What is the general initial mass a star must possess to avoid a quiet end and potentially become a core-collapse supernova?

Answer

At least $8 M_ ext{ extdollar}$

A star needs an initial mass of at least approximately eight solar masses ($M_ ext{ extdollar}$) to reach the necessary evolutionary stage to undergo a core-collapse supernova (Type II, Ib, or Ic) instead of ending quietly as a white dwarf.

What is the general initial mass a star must possess to avoid a quiet end and potentially become a core-collapse supernova?
astronomystarstellar evolutionsupernovamass