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From finding out what hardware and software you own is compatible with OS X Mountain Lion to learning more about new features Apple has added to its latest OS, OWC is the single source solution your need for all your information needs. Check back often as we continue to update this page.

OS X Mountain Lion can run on the following models:
- iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, Early 2009, or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
Here is a list of all Intel Macs and the maximum Mac OS X version they can run.
Hardware
Networking
Tested and Compatible
ASUS
USB-N10 EZ N Network Adapter
Kanex
USB to Ethernet Adapter
✓ yes
NewerTech
MAXPower 802.11g/b Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
MAXPower 802.11n/g/b Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
Sonnet
Presto Gigabit Server PCIe
✓ yes
Gigabit Pro PCIe
✓ yes
Zoom Telephonics
Model 3095 V.92 USB Mini External 56K modem

Storage
Tested and Compatible
APIOTEK
EXTREME Dual eSATAII Express Card Adapte
ATTO
ExpressSAS R680 SAS RAID controller
CalDigit
FASTA-2ex
✓ yes
FASTA-6GU3
✓ yes
SuperSpeed ExpressCard for Laptop
SuperSpeed PCI Express Card
DAT Optic
PCI Express to 2 port eSATA host adapter W/ Port Multiplier Technology (Driver: SiI3132r5_1.7.5.0_Sil_Pkg)
PCI Express to 2 port eSATA host adapter W/ Port Multiplier Technology (Driver: SiI3132_1.2.5.0_Sil_Pkg)
PCIe 8x 4 Channel eSATA host adapter W/ Port Multiplier Technology
✓ yes
Firmtek
Seritek/2SE2-E (Driver: SiI3132_1.2.5.0_Sil_Pkg (Non-RAID))
Seritek/2SE2-E (Driver: SeriTek2SE2_5.4.1)(1)
SeriTek/2SM2-E (Driver: SiI3132_1.2.5.0_Sil_Pkg)
SeriTek/2SM2-E (Driver: SeriTek2SM2_5.4.1)(1)
SeriTek/2ME4E(1)
Seritek/e6G
SeriTek/6G
HighPoint
RocketRAID 2314
RocketRAID 2721
RocketRAID 2722
RocketRAID 2744
RocketRAID Dual eSATA 6GBs for Mac
NewerTech
MAXPower 6G PCIe eSATA RAID Controller
MAXPower eSATA 6G PCIe 2.0
MAXPower RAID mini-SAS 6G 1e1i
MAXPower RAID mini-SAS 6G 2e
OWC
ExpressCard
Slim ExpressCard to eSATA
ExpressCard/34 eSATA SATA 3Gb/s ExpressCard/34
COMBO Dual 1394+USB 2.0 Express Card 34
Mercury Accelsior
Raidon
2 port ExpressCard/34
Sonnet
Allegro FW400 PCIe
Firewire FW800
Tango 800 PCIe
Allegro USB PCIe
Tango 3 Port FireWire & USB 2.0
Tempo SATA E2P
Tempo SATA ExpressCard/34
Tempo SATA E4i
Tempo SATA E4P
Allegro USB 3.0
Tempo SATA Pro 6Gb
Tempo SATA Edge ExpressCard/34
Tempo SATA Pro
Tested and Issues
Areca
ARC-1880LP 8 Port PCIe to 6Gbit/s SAS RAID-Controller
X Incompatible | More Information
ARC-1880X 8 Port PCIe to 6Gbit/s SAS RAID-Controller
X Incompatible | More Information
HighPoint
RocketRAID 2642
X Incompatible
RocketRAID 3522
X Incompatible
RocketRAID 4322
X Incompatible
To Be Tested
ATTO
ExpressPCI UL5D Low-Profile
CalDigit
RAID Card
OWC
Jupiter Card
Sonnet
Allegro USB 3.0 PCIe

Video
Tested and Compatible
NewerTech
USB to DVI / HDMI / VGA HD Video Display Adapter


Accounting
To Be Tested
Intuit
QuickBooks 2012 for Mac
Quicken Essentials for Mac

Audio Software
To Be Tested
BroadJam
MetaJam
Bias
Soundsaver Software

CD, DVD, Blu-Ray
Tested and Compatible
Roxio
Toast 11 Titanium
✓ yes
Toast 11 Titanium w/Blu-ray
✓ yes

