MP 1,1-5,1 cMP & nMP {MacPro 4,1 & 5,1} Memory Upgrade Compatibility and FAQ

[Kon_Kipa]

I've just received one stick of Samsung M393B4G70BMO-YH9 32GB 4Rx4 PC3L-10600R, it doesn't boot with a single X5650 (High Sierra 10.13.6, firmware 140.0.0.0.0).

First of all the correct part # is M393B4G70BM0-YH9 & these have been tested by myself working on a dual cMP

I have a single 2010 5,1 in my office, i can check/test 1 module (i have the same modules as you) to see if it works & report back to you with regards to issues of non-compatibility using a single processor cMP

 

[h9826790]

I've just received one stick of Samsung M393B4G70BMO-YH9 32GB 4Rx4 PC3L-10600R, it doesn't boot with a single X5650 (High Sierra 10.13.6, firmware 140.0.0.0.0).

"Doesn't boot" means no POST? or can't boot to desktop?

I know few 32GB DIMM can boot on cMP, all 8x32GB (total 256GB) work flawlessly in Windows and Linux, but not even 1x32GB can be used in macOS.

Since that was tested on dual processor cMP. Obviously nothing about single or dual processor.

Anyway, if have't try PRAM reset yet, worth to try. Nothing hurt (unless you are running Maxwell / Pascal GPU).

 

[Le_Cactus]

I reformulate my sentence, it can't boot to login/desktop. Black screen.
Actually, I'm using only the GTX 1070 Katana, I'm gonna test with the Sapphire RX 580 Pulse and a NVRAM reset.

 

[Kon_Kipa]

I reformulate my sentence, it can't boot to login/desktop. Black screen.

so you get the cMP to chime?

what Gfx card are you using?

 

[Le_Cactus]

First of all the correct part # is M393B4G70BM0-YH9 & these have been tested by myself working on a dual cMP

I have a single 2010 5,1 in my office, i can check/test 1 module (i have the same modules as you) to see if it works & report back to you with regards to issues of non-compatibility using a single processor cMP

Thanks Kon_Kipa.

Yes, chime and black screen.

Tested with one of my 3 GPU: a GTX 1070 Katana, and the IOCrest NVME, Samsung 970 Evo.

 

[Kon_Kipa]

Thanks Kon_Kipa.

Yes, chime and black screen.

Tested with one of my 3 GPU: a GTX 1070 Katana, and the IOCrest NVME, Samsung 970 Evo.

does you Gfx card have Mac firmware?

 

[Le_Cactus]

No, just the Nvidia webdriver. I'm going to test with just the RX 580.

 

[Kon_Kipa]

No, just the Nvidia webdriver. I'm going to test with just the RX 580.

i find that when i use a non-mac flashed Gfx card then my boot up times seem to take a little longer
maybe try using another port (HDMI/DVI/DP) on your GTX1070 - i have found that only 1 of the GFx card ports display output upon start up into OS X (not white post screen as this is usually black)
or just use a Mac flashed GFx card

 

[tsialex]

And 2Rx4 is not a mandatory requirement, but best compatibility.

We are talking MP5,1 and some quad rank memory work with them, but for MP3,1 none work.
[doublepost=1552774984][/doublepost]

No, just the Nvidia webdriver. I'm going to test with just the RX 580.

If your Mac Pro works with AMD GPUs and stop working with recent NVIDIA, I had this before and it's easy to solve cleaning the 1st and 2nd streams of the NVRAM.

 

[Kon_Kipa]

We are talking MP5,1 and some quad rank memory work with them, but for MP3,1 none work.
[doublepost=1552774984][/doublepost]
If your Mac Pro works with AMD GPUs and stop working with recent NVIDIA, I had this before and it's easy to solve cleaning the 1st and 2nd streams of the NVRAM.

how do you clean out NVRAM streams?

 

[tsialex]

how do you clean out NVRAM streams?

With BootROM reconstruction, clear NVRAM don't clear the non-public settings.

 

[h9826790]

I reformulate my sentence, it can't boot to login/desktop. Black screen.
Actually, I'm using only the GTX 1070 Katana, I'm gonna test with the Sapphire RX 580 Pulse and a NVRAM reset.

