2017 iMac stable on Ventura, random crashes on Sonoma/Sequoia via OCLP

Hi all,

I’m experiencing instability on my iMac when running Sonoma or Sequoia via OCLP, while Ventura (officially supported) runs perfectly.

Symptoms on Sonoma/Sequoia:

- Random crashes (sometimes after hours, sometimes shortly after boot)

- Fails to wake from sleep if left on sleep for some time (requires forced reboot)

What I’ve tried:

• Multiple clean reinstalls
• Different external SSDs and USB enclosures (as the internal fusion drive failed)
• NVRAM reset
• Reapplying OCLP root patches

The issue persists across installs and drives. A screenshot with the exact iMac model and macOS versions is attached.

I’m trying to determine:

• If this is a known issue with this iMac model
• Whether it’s likely GPU or power management–related
• If there are specific OCLP settings worth trying
• Or if Ventura is realistically the last stable macOS for this machine

Any input/help from those with similar setups would be appreciated.

Many thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/74swqruvpj8g1.png?width=1076&format=png&auto=webp&s=956e5592cf99ec3b8f2f10e393894e01b1f1cb34