What Supported OS can I put on 2009 Mac Pro ?

What supported operating systems can I put on a 2009 Mac Pro ?

OSX or Others ?

Posted on Nov 11, 2023 10:45 AM

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Posted on Nov 11, 2023 02:46 PM

Apple had many opportunities to block installing MacPro 5,1 MacOS on Mac Pro 2009 hardware with the Mac Pro 5,1 firmware installed. To date, they have not chosen to do.


Going beyond Mojave requires additional hacks. Some features begin to fall away, such as the stock Wi-Fi card, but there are newer Wi-Fi cards that can be installed with additional hacks.


MacOS 10.13 Ventura code introduces machine instructions that are not possible except with semi-emulation, so you really only have one more year before it will go unsupported. But if the machine is not on the Internet directly, its risks are reduced.


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Nov 11, 2023 02:46 PM in response to alex7375

Apple had many opportunities to block installing MacPro 5,1 MacOS on Mac Pro 2009 hardware with the Mac Pro 5,1 firmware installed. To date, they have not chosen to do.


Going beyond Mojave requires additional hacks. Some features begin to fall away, such as the stock Wi-Fi card, but there are newer Wi-Fi cards that can be installed with additional hacks.


MacOS 10.13 Ventura code introduces machine instructions that are not possible except with semi-emulation, so you really only have one more year before it will go unsupported. But if the machine is not on the Internet directly, its risks are reduced.


Nov 11, 2023 01:03 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Okay, but does Apple have a problem with Mac Pro owners updating the firmware to 5,1 and installing Mohave or Monterey ?…..Other than not supported by Apple or Apple care ?……Is it okay to run a version of Apple OSX that still gets security updates even though the Old Mac hardware is no longer supported ?…..I just want to use it as a NAS/File server for my home network. Not going to be using it much for anything else.

Nov 11, 2023 11:09 AM in response to alex7375

Stock standard Mac Pro 4,1 is supported to run up to 10.11 El Capitan.


Users who have hacked** it to install the MacPro 5,1 firmware have turned theirs into a Mac Pro 5,1 for all intents and purposes. Mac Pro 5,1 is supported to run up to MacOS 10.13 High Sierra unmodified, or 10.14 Mojave if a metal-capable graphics are is installed. Some users have used additional hacks to press on a few more versions.


** this is not without some risk, you could turn you Mac Pro 4,1 into a non-functional BRICK.

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What Supported OS can I put on 2009 Mac Pro ?

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