I just found Dortania's GPU Buyers Guide while doing some googling so I'll see if I can get this working.
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MP All Models AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / 6900 XT for macOS?
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For all your questions (and yes, you have to do it in a 5,1):
Open your config.plist
Find "NVRAM" key.
In this key you'll find ("Add" section):
XML:
<key>7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82</key>
<dict>
<key>boot-args</key>
<string>keepsyms=1 debug=0x100 -lilubetaall ipc_control_port_options=0 -revasset</string>nvram command in the terminal) are contained in the <string> section. Should you have some arguments there already, leave them in place and just add more. Note: some of them use "-" and some not, this is important.
I have created a patch that allows AMD RX6600/RX6800/RX6900 cards to work on a Mac Pro 4,1/5,1 (and maybe a 3,1? I have no idea if that's even possible). I examined ROM dumps of RX6600/6600XT and RX6800/6800XT/6900XT from various manufacturers, and every one I looked at used the same (broken) AMD reference code in the x86_64 EFI section (the manufacturer-specific differences are in the non-EFI section). While it's certainly possible that some cards won't do that, it looks like a one-size-fits-all patch may be possible here. (As with all such things, this comes without any warranty, use at your own risk, the usual caveats apply.)
I do not possess an RX6x00 card to test with. @caingraywood was generous enough to perform tests on his XFX SWFT309 RX6800XT and Sapphire Nitro+ RX6900XT cards. Many thanks to him.
(NOTE that this has been tested on RX6800XT and RX6900XT, but the RX6600/6600XT has NOT yet been tested. There is no reason it shouldn't work, but you should be aware that if you try it, you're the tester. Please let me know if you do try an RX6600/6600XT.)
Because I don't have one of these cards, I can't offer any real assistance with the flashing process. As I understand it, the ATIflash/AMDVBFlash utilities will work with the RX6x00 cards, but you'll need to investigate this on your own (and hopefully post your findings here, so others can benefit as well). (Note that @caingraywood was using a hardware flasher for his tests, so I don't think he can offer software flashing advice, either.)
Attached is a ZIP file containing a MacOS program namedFixRX6x00ROM. It's a command-line program you run from a Terminal session. You should not need any special permissions; however, programs sometimes lose their executable mode bits when using ZIP, so you may need to executechmod 755 FixRX6x00ROMafter unzipping.
You'll need to acquire a dump of your current ROM, using whatever means you have available (ATIflash/AMDVBFlash/other). Once you have that, make a copy and put it somewhere safe, then you can run./FixRX6x00ROM {filename}from a Terminal session (e.g../FixRX6x00ROM RX6800XT.XFX.SWFT309.original.BIN)
FixRX6x00ROMdoes the following:
- Reads the dump of your current ROM, verifies that it's of the expected format
- Searches the dump of your current ROM for the AMD Reference code (6600 or 6800/6900).
- If the AMD Reference code is found, replaces it with the correct (6600 or 6800/6900) patched code.
- Creates a patched file named the same as the original, but with ".PATCHED" appended (e.g.
RX6800XT.XFX.SWFT309.original.BIN.PATCHED). Your original ROM dump file is left unmodified.
If your current ROM does not appear to be properly formatted, or it does not contain the AMD Reference code,FixRX6x00ROMwill display an appropriate message and do nothing else. If the patcher fails for your ROM, please zip up the ROM dump and PM it to me. I'll take a look at it when I can.
IfFixRX6x00ROMsuccessfully patches your ROM, you can then flash the patched ROM back to your video card (again, using whatever means you determine to be appropriate), and it should then work with MacOS. IMPORTANT NOTE: apparently, for the RX6x00(XT) to work with MacOS, you'll need to be running OpenCore, WhateverGreen, Lilu, and includeagdpmod=pikerain your boot-args. Failure to do this will almost certainly result in a black screen after booting. (Again, I don't have a card to play with, so any questions regarding the boot-args or the specific configuration of OpenCore, WhateverGreen, and/or Lilu need to be asked of someone else.)
The patch itself is only five bytes. The EFI code in the ROM is compressed, though, so making any change causes the entire EFI section to change - that's why, if you compare your original ROM file and the patched ROM file, you'll see a lot more than 5 bytes changed.
IMPORTANT: This patch does not attempt to provide pre-boot support (e.g. it won't let you see the native Apple boot picker). If you require that, MVC apparently provides that functionality. This patch simply fixes the bug in the AMD code that prevented the card from booting properly. With the patch, these cards should behave just like any other non-Mac video card - black screen until either OpenCore initializes or the MacOS drivers load.
ALSO: The patch does not modify clock speeds, temperature thresholds, timing data, or anything other than the EFI initialization process - if you've tweaked your card, the tweaks should still be there after patching (alternatively, you can tweak the card after patching as well, assuming your tweak program doesn't overwrite the patch).
The patched ROMs have also been tested on a non-Mac system. The nature of the patch is such that it shouldn't affect operation on non-Mac systems (i.e. it should work just fine on a Windows or Linux system), and small-scale testing supports that. I'm interested to hear if anyone finds an exception where a non-Mac doesn't work properly.
And before anyone asks: even though patching the Mac Pro BootROM seems like the cleaner solution (which would allow these cards to work unmodified), that's a much larger project that creates some new problems of its own. In this case, patching individual cards is actually the better solution, at least IMHO.
[EDIT: to cut down on the back-and-forth between MacOS and Windows during this process, in a later post I attached both a Windows (command-line) version of the patcher program and copies of various RX6x00 ROMs from TechPowerUp, already pre-patched.]
Courtesy of @caingraywood:
And now, back to the AVX integration problem that's been driving me up the wall...
[EDIT (for clarity): that last sentence refers to my AVX emulator, which is an entirely separate project that has nothing to do with the RX6x00 patch. I only detoured into the RX6x00 code because I was frustrated with the AVX project
Thanks for all of your hard work with the patch. One question though, would this ROM patch work on a Sapphire Pulse RX 6700 (Non XT) (Navi 22)? Even if I can only use it for windows 11 on my 5,1 for now.
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Why patch a non-supported by macOS GPU? You are trying to boot just Windows with your MacPro5,1?
Apple still do not support Navi 22 (RX 6700 or 6700XT) GPUs, even with Ventura.
Yes unfortunately Apple still do not support it. I bought the card new hoping that support would be added by Apple soon. I would be happy to use it just in Windows for now. I have a dual boot system. Monterey and Windows 11 on separate ssd's. I must admit that I didn't research the support of the 6700 non xt enough before purchase. I wanted a solid upgrade on my RX 580 4gb. The Sapphire 6700 was at a very good price!
You should confirm with Syncretic if it's even possible to patch and if he has time to develop it.
If even is possible to patch, only Windows will work.
I'd replace the card, you did a poor purchase, thinking that it would work with macOS or MacPro5,1. Doesn't matter if the card is plain 6700 or 6700 XT, it's the NAVI 22 GPU that is not supported by Apple/AMD GPU drivers.
Even if Apple starts to support it sometime in the future, will be with Ventura and with a driver that is already compiled with AVX2.0 requirement. This card and any other NAVI 22 based GPU most probably will never work with a MacPro5,1 and macOS.
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Ok. Yes it probably was a poor purchase. Yes I will confirm with Syncretic, although it might be best to see if I can return the card. Thanks for your help and have a great day!
Well i have the Sapphire Pulse RX 6700 (non xt) working on my Mac Pro 5,1 on Windows 11 and Monterey (without acceleration ). I used the patch that Syncretic made for the RX 6x00.
Attachments
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It's far from "working" if not accelerated, though.
Just because it is not working in Mac OS, does not mean it is far from working does it? It works on my 5,1 now with a patch that was uncertain to work on a Navi 22 gpu thanks to Syncretic. I sent my Rom to Syncretic after I ran the patch for him to look at.
I have it fully working in Windows 11 Pro edition and as most of us with 3,1’s 4,1’s and 5,1’s would be able to run Big Sur, Monterey and Ventura without boot loaders and patches because they are not supported by those operating systems, then surely we have hope with unsupported Gpu’s and other hardware. Ventura was never supposed to run at all on my 5,1 and yet it is fully working other than Gpu, Bluetooth and wifi.
Bluetooth and wifi was fixed with Monterey using opencore and yet that never worked in Big Sur and most people added different Bluetooth and wifi cards on their early Mac Pro’s just to have it working in Big Sur. I didn’t. I waited. I am glad I did too.
Do we all give up on our older Mac Pro’s and other macs just because they are unsupported now?
He is right, you are trying to justify your incorrect purchase. Fine if you only want to run Windows with your MacPro5,1, since this card probably will never be accelerated with a MacPro5,1 - I've already explained to you exactly why. #1,331
No I am not. I wanted this card. Not the 6600 xt or the over priced 6800 or 6900 xt. There is always hope. I was surprised how many people contacted apple support and have wanted this card to work on Apple support. Mostly the 6700 xt.
Shall i just throw my unsupported 5,1 Mac pro in the garbage then????
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To want a card that is not supported? Weird.
You are literally in hope that a lot of things suddenly start to align in your favor, like Apple starts supporting a NAVI 22 GPU with Ventura and that someway we get can an emulator for AVX2.0 working that will make Ventura GPU drivers that are complied with AVX2.0 requirement to run with processors without AVX2.0. Everything is possible, but it's probable? Right now the answer is no.
Also Apple doesn't add support for GPUs to past macOS releases, even if Apple adds support with Ventura, a NAVI 22 based GPU will never be accelerated with past macOS releases.
You can throw it in the garbage, it's yours, but what this have anything to do with macOS GPU support? Your line of reasoning to justify your bad purchase doesn't stand here, nor your answer.
Umm... no... What you should have done is buy a card that is supported (can be patched via Syncretic's method, which both the 67xx series nor 6X5x series cannot).
Your failed logic is like me buying an RTX 4090 "hoping" that apple will someday, somehow, repair their relationship with Nvidia and put in the effort to release drivers to a past OS (which they will sunset), and then getting mad and crying about it when it doesn't work...
Return the card if you still can, and purchase a 6600 series or a 6800/6900 series, which CAN BE PATCHED.
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You could ditch it and go for a PC workstation:
https://www.pugetsystems.com/
It’s your money however. Eventually the 5,1 will have to go, it’s already very old. As much as we love them, it’s a classic machine.
You could also get a second hand 7,1 and run Windows 11 on it and use whatever GPU you want provided it fits and is within power requirements. Windows 11 runs very well on that machine.
Eventually even “supported” cards will get out of date.
I want to keep it. I wanted a 6800 or 6900 gpu. Prices are crazy right now. I did not want a 6600 either. In fact none of these cards were even an option before Syncretic made a patch, Remember? I am just fed up with the attacks.
I had a G5 Powermac years ago. Water cooled back then. Damn good computer and then Apple went over to Intel! I will be heading next to a 7,1 and skipping the crazy trashcan version. Not my cup of tea!
You purchased the wrong card, and no matter how you try to get around the fact, you made a mistake in that purchase. it's not supported and never will be. No one is attacking you either, just pointing out the fact it wont work as you want it too. We all make mistakes, but being able to accept that mistake is the key.
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RX 6700 is super expensive potato in your Mac. For the price of RX 6700 you could buy used RX 6800 which is 1000x faster in macOS (acceleration) or much cheaper 6600 XT which would still be 1000x faster than RX 6700. Just sell this crap.
I didn’t want to dogpile on - but I had a bit of a WTF there.
I worked at a place that bought 30 of them. Every single one of them died due to coolant leaks. Every single one was eventually replaced by Apple with a Mac Pro under AppleCare. Every. Single. One.
There are a lot of "notable figures" in the Apple-centric blogaratti who profess ideas about water cooling that are based on Apple's one attempt at it - as if Apple was bitten by an inevitability, rather than they just designed and manufactured a garbage implementation.