macOS only recognizes Default Graphics Driver on restart after installing/enabling NVIDIA Web Driver

[Ecologgia]

My machine is a Mac Pro MacPro5,1, with a 6-Core Intel Xeon and
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680. I'm running Sierra (OS 10.12.6)

I have downloaded the latest webdriver from Nvidia, but after installing it and restarting, the system only recognises the default MacOS driver.

I'm experiencing random crashes which appear to be graphics related. Nvidia support told me that a lot of people are having this problem and pointed me to this post which appears to have found a way of solving the issue:
https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/f...-after-installingenabling-nvidia-web-drivers/

However I have no way of beginning to understand how to follow the steps outlined. It all seems like an alien language. I starting using a Mac in the early 90s because I wouldn't have to get involved with OS. Nvidia support told me to wait for a new release of their driver, but had no idea when this would be. In the meantime the frequent crashes are driving me nuts.

Is there some kind person out there who can help?

 

[bsbeamer]

What macOS build of 10.12.6? Believe 16G29, 16G1036, 16G1114, 16G1212, and 16G1314 are the options.
What NVIDIA driver version are you trying to use?
Is SIP enabled or disabled?
Is there anything asking for permission in Gatekeeper?

 

[Ecologgia]

What macOS build of 10.12.6? Believe 16G29, 16G1036, 16G1114, 16G1212, and 16G1314 are the options.
What NVIDIA driver version are you trying to use?
Is SIP enabled or disabled?
Is there anything asking for permission in Gatekeeper?

The build is 16G29, NVIDIA driver is version 378.05.05.25f01, which is the latest one that NVIDIA support pointed me to.

I don't know what SIP or Gatekeeper are.
[doublepost=1524060362][/doublepost]

The build is 16G29, NVIDIA driver is version 378.05.05.25f01, which is the latest one that NVIDIA support pointed me to.

I don't know what SIP or Gatekeeper are.

Would it help to revert to an earlier version of MacOS, e.g. El Capitan and an earlier Driver?

 

[bsbeamer]

378.05.05.25f01 is the right driver for 16G29, but there are SEVERAL security and driver updates for 10.12.6 released since then...

Would suggest updating to 16G1314.

Then update the NVIDIA driver with 378.05.05.25f07:
https://images.nvidia.com/mac/pkg/378/WebDriver-378.05.05.25f07.pkg

Click on ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this page for install instructions:
http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/133513/en-us

Make sure SIP is enabled:
https://developer.apple.com/library...ion/ConfiguringSystemIntegrityProtection.html

 

[Ecologgia]

Please ignore this post!

 

[Asgorath]

Right, once you have a driver installed on your system, the correct answer is almost always going to be install any pending security updates for your OS, and then open up the NVIDIA preference pane and force an update. The preference pane will find the correct driver for your OS, and it sounds like you just have the wrong driver installed (i.e. a mismatch between the driver's OS build number and the actual OS build number). It's kind of lame that we have to do this, but the auto-updater should just do the right thing.

 

[bsbeamer]

Go to the App Store and check for updates for the most reliable install.

I'm unsure if you'd need a combo updater, full installer, or individual patches to get from 16G29 > 16G1314. Believe there are two 2017 & two 2018 update patches, but cannot find links for the first 2017 update at the moment.
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1940
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1956
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1960

I'd recommend installing High Sierra over continuing to use Sierra as primary OS, but that's a different issue...

 

[Ecologgia]

378.05.05.25f01 is the right driver for 16G29, but there are SEVERAL security and driver updates for 10.12.6 released since then...

Would suggest updating to 16G1314.

Then update the NVIDIA driver with 378.05.05.25f07:
https://images.nvidia.com/mac/pkg/378/WebDriver-378.05.05.25f07.pkg

Click on ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this page for install instructions:
http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/133513/en-us

Make sure SIP is enabled:
https://developer.apple.com/library...ion/ConfiguringSystemIntegrityProtection.html

OK. I did all of the above, SIP is enabled, but it's still reverting to the default MacOS driver. Sigh...

I guess I'll wait and see if it still keeps crashing, unless anyone has some bright ideas.

 

[bsbeamer]

what OS version and build are you on?
what NVIDIA driver version?
is anything stuck in Gatekeeper?
is there an NVIDIA icon in your top menu bar?
is there an NVIDIA preference pane installed in system preferences?

 

[Ecologgia]

Go to the App Store and check for updates for the most reliable install.

I'm unsure if you'd need a combo updater, full installer, or individual patches to get from 16G29 > 16G1314. Believe there are two 2017 & two 2018 update patches, but cannot find links for the first 2017 update at the moment.
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1940
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1956
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1960

I'd recommend installing High Sierra over continuing to use Sierra as primary OS, but that's a different issue...

