MP All Models AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / 6900 XT for macOS?

[avro707]

In case you're curious (and you missed it when I posted it a while back) My 5,1 with RX-6800XT

Yeah, your 5,1 is going great! I remember seeing it.

The primary reason for the upgrade on this 5,1 was that I use this computer for Zwift - it needs better graphics performance, but in that room there is enough heat with me cycling on a Kickr Bike - I don't need the Mac Pro heater helping me, except in winter of course! The RX6600GT runs cooler.

 

[prefuse07]

Yeah, your 5,1 is going great! I remember seeing it.

The primary reason for the upgrade on this 5,1 was that I use this computer for Zwift - it needs better graphics performance, but in that room there is enough heat with me cycling on a Kickr Bike - I don't need the Mac Pro heater helping me, except in winter of course! The RX6600GT runs cooler.

🤣 I can just picture it now!

It truly is excellent though, that you can keep it going, even after 13-14 years of service!

 

[flowrider]

Comparison between old 6 core X5690 5,1 with RX6600XT and my modern 7,1 16 core W3245 with the W6800X MPX module:

View attachment 2144902 View attachment 2144903

The old machine isn't too bad. I didn't get any benchmarks of it from RX580 days however.

My NCMP 16 core with a gigabyte RX6800XT does:



Lou

 

[MisterAndrew]

Here's mine. A little slower is expected from a workstation GPU, but it's still pretty good.

 

[avro707]

Nice, I expected mine would be a little slower being a workstation GPU.

Someone will join with the W6800X Duo I hope.

I wonder how the AMD reference W6800X 32GB would go in the 5,1 CMP…

🤣 I can just picture it now!

It truly is excellent though, that you can keep it going, even after 13-14 years of service!

Yes, they are solid machines both the 5,1 and 7,1. The place I got the GPU and eGPU from were curious about my use for them.

They were even more interested in my 12 core 6,1 for how it was engineered versus the small form factor high spec PCs coming out.

 

[mattspace]

I wonder how the AMD reference W6800X 32GB would go in the 5,1 CMP…

Someone posted here a while back about having set one up, but I can't recall if they kept it.

 

[avro707]

Someone posted here a while back about having set one up, but I can't recall if they kept it.

That was the one I was thinking of. Could be an alternative if someone needs something MPX-like in their old 5,1 machine.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

Here's mine with 6900xt wonder if the new Mac pro AS can live with this.

 

[mattspace]

That was the one I was thinking of. Could be an alternative if someone needs something MPX-like in their old 5,1 machine.

I mean looking at things right now in Australia - a genuine 2012 5,1 dual 3.46 that hasn't been molested, you're looking at around AUD$2k, another AUD$3k for the w6800 new.

There is nothing new in Apple's range for AUD$5k that could touch that in terms of ram, display support, gpu processing etc.

And stepping up to a 7,1 new - it's what, AUD$15-17k for a machine with a w6800x mpx. It's nuts just how big a hole there is in the available range.

 

[avro707]

I mean looking at things right now in Australia - a genuine 2012 5,1 dual 3.46 that hasn't been molested, you're looking at around AUD$2k, another AUD$3k for the w6800 new.

There is nothing new in Apple's range for AUD$5k that could touch that in terms of ram, display support, gpu processing etc.

And stepping up to a 7,1 new - it's what, AUD$15-17k for a machine with a w6800x mpx. It's nuts just how big a hole there is in the available range.

Yes that’s true. There is still money in the old 5,1 for people who need that kind of machine. Interesting to note our newer GPUs go well against the newest Mac processors:

Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance of M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips

The first graphics-focused benchmark results have surfaced for Apple's M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, offering a closer look at GPU performance...

www.macrumors.com

 

[MisterAndrew]

Here's mine with 6900xt wonder if the new Mac pro AS can live with this.

If the M2 Ultra offers 30% improvement over M1 Ultra (like M2 Max over M1 Max) then it definitely won't come close.

 

[prefuse07]

If the M2 Ultra offers 30% improvement over M1 Ultra (like M2 Max over M1 Max) then it definitely won't come close.

Yup, confirmed -- I just found this (it was the highest score I could find without digging too deep and too far back).

This is a top spec'd Studio:

If the M2 only increases by 30%, then it will take them to ~121,700, which will STILL get smoked by an RX-6800XT (in my lowly 5,1 at that)

 

[Matty_TypeR]

Looking at the above you could see why Apple will never release drivers for the 7900XT or XTX as it would most likely be double the score of AS M2 variants.

