OpenBSD on an Intel Macbook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Mac laptop computers developed and manufactured by Apple. Introduced in 2006, it is the high-end sibling of the MacBook family, sitting above the ultra-portable MacBook Air and previously the low-end MacBook line. It is currently sold with 14-inch and 16-inch screens, all using Apple M-series chips. Before Apple silicon, the MacBook Pro used Intel chips, and was the first laptop made by Apple to do so, replacing the earlier PowerBook. It was also the first Apple laptop to carry the MacBook moniker.
Installation
Intel Macs are generally Okayish to install OpenBSD on. There are some general issues however that you may run into, but there are workarounds for these:
- WiFi cards in most Apple laptops do not play nice with OpenBSD out of the box
- Obviously, no Bluetooth in ANY OpenBSD system since OpenBSD 5.5
- Thunderbolt can be tricky
- Sleep/wake isn't perfect but good 'nuff usually
- For some models ethernet likes to act up
- THE DREADED ACPI TIMEOUT occurs on a few models, which leads to ridiculous (2 hour +) boot times. There is a fix for it as described in the ACPI Patch
Common Hacks and Upgrades
- Storage upgrades
- Replacing the DVD drive with a HDD
- Leave-in SD card storage expansion
Intel Macbook Pro Models
2020 (Ice Lake)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
2020 (Comet Lake)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
2019 (Cascade Lake)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
2018 to 2020 (Coffee Lake)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
2017 to 2019 (Kaby Lake)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Late 2015 to Late 2017 (Skylake)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Early 2015 to 2017 (Broadwell)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Mid 2013 to Mid 2015 (Haswell)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Mid 2012 to Late 2013 (Ivy Bridge)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Early 2011 to Mid 2011 (Sandy Bridge)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Mid 2010 to Mid 2012 (Westmere)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Early 2009 to Late 2009 (Nehalem)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Early 2008 to Late 2010 (Penryn)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Mid 2006 to Late 2007 (Core)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-
Early to Mid 2006 (P6)
- 2006 MacBook Pro (13-inch)
-
- Apple M1 chip: MacBookPro17,1
-
- 2006 Macbook
-
- Apple M1 Max chip: MacBookPro18,4
-