MP 6,1 Mac Pro 6,1 Issue - Black Screen, won’t boot

[krakman]

Interesting. How would you suggest I install it then, and get the firmware upgraded, if not from a USB?

• On an Intel-based Mac, if you use Option-Command-R during startup, you might be offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.

Read more here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Install your new Samsung and Sintech adapter then press Option-Command-R during start up.

You will enter internet recovery mode.

It will ask you to enter your internet password and then proceed to download the installer.

Use the installer app to format the SSD to APFS.

The installer will update the firmware to the latest version and then install Monterey.

 

[AlbertFinney]

Go to SystemInformation/HardwareOverview and see the current BootROM/EFI/System Firmware Version (the name of this field changed a lot between different macOS releases), should be something like this below:

Hardware Overview:

  Model Name:    Mac Pro
  Model Identifier:    MacPro6,1
  Processor Name:    6-Core Intel Xeon E5
  Processor Speed:    3,5 GHz
  Number of Processors:    1
  Total Number of Cores:    6
  L2 Cache (per Core):    256 KB
  L3 Cache:    12 MB
  Hyper-Threading Technology:    Enabled
  Memory:    16 GB
  System Firmware Version:    470.0.0.0.0
  OS Loader Version:    540.120.3~22
  SMC Version (system):    2.20f18
  Panel Illumination Version:    1.4a6

After you get the current version installed, I can suggest something that will work.

Anyway, booted from USB will never upgrade your Mac Pro firmware, the disk needs to be INTERNAL. Some people says that you can also upgrade from TB connected drives, but I never personally succeeded with a TB disk.

This is mine currently with Mojave:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro6,1
Processor Name: 12-Core Intel Xeon E5
Processor Speed: 2,7 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 12
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 30 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 64 GB
Boot ROM Version: 132.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.20f18
Illumination Version: 1.4a6

 

[AlbertFinney]

• On an Intel-based Mac, if you use Option-Command-R during startup, you might be offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.

Read more here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Install your new Samsung and Sintech adapter then press Option-Command-R during start up.

You will enter internet recovery mode.

It will ask you to enter your internet password and then proceed to download the installer.

Use the installer app to format the SSD to APFS.

The installer will update the firmware to the latest version and then install Monterey.

Ah fantastic! Thank you. This sounds easy enough.

Once that is done, could I then format the internal Samsung, reinstall Mojave yet retain the firmware update?

 

[tsialex]

Boot ROM Version: 132.0.0.0.0

132.0.0.0.0 is right where Apple started to remove the requirement of a AppleOEM blade for firmware updates, you have 50-50 chances, depending on the NVMe blade you will buy.

Anyway, you won't have a reliable Catalina/BigSur/Monterey install with this EFI release, too old.

 

[tsialex]

could I then format the internal Samsung, reinstall Mojave yet retain the firmware update?

Yes.

 

[AlbertFinney]

Yes.

Thank you!

 

[AlbertFinney]

132.0.0.0.0 is right where Apple started to remove the requirement of a AppleOEM blade for firmware updates, you have 50-50 chances, depending on the NVMe blade you will buy.

Anyway, you won't have a reliable Catalina/BigSur/Monterey install with this EFI release, too old.

Is there a specific NVMe (500gb) that you’d recommend for a 6,1?

 

[tsialex]

Is there a specific NVMe (500gb) that you’d recommend for a 6,1?

I've been installing the combo 970 EVO Plus 2TB, the Sintech adapter and a heatsink successfully with several MacPro6,1 at work for more than 18 months, with no issues.

Also have one with my personal MacPro6,1, but it's more recent.

Heatsink is required for a MacPro6,1 and most blades, the air circulation is not enough to keep a non-heatsinked blade within the expected temps. I had several issues with blades overheating before I started to use heatsinks and even with the heatsink the temperature is over what I'd like for maximum longevity, today was a cool rainy day and the blade went to 57ºC:

 

[AlbertFinney]

I've been installing the combo 970 EVO Plus 2TB, the Sintech adapter and a heatsink successfully with several MacPro6,1 at work for more than 18 months, with no issues.

Also have one with my personal MacPro6,1, but it's more recent.

Heatsink is required for a MacPro6,1 and most blades, the air circulation is not enough to keep a non-heatsinked blade within the expected temps. I had several issues with blades overheating before I started to use heatsinks and even with the heatsink the temperature is over what I'd like for maximum longevity, today was a cool rainy day and the blade went to 57ºC:

View attachment 2135716

Good to know regarding the heat sink. I hadn’t considered that.

My MacPro sits in an air tight music studio all day, so in summer the room can get quite warm if the AC isn’t running. The Mac itself has always stayed cool though. I’ve never noticed any heating issues.

I’ll definitely use a heat sink for the new NVMe. Is there a specific one you recommend? Or a specific feature that I need to look out for when buying one?

 

[tsialex]

The size available inside the MacPro6,1 limits a lot the height/model of the heatsink you'll have to buy.

I've bought several different models until I've found this one:

Dissipador De Calor Nvme / Ngff M.2 2280 Snowman - R$ 46,9

Dissipador para SSD M.2 NVMe / NGFF Snowman 2280 Próprio para unidades SSD M.2 2280 Proporciona excelente dissipação, pois utiliza a fixação do dissipador por arame, ao invés da fixação por parafuso; Em condições normais ajuda a prolongar a vida útil do M.2 e da própria placa mãe, pois mantém a...

produto.mercadolivre.com.br

It's the better dissipation that I've found that fits inside the MacPro6,1 case and it's cheap enough to not think two times about the cost. I still have one heatsink in the original box at work, I'll take a photo when I'm back to the office later this week.

 

[tsialex]

Snowman have an official AliExpress store:

8.99US $ 46% OFF|Snowman Heat Pipe M2 Heatsink Copper Ssd M.2 Cooler 2280 Solid State Hard Disk M2 Radiator Nvme Ngff Pcie M2 Cooling Thermal Pad - Fans & Cooling - AliExpress

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www.aliexpress.us

 

[AlbertFinney]

The size available inside the MacPro6,1 limits a lot the height/model of the heatsink you'll have to buy.

I've bought several different models until I've found this one:

Dissipador De Calor Nvme / Ngff M.2 2280 Snowman - R$ 46,9

Dissipador para SSD M.2 NVMe / NGFF Snowman 2280 Próprio para unidades SSD M.2 2280 Proporciona excelente dissipação, pois utiliza a fixação do dissipador por arame, ao invés da fixação por parafuso; Em condições normais ajuda a prolongar a vida útil do M.2 e da própria placa mãe, pois mantém a...

produto.mercadolivre.com.br

It's the better dissipation that I've found that fits inside the MacPro6,1 case and it's cheap enough to not think two times about the cost. I still have one heatsink in the original box at work, I'll take a photo when I'm back to the office later this week.

Thanks very much for this!