Macs Devices - Recommendations & Minimum Hardware Threshold
- Kathy Downham
- Damien Hallsworth
- James Barrett
Purchasing a CSCS Device
If you would like to purchase a new CSCS laptop/desktop PC to run macOS, our recommended standard specification is:
CSCS Type | Model | Specifications |
|---|---|---|
Standard Laptop | MacBook Air 13-inch | M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD |
Standard Desktop - Light | Mac Mini | M2 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD |
Standard Desktop | iMac | M3 with 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD |
If you prefer to order a different model or specification, it should be for macOS at least:
A minimum of 8GB RAM, but preferred 16GB RAM
A minimum 256GB SSD, but preferred 512GB SSD
Adding a non-CSCS Device to CSCS Support
If you already have a laptop/desktop PC that you have purchased, that you would like to add onto CSCS support, the minimum hardware threshold for any Mac is that it should be capable of running the latest operating system.
That means currently these models listed below:
To obtain your model numbers search your Mac for “System Information”, open it, and check the Hardware section
MODEL: MacBook Pro | Model Part Numbers | Model Identifier |
|---|---|---|
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) | MNWG3xx/A, MNW93xx/A, MNWK3xx/A, MNWD3xx/A, MNWF3xx/A, MNW83xx/A, MNWJ3xx/A, MNWC3xx/A | Mac14,6 or Mac14,10 |
MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) | MPHE3xx/A, MPHF3xx/A, MPHG3xx/A, MPHH3xx/A, MPHJ3xx/A, MPHK3xx/A | Mac14,5 or Mac14,9 |
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) | MNEH3xx/A, MNEJ3xx/A, MNEP3xx/A, MNEQ3xx/A | Mac14,7 |
MacBook Pro (14-inch & 16-inch, 2021) | MKGP3xx/A, MKGQ3xx/A, MKGR3xx/A, MKGT3xx/A or MK183xx/A, MK193xx/A, MK1A3xx/A, MK1E3xx/A, MK1F3xx/A, MK1H3xx/A | MacBookPro18,1 or MacBookPro18,2 or MacBookPro18,3 or MacBookPro18,4 |
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) | MYD83xx/A, MYD92xx/A, MYDA2xx/A, MYDC2xx/A | MacBookPro17,1 |
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020) - Two & Four Thunderbolt 3 ports | MXK32xx/A, MXK52xx/A, MXK62xx/A, MXK72xx/A or MWP42xx/A, MWP52xx/A, MWP62xx/A, MWP72xx/A, MWP82xx/A | MacBookPro16,2 or MacBookPro16,3 |
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) | MVVJ2xx/A, MVVK2xx/A, MVVL2xx/A, MVVM2xx/A | MacBookPro16,1 or MacBookPro16,4 |
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019) - Two & Four Thunderbolt 3 ports | MUHN2xx/A, MUHP2xx/a, MUHQ2xx/A, MUHR2xx/A, MUHR2xx/B or MV962xx/A, MV972xx/A, MV982xx/A, MV992xx/A, MV9A2xx/A | MacBookPro15,2 or MacBookPro15,4 |
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) | MV902xx/A, MV912xx/A, MV922xx/A, MV932xx/A, MV942xx/A, MV952xx/A | MacBookPro15,1 or MacBookPro15,3 |
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) | MR932xx/A, MR942xx/A, MR952xx/A, MR962xx/A, MR972xx/A, MUQH2xx/A | MacBookPro15,1 |
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018) - Four Thunderbolt 3 ports | MR9Q2xx/A, MR9R2xx/A, MR9T2xx/A, MR9U2xx/A, MR9V2xx/A | MacBookPro15,2 |
MODEL: MacBook Air | Model Part Numbers | Model Identifier |
|---|---|---|
MacBook Air (13-inch, M3, 2024) | MRXN3xx/A, MRXQ3xx/A, MRXT3xx/A, MRXV3xx/A, MRXP3xx/A, MRXR3xx/A, MRXU3xx/A, MRXW3xx/A, MXCR3xx/A, MXCT3xx/A, MXCU3xx/A, MXCV3xx/A | Mac15, 12 |
MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) | MQKP3xx/A, MQKQ3xx/A, MQKR3xx/A, MQKT3xx/A, MQKU3xx/A, MQKV3xx/A, MQKW3xx/A, MQKX3xx/A | Mac14,15 |