 

[MisterAndrew]

I think they will if the new one supports AMD graphics. And I think it will, but we’ll have to wait to see. I’m expecting W7800X and W7900X MPX modules.

 

[Pressure]

Yup, confirmed -- I just found this (it was the highest score I could find without digging too deep and too far back).

This is a top spec'd Studio:

View attachment 2145516


If the M2 only increases by 30%, then it will take them to ~121,700, which will STILL get smoked by an RX-6800XT (in my lowly 5,1 at that)

The M2 Max gets 86805.

The M1 Ultra has poor scaling going over the UltraFusion connection it appears.

 

[bullystoke]

lookign at getting a 6900xt for my 7.1 but concerned about the PCIe layout

currently running pro vega II and the pegasus r4i taking up the bottom 4 slots, any ideas how i can work around adding a 6900xt, or will it be able to fit on the top section?

tried to find some videos on youtube or forum posts here but no one with a similar setup it seems so wondering what is possible?

dont need the 6900xt to output to any monitors as i will be using purely for render performance in c4d/Octane, so beleive i still need my MPX module at the base for my outputs?

any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[StoneJack]

I mean looking at things right now in Australia - a genuine 2012 5,1 dual 3.46 that hasn't been molested, you're looking at around AUD$2k, another AUD$3k for the w6800 new.

There is nothing new in Apple's range for AUD$5k that could touch that in terms of ram, display support, gpu processing etc.

And stepping up to a 7,1 new - it's what, AUD$15-17k for a machine with a w6800x mpx. It's nuts just how big a hole there is in the available range.

I use RX 6600 XT, very nice GPU.

 

[mattspace]

I use RX 6600 XT, very nice GPU.

Yeah, that's on my radar as an option - did you need to do anything to it using a windows machine to make it work before installing it in the cMP?

 

[mattspace]

dont need the 6900xt to output to any monitors as i will be using purely for render performance in c4d/Octane, so beleive i still need my MPX module at the base for my outputs?

Put it in an eGPU and connect via thunderbolt?

 

[StoneJack]

Yeah, that's on my radar as an option - did you need to do anything to it using a windows machine to make it work before installing it in the cMP?

It is Sapphire RX6600, nothing to do, use out of box.

 

[tsialex]

It is Sapphire RX6600, nothing to do, use out of box.

To use where exactly? 2019 Mac Pro?

 

[avro707]

Yeah, that's on my radar as an option - did you need to do anything to it using a windows machine to make it work before installing it in the cMP?

You need to put it in a windows machine and flash the firmware with the corrected version linked in this thread.

If not then you’ll run into the issue where it will not start on a 5,1 CMP.

If you use a 7,1 with windows for this flash step, use an eGPU to connect it and be careful after flashing to repair the MPX module’s video drivers afterwards immediately after disconnecting the EGPU. That’s to correct a driver issue I had giving me a blank screen after I went back into windows.

On a 5,1 the same dual mini 6 pin to 8 pin power cable (for RX580) also works for RX6600XT.

For 7,1 if you want to use the card internally you have to buy the Belkin AUX power cable set.

Word of caution for RX6800XT and RX6900XT - those require much more power and also beware that they will physically fit.

 

[flowrider]

For 7,1 if you want to use the card internally you have to buy the Belkin AUX power cable set.

For a 7,1 NcMP you can use the Belkin cable or a Bidirectional USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable:

Monoprice Bidirectional USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable - 4K@60Hz, Black, 6ft - Monoprice.com

No longer will you be limited by the direction of your cable! This Bidirectional USB-C? to DisplayPort? Cable allows you to connect your legacy DisplayPort devices to your newest USB-C enabled display

www.monoprice.com

With the bidirectional you will lose the Brightness setting in System setting settings and the USB ports on the display will be dead. The brightness can be rectified with 3rd party software.

EDIT - There MAY be an additional option? I just ordered this cable:

WJESOG DisplayPort to USB C Cable 6.6ft 4K@60Hz with USB Cable Adapter,DP Male to Type-C Male Converter Support Touch with Nreal Air VR, MacBook Pro/Air 2020/2018, iPad Pro/Air, XPS

Displayport to USB C Cable 6.6ft 4K@60Hz

www.amazon.com

I'll post up results once received.

Lou

 

[StoneJack]

To use where exactly? 2019 Mac Pro?

Almost. I use it in my Hack iMacPro with Intel i9 10950, 32GB of RAM.

 

[Nermal]

Almost. I use it in my Hack iMacPro with Intel i9 10950, 32GB of RAM.

So you're not using it in a Mac at all then?