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blackquartz

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 22, 2009
116
157
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing great

I'm trying to get a 6950xt running on MacOS on my Mac Pro 7,1 as 6900xt. For a couple of days Ive seen all this guides and videos but they are meant for hackintosh, I'm not sure Im doing it right for a legit Mac. Any help or reference is welcome.

Thanks a bunch

---- Update: Okay, I did it!

So to anyone maverick enough to try to achieve this, its pretty simple

Its easy to flash the card using windows and bootcamp

Heres the guide

1. Download the AMD GPU flash application
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/ati-atiflash/

2. Download GPU Z and make a back up of the original 6950XT ROM
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-gpu-z/

3. Download the 6900XT ROM
https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios...r=&model=&interface=&memType=&memSize=&since=

4. Use this guide to the letter to flash the firmware
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...nd-line-cmd-syntax-mini-guide-windows.291671/

Please consider this is an intrusive procedure, theres a risk of bricking the card if you don't understand what you are doing, but you should be fine If I was able to do it.







Screenshot 2023-07-16 at 12.13.14 AM.png
 

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elfamosisimoJON

macrumors member
Jan 9, 2019
66
57
Im also interested in this, if it works in the 7,1, what happens if the OS is updated¿ the drivers of the 6900XT goes to the 6950xt?
 

blackquartz

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 22, 2009
116
157
Im also interested in this, if it works in the 7,1, what happens if the OS is updated¿ the drivers of the 6900XT goes to the 6950xt?

As far as I understand you disguise the card to look like the previous model, so it shouldn't be an issue if you update or not.

Im using this guide but I cant seem to make it work just yet


also this video

 
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startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
2,282
This kext can make it work, but unfortunately hwa will not work.
By the way this kext may not need opencore you just need to disable SIP and install it in /L/E.
 
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blackquartz

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 22, 2009
116
157
Okay so I did it guys! It wasn't so hard having the tools around and the time to be fooling around

To anyone trying to achieve this its pretty possible.
 

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blackquartz

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 22, 2009
116
157
Can you do some benchmarks on your machine? It would be interesting to see if it's faster than 6900XT and if so, by how much.

Kudos and great job!
Sure, I ran some random benchmarks when I first fired it up, it was about 3% superior performance but that was just geek bench and Valley.

Which benchmarks would you like to see?
 
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ZombiePhysicist

Suspended
May 22, 2014
2,884
2,793
Sure, I ran some random benchmarks when I first fired it up, it was about 3% superior performance but that was just geek bench and Valley.

Which benchmarks would you like to see?

Both of those would be great. Particularly like to see the metal and openCL scores.
 

kvic

macrumors 6502a
Sep 10, 2015
516
460
I wonder. Any chance such a spoof would work with a 7xxx series? My guess is not.

Almost certainly not.

I'm also very surprised reflashing 6900 VBIOS works out 'so well'. It perhaps proves 6900 and 6950 are basically the same chip with difference in software initialisation.

But subtle difference in functionality can't easily tell quickly. Things like AGPM, AGDC, AGDP...might not be all working properly under the hood.
 
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Matty_TypeR

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2016
641
555
UK
So if you flash the 6900xt bios to a 6950xt the card can only boost to 6900xt speeds, along with memory speed ect. you might as well just buy a 6900xt.

Unless you can edit the bios to the original memory and clock speeds of the 6950xt and power table for that card.
 

startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
2,282
It looks like 6950 supports Samsung and Hynix memory whereas 6900 supports only Samsung. Other than than from what I can see only the frequencies limits and power consumption is different.
 

Matty_TypeR

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2016
641
555
UK
It looks like 6950 supports Samsung and Hynix memory whereas 6900 supports only Samsung. Other than than from what I can see only the frequencies limits and power consumption is different.

This is what i mean, flashing a 6950xt with 6900xt bios gives it that cards speed boost and memory timing's and power table. you might as well buy a 6900xt in the first place unless you can edit the bios with the 6950xt setting's.

More favourable would be to edit the 6950xt bios with 6900xt ID which would retain the 6950xt performance.
I have no idea if there is such a tool to change the ID of a card.
 

startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
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flashing a 6950xt with 6900xt bios gives it that cards speed boost
It is the other way around. Flashing 6950 with 6900 bios underpowers the card. It takes out performance, but it is the only way to get it working in macOS. I say it is worth it. Just watch out for the memory mismatch, it needs to be the same.
 

startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
2,282
I have no idea if there is such a tool to change the ID of a card.
You can change everything in the vBios, but some changes will make it unbootanle.
Changing the GPU-ID should be considered three times before, because almost always the card will not start anymore (e.g. 570 to 580) and it remains a real matter of luck.
 

startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
2,282
Thats what i said, the 6950xt becomes a 6900xt speed card by flashing the 6900xt bios. might as well just buy a 6900xt.
There are some people who have already bought it and cannot return it.
Probably the best approach is to find similar vBios for 6900 and modify it with the same frequencies and voltages as the original vBios as long as the memory modules match.
 

Matty_TypeR

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2016
641
555
UK
You can change everything in the vBios, but some changes will make it unbootanle.

That looks interesting, all thats required is change the ID in a 6950xt bios to match a 6900xt ID leave all other settings as standard in the 6950xt bios and you should have a faster card than the 6900xt.
 

startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
2,282
all thats required is change the ID in a 6950xt bios to match a 6900xt ID leave all other settings as standard in the 6950xt bios and you should have a faster card than the 6900xt.
You did not read fully the previous quote. Unless you are 100% sure it is not gonna brick the card do not recommend changing device id.
 
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