CPU Compatibility List For OS X and macOS [Intel/AMD]
Overview
OS X and macOS do not support a major number of CPUs, unlike Windows or Unix.
QUICK INFO:
- OS X & macOS support all CPUs till date, starting from Pentium 4
- CPUs with 32-bit architecture only support OS X 10.4.1 to 10.6.8
- CPUs with 64-bit architecture supports OS X 10.4.1 To macOS 12.0 (Current)
- Intel versions of OS X & macOS requires SSE3
- 64-bit versions of OS X & macOS requires SSSE3
- macOS 10.12 i.e. macOS Sierra and newer requires SSE4
- macOS 10.14 i.e. macOS Mojave and newer requires SSE4.2
- SSE4.1 CPUs also supports macOS 12.0 (Current) with TELEMETRAP
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CPU Limitations
With macOS, there are numerous CPU limitations you need to be aware of before buying a CPU or stepping into an installation as that would be a waste of time and resources, together. This is due to the limited amount of CPU Apple supports, so we're either limited by Apple or the patches community has created. For more info on CPU Limitations, see below.
General Limitations
The general limitations apply to both, Intel and AMD CPUs
- Core/Thread Count
- OS X 10.10 and older supports up to a maximum of 24 threads which means you cannot use a CPU with more than 12 Cores, including Dual CPUs.
- OS X 10.11 and newer supports up to a maximum of 64 threads which means you cannot use a CPU with more than 32 Cores, including Dual CPUs.
- Dual Socket
- Dual Socket users using MacPro6,1, MacPro7,1, or iMacPro1,1 SMBIOS will need to use AppleMCEReporterDisabler in macOS Catalina 10.15 and later.
FOR INTEL CPUs
- CPUs from 2012 are supported by Apple's VT-d function. Any prior CPU will lack VT-d feature even if provided by Intel.
- Dual Socket CPUs are supported with up to a maximum of 64 threads. In addition, for Dual Socket CPU users, you will need to use AppleMCEReporterDisabler in macOS Catalina.
- Pentium, Celeron, and Atom CPUs lack AVX instructions which is required for booting OS X/macOS. To use these CPUs under macOS, you need to use an AVX patch.
- Ivy Bridge and Low-End CPUs running OS X 10.11 require a Fake CPUID and
-xcpm boot flag for booting into macOS.
- macOS 10.12 and newer requires an XCPM patch along with a Fake CPUID for booting into macOS.
- Intel's Rocket Lake and Alder Lake CPUs are not natively supported by any OS X/macOS version and require a CPU spoof to boot, regardless of the bootloader.
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FOR AMD CPUs
- AMD CPUs are finally supported with the help of developers in this community. However, AMD CPUs can be used in a limited way but are seriously discouraged for any production related workload.
- AMD Mobile CPUs (Laptop CPUs) are generally not supported, regardless of GPU, whether integrated or dedicated.
- Kernel DMA Protection
- AMD CPUs do not support AMD-Vi on macOS, which is similar to Intel's VT-d feature, required for Kernel DMA Protection, demanded by several Thunderbolt Devices.
- This includes all AMD CPUs. However, a workaround for this feature is to use macOS Sierra.
- Most of Adobe's suite relies on Intel's Memfast instruction set, resulting in crashes with AMD CPUs
- You can disable functionality like RAW support to avoid crashing: Adobe Fixes
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RECOMMENDATIONS
- From Ivy Bridge (Consumer Series) to Comet Lake for full native support.
