/or

pointless without SDXC

or ultra-small USB

L 2017

X

X

X

iMacPro 1,1 (‘till 2021)

AB 27” 5K X SDXC T2

AMD V56

8-C / 10-C / 14-C / 18-C

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

G

chromeOS Flex supported,

E 2018

X

X

X

X

X

X

G

chromesOS Flex decertified

M 2018

15,1 AU 15” R TB T2

AMD RP555X

i7 (2.2) / i7 (2.6) / i7 (2.9)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

G?

chromeOS Flex supported,

but pointless without SD slot

or ultra-small USB/USB-C

15,2 AU 13” R TB T2

i5 (2.3) / i7 (2.7)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

L 2018

8,1 A 13” T2

i5

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

15,3 AU 15” R TB t2

AMD Vega

i7 (2.6) / i7 (2.9)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

8,1 A T2

i3 (3.6) / i5 (3.0) / i7 (3.2)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

E 2019

X

X

X

X

19,1 A 27” 5K SDXC

AMD P570/75/80X

i5 (3.0) / i5 (3.1) / i5 (3.7) / i9 (3.6)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

X

19,2 A 21.5” 4K SDXC

AMD P555/560X

i3 (3.6) / i5 (3.0) / i7 (3.2)

13.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

M 2019

8,2 A 13” T2

i5

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

15,1 AU 15” R TB T2

AMD RP555X

i7 (2.6) / i9 (2.3) / i7 (2.4)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

X

7,1 X T2

8-C (3.5)

12-C (3.3)

16-C (3.2)

24-C (2.7)

28-C (2.5)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

15,2 AU 13” R TB T2

i5 (2.4) / i7 (2.8)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

15,3 AU 15” R TB

AMD Vega T2

i7 (2.3) / i7 (2.4)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

15,4 AU 13” R TB T2

i5 (1.4) / i7 (1.7)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

L 2019

X

16,1 AU 16” R TB T2

AMD 53/5500M

I7 (2.6) / i9 (2.3) / i9 (2.4)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

X

E 2020

9,1 A 13” T2

i3 / i5 / i7

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

X

X

X

X

X

M 2020

X

16,2 AU 13” R TB T2

i5 (2.0) / i7 (2.3)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

20,1 A 27” 5K SDXC T2

AMD P53/5500XT

i5 (3.1 / 3.3) / i7 (3.8) / i9 (3.6)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

16,3 AU 13” R TB T2

i5 (1.4) / i7 (1.7)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C?

16,4 AU 16” R TB T2

AMD 5600M

I7 (2.6) / i9 (2.3) / i9 (2.4)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

20,2 A 27” 5K SDXC T2

AMD P5700XT

i7 (3.8) / i9 (3.6)

14.x | W10(64) | U23 | B/C

L 2020

10,1 M1

X

9,1 M1

X