Snow Leopard Technical Requirements - Minimum or Performance

I have an older Intel iMac - one of the original models. And I'm still running OS 10.4 because it's the only computer I have and everything I do on it still works. But there's been a lot of changes since my last OS upgrade and I was thinking of making the change.
Besides some of the issues I've seen posted, my main question is:
"Are the technical requirements listed minimum requirements or will any machine meeting those requirements run perfectly fine with the upgrade."
I don't want to get caught upgrading my OS only to find that to run it with any degree of quality performance, I would need a newer system.

Yes, 1 GB is the minimum, just like the specs for Snow Leopard say.
Obviously, Snow Leopard will perform more slowly on your Mac than on a newer & faster one. On any Mac, there will be an improvement in performance if it has more than the minimum required memory, but just how much depends on the number & type of apps running concurrently.
If you are concerned about performance, I suggest that you max out the RAM. At current US prices from a number of reputable only vendors, that will set you back about $60 for a pair of 1 GB modules.

Similar Messages

I never updated to Snow Leopard, Lion requires it.

I never updated to Snow Leopard, Lion requires it so do I have to purchase both SL and Lion?? And how do I get Snow Leopard? Thanks!

You can still buy Snow Leopard online:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA&mco=MTc1ODgwMjE
FWIW, your profile's OS version does not match your computer. iOS can only run on phones, pads and pods, not on Mac computers. My answer assumes you are currently running OS 10.5.X.
You can get help faster around here if you show your exact OS version in your profile so people don't have the ask before responding. Do "About this Mac" from your Apple menu to get your current version.
Thanks!

Dont Judge - I just upgraded to Snow Leopard. My computer is performing so much faster. Is this because of the upgrade? Also, what is the name of the latest software, please.

After a long time, I have just upgraded to Snow Leopard. My computer is seemingly running so much faster, could this be because of the upgrade? The reason it took me so long in the first place is I could not find the location to delete all the used memory. I happened to luck upon a place just the other day that said "all media". From there I was able to go through and get rid of approximately 15GB worth of memory. My computer has been saving multiple copies of all my images. I do not know how to make this stop happening. Has anyone had this experience?

10.6 is faster than 10.5 because of updated video drivers, however the machine will slow down if you upgrade OS X past 10.6.8 as 10.7 and 10.8 are more hardware demanding operating system verisons.
Also 10.7 and 10.8 will not run your PPC based software or older Intel software, requiring all new purchases.
From there I was able to go through and get rid of approximately 15GB worth of memory
What you did was free up 15GB of storage space on your boot drive which if a boot hard drive is getting near full will slow down the comptuers performance. Ideally it's best to stay under 50% filled, but never more than about 80%.
Your "memory" actually refers to the RAM which the processor uses as temporary storage space while it works on things.
Why is my computer slow?
My computer has been saving multiple copies of all my images. I do not know how to make this stop happening. Has anyone had this experience?
Sometimes the duplicates are actually thumbnails, or tiny versions for rapid display in programs like iPhoto with the smaller images to preview before you click the larger version, so they will always be recreated.
Hopefully you didn't delete the original larger files by accident.
The "All Images" is particularly dangerous if not used wisely.
Also it might have been you forget and duplicated the images at one time or another.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

Final Cut Studio 1.0.1 Not meeting Snow Leopard Hardware requirements?

Hi, I just got a brand new 22" iMac, running snow leopard. I have an old copy of FinalCutStudio 1.0.1 and when i try to install, it says *Alert! Your computer does not have the hardware required to run this software* I checked in the read me, and it meets all the requirements. I am running rosetta too - please help??!

Your other post was answered - http://discussions.info.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2377204&tstart=0

Snow Leopard Disk Requirement for BootCamp

Hi,
I'm installing Windows 7 (64-bit) on my Mac, and I was reading over the "Windows 7 FAQ's" on Apple's support site. I was a bit confused when I saw this: +"Windows 7 requires Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard and the Boot Camp 3.1 Update. For complete system requirements information, see this article."+ I got my iMac in September of 2008, and I only received an OSX Leopard 10.5.2 install disk. However, I upgraded my iMac to Snow Leopard, when it came out the next year and I am running 10.6.4 right now. I have the Snow Leopard disk, that I bought from the Apple store for $29. So, is this the disk they talked about on their website, or should I use the 10.5 disk that came with my Mac?
Thank You So Much!!!
iMac Specs:
20" Screen
3 GB RAM
250GB Hardrive
Intel Core 2 Duo
Mac OSX 10.6.4

Hi,
the Snow Leopard DVD you have bought also contains the BootCamp 3.0 drivers needed for installing WIndows 7
After you have installed these drivers you can then download and install the 3.1 driver update for Windows 7 form here http://support.apple.com/downloads/#bootcamp
Make sure to get the correct 64-bit package.
And since it is a .exe file you have to install it while in Windows.
Regards
Stefan

Re-Installing Snow Leopard - Backup required first?

