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FAQ point about AVX/AVX2 and list of Macs supporting them
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ParaDoX1994 authored Dec 22, 2024
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* [Can I update to macOS betas?](#can-i-update-to-macos-betas)
* [Can I downgrade macOS while keeping data?](#can-i-downgrade-macos-while-keeping-data)
* [Why is my system slow?](#why-is-my-system-slow)
* [Applications crashing with "illegal instruction"](#applications-crashing-with-illegal-instruction)
* [What is Metal and non-Metal?](#what-is-metal-and-non-metal)
* [What are FeatureUnlock and mediaanalysisd?](#what-are-featureunlock-and-mediaanalysisd)
* [Why isn't iPhone Mirroring working?](#why-isn-t-iphone-mirroring-working)
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Patches can also break if automatic updates are enabled and an update modifies the system volume, refer to [System version mismatch error when root patching](https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/TROUBLESHOOTING.html#system-version-mismatch-error-when-root-patching) for more information.

## Applications crashing with "illegal instruction"

If the crash log includes a string saying "illegal instruction", this typically means the application requires AVX or AVX2 CPU instructions.

Many applications are beginning to utilize AVX and AVX2 in newer versions because all supported Macs are expected to have them. This creates an issue for older systems where they cannot be ran on CPUs lacking such instructions. Some older Macs may need older versions of applications and cannot update to newer versions. AVX was introduced in Sandy Bridge CPU generation and AVX2 in Haswell generation.

Earliest Mac models supporting AVX instruction:

- Macmini5,x (2011)
- iMac12,x (2011)
- MacBookPro8,x (2011)
- MacBookAir4,1 (2011)
- MacBook8,x (2015)
- MacPro6,1 (2013)

Earliest Mac models supporting AVX2 instruction:

- Macmini7,x (2014)
- iMac14,x (2013)
- MacBookPro11,x (2013)
- MacBookAir6,1 (2013)
- MacBook8,x (2015)
- MacPro7,1 (2019)


## What is Metal and Non-Metal?

Metal is Apple's proprietary graphics API which fully superseded OpenGL rendering of the operating system starting from macOS Mojave. When the word "Non-Metal" is used, it describes GPUs that are not Metal supported and require using OpenGL instead.
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