Xs 1,1-3,1 time for a sticky: Xserve upgrade guide

[edgerider]

What did you do to achieve this?

drop 12 stick of 16gb ddr3 !

 

[P1ratz]

Now if only we could achieve this along with dual x5690

 

[edgerider]

Now if only we could achieve this along with dual x5690

without @dosdude1 or people like @tsialex or @netkas it will be almost impossible if you want to retain all xserve function.
it has already been confirmed that we can flash a xserve with 5.1 firmware and use x5690

 

[P1ratz]

without @dosdude1 or people like @tsialex or @netkas it will be almost impossible if you want to retain all xserve function.
it has already been confirmed that we can flash a xserve with 5.1 firmware and use x5690

Do you have 32gb modules you could try in it?

 

[edgerider]

Do you have 32gb modules you could try in it?

soon so far i only have 3 of them

 

[reukiodo]

Does just 1 work? Which brand/model are they?

 

[edgerider]

Does just 1 work? Which brand/model are they?

 

[Yojx21]

I was wondering,
When you flash a MacPro5,1 rom the the Xserve3,1 it shows up as a 2012 Mac Pro, but if you replace the serial number in your dump by the one of your Xserve, it should appear as an Xserve right ?

 

[donluca]

Nope, still a Mac Pro.

 

[Yojx21]

I was wondering, i want to do some firmware test on my xserve3,1. Does anybody knows where is the firmware flash on the logic board ? What kind of flash it is ? Thanks you !

 

[mac_user_1982]

I upgraded my xserve to 3.3Ghz 12 Core via 5,1 using multiple Bios versions - latest 144.0.0.0. One thing annoying, the additional memory slots can't be used. 128GB max in Mac OS. But great booting with NVMe, USB-C, and even MXM GPU. Geekbench shows comparable and faster speed than 12 core cMP.

 

[P1ratz]

I upgraded my xserve to 3.3Ghz 12 Core via 5,1 using multiple Bios versions - latest 144.0.0.0. One thing annoying, the additional memory slots can't be used. 128GB max in Mac OS. But great booting with NVMe, USB-C, and even MXM GPU. Geekbench shows comparable and faster speed than 12 core cMP.

How did you go about installing mojave? Im just going through the process now and it wont let me update via the app store and im still running el capitan, i have installed mojave on another ssd via my MP but when i put it in the xserve i cant get it to boot. My xserve and MP are running the same gpus and firmware so i don’t understand why it wont work.

Also you have a great build and that is what i am looking to setup!

 

[mac_user_1982]

How did you go about installing mojave? Im just going through the process now and it wont let me update via the app store and im still running el capitan, i have installed mojave on another ssd via my MP but when i put it in the xserve i cant get it to boot. My xserve and MP are running the same gpus and firmware so i don’t understand why it wont work.

Also you have a great build and that is what i am looking to setup!

boot with -no_compat_check added to your boot args.

 

[mac_user_1982]

View attachment 850310

Those did not work for me, seems that any “L” don’t even boot.
Was that with XServe bios?

I tried 4Rx4 8500R which works nicely though.
The max I have 256GB, are recognized in Linux and ESXI, no booting in Mac OS.
I will try the Clover method later

 

[P1ratz]

boot with -no_compat_check added to your boot args.

Awesome, thanks man!

 

[P1ratz]

So i added -no_compact_check and rebooted, now stuck in boot loop. I also reset nvram and still in loop. I am running a gt710 in it though so no boot screen. Do i need to use the gt120 to boot verbose or should my pcie card state not have changed?

 

[mac_user_1982]

So i added -no_compact_check and rebooted, now stuck in boot loop. I also reset nvram and still in loop. I am running a gt710 in it though so no boot screen. Do i need to use the gt120 to boot verbose or should my pcie card state not have changed?

see here:
macOS 10.12 Sierra Unsupported Macs Thread

and yes I usually test with a boot screen - gt120 or other

 

[P1ratz]

see here:
macOS 10.12 Sierra Unsupported Macs Thread

and yes I usually test with a boot screen - gt120 or other

I had a look at that thread u linked but couldn’t find what i need to do. I added no compact check to my el captain installation and it resulted in me needing to re install. Am I supposed to add it to the installer? What steps did u take to get it installed. Sorry if i am a bit of a noob and I really appreciate your help.

Thanks.

 

[Yojx21]

Hi,

I own an Xserve3,1 single CPU and i want to do some firmware tweeking. Before i do so, i am looking for a way to recover my Xserve in case of bricking... Does anybody knows what type of eeprom is used to store the firmware and where it is located on the logic board ?

Also, i have purchased a 50$ dual CPU brend new logic board for it. This way if the first one is dead i can still use my Xserve.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

MODS: is it possible to convert this thread to a wiki?

 

[P1ratz]

Hi,

I own an Xserve3,1 single CPU and i want to do some firmware tweeking. Before i do so, i am looking for a way to recover my Xserve in case of bricking... Does anybody knows what type of eeprom is used to store the firmware and where it is located on the logic board ?

Also, i have purchased a 50$ dual CPU brend new logic board for it. This way if the first one is dead i can still use my Xserve.

What firmware tweaking do you intend on doing? And what do you wish to achieve?

 

[Yojx21]

What firmware tweaking do you intend on doing? And what do you wish to achieve?

As some enthusiast member, i am trying to run 6 core Xeon on the original Xserve ROM.

 

[P1ratz]

As some enthusiast member, i am trying to run 6 core Xeon on the original Xserve ROM.

I like your ambition! But if i may ask, what does the original rom give you vs using the cMp5,1 aside from properly configured ram slots?

I to bought a 3,1 Xserve with a single cpu board. Now updated to a dual cpu board that i have flashed and installed two x5690 cpus in alongside mojave. Only downside so far is not being able to use 4/12 ram slots. But i think its a fair tradeoff considering i can boot from nvme and use apfs as well as run 6 core cpus.

 

[reukiodo]

Have you checked if LOM still works on the MP firmware? It's already been reported that all the front CPU/network lights don't work after flash to MP firmware.

 

[P1ratz]

No LOM with cMp firmware. But unless you plan on running el capitan,support for that feature has been removed from any further mac os to my knowledge. It would be nice to enable it but im sure there is a way around it somehow.