- Rocket Lake, Alder Lake and Raptor Lake (spoofed to Comet Lake)
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Intel CPU Compatibility List
Vendor | Code Name | Sierra | High Sierra | Mojave | Catalina | Big Sur | Monterey | Notes |
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Intel | Presler | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Cedar Mill | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Conroe | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Kentsfield | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Wolfdale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.2
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Yorkfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.2
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Lynnfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Bloomfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Clarkdale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Tested |
- CPU Spoof Required iGPU
- Patching Required (From macOS High Sierra)
|
Intel | Gulftown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Require
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Sandy Bridge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Patching Required (From macOS Mojave)
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Intel | Ivy Bridge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Patching Required (For macOS Monterey)
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Intel | Haswell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Crystal Well | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Devil's Canyon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Broadwell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Skylake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Kaby Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Coffee Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS Catalina
|
Intel | Comet Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS Catalina
|
Intel | Rocket Lake | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- iGPU Not Supported
|
Intel | Alder Lake | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- iGPU Not Supported
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Intel HEDT (High End Desktop) |
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Vendor | Code Name | Sierra | High Sierra | Mojave | Catalina | Big Sur | Monterey | Notes |
---|
Intel | Nehalem EP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Westmere-EP/Gulftown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Sandy Bridge-E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Ivy Bridge-E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Haswell-E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Broadwell-E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Skylake-X/W | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Kaby Lake-X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Cascade Lake-X/W | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Vendor | Code Name | Sierra | High Sierra | Mojave | Catalina | Big Sur | Monterey | Notes |
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Intel | Conroe | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Kentsfield | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Woodcrest | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Clovertown | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Tigerton | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Wolfdale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.1(Some), SSE4.2
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Yorkfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.2
- No iGPU
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Intel | Harpertown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.2
- No iGPU
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Intel | Dunnington | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.2
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Lynnfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Bloomfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
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Intel | Gainestown/Nehalem EP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Beckton/Nehalem EX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Clarkdale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Westmere EP/EX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
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Intel | Sandy Bridge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Sandy Bridge-EP/Jaketown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Sandy Bridge-Gladden | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Ivy Bridge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Ivy Bridge-Gladden | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Ivy Bridge-EP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Ivy Bridge-EX/Ivytown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Haswell/EN/EP/EX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Lynx Point | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Wellsburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Broadwell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Broadwell-DE/H/EP/EX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Hewitt lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Skylake-X/SP/DE/DT | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Kaby Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Kaby Lake-DT | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Coffee Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Cooper Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Comet Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Ice Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Rocket Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Tiger Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No iGPU
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Vendor | Code Name | Sierra | High Sierra | Mojave | Catalina | Big Sur | Monterey | Notes |
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Intel | Yonah | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Merom | No | No | No | No | No | No | - |
Intel | Penryn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- No SSE4.2
- No iGPU
|
Intel | Clarksfield | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- iGPU Patching Required (From macOS High Sierra)
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Intel | Arrandale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- iGPU Patching Required (From macOS High Sierra)
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Intel | Sandy Bridge-M | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Patching Required (From macOS Mojave)
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Intel | Ivy Bridge-M | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Patching Required (For macOS Monterey)
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Intel | Haswell/Haswell-MB/LP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Crystal Well | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Broadwell/Broadwell-H/U/Y | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Skylake-/H/U/Y | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Kaby Lake-H/U/Y | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Kaby Lake R | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Intel | Kaby Lake G | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Intel | Amber lake-Y | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS Mojave
|
Intel | Coffee Lake-H/U/H-Refresh | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS High Sierra
|
Intel | Whiskey Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS High Sierra
|
Intel | Comet Lake-H/U | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS Catalina
|
Intel | Cannon lake-U | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS Catalina
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Intel | Ice Lake-U/Y | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- iGPU Supports From macOS Catalina
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Intel | Tiger Lake-H35/UP3/UP4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- CPU Spoof Required
- iGPU Not Supported
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AMD CPU Compatibility List
Vendor | Code Name | Sierra | High Sierra | Mojave | Catalina | Big Sur | Monterey | Notes |
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AMD | Zambezi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
AMD | Vishera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
AMD | Zurich | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
AMD | Valencia | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
AMD | Interlagos | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
AMD | Bristol Ridge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
AMD | Kabini | | | | | | | |
AMD | Beema | | | | | | | |
AMD | Mullins | | | | | | | |
AMD | Temash | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
AMD | Naples | | | | | | | |
AMD | Whitehaven | | | | | | | |
AMD | Summit Ridge | | | | | | | |
AMD | Raven Ridge | | | | | | | iGPU Not Supported |
AMD | Dali | | | | | | | |
AMD | Colfax | | | | | | | |
AMD | Pinnacle Ridge | | | | | | | |
AMD | Picasso | | | | | | | |
AMD | Rome | | | | | | | |
AMD | Matisse | | | | | | | |
AMD | Castle Peak | | | | | | | |
AMD | Renoir | | | | | | | |
AMD | Lucienne | | | | | | | |
AMD | Vermeer | | | | | | | |
AMD | Cezanne | | | | | | | |
AMD | Milan | | | | | | | |