I'm thinking about giving my old 2010 iMac a boost since it's really struggling with Mac OS X. I'm considering adding an SSD and some extra RAM to see if it runs better, but I'm also interested in installing Linux Mint. Could anyone advise if this upgrade is worth it? Is there a specific version of Mint that I should download for this model, or just the standard one? How should I go about this?
5 Answers
Getting a cheap SSD and some DDR3 RAM is a good call. It'll make your iMac feel much snappier. Just keep in mind that upgrading can be tricky, especially since you have to remove the screen to get to the internals. Be careful because there are some hazardous parts in there! Also, if you're into Linux, you might want to check out OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) if you're interested in newer versions of macOS for unsupported machines. Although, many find Linux more enjoyable to use—Mint is a solid choice for ex-Windows users, but consider Gnome for a more familiar Mac-like experience.
Just a heads-up: when you upgrade to an SSD in a 2010 iMac, the HDD temp sensor gets disabled, causing the fans to run at full speed. You can fix it by using software to adjust the fan speeds, cutting the wires on the HDD's power connector, or getting an SSD kit with an external temp sensor (about $40 on iFixit). I've had good luck using the wire-cutting method on similar models.
I recommend going with the latest version of Linux Mint for your iMac. You won't need a special version—just the standard installation will work great!
Upgrading to an SSD will definitely help your iMac run smoother. If you're still using an HDD, swapping that out for an SSD can make a world of difference!
With the SSD and RAM upgrade, you might actually be able to run macOS smoothly too! However, you don’t strictly need an SSD for Mint to run well—but it definitely helps!
So, just to clarify, I need to create a live USB stick with Linux Mint to install it? What's the keyboard shortcut to boot from that USB on a Mac?