Make your old Mac last longer for cheap! - SSD Upgrade & OpenCore Legacy Patcher on a 2012 iMac

Community Discord: / discord
OCLP: dortania.github.io/OpenCore-L...
Today, we're installing macOS Monterey on a 2012 iMac, unofficially, via OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP). We're also upgrading the 5,400RPM hard drive to an SSD.
What's the performance like? Should you do it? How to do it?

[@JasonTech77]

I had that exact iMac but with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB external SSD as the main Hard Drive died. Ventura ran very smoothly with native Apple apps. Video editing software was slow but casual use was great. I sold it and my new machine is a 2018 MacBook Pro that is coming in this week. So, if you are installing Ventura, don’t be worried about the slow performance, it’s not noticeable unless you’re editing videos in 1080p.

[@QuinsTechCorner]

Nice!
Yeah that's what struck me, casual performance was really good which I didn't expect.
Enjoy the 2018 MacBook Pro :-)

[@TheOriginalCollectorA1303]

Nice! The SSD is a great addition and it’s good to see it running well on Monterey. This would also make for a great machine to use older versions like Mountain Lion/Mavericks, but it’s still great even for a more modern OS. Great video!

[@QuinsTechCorner]

You’re reading my mind!!
The other partition on the SSD is going to be for 10.9 Mavericks. :-)

[@TheOriginalCollectorA1303]

Oooh nice! Can’t wait! I need to make more partitions or get more drives for different Mac OS installs, why have only 1 when you can have all of them?

[@QuinsTechCorner]

@@TheOriginalCollectorA1303YESSSSSSSS haha. You'd need a large drive, that's for sure!

[@dendad5128]

I run old Macs. A real good idea.

[@QuinsTechCorner]

Glad to hear it!

[@arrongalbraith6583]

Hey great content that more need to know!! I installed an external SSD drive in a case with 3.0 usb cable and that now is my boot drive speeds between 300/400mbs so no need to open glass if on a budget, the internal one I use as an extra data drive and that works great too. On those computers going up to Ventura and beyond is do able because of the metal graphics card in it. :)

[@QuinsTechCorner]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Yep, that GPU really helps. The 640m in this machine is around 70% faster than the HD4000 in my 2012 MacBook Air.

[@kevinpitts9014]

I am fixing to build a Ryzentosh!

[@QuinsTechCorner]

That sounds exciting!
Best of luck.

[@bryan_ferrer]

Did you directly install OCLP without a bootable USB? if yes, is there a correct step-by-step order to do this? Thanks

[@QuinsTechCorner]

Hey :-)
No, I used the OCLP app to copy the installer files to the USB.
It's very easy, and I definitely recommend doing it that way.

[@rafaelrodriguezsierra316]

Where did you buy the adhesive strips?

[@QuinsTechCorner]

I bought them from Macfixit Australia.
You should be able to find them on ebay though!

[@ZETA8384]

rad

[@QuinsTechCorner]

Thanks!
Glad you like it.

[@aarongamingdev]

I've used OCLP on my MBP2012 with big sur, it ran fine but i REALLY cant handle no 32 bit app support

[@QuinsTechCorner]

Yep, that’s a killer if you need 32bit app support!