- Macbook Pro Late 2011 Specs
- Macbook Pro Late 2011 High Sierra Download Free
- Macbook Pro Late 2011 High Sierra Download Windows 10
- Macbook Pro Late 2011 High Sierra Download Dmg
- Macbook Pro High Sierra Update
This article outlines your real world options to correct a faulty GPU graphics card on a MacBook Pro 2011. The AMD Graphics card for most MacBook Pro's manufactured in 2011 are known to have issues after 5-7 years of use. First, let’s understand the expected behavior of a failingtofailed MacBook Pro 2011 AMD 6750 or 6770GPU graphics card.
A copy of the macOS High Sierra Installer App. This can be obtained from the Mac App Store using a machine that supports High Sierra, or by using the built-in downloading feature of the tool. In the Menu Bar, simply select 'Tools Download macOS High Sierra.' - A USB drive that's at least 8 GB in size - A copy of the tool - Download here. List of Apple computers compatible with macOS High Sierra. MacBook (Late 2009 or newer) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer) MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer) Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer) iMac (Late 2009 or newer) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer) How to install. Here is a High Sierra download link. MacOS 10.12 Sierra. This is the first macOS version. To disable the AMD GPU on a 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 or 8,3, follow the guide found here. Built-in iSight cameras: Currently, built-in iSight cameras do not work correctly on some machines. It seems to be hit or miss, but when installing, expect your iSight camera to be non-functional. I've been trying to install Windows 10 on an early 2011 Macbook Pro. It's not officially supported, but I read everywhere it can be done. There are some troubles though. I have successfully installed it alongside MacOS High Sierra actually, and everything works fine except for audio.
*Your MacBook Pro begins to run hotter,fans spinningat higher speeds, the CPU begins to spike randomly in any application you have opened according to activity monitor.
*Your first kernelpanic happens. Your MacBook Pro 2011 reboots itself and displays a crash report at the next login. Below is an example repot line:
*You begin using your MacBook Pro 2011 again only to experience another kernel panic and several more thereafter. At this point, you begin to notice distorted video on startup includingparallellines across the screen. In some cases, your MacBook Pro 2011 will no longer boot past the Apple logo.
Maximum Apple supported macOS for your 2011 iMac is High Sierra (10.13.6), but minimum OS to upgrade is 10.8. You will need a 2 step process to get to High Sierra.
You just confirmed your MacBook Pro 2011 is suffering from the widely known GPU issue.Apple acknowledge the issue many years ago and offered free replacement program, however many users believed Apple was just “refreshing the MacBook Pro 2011 logic board, and the issue would resurface again 5-7 years later”. Apple ceased the replacement program beginning in 2017. See Apple’s official statement below.
The following models are no longer eligible for this program: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011).
First – Force Attempt to Disable the Faulty AMD GPU
This method will write a value into NVRAM to not use the faulty AMD GPU and only use , however this method will not power off the GPU. This means, the GPU will still run with your MacBook Pro on and overheat, forcing your computer to shutdown. In addition, this method is known to cause confusion between your MacBook GPU units while working in the OS and will still cause kernel panics.
This method is NOT recommended as a permanent fix for your MacBook Pro 2011.
This method will help you gain access to your MacBook Pro 2011 to pull off files and perform Time Machine Backups before you won’t be able to post boot. In our experience, this method gave us around 3 hours of time to operate normally in our OS before the MacBook stopped booting altogether.
- Reset your MacBook Pro SMC and NVRAM/PRAM.
- Shutdown your MacBook Pro. Boot into Single User Mode by holding down Command + S and power on.
- Once you single mode has loaded, hit enter a few times to get to localhost:/ root# prompt.
- Type the following commands in order below. The first command disables the faulty AMD GPU from loading at start. The second command output boot logs as the MacBook Pro boots up.
Anytime you want to revert the above commands, reset your Mac NVRAM/PRAM outlined above.
As your MacBook Pro reboots, you will see verbose boot logs appearing. You should no longer see distorted video as well. Your MacBook Pro should post a boot and allow you to login.
* At this point Immediately begin to backup your files. *
You can use SMC Fan control to pump up your fan speed to maximum power to help keep the MacBook cool. You’ll notice the GPU Intel HD Graphics 3000 512MB only appear in about this Mac after you made the NVRAM change.
Once you have successfully backed up any files you need, we highly recommend to shutdown your MacBook Pro and no longer use it at this point. The MacBook Pro will eventually stop posting a boot once the GPU chip decides to crap out completely.
Second – Get The Faulty GPU Replaced
If you truly want to save your vintage MacBook Pro 2011 (or in our case the fastest MacBook Pro 17” ever) you need to replace the GPU on your logic board with a 2nd generation AMD chip that was manufactured after 2017. These chips do not go bad. There’s guides online that show you how to do this and you can pick up the newer GPU for around $35. If you don’t want the hassle of disassembling your MacBook Pro, soldering, and crossing your fingers you did it right, we HIGHLY recommend this professional and efficient eBay service offering MacBook Pro 2011 repair which will replace the faulty GPU with a 2nd generation AMD GPU – making your MacBook Pro 2011 last forever!