Maybe I should upgrade to High Sierra. I started out there, then downgraded because I was having problems with crashing.

 

[chrfr]

Maybe I should upgrade to High Sierra. I started out there, then downgraded because I was having problems with crashing.

If you install the latest 10.12.6 security update via software update, you'll be at Sierra 10.12.6 build 16G1314. No need to mess with manually installing updates from apple.com.
Then, if you run the Nvidia driver manager software update, it should find you the proper Nvidia driver.

 

[bsbeamer]

Maybe I should upgrade to High Sierra. I started out there, then downgraded because I was having problems with crashing.

How did you downgrade? Did you COMPLETELY wipe your drive and start fresh? Did you migrate any data?

 

[Ecologgia]

How did you downgrade? Did you COMPLETELY wipe your drive and start fresh? Did you migrate any data?

Yes I wiped the hard drive (SSD) and reinstalled fresh and copied data across.
[doublepost=1524064649][/doublepost]

If you install the latest 10.12.6 security update via software update, you'll be at Sierra 10.12.6 build 16G1314. No need to mess with manually installing updates from apple.com.
Then, if you run the Nvidia driver manager software update, it should find you the proper Nvidia driver.

Yes that's what I've done, but it's still not working properly.

 

[bsbeamer]

copied data across

that could be related to your issue...
have you completely un-installed the NVIDIA web drivers? then reboot. then attempt to re-install the NVIDIA web drivers?

 

[Ecologgia]

that could be related to your issue...
have you completely un-installed the NVIDIA web drivers? then reboot. then attempt to re-install the NVIDIA web drivers?

Yes, that's what I've done.

 

[chrfr]

Yes, that's what I've done.

So once you've installed the proper driver, you can't select the web driver from the driver manager preferences? It's normal that it would revert back to the default after a system update.
All of this seems to point to you having the wrong version of Nvidia Web Driver.

 

[bsbeamer]

Go to Apple > About This Mac > System Report and post a screenshot or list of your Software > Preference Panes and Software > Extensions.

If this really is an install issue, the clear fix is to get a spare hard drive (or two) and would suggest trying to install cleanly without transferring any data at all. Then install the NVIDIA web drivers. Get them working. Then clone that system drive and label as a fully working version (use Carbon Copy Cloner). Then use migration assistant to transfer your data.

You can attempt to go through and uninstall (again), restart, then go through and remove all NVIDIA references manually in all libraries, but that may or may not work - really depends on what data you transferred.

 

[Ecologgia]

So once you've installed the proper driver, you can't select the web driver from the driver manager preferences? It's normal that it would revert back to the default after a system update.
All of this seems to point to you having the wrong version of Nvidia Web Driver.

The Nvidia driver was installed form the preferences pane via the Nvidia updater and is the correct one for the system. See the attached screenshot

 

[bsbeamer]

what does the GRAPHICS DRIVERS tab on that NVIDIA Driver Manager preference pane look like?

 

[Ecologgia]

Go to Apple > About This Mac > System Report and post a screenshot or list of your Software > Preference Panes and Software > Extensions.

If this really is an install issue, the clear fix is to get a spare hard drive (or two) and would suggest trying to install cleanly without transferring any data at all. Then install the NVIDIA web drivers. Get them working. Then clone that system drive and label as a fully working version (use Carbon Copy Cloner). Then use migration assistant to transfer your data.

You can attempt to go through and uninstall (again), restart, then go through and remove all NVIDIA references manually in all libraries, but that may or may not work - really depends on what data you transferred.

I attach a screenshot of the preference panes and a printout of the Extensions (80 pages). I have two spare internal hard drives so I could go the nuclear route if necessary...

The real issue is crashing. I need to do some work and see if the crashing issue has been solved with the system update before doing something more drastic. I've spent too busy today dealing with this issue to find out if I've still got the problem....
[doublepost=1524067478][/doublepost]

what does the GRAPHICS DRIVERS tab on that NVIDIA Driver Manager preference pane look like?

See attached screenshot

 

[bsbeamer]

Page 67-69 are the NVIDIA extensions (and a few others that start with GeForce on page 47). They all look like they are there. Versions appear to be different than High Sierra (good thing if you downgraded).

You can try manually fixing read/write permissions for the /Library/Extensions (.kext files) to make sure the system has read & write permissions. If any of the files are locked or with incorrect permissions, could prevent from manually switching.

Have you manually set the NVIDIA driver manager preference page > Graphics Drivers to NVIDIA Web Driver then click the LOCK icon before restarting?

Is anything opening in Security & Privacy > General that needs attention AFTER opening the NVIDIA preference pane?
[doublepost=1524068302][/doublepost]

The real issue is crashing.

So this is NOT related to being able to select the NVIDIA web driver??

 

[Ecologgia]

Page 67-69 are the NVIDIA extensions (and a few others that start with GeForce on page 47). They all look like they are there. Versions appear to be different than High Sierra (good thing if you downgraded).

You can try manually fixing read/write permissions for the /Library/Extensions (.kext files) to make sure the system has read & write permissions. If any of the files are locked or with incorrect permissions, could prevent from manually switching. I'll try that

Have you manually set the NVIDIA driver manager preference page > Graphics Drivers to NVIDIA Web Driver then click the LOCK icon before restarting? No - I'll try that

Is anything opening in Security & Privacy > General that needs attention AFTER opening the NVIDIA preference pane? No
[doublepost=1524068302][/doublepost]

So this is NOT related to being able to select the NVIDIA web driver??

The problem is crashing that I SUSPECT may be due to the graphics driver. If I can get the NVIDIA driver to work I will be able to see if there's an improvement.
[doublepost=1524069033][/doublepost]

The problem is crashing that I SUSPECT may be due to the graphics driver. If I can get the NVIDIA driver to work I will be able to see if there's an improvement.

So clicking the padlock then restarting made no difference.
[doublepost=1524069570][/doublepost]

The problem is crashing that I SUSPECT may be due to the graphics driver. If I can get the NVIDIA driver to work I will be able to see if there's an improvement.
[doublepost=1524069033][/doublepost]

So clicking the padlock then restarting made no difference.

All the extensions have system read/write permission.

 

[bsbeamer]

does the NVIDIA system icon appear in the menu bar in upper right?
can you select it and see the two drivers in pulldown menu?
is your GPU an official EVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition, non-flashed GTX 680 (PC version), or flashed GTX 680 (to create Mac version)?
what slot is GPU in?
are both power cables connected?
is your machine an authentic 5,1 or was it firmware upgraded to become a 5,1?

have you successfully installed the firmware updates for MacPro?
go to System Information > Hardware > Hardware Overview and find the Boot ROM Version
while there, also show Hardware > Graphics/Displays

 

[Ecologgia]

does the NVIDIA system icon appear in the menu bar in upper right?
can you select it and see the two drivers in pulldown menu? YES
is your GPU an official EVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition, non-flashed GTX 680 (PC version), or flashed GTX 680 (to create Mac version)? DON'T KNOW, I'LL TRY TO FIND OUT
what slot is GPU in? SLOT 1
are both power cables connected? BOTH POWER CABLES?
is your machine an authentic 5,1 or was it firmware upgraded to become a 5,1? DON'T KNOW, I'LL TRY TO FIND OUT

have you successfully installed the firmware updates for MacPro? NOT TRIED
go to System Information > Hardware > Hardware Overview and find the Boot ROM Version

Hardware Overview:



Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro5,1

Processor Name: 6-Core Intel Xeon

Processor Speed: 3.46 GHz

Number of Processors: 2

Total Number of Cores: 12

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache (per Processor): 12 MB

Memory: 64 GB

Processor Interconnect Speed: 6.4 GT/s

Boot ROM Version: MP51.0084.B00

SMC Version (system): 1.39f11

SMC Version (processor tray): 1.39f11

Serial Number (system): DGKK1008F4MH

Serial Number (processor tray): J522202JCBH8C

Hardware UUID: FE7712F7-5247-5910-87F0-0E153BD9143E


while there, also show Hardware > Graphics/Displays

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680:



Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

Slot: Slot-1

PCIe Lane Width: x16

VRAM (Total): 4096 MB

Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)

Device ID: 0x1180

Revision ID: 0x00a2

ROM Revision: 3731

Metal: Supported

Displays:

BenQ GW2765:

Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @ 60 Hz

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Display Serial Number: K4G05218019

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Automatically Adjust Brightness: No

 

[bsbeamer]

There are two mini 6-pin power cables on the board in the MacPro. When I had a GTX 680 (official EVGA for Mac version) there were two 6-pin power cables on the GPU itself. Needed to use two mini 6-pin to standard 6-pin power cables to power the GPU.

Your GTX 680 is a 4GB model, so it's not an official Mac version. It's either a straight PC card, or it's been flashed/modified by someone to "make" it a Mac card.

What brand & model is the GPU?
What are the power requirements?
Are there two 6-pin power slots on the card? One 6-pin? One 8-pin? One 6-pin + one 8-pin?
What port/connection are you using to connect to your monitor?