Make a Linux LiveCD, most likely your 32GB DIMM will work.

 

[Kon_Kipa]

Make a Linux LiveCD, most likely your 32GB DIMM will work.

or even Win10 should do the trick

 

[h9826790]

or even Win10 should do the trick

Yes, but since I don't know if he has Windows 10. So I suggest him go for a free of change and no installation / internal storage required option.

 

[Le_Cactus]

It's not a GPU problem, I've tested with the Nvidia GTX 1070 or the Amd radeon RX 580, same result : the display remains black but the power LED on the front of the computer blinks once per second to signal the error.

tsialex, both GPUs work.
No Win 10 installed, yet, Kon_Kipa
Ok, for the LiveCD solution, h9826790.

I'll make more tests tomorrow.
Thanks a lot for your precious help, guys.

 

[Kon_Kipa]

Yes, but since I don't know if he has Windows 10. So I suggest him go for a free of change and no installation / internal storage required option.

roger that

 

[LightBulbFun]

someone with 32GB DIMMs that work in Linux/Windows but not in OS X on a MP5,1 should submit a bug report to apple and see what they say

 

[tommy chen]

AFAIK, so far, all reported "able to work" 32GB DIMM are 4Rx4, no one ever report anything about 2Rx4 32GB DIMM yet.

And 2Rx4 is not a mandatory requirement, but best compatibility.

dit not see any triple channel settings with 4Rx4 that works really in macOS - only single modul

 

[h9826790]

dit not see any triple channel settings with 4Rx4 that works really in macOS - only single modul

Quite sure I saw 4Rx4 DIMM can work in Triple Channel, but may downclock to 1066MHz.

 

[LightBulbFun]

im pretty sure if you play your cards right, 3 4Rx4 DIMMs will work in 1333Mhz mode

but the moment you add the 4th stick, speed drops down to 1066Mhz

since when using 4Rx4 DIMMs the 4th+3rd stick combination is affectively an octal rank configuration there

it does make me wonder if 3/6 64GB octal rank LRDIMMs would work in a cMP

(LGA1366 CPUs, Westmere at least for sure, supports LRDIMMs)

 

[h9826790]

im pretty sure if you play your cards right, 3 4Rx4 DIMMs will work in 1333Mhz mode

but the moment you add the 4th stick, speed drops down to 1066Mhz

since when using 4Rx4 DIMMs the 4th+3rd stick combination is affectively an octal rank configuration there

it does make me wonder if 3/6 64GB octal rank LRDIMMs would work in a cMP

(LGA1366 CPUs, Westmere at least for sure, supports LRDIMMs)

That's what I know as well for 16GB (and below) DIMM.

But not sure if this is also true for 32GB DIMM. However, I am quite sure 4Rx4 32GB DIMM can run in triple channel.

 

[vivavn]

Sorry posted on a wrong thread

 

[Le_Cactus]

Make a Linux LiveCD, most likely your 32GB DIMM will work.

Hi, I've booted from a USB key, with a version of Ubuntu, with a Radeon 4870, it worked with the 32GB stick, but no progression bar when I've tried with Mac OS, the front led doesn't blink.
I've tried an NVRAM reset, no changes, on Mac OS.

 

[h9826790]

Hi, I've booted from a USB key, with a version of Ubuntu, with a Radeon 4870, it worked with the 32GB stick, but no progression bar when I've tried with Mac OS, the front led doesn't blink.
I've tried an NVRAM reset, no changes, on Mac OS.

That's quite expected.

Very possible due to only macOS use some data in NVRAM to initialise the DIMM, which doesn't really match your DIMM's spec. But other OS won't do this, so, can work without issue.

If you want to, and Tsialex has time, you may try to work with him. Of course, we are talking about dump, clean, and flash the firmware. It CAN brick your cMP. If you are not happy for this, and not prepared for this. My suggestion is forget about it.

 

[Le_Cactus]

Thanks for your answer, I think I'll buy a dual 4.1 CPU tray, first a model like this one :
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Mac-Pro-200...201826?hash=item33d7580462:g:QhMAAOSwvTBZqrcW

Later, I'll upgrade it with a dual X5680 or X5690