• Any problems upgrading now an Intel Mac from Mojave to Big Sur?

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    #2376910

    There is a similar thread about upgrading from Mojave to Catalina, but I think better to start a new thread here, even when the topic is similar except for the version of macOS:

    My question is about moving from Mojave to Big Sur, before “Monterey” comes out in two or three months, because it is going to be the third version out, counting Mojave as the first, and then I think I might be in some trouble if I do not upgrade before that.

    So my question is: has anyone had problems when upgradin to Big Sur from Mojave, in particular a mid-2015 Mac with an Intel I7 CPU of that vintage — probably a Haswell something or other? (Mine is a MacBook Pro laptop, for more detail.) But if someone has had a problem upgrading to Big Sur any Intel Mac still supported by Apple, I would like to know as well.

    Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

    MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
    Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
    macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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    • #2376988

      Hi Oscar, We are running Mojave on a 2014 Mac Mini with only 4 GB ram (The ram is not upgradable).
      We upgraded from Sierra to Mojave and noticed that applications are much slower to open. For example when Firefox is open and in use the activity monitor shows that almost all the ram is in use. So be sure to review the system requirements. The minimum ram requirements for Mojave is supposed to be 2 GB ram, but even with 4 GB we find our system to be sluggish. Even though the minimum ram requirements for Big Sur and Catalina is 4 GB, we are not going to chance upgrading with only 4 GB of ram.

      • #2376996

        Sueska, I think you are right, too bad about the RAM. I have 16 GB in mine and have noticed no slowdown when I upgraded from Sierra to Mojave, as you did, so one difference between our machines that could explain the one in our experiences, right there, is the RAM. My concern about upgrading to a new OS version, Big Sur in this case, is not about that, but about the applications I need, especially for doing my job, that might not run any longer after the upgrade, particularly when the new system is so very different to all that came before it and, therefore, to the one I am upgrading from. So problems with the upgrade could be either a big deal and a big hassle and a big headache for me, or else nothing much at all.

        Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

        MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
        Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
        macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

    • #2377236

      Yes, making sure your applications are supported is a main concern for you. During our research, another consideration for us not to upgrade was that Catalina & Big Sur does not support 32 bit applications. For example we would have had to purchase another firewall license for 64 bit.

    • #2377258

      Sueska, Thanks for pointing that out. Last year I changed everything from 32 bites to 64 en preparation for the change either to Catalina, or to Big Sur, so I think I am OK there. But there can be incompatibilities for other reasons that prevent me from running the same applications, in particular those I really need for my work. For example, I probably will have to change my present antivirus, because others have found problems trying to run it on Catalina and the same thing is supposed to happen with Big Sur.

      Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

      MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
      Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
      macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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