Though I know its always good to backup before a reinstall, my Time Machine is not working (which is why I have come to reinstalling system). I am told that the process of booting from Snow Leopard disk and installing will save off all my data and settings, then they will be there after the install. Is this true? I am currently dragging photos and music onto external drive to be safe, but I thought I'd check out of curiosity.

Is this true?
Yes, unless you use the Disk Utility to erase the drive or a problem occurs during the installation.
(51614)

Snow Leopard and Macbook Pro Battery Performance

I recently installed Snow Leopard on my 2007 Macbook Pro and now, the battery is completely shot.
It tells me that I need to service the battery and if it is not plugged into the mains, it loses power almost immediately.
Is this a common problem or am I a one off?
Really need to get this sorted.

Have you been calibrating your battery per your user manual schedule?
Apple/About This Mac/More Info/Hardware/Power/Battery Information - copy and paste the information here. _*Do not include any serial numbers.*_
my Apple Care has expired it's on my nickel....
Not necessarily. You can always call Apple Customer Relations (800) 767-2775.

Sims 3 performance improve with Snow Leopard?

When playing the Sims 3, to prevent major lagging, I have to have all the graphics set to the lowest possible setting. The graphics are a huge part of the game so this has been rather disappointing.
My specs:
White MacBook
Jan 2008
OS X 10.5.8
2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics card: Intel GMA X3100
I have been told that extra RAM might help a little, but the main problem is the graphics card. I don't want to spend money for more RAM especially if it won't help much. And as much as I would like one, I don't have the money for a new computer with a better graphics card. I have read (and heard from friends) that Snow Leopard significantly increases the speed of the computer. I also read that it is supposed to improve graphics (although I did not fully understand the whole 64 bit thing).
So my question is: will Snow Leopard increase my Sims 3 performance and allow me to use higher graphics settings?

*** Just a Note: I've been playing the original Sims 3 game on my mac since it originally came out. I haven't had problems until this particular expansion pack.

Is Snow Leopard required for Iphoto11, or can i just install with Os X 10.6.8?

This was my question

Well, better yet, you can upgrade all the way to Mountain Lion provided your computer meets the requirements.
Upgrade Paths to Snow Leopard, Lion, and/or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You must purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.
     Snow Leopard General Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
       2. 1GB of memory
       3. 5GB of available disk space
       4. DVD drive for installation
       5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
           fees may apply.
       6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
           terms apply.
Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
     Lion System Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
           or Xeon processor
       2. 2GB of memory
       3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
       4. 7GB of available space
       5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
     OS X Mountain Lion - System Requirements
       Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
         1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 7,1 or later
         2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 5,1 or later
         3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 2,1 or later
         5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         7. Xserve (Early 2009) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
     Are my applications compatible?
         See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps.
     For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion.

Help: Slow Flash performance (Snow Leopard)

Dear Gurus,
Since upgrading to Snow Leopard, my MacBook Pro's performance playing FLASH videos is gone. Jerky, choppy videos are the norm now. Full screen mode is out of the question. YouTube is unwatchable...
I have tried every sugestion I have found on the net but the problem still persists. I did a clean install of the Snow Leopard and the problem is there.
How do I fix this???

Very late to this, but what is the capacity of your hard drive and how much space remains available on it? A too-full hard drive can cause deteriorating performance.
Also, have you maximized the RAM? How much RAM is installed?
Sometimes it can be your internet service provider at fault. What speed is your connection?
See, when somebody says, "I've tried every suggestion," unless you enumerate exactly what you have tried, it's hard for us to tell what you haven't tried (and what may actually help).

How do I upgrade my Mac Mini running Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion? Thanks

I have a Mac Mini running Snow leapard. I believe i can update it to Mountain Lion but have read I have to first update it to Lion. This is where Im struggling. How do I get a copy of Lion as I cant download it as there is not an App Store on Snow Leapard.
Any help would be great!

