Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MP All Models AMD Polaris, Vega, & Navi GPU macOS Support
- Thread starter MisterAndrew
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What are the chances that a Vega VII will work in the cMP (with the pixlas mod of course)
Low- Medium- or -High -> Your opinion ?
My guess is that there's a very high chance that it will work.
I agree. We just don’t know when the drivers will support Vega 20 (VII).
[doublepost=1547577553][/doublepost]If you want a Radeon VII card then be sure to jump on one right away. Supply is rumored to be extremely low.
[doublepost=1547577553][/doublepost]If you want a Radeon VII card then be sure to jump on one right away. Supply is rumored to be extremely low.
This would be great news in my ears. The only question that remains, - Will there be the same fan issue just like on some other Vega cards and how to fix that issue. Who knows, maybe we don't get that lucky this time around to just grab the secondary firmware off of the Sapphire Vega Nirtro+ card. I hope it's not that tricky again. Regardless of the outcome, the Vega 64 performed absolutely satisfactory so far. I can not complain at all. A big Thank You to the most exquisite forum members here! Thumbs up!
Having a way better Metal card (VII) in a tricked out cMP than even in an iMac Pro 2017 for 5.5K ++...? Can't get rid of that permanent grin in my face if that happens..
Last edited:
I think it’s hard to say if the Radeon VII cards will have the same fan issue(s). Presumably, there will be an Apple version(s) for the new Mac Pro, but we don’t know if that will be a standard PCIe card. If you don’t need a new card right away perhaps it will be best to wait for the Apple version.
There's no Radeon VII (Vega 20) support in today's 10.14.3 update. It's possible there will be in 10.14.4 beta since AMD said there will be day 1 support in Linux.
Two short questions on the Vega 20 driver front:
#1 Since the MacBook Pro 2018 can be equipped with he new Vega 20, shouldn't there be a driver already since those cards have been released?
#2 Regardless of the fan issue, I wanted to ask for your opinion on an aftermarket cooling solution from Alphacool Eiswolf 120 for the Vega64.
As seen in the video, the coolant hoses can be easily separated on those links in the middle. This means it would be easy to equip a Vega 64 with that cooling solution and place the radiator outside the case on the back. The hoses can go through the marked area the radiator can be bolted on the outside, using a couple 1 or 2 inches long spacers, maybe even over the lower main fan without any additional fan. Painted in aluminum gray, the radiator it would not even be noticeable. I am sure Alphacool will put a Vega 7 version on the market. This way one could use this solution and circumvent any loss of PCIe slots plus any fan issues altogether. Do you think this would be doable? A Vega 7 liquid cooled solution to kickass Apples Product Obsolescence department one more time?
Well this is kind of true and false. The device-ids that we all think that are for Vega 20 ie... 0x66A0, 0x66A1, 0x66A2, 0x66A3, 0x66A7 and 0x66AF have been in the AMD10000Controller.kext for awhile now. So support is actually there already. There just isn't an accelerator driver made for those yet.
Last edited:
Yes, I’ve listed all that in the first post quite some time ago. By support I mean that the card would display graphics in macOS.
[doublepost=1548356376][/doublepost]AIB partners have begun to release details on the Radeon VII reference model they will distribute.
https://segmentnext.com/2019/01/24/amd-radeon-vii-reference-models/
[doublepost=1548357950][/doublepost]No graphics accelerator driver for Vega 20 (Radeon VII) in 10.14.4 beta 1. Also, the preliminary Navi driver has been removed.
[doublepost=1548358658][/doublepost]There are 3 new Vega frame-buffer personalities in 10.14.4 beta. Catatumbo, Donguil, and Envira. Based on their properties they do not appear to be eGPUs and they appear to be for Vega 10. The frame-buffer lister php script is not providing info on their port configurations.
[doublepost=1548359529][/doublepost]If you have a Vega reference card (RX Vega, Frontier Edition, or WX 9100) please check to see if your card is using one of the new frame-buffers in 10.4.4 beta. My Pulse 56 is still using the standard Radeon frame-buffer.
Last edited:
For confirmation and my own sanity, the PowerColor Red Dragon RX Vega 56 is pretty much a plug and play card when installed in a cMP 4,1/5,1(assuming one has done the Pixals Mod). No fan issues and No bios flash required, correct?
Yeah, it just has the minor secondary fan issue detailed in the first post. Most of the time the fan won't be running at all. That card is an excellent deal at $299 right now.