MacBook Air (M2, 2022) | MLXW3xx/A, MLXX3xx/A, MLXY3xx/A, MLY03xx/A, MLY13xx/A, MLY23xx/A, MLY33xx/A, MLY43xx/A | Mac14,2 |
MacBook Air (M1, 2020) | MGN63xx/A, MGN93xx/A, MGND3xx/A, MGN73xx/A, MGNA3xx/A, MGNE3xx/A | MacBookAir10,1 |
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) | MVH22xx/A, MVH42xx/A, MVH52xx/A, MWTJ2xx/A, MWTK2xx/A, MWTL2xx/A | MacBookAir9,1 |
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019) | MVFH2xx/A, MVFJ2xx/A, MVFK2xx/A, MVFL2xx/A, MVFM2xx/A, MVFN2xx/A, MVH62xx/A, MVH82xx/A | MacBookAir8,2 |
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) | MRE82xx/A, MREA2xx/A, MREE2xx/A, MRE92xx/A, MREC2xx/A, MREF2xx/A, MUQT2xx/A, MUQU2xx/A, MUQV2xx/A | MacBookAir8,1 |
MODEL: iMac | Model Part Numbers | Model Identifier |
|---|---|---|
iMac (24-inch, M3, 2023) | MQRJ3xx/A, MQRK3xx/A, MQRL3xx/A, MQRM3xx/A, MQRN3xx/A, MQRP3xx/A, MQRQ3xx/A, MQRR3xx/A, MQRT3xx/A, MQRU3xx/A, MQRV3xx/A, MQRW3xx/A, MQRX3xx/A, MQRY3xx/A | Mac15,5 or Mac15,4 |
iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) | MGPC3xx/A, MGPD3xx/A, MGPF3xx/A, MGPG3xx/A, MGPH3xx/A, MGPJ3xx/A, MGPK3xx/A, MGPL3xx/A, MGPM3xx/A, MGPN3xx/A, MGPP3xx/A, MGPQ3xx/A, MGPR3xx/A, MGPT3xx/A or MGTF3xx/a, MJV83xx/a, MJV93xx/a, MJVA3xx/a | iMac21,1 or iMac21,2 |
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) | MXWT2xx/A, MXWU2xx/A, MXWV2xx/A | iMac20,1 or iMac20,2 |
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) | MRQYxx/A, MRR0xx/A, MRR1xx/A | iMac19,1 |
iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019) | MRT3xx/A, MRT4xx/A, MHK23xx/A | iMac19,2 |
MODEL: Mac Mini | Model Part Numbers | Model Identifier |
|---|---|---|
Mac mini (M2, 2023) - Two Thunderbolt 4 ports | MMFJ3xx/A, MMFK3xx/AMac14,3 | Mac14,3 |
Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) - Four Thunderbolt 4 ports | MNH73xx/A | Mac14,12 |
Mac mini (M1, 2020) | MGNR3xx/A, MGNT3xx/A | Macmini9,1 |
Mac mini (2018) | MRTR2xx/A, MRTT2xx/A, MXNF2xx/A, MXNG2xx/A | Macmini8,1 |
MODEL: iMac Pro | Mac Model Part Numbers | Model Identifier |
|---|---|---|
iMac Pro (2017) | MQ2Y2xx/A, MHLV3xx/A | iMacPro1,1 |
If the device has been purchased through a University supplier, it should be purchased with a 5 year warranty
CSCS will not upgrade components on any Macs
Age of Devices on CSCS Support
From 01/07/2022, CSCS updated its approach with regards to the age of devices on CSCS support. This was to ensure we are able to provide ongoing protection for your files, data & devices at the appropriate level, which is not possible when running older devices & operating systems.
So, if you have an older device, CSCS will continue to support it. However, we shall be in contact with you to let you know that you should start planning for it's replacement.
CSCS expect to work with our customers over the next few years to gradually remove all these older devices from CSCS support, so that by 2025 we shall no longer support devices older than 5 years old & we expect departments to be able to manage hardware replacements on a 5 year cycle, thereafter.
Please note, however, if an older device has a hardware failure, needs a hardware upgrade or requires a rebuild to fix an issue, CSCS will likely advise you that the device needs to be replaced instead. If that is not possible then the device will likely be removed from CSCS support.
The minimum hardware threshold will be reviewed annually to make sure that we are recommending the right hardware levels for our customers, in-line with the major manufacturers & software providers.