AntiVirus Protection
To Be Tested
Intego
VirusBarrier X6

Productivity Software
Tested and Compatible
Adobe
Master Collection CS 6 for Mac
✓ yes
Design & Web Premium CS6 for Mac
✓ yes
Master Collection CS 5.5 for Mac
✓ yes
Design Premium CS5.5 for Mac
✓ yes
Premiere Pro CS5.5 for Mac
✓ yes
Production Premium CS5.5 for Mac
✓ yes
InDesign CS5.5 for Mac
✓ yes
Microsoft
Office 2011 Mac Home/Student Edition
✓ yes
Office 2011 Mac Home/Business Edition
✓ yes
Office 2008 Mac Edition
✓ yes
Tested and Issues
Adobe
Photoshop CS5 for Mac
X Incompatible
Premiere Pro CS5 for Mac
X Incompatible
Master Collection CS5
X Incompatible
To Be Tested
Equinux
VPN Tracker 6.x Personal by Equinux
Softpress
Freeway 5 Pro

Software
To Be Tested
GT SecuriKey
GT SecuriKey Pro for Mac
Leister Productions
Reunion 10 Geneology Software
Parallels
Server for Mac 4.0

Utility
Tested and Compatible
Prosoft Engineering
Drive Genius v3.1.x
✓ yes
Data Rescue 3
✓ yes
Data Backup 3
✓ yes
Alsoft
DiskWarrior 4.4
✓ yes
Intech Software
SpeedTools Utilities Professional
✓ yes
SpeedTools Test Suite Pro
✓ yes
Diglloyd
Tools Utility Suite for Mac OS X
✓ yes
Bombich
Carbon Copy Cloner
✓ yes
SoftRAID LLC
SoftRAID
✓ yes
To Be Tested
SubRosaSoft
FileSalvage v7.0
CopyCatX v5.0
Micromat
TechTool Protogo

Virtualization
Tested and Compatible
Parallels
Parallels Desktop 7
✓ yes
To Be Tested
VMware
VMware Fusion 4

 

64-bit Kernel

Mac OS X Mountain Lion is 64-bit to the Kernel.
Mac OS X Mountain Lion is the first Mac OS X version that exclusively uses a 64-bit kernel. A 64-bit kernel means a more responsive system, faster virtual memory, and support for more optimized software. Both 32-bit and 64-bit applications will still run, but 32-bit KEXTs (kernel extensions) are not supported.

A 64-bit kernel needs 64-bit capable hardware; combine that with other demands of Mountain Lion and some of the early Intel Macs are not supported. Here is a list of all Intel Macs and the maximum Mac OS X version they can run.

Important Applications and Support Information

Front Row: If you love Front Row for viewing video, photos, podcasts, and music, you'll be sorry to hear it was dropped in Mac OS X Lion 10.7 and there is still no replacement from Apple in Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.

Flash from Adobe: This is how a large portion of the webpages and videos are viewed on the internet. Flash takes advantage of hardware acceleration to deliver High Quality video with minimal overhead. While not a part of the install, Flash is still fully supported and can be downloaded from Adobe.

Java's Runtime Environment: Java is no longer a part of the install as of Mac OS X Lion. It is still not included in Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Java (JRE) is a universal programming language that allows software and utilities to be compatible across a wide variety of devices. If an application needs Java to function correctly run, Mac OS X Mountain Lion will present a prompt to download Java via Software Update.

Rosetta: Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 was the last version of Mac OS X that supported Rosetta. This is the program that allows PowerPC software to run in an Intel environment. Example programs that use Rosetta are Quicken 2007 and earlier, as well as older versions of Adobe Photoshop. If you are running Creative Suite 2 or older and upgrade to Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, CS2 will no longer run. If you run older software or suspect a software program you use relies on Rosetta, check with the software manufacturer before upgrading.

Familiar Applications Have Changed: Some of the applications you have grown to love have changed names or locations
- iCal is now Calendar
- Address Book is now Contacts
- Software Update is inside the App Store

(1) GateKeeper may need to be disabled to install the driver. MAKE SURE TO RE-ENABLE AFTER THE DRIVER IS INSTALLED