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I usually keep my software up-to-date, but it seems my 2017 iMac Pro is now incompatible with most new updates. As a graphic designer, I don’t use much AI in my workflow, though I do work with 3D and video occasionally. My OS is still on Big Sur, but even updating that feels futile if Adobe’s future updates are increasingly hardware-restricted.
A new Mac Studio setup would set me back nearly £12,000, which is daunting for a freelance designer. After 30 years of Adobe use on Mac, I’m starting to feel the strain of the continuous costs.
Is anyone else feeling similarly boxed in by upgrade demands?
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Unfortunately some of this is on Apple as they switched to their own silicon ARM processors which also changed requirements. So it leaves companies like Adobe scrambling to support new technologies and they have to weigh that against continuing to support older computers. In the Windows world, the computers tend to last a bit longer as the structure has always been different and more open than the Mac side.
I'm not sure though as to why you would need a new Mac studio to replace a 2017 iMac Pro. A new maxed out 2024 iMac M4 will only set you back around £2,100 and should suffice and be more than enough of an upgrade from the 2017 iMac.
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yes, it's a common complaint with apple. windows users have far less compatibility problems and os update needs.
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Your 2017 iMac Pro is compatible with the latest macOS Sequoia 15.x.x minus any Apple Intelligence features just released in macOS Sequoia 15.1.
In order for most Adobe applications to be compatible and run optimally, you should update your 2017 iMac Pro to at least macOS Sonoma 14.x.x
Yes eventually your 2017 iMac Pro and all Intel Macs will fall short of Adobe's system requirements, but probably not before Apple drops support for the 2017 iMac Pro.
Sonoma 14
https://support.apple.com/en-us/105113
Sequoia 15
https://support.apple.com/en-us/120282
Updating your Mac
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108382
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102662
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I don't make equipment recommendations other than what's stated in the System Requirements. My use case is probably nothing like yours. That said, you should have the best system you can afford for the types of tasks you do -- be it graphics, 2D, 3D, video, audio, etc...
Making sure your computer meets the minimum CPU & GPU requirements is a good place to start. Most Creative Cloud apps work on these operating systems, no more than 2 versions back:
- https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html
Hope that helps.