Upgrading to Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
You can purchase Snow Leopard by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service. The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will receive physical media - DVD - by mail.
Third-party sources for Snow Leopard are:
Snow Leopard from Amazon.com
Snow Leopard from eBay
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download.
Be sure your computer meets the minimum requirements:
Apple - OS X Mountain Lion - Read the technical specifications.
Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
7. Xserve (Early 2009)
Are my applications compatible?
See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps - App compatibility and feature support for OS X & iOS.
Am I eligible for the free upgrade?
See Apple - Free OS X Mountain Lion upgrade Program.
For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Apple - Upgrade your Mac to OS X Mountain Lion.
Model Eligibility for Snow Leopard and Lion.
Snow Leopard General requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
2. 1GB of memory
3. 5GB of available disk space
4. DVD drive for installation
5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
6. Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
Lion System Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
2. 2GB of memory
3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
4. 7GB of available space
5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

HT1338 I have a macbook on OS X 10.5.8 how do i update to get the latest itunes 7 do i need snow leopard and then mountain lion

I have a macbook on OS X 10.5.8 how can i update to get the lates itunes 7 si i can sync my iphone 5

Upgrading to Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
You can purchase Snow Leopard contact Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service. The price is $29.00 plus tax. You will receive physical media - DVD - by mail.
Third-party sources for Snow Leopard are:
Snow Leopard from Amazon.com
Snow Leopard from eBay
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store.
You can purchase Lion contact Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download.
Be sure your computer meets the minimum requirements:
Apple - OS X Mountain Lion - Read the technical specifications.
Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
7. Xserve (Early 2009)
Are my applications compatible?
See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps - App compatibility and feature support for OS X & iOS.
Am I eligible for the free upgrade?
See Apple - Free OS X Mountain Lion upgrade Program.
For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Apple - Upgrade your Mac to OS X Mountain Lion.
Model Eligibility for Snow Leopard and Lion.
Snow Leopard General requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
2. 1GB of memory
3. 5GB of available disk space
4. DVD drive for installation
5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
6. Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
Lion System Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
2. 2GB of memory
3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
4. 7GB of available space
5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Backing Up w/ Time Machine (Leopard to Snow Leopard)

Hi
Srry if this question has been answered somewhere but I couldn't locate any posts. I wish to jump over to snow leopard from leopard on my 08 blackbook. Will all my programs etc be backed up? How do I perform the restore? Thanks for any help!

Do the following:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
If all is well proceed to install Snow Leopard. This will upgrade your Leopard system.
I recommend you be sure you have a current backup of your current system before proceeding with the above. Also, your computer must meet the minimum requirements to install Snow Leopard.
Snow Leopard General requirements
Mac computer with an Intel processor
1GB of memory
5GB of available disk space
DVD drive for installation
Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.

My iMac says I have 10.6.8 operating system now. Problem is I do not know if that is 'Lion' or 'Snow Leopard' ... and I wish to upgrade to 'Mountain Lion'

My iMac says I have 10.6.8 operating system now. Problem is I do not know if that is 'Lion' or 'Snow Leopard' ... and I wish to upgrade to 'Mountain Lion'

That is Snow Leopard.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers. The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will receive physical media - DVD - by mail.
Third-party sources for Snow Leopard are:
Snow Leopard from Amazon.com
Snow Leopard from eBay
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store.
Before upgrading check that you computer meets the minimum requirements:
Snow Leopard General requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
2. 1GB of memory
3. 5GB of available disk space
4. DVD drive for installation
5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may
apply.
6. Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
Upgrading to Lion
First, you need to upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6.8 as stated above.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
Before upgrading check that you computer meets the minimum requirements:
Lion System Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or
Xeon processor
2. 2GB of memory
3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
4. 7GB of available space
5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Upgrading to Mountain Lion
Be sure your computer meets the minimum requirements:
Apple - OS X Mountain Lion - Read the technical specifications.
Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
7. Xserve (Early 2009)
Are my applications compatible?
See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps - App compatibility and feature support for OS X & iOS.
Am I eligible for the free upgrade?
See Apple - Free OS X Mountain Lion upgrade Program.
For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Apple - Upgrade your Mac to OS X Mountain Lion.

I have Mac OS X 10.5.8, can I upgrade to Mountain Lion without first upgrading to Snow Leopard or Lion?

I have Mac OS X 10.5.8, can I upgrade to Moutain Lion without first upgrading to Snow Leopard or Lion first?

No.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
You can purchase Snow Leopard by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service. The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will receive physical media - DVD - by mail.
Third-party sources for Snow Leopard are:
Snow Leopard from Amazon.com
Snow Leopard from eBay
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download.
Be sure your computer meets the minimum requirements:
Apple - OS X Mountain Lion - Read the technical specifications.
Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
7. Xserve (Early 2009)
Are my applications compatible?
See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps - App compatibility and feature support for OS X & iOS.
Am I eligible for the free upgrade?
See Apple - Free OS X Mountain Lion upgrade Program.
For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Apple - Upgrade your Mac to OS X Mountain Lion.
Model Eligibility for Snow Leopard and Lion.
Snow Leopard General requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
2. 1GB of memory
3. 5GB of available disk space
4. DVD drive for installation
5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
6. Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
Lion System Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
2. 2GB of memory
3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
4. 7GB of available space
5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Snow Leopard Technical Requirements - Minimum or Performance

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for