The eBay listing - here. Most repairs and replacements are under $200 and include shipping!
In summary, these are your BEST options for reviving your MacBook Pro 2011. Other guides online state you can permanently disable power to the faulty GPU, but none we followed worked. Keep in mind that even if you kill the power to the faulty GPU, it also disables your external display port, since the AMD GPU is wired to that. Your video performance for graphics and gaming will also suffer. The INTEL graphic chip is not a performance chip, whatsoever.
The 17” MacBook Pro Late 2011 is one of the fastest MacBook Pro’s Apple released (see the fastest MacBook pro 17” here) and is the last 17” model manufactured. These machine are still highly sought after online. The GPU repair on eBay is well worth the money down the road to preserve this vintage machine.
Which Mac operating system is the best is a topic of numerous debates among Apple fans.
Since the mission of this blog is to refute myths and legends around Macs, it’s time for me to provide my 2 cents about the issue on hand. While everything below is just my opinion, as a long-time Mac user and veteran software engineer, I hope my opinion worth something.
The best Mac OS version is the one that your Mac is eligible to upgrade to. In 2020 it is macOS Big Sur. However, for users that need to run 32-bit apps on Mac, the best macOS is Mojave. Also, older Macs would benefit if upgraded at least to macOS Sierra for which Apple still releases security patches.
How to Tell Which macOS You Are Running
To find out which macOS is currently running on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the menubar
- In the dropdown click on the first item: About This Mac
- The first line in the Overview tab is the name of the current OS.
What Version of OS Can My Mac Run?
Not all Macs can be upgraded to the latest OS version. For instance, old Macs powered by PowerPC CPUs cannot run OS intended for Intel-based computers. Also, some versions have hardware limitations.
For instance, Mojave cannot be installed on MacBook Pro earlier than Mid 2012 model.
Check below to know exactly what version of OS your Mac can run.
Which OS is Best for my Mac
Anytime someone asks me which OS is best for them I always suggested going with the latest. Things have changed recently, however.
Should I Upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur?
While personally I like macOS Big Sur and have it installed on my MacBook Pro, it comes with serious breaking changes.
The first issue is compatibility.
Big Sur is a transition OS which is designed to help Apple to move from Intel processors to their own chips on ARM.
After I installed Big Sur on my MacBook Pro mid 2020 (pre-Silicon), most of my apps, including Microsoft Office, were working as expected.
However, my VMWare Fusion 11 does not start anymore, so I have to purchase a new license if I want to keep using it (or roll back to Catalina). Luckily, I took a full backup before the upgrade.
The second breaking issue is the lack of 32-bit app support.
macOS Catalina and Big Sur can only run 64-bit apps.
If you wondering whether you should upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur, first verify that you don’t have any 32-bit apps. But first, take a back up, so you can go back in case something breaks after the upgrade.
For instance, I had to remove uTorrent after upgrade. And I didn’t know that uTorrent is 32-bit!
How to Know If App is 32-bit or 64-bit
To find out whether the app on your Mac is 32-bit or 64-bit follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the Mac screen
- Click on About This Mac option
- Click on System Report button in Overview tab (first one)
- Scroll down to Software -> Applications
- Find the app and check Kind
Which macOS Should I Use
If you have an older Mac which is not eligible to upgrade with some latest software or hardware, I’d suggest upgrading at least to Sierra (or better High Sierra) for the following reasons:
- Sierra is still supported by Apple, and it gets security updates
- APFS file system is available
- It supports Siri
- Significant security improvements
The most important point when choosing the best OS is the ability to get security updates. While Apple generally does not announce the OS end of life dates, it is possible to know when they stop releasing security updates from this page.

For instance, according to the page, the last security update for OS X Yosemite was released on September 12, 2017. The last update for OS X El Capitan was in July 2018, and Carnegie Mellon University confirmed that El Capitan’s end of life date was August 2018.
Snow Leopard Myth
I know that some users on forums believe that the best OS version for Macs was Snow Leopard. But that is a myth. And I know how such myths get created.
Once I worked in the company, which was selling a 20-year old product. And customers were still using and didn’t want to switch to new versions, because the old one was rock solid.
I then talked to the engineer who worked on the project, and he revealed that the product was a total disaster when it was first deployed. Engineers had to work on-site for almost a year in order to fix all bugs.
After five or so years of polishing the product, it becomes virtually bug-free, and nobody now remembers how bad it was when it was first rolled out. A similar thing happened Snow Leopard, and it was recognized as best mac os version after some time.
How to Update to the Latest Version
There are two ways to update to the latest OS version on Mac:
- From the Software Update section in System Preferences
- Use a download link
Using Software Update
This is by far the best option, but it only available if you have Yosemite, or later OS installed already. If you enabled automatic updates, then Mac will inform you that the next macOS is available.
Just open System Preferences, go to Software Update and click on the Upgrade Now button.
This method is also best if wondering how to check if you have the latest version of OS installed on your Mac. Only the version compatible with your hardware will appear here.
For instance, my the latest version for Mac Mini 2012 is Mojave, I can’t install anything newer than that.