Thanks for help, another quick question; with respect to the "reference-style" RX Vega 56 style cards, both "fan issues" can be resolved via BIOS flash such as using "Sapphire Nitro+ RX Vega 56 (standard PCB)" BIOS while also assuming the reference-style card has a flashable BIOS (MSI Airboost "reference-style" cannot be flashed, or am I reading that incorrectly?).
Sorry, that turned into multiple questions.
Yes, that's correct. Using a different BIOS on a card that it wasn't designed for isn't an ideal situation, but a lot of people are having success with it.
How is your feeling about a functioning Vega 7 capability for the trusted cMP?
I have a good Vega 64 MSI reference card at the moment. However, I have found a mint condition Vega64 with that Aluminium cover for 390(Euro). This card doesn't come up very often, I really want to pull the trigger on this one.
Should I decide against this Limited Edition and gamble for the maybe/maybe not working Vega 7?
(Somehow the secondary Bios from the Nitro+ card dosn't work on the MSI card.
I have a good Vega 64 MSI reference card at the moment. However, I have found a mint condition Vega64 with that Aluminium cover for 390(Euro). This card doesn't come up very often, I really want to pull the trigger on this one.
Should I decide against this Limited Edition and gamble for the maybe/maybe not working Vega 7?
(Somehow the secondary Bios from the Nitro+ card dosn't work on the MSI card.
I'm fully confident the Radeon VII will work in macOS. It may just be a few weeks before the graphics accelerator driver is included with a macOS update. We also don't know if there will be any issues with regards to the fan or sleep, etc. You may want to hang tight for a few weeks to see how it pans out. If you feel like being a guinea pig and have the funds to purchase a Radeon VII then by all means do so. The aluminum cover Vega 64 looks nice, but it will operate identically to your current card. The Radeon VII is a significant upgrade.
You made my day, Andrew! This sounds really great. I can't believe how lucky we 5.1clubbers are when it comes to modern desktop GPU's. That also means that an internal Vega7 in a cMP will be way better, then a second Vega 56 in an eGPU box (PCIe expansion)
I will absolutely wait for the Vega7, that would be heaven on earth for my needs! If this Vega7 will work, I am baffled, speechless...
Let's manifest this hope into reality, guys!
Yes, flashing with ATIWinFlash (as admin) works without problem in Windows 10 via eGPU. Be sure you installed AMD drivers and XConnect is active.
The Alphacool Eiswolf is highly efficient, was a great investment. I'm using it with my GTX 1080 Ti (overclocked, 300 Watt). Temperatures never go higher than 54° C. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-hackintosh-thread.1900326/page-24#post-24845743
And yes, I guess it would be doable in a Mac Pro. The Eiswolf needs to be powered with three fan connectors (4-Pin-PWM), one for the pump an two for the fans on the radiator.
Last edited:
Hello all!
This is just another "thank you" ... this forum is so helpful - wouldn't enjoy my current mac as much as I do without it...
First when I went into the "mac pro business" I did get the Sapphire Pulse RX Vega 56. Worked ok, but at the time I got the Highpoint SSD Card the more than 2 slots width became an issue....
... and so I got myself a Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB. That one did work quite fine as well... and I have to admit I didn't miss anything. but..... yeah .. why... but, I "needed"/wanted more ...
... recently I did get a Sapphire Vega 64 (reference design) for a reasonable price; did flash the 2nd BIOS from a Nitro+ into it (as described in the 1st post) -> and it's just working great!!! And I even do not(!) need to run any video to make the fan spin down after heavy usage...
This is just another "thank you" ... this forum is so helpful - wouldn't enjoy my current mac as much as I do without it...
First when I went into the "mac pro business" I did get the Sapphire Pulse RX Vega 56. Worked ok, but at the time I got the Highpoint SSD Card the more than 2 slots width became an issue....
... and so I got myself a Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB. That one did work quite fine as well... and I have to admit I didn't miss anything. but..... yeah .. why... but, I "needed"/wanted more ...
... recently I did get a Sapphire Vega 64 (reference design) for a reasonable price; did flash the 2nd BIOS from a Nitro+ into it (as described in the 1st post) -> and it's just working great!!! And I even do not(!) need to run any video to make the fan spin down after heavy usage...
great, it‘s just great to follow along how other people try this and have success. afaik i was the first to try the reference rx vega 56 with nitro+ 56 bios flash. and i‘m also still so very happy with the result! especially with mojave it‘s absolutely flawless.
so i also have to thank this forum again for all this!
keep it up everybody! we still have a way to go until the new mac pro comes out (and will hopefully be worth the wait)
Currently running 10.14.2 in my 2010 MacPro with a Sapphire Vega 64 WO any problems. Has anyone Updated to 10.14.3 that is running a Vega 56 or 64?
Cheers
Cheers