MP 1,1-5,1 MacPro5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (10.13/10.14 BootROM upgrades instructions thread)

[MiguelAnge]

I don't know where you got 10.13.3. Apple offers only 10.13.6 for download and the re-issued version released last October don't need the change of date at all.

Btw, 10.13.3 BootROM version is MP51.0084.B00.

Just here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12

I downloaded it several times and had always the error about content corrupted, which was finally the date issue.

indeed, I first tried with version I installed last year and got same error and thought wrongly my archive was corrupted. Thus went to download it again, got same error and I ended here where I got the hint about the date.

About the ROM, I followed your instruction and used last year a link pointing to 10.13.6, thus my ROM updated to 0089 (so no alert to update the firmware).

About 10.13.3, once I used originally the 10.13.6 to update my ROM (in prevision to move to Mojave), I never downloaded it.
As I did many many trials, and as I was convinced my local record was bad, I needed to delete it to get ‘Download’ from Apple’s page. So I cannot figure out how I could get 10.13.3 if not from my last downloa

My target was to install HS in HFS+ what I succeeded. Getting the 10.13.3 was unexpected but not an issue to solve, only time matter.

Let me take opportunity to thank you about your detailed procedure allowing me to extend the life from my cMP.

 

[MacForumsUser]

You can always use installinstallmacos.py, download it from here https://github.com/munki/macadmin-scripts, you need to download the 17G66 build.

Cool. Thank you! As luck would have it, restarting and attempting the download again resulted in the file being completely downloaded to /Applications, so I can now move forward.

 

[choreo]

My 5,1 2012 MacPro is currently running High Sierra 10.13.6 and BootROM version MP51.0089.B00.

Next I am planning to install a Metal enabled card and looking at this possibly:

OWC Radeon RX 580 8GB Graphics Upgrade Solution (2010-2012)

Add Metal support to your 2010-2012 Mac Pro Tower and upgrade to macOS 10.14.x Mojave. See 1.5x better performance than Radeon HD 7950.

eshop.macsales.com

Would you say that card is a safe option?
Do you happen to know if that card will just consume a single PCI Bay?

Once I get a metal card installed and working with my 3 2K monitors, then I plan to attempt the Mojave/BootROM upgrade.

Does that sound like a smart plan?

Just wish the video card above kept the boot screen!

(BTW I run mostly Adobe CC Suite)

 

[tsialex]

My 5,1 2012 MacPro is currently running High Sierra 10.13.6 and BootROM version MP51.0089.B00.

Next I am planning to install a Metal enabled card and looking at this possibly:

OWC Radeon RX 580 8GB Graphics Upgrade Solution (2010-2012)

Add Metal support to your 2010-2012 Mac Pro Tower and upgrade to macOS 10.14.x Mojave. See 1.5x better performance than Radeon HD 7950.

eshop.macsales.com

Would you say that card is a safe option?
Do you happen to know if that card will just consume a single PCI Bay?

Once I get a metal card installed and working with my 3 2K monitors, then I plan to attempt the Mojave/BootROM upgrade.

Does that sound like a smart plan?

Just wish the video card above kept the boot screen!

(BTW I run mostly Adobe CC Suite)

2,2 slots wide card.

Sapphire Pulse can be bought for $179 on Newegg, cable for less than $10 on eBay.

Besides the very weak NVIDIA 640 GT, AMD has the WX5100 that is single slot.

 

[flowrider]

Next I am planning to install a Metal enabled card and looking at this possibly:

OWC is notoriously overpriced:

XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS Black Edition PCI Express 3.0 1425MHz OC+ 8GB GDDR5 VR Ready Grapics Card (1 x DL DVI-D /1 x HDMI /3 x DisplayPort) RX-580P8DBDR

XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS Black Edition PCI Express 3.0 1425MHz OC+ 8GB GDDR5 VR Ready Grapics Card (1 x DL DVI-D /1 x HDMI /3 x DisplayPort) RX-580P8DBDR

www.amazon.com

I'm running a Gigabyte Aorus RX 580, 8GB GPU.

Lou

 

[choreo]

OWC is notoriously overpriced:

XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS Black Edition PCI Express 3.0 1425MHz OC+ 8GB GDDR5 VR Ready Grapics Card (1 x DL DVI-D /1 x HDMI /3 x DisplayPort) RX-580P8DBDR

XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS Black Edition PCI Express 3.0 1425MHz OC+ 8GB GDDR5 VR Ready Grapics Card (1 x DL DVI-D /1 x HDMI /3 x DisplayPort) RX-580P8DBDR

www.amazon.com

I'm running a Gigabyte Aorus RX 580, 8GB GPU.

Lou

From the photo the XFX is the same card OWC is selling?
[automerge]1580420514[/automerge]
Well, if these graphics cards take up PCI bay 1 &2, then I guess my ultimate goal of adding something like this SSD tray to fast PCI slot (1 or 2) is out?

OWC 1.0TB Accelsior 4M2 PCIe SSD for 2019 Apple Mac Pro

OWC's fastest SSD ever with up to 6000MB/s speed for large format video editing, VR/AR/MR environments, extreme gaming, and other high bandwidth needs.

eshop.macsales.com

 

[kohlson]

This has been discussed here and other forums. My recommendation is the Sapphire Pulse RX-580 8GB, which are pretty well-priced these days, Lots of others make lots of other cards work. It is a "slot 1 only" card (well, mostly). I have 4 PCIe cards in my cMP, including this one.

 

[choreo]

This has been discussed here and other forums. My recommendation is the Sapphire Pulse RX-580 8GB, which are pretty well-priced these days, Lots of others make lots of other cards work. It is a "slot 1 only" card (well, mostly). I have 4 PCIe cards in my cMP, including this one.

So which one of these is the right card?

SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 Video Cards 11265-05-20G - Newegg.com

Buy SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Video Cards 11265-05-20G with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming Video Card - Newegg.com

Buy Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5 PCI-E Dual HDMI / DVI-D / Dual DP OC w/ Backplate (UEFI), 100411P8GOCL with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

 

[tsialex]

So which one of these is the right card?

SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 Video Cards 11265-05-20G - Newegg.com

Buy SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Video Cards 11265-05-20G with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming Video Card - Newegg.com

Buy Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5 PCI-E Dual HDMI / DVI-D / Dual DP OC w/ Backplate (UEFI), 100411P8GOCL with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

It's the same card, the second link has more buying options (Nitro+, Nitro+ SE) that don't work for MP5,1.

Buy this one (no affiliate link):

SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 Video Cards 11265-05-20G - Newegg.com

Buy SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Video Cards 11265-05-20G with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

 

[MiguelAnge]

So which one of these is the right card?

Hello,

I did it last week with same card suggested by Alex and all went well. My configuration is cMP 5.1 double Xeon. I also started by updated to High Sierra 10.13.6. Card was immediately recognized. Now I am running macOS 10.14.6.

Nevertheless, I took one with firmware flashed to allow boot screen.
With stock ones, screen will only appear after drivers loaded by macOS.

 

[choreo]

Hello,

I did last week with same card suggested by Alex and all went well. Nevertheless, I took one with firmware flashed to allow boot screen.
With stock ones, screen will only appear after drivers loaded by macOS.

Where did you get that card pre-flashed?

 

[MiguelAnge]

Where did you get that card pre-flashed?

Well, mine was a second hand, which was the best option as making importation in the country I am living is not so easy.

I could suggest you to check below link

MACVIDCARDS.COM

The #1 place for Mac Pro graphics cards. GPU upgrades from AMD and Nvidia.

www.macvidcards.com

 

[choreo]

Well, mine was a second hand, which was the best option as making importation in the country I am living is not so easy.

I could suggest you to check below link

MACVIDCARDS.COM

The #1 place for Mac Pro graphics cards. GPU upgrades from AMD and Nvidia.

www.macvidcards.com

Looking at their site it says: "A card flashed with a Mac BIOS will be able to work at PCIe 2.0 speeds, supporting twice the data rate".

Does that mean that flashing it cripples the PCI Express 3.0 advertised on the card itself, or does it matter?

 

[tsialex]

Looking at their site it says: "A card flashed with a Mac BIOS will be able to work at PCIe 2.0 speeds, supporting twice the data rate".

Does that mean that flashing it cripples the PCI Express 3.0 advertised on the card itself, or does it matter?

MP5,1 is PCIe 2.0 and all PCIe 3.0 cards work at full PCIe 2.0 speeds since 138.0.0.0.0. Superseded info from MVC marketing.

 

[flowrider]

As posted above I have the Gigabyte Aorus RX580 flashed by MVC. it is a one slot card. My Highpoint 7103 card is mounted in slot 2. I highly recommend the Gigabyte card.

Lou

 

[tsialex]

As posted above I have the Gigabyte Aorus RX580 flashed by MVC. it is a one slot card. My Highpoint 7103 card is mounted in slot 2. I highly recommend the Gigabyte card.

Lou

The only AMD Ellesmere/Polaris 10/20/30 GPUs that are 1-slot wide are Instinct MI6, WX5100 and WX7100, all workstation/professional GPUs. Gigabyte Aorus RX580 is a 2-wide or more GPU.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^OK, when I say one slot, I mean I am running it in slot one, the double wide slot with the Highpoint card in slot two. Yes, it's a double wide card that allows the use of slot two.

Lou

 

[choreo]

MP5,1 is PCIe 2.0 and all PCIe 3.0 cards work at full PCIe 2.0 speeds since 138.0.0.0.0. Superseded info from MVC marketing.

I know this is a bit off topic, but if I get a Pulse Sapphire 580 flashed at MVC, is it possible for the card to lose the results of being "flashed"? I am totally ignorant of the flashing process and if it is considered somewhat permanent (i.e. is there a chance it could lose the changes since I am "guessing" it is not a hardware modification?

 

[MiguelAnge]

I know this is a bit off topic, but if I get a Pulse Sapphire 580 flashed at MVC, is it possible for the card to lose the results of being "flashed"? I am totally ignorant of the flashing process and if it is considered somewhat permanent (i.e. is there a chance it could lose the changes since I am "guessing" it is not a hardware modification?

Hello,

You are misunderstanding. As stated by Alex, for old Mac Pro firmware, without EFI boot, throughput from the PCIE was limited to 2.5GT/s.
With new firmware, the full bandwidth is now available:5.
AMD 580 has a native PCIE 3.0 16x interface. But your MacPRO will be stick to a PCIE 2.0 up to 16x. As PCIE is reverse compatible, AMD 580 will then ‘speak’ to MacPro through the 2.0 interface which now provides full bandwidth by embedded firmware. Argument from MVC now is just marketing.

To make it short, they will only provide you ability to get the boot screen without boosting performances by running latest MacPro firmware (From Mojave).
Now if you look at many benches over the net, performances gap between PCIE 2.0 x16 and 3.0 x16 are no so significant (10~20%).

 

[tsialex]

Hello,

You are misunderstanding. As stated by Alex, for old Mac Pro firmware, without EFI boot, throughput from the PCIE was limited to 2.5GT/s.
With new firmware, the full bandwidth is now available:5.
AMD 580 has a native PCIE 3.0 16x interface. But your MacPRO will be stick to a PCIE 2.0 up to 16x. As PCIE is reverse compatible, AMD 580 will then ‘speak’ to MacPro through the 2.0 interface which now provides full bandwidth by embedded firmware. Argument from MVC now is just marketing.

To make it short, they will only provide you ability to get the boot screen without boosting performances by running latest MacPro firmware (From Mojave).
Now if you look at many benches over the net, performances gap between PCIE 2.0 x16 and 3.0 x16 are no so significant (10~20%).

Btw, now OpenCore provides a working text boot menu for UEFI GOP GPUs, any AMD GPU after RX 4xx is a UEFI GOP GPU, so no need to flash a GPU anymore for selecting boot drives.

 

[choreo]

Btw, now OpenCore provides a working text boot menu for UEFI GOP GPUs, any AMD GPU after RX 4xx is a UEFI GOP GPU, so no need to flash a GPU anymore for selecting boot drives. View attachment 892014

How do you get to that screen? Option-Key like before? (Still waiting on my Sapphire Pulse 580 to arrive).

 

[tsialex]

How do you get to that screen? Option-Key like before? (Still waiting on my Sapphire Pulse 580 to arrive).

The text boot menu will always open with OpenCore, if enabled. You can define a wait time for you to select the drive and a default drive to boot after the timeout, if you don't select anything.

OpenCore on the Mac Pro

 

[choreo]

Other than "cost", is there any downside to having a Sapphire Pulse RX580 flashed by MVC?

 

[tsialex]

Other than "cost", is there any downside to having a Sapphire Pulse RX580 flashed by MVC?

None.

Be aware that a lot of people bought flashed GPUs from MVC thinking that was gonna get a brand new GPU and then got an used one. Use the search and read about that, if you are interested.

 

[flowrider]

Other than "cost", is there any downside to having a Sapphire Pulse RX580 flashed by MVC?

I'm now on my third MVC flashed card. The other two were Nvidia cards that got superseded by newer cards and of course the Apple Nvidia Feud. Downside - None that I know of. Everything's an upside

My current GPU is a Gigabyte Aorus RX580 that I purchased myself and forwarded to him for flashing. He has a flashing service in addition to selling cards from his inventory.

Lou