Using download links

For older systems or in case you need to downgrade, you have to download a standalone installer in DMG format. DMG stands for disk image, similar to ISO, just different formats.
After downloading the installer, just double click on it and follow instructions. Again, do not forget to take a backup before the upgrade.
Mac OS Comparisons: Requirements, Features, Compatibility, Download Links
Following is a high-level description of all Mac operating systems as early as Mountain Lion.
You can refer to those descriptions when deciding which operating system is best for your iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, or MacBook.
With each OS description, I included a list of Macs supported. However, you can use Mac OS compatibility checker for more detailed information.
macOS 11 Big Sur
macOS v11 (codename Big Sur) is the latest version of the operating system for Apple computers.
Release date: October 13, 2020
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement 4GB. Big Sur is the first OS to support new Macs using ARM technology (in the future).
Features
- The biggest design refresh since macOS X.
- Support for new ARM processors.
- Safar improved performance and power consumption.
- Time Machine supports backup to APFS volumes.
- One-click translation for 7 languages.
- Redesigned maps
Software Compatibility Issues
Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Big Sur.
How to install
There are two ways to install Big Sur: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Big Sur
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- MacBook Air (2013 and later)
- MacBook Pro (2013 and later)
- Mac mini (2014 and later)
- iMac models (2014 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac Pro (2013 and later)
macOS 10.15 Catalina
Release date: October 7, 2019
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement increased from 2GB to 4GB.
Features
- Introduced Sidecar, which allows for Macs to use an iPad as an external display.
- iTunes was replaced by separate apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV.
- Find My Mac and Find My Friends have merged into one app.
Software Compatibility Issues
macOS Catalina is the first Mac operating system that does not support 32-bit applications. Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Catalina. Portal free download mac.
Macbook Pro Late 2011 Specs
How to install
Macbook Pro Late 2011 High Sierra Download Free
There are two ways to install Catalina: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Catalina
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac models (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
macOS 10.14 Mojave
Release date: September 24, 2018
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 18.5GB free space on disk
Features
- The main feature of Mojave is “Dark Mode”
- FaceTime adds group feature which allows chatting with up to 32 people
- News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home apps were ported from iOS to Mac.

How to install
If your Mac is eligible to update to Mojave, then the easiest way to install it is by enabling automatic updates. Downloading a standalone Mojave installer could be a little tricky.
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List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Mojave
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 and 2010-2012 models with upgraded GPU)
macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Release date: September 25, 2017
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 14.3GB free space on disk
Features
- APFS (Apple File System) becomes the default file system in High Sierra. It’s a significant upgrade from the older HFS+ in terms of speed, size, and security
- iCloud support of Messages which allows sync messages of the account across multiple devices
- Mail app uses 35% less storage space due to optimizations
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS High Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
How to install
Here is a High Sierra download link.
macOS 10.12 Sierra
This is the first macOS version. Previous OS versions for Macs were called OS X (X stands for 10).
Release date: September 20, 2016
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Siri was introduced to Macs
- Optimized storage with iCloud sync
- Auto-lock feature allows unlocking MacBook with paired Apple Watch
- APFS preview available
- Disk Utility can manage RAID sets again
- Significant security improvements
How to install
Here is a Sierra download link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
OS X 10.11 El Capitan
Last OS X version.
Release date: September 30, 2015
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- System Integrity Protection – a security feature that protects even when the root user executes the process
- Performance improvements: open PDF files four times faster, Mail is twice faster, launching apps 40% faster
- Notes app similar to the app in iOS
Macs compatible with OS X El Capitan
same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
Here is El Capitan download link.
OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Release date: October 16, 2014
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Macs compatible with OS X Yosemite
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
Features
- Major user design overhaul
- Introduction of Handoff and Continuity features
- Photos app replaced iPhoto and Aperture
How to install

Here is Yosemite download link.
OS X 10.9 Mavericks
First free Mac OS. Previous OS versions vary from $19.99 to $129.
Release date: October 22, 2013
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Compressed Memory feature automatically compresses inactive apps when approaching maximum memory capacity
- Timer coalescing is a feature that reduces CPU usage by up to 72 percent
- App Nap puts apps that are not currently visible to sleep
Macs compatible with OS X Mavericks
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
OS X Mavericks installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install Mavericks.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Must be purchased. Fixed many bugs introduced in OS X Lion.
Release date: July 25, 2012
System Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- New apps: Notification Center, Notes, Messages, Game Center
- AirPlay mirroring allowed to mirror Mac screen to Apple TV
- Application updates automatically install from the App Store
List of Apple computers compatible with OS X Mountain Lion
Macbook Pro Late 2011 High Sierra Download Windows 10
- iMac (Mid-2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
Macbook Pro Late 2011 High Sierra Download Dmg
How to install
Mountain Lion installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install OS X Mountain Lion.
List of older Mac OS Versions
Following Mac OS versions are still running on older Macs, but Apple does not support them anymore, and there is no point to upgrade (or downgrade) to them:
Macbook Pro High Sierra Update
- OS X 10.7 Lion
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar
- Mac OS X 10.1 Puma
- Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah