Hey Folks,
Lets start a discussion and collect everything relevant for cMP upgraders out there.
Topics to consider:
CPU Upgrade Resources
Storage
-- How to make NVMe natively bootable on 5,1 via firmware Hack --
GPU Upgrades
forums.macrumors.com
Bluetooth / WiFi Upgrades
USB 3.x Upgrades
Thunderbolt
Other PCIe Upgrades
Catalina
Big Sur
Windows
OpenCore
Useful Resources and Links
Lets start a discussion and collect everything relevant for cMP upgraders out there.
Topics to consider:
- CPU Upgrades
- Compatibility chart
- CPU Delid / standoffs
- 4,1 to 5,1 firmware upgrade
- Memory Compatibility and Upgrades
- UDIMM Model Numbers
- RDIMM Model Numbers
- RAM Configurations
- Storage
- SATA II -> SATA III
- nVMe vs AHCI PCIe storage | Will it boot?
- RAID Controllers SATA/SAS
- Harddrive caddies to fit 2.5" into original 3.5" bays
- GPU Upgrades and caveats
- List of officially supported cards
- nvida vs AMD
- How to nvidia
- How to AMD
- Bootscreen with GT120 or Flashing
- External Power-supply
- Displays for professionals / budgeteers
- Bluetooth WiFi Upgrade for handoff / watch unlock
- USB 3.0 / 3.1 Support
- Thunderbolt
- Other PCIe upgrades
- List of Links to other resources / tutorials
CPU Upgrade Resources
-- Mac Pro CPU Compatibility List -- {Start Here}
-- How to Upgrade the CPU --
-- How to check the actual CPU clock speed --
-- Delid / Xeon IHS Removal --
-- 4,1 to 5,1 Firmware Upgrade --
http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,852.0.html (site no longer available)
For firmware flashed, the common errors are
1) Didn't use a Mac EFI GPU
2) The current firmware is NOT B07 or B08
3) Didn't download and mount the required ROM image
4) Didn't disable SIP (For El Capitan or later)
5) Didn't shutdown -> press and hold the power button (but making a warm reboot)
6) The hard drive is not supported (this is a unknown error so far. No idea which hard drive is good. A hard drive can be completely normal for OS operation, but only cannot perform the firmware upgrade)
Note on MP4,1>MP5,1 with Mojave: There is a thread discussing audio issues in Mojave 10.14.4 with GAINESTOWN (Xeon 5500-series) processors. Review your setup before updating.
Memory Compatibility and Resources-- Good starting guides --
- https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/faq/mac-pro-mid-2010-westmere-how-to-upgrade-memory.html
-- Mac Pro RAM Compatibility List --
-- 32GB DIMM discussion --
-- The max demonstrated memory size limit so far, 160GB --
Storage
{PCIe SSD}
-- Summary for PCIe SSDs --
-- MAX speed storage upgrade for cMP --
-- Bootable NGFF PCIe SSD --
-- PCIe NVMe --
-- How to boot from NVMe / USB 3.0 --
OBSOLETE INFORMATION - DON'T USE IT - Upgrade to 144.0.0.0.0
-- How to achieve 3000MB/s with a single PCIe SSD on cMP --
-- How to make drives on PCIe cards ident as internal --
{PCIe SATA III card}
-- OWC Accelsior S discussion (PCIe SATA III card) --
-- Apricorn Velocity DUO discussion --
-- Sonnect Tempo SSD Pro vs OWC Accelsior --
{HDD}
-- High capacity HDD upgrade (Important fix at post #43) --
{Boot time}
-- Will boot time be improved by upgrading from SATA SSD to PCIe SSD? --
GPU Upgrades
-- AirOut - How to fix high PCIe / PSU fan speed after GPU upgrade --
-- How to disable SIP with non MacOS natively supported GPU (non Mac EFI flashed) --
-- High Resolutions @60Hz and HiDPI fix for old Macs --
-- How to get HiDPI boot screen with flashed graphics card --
-- How to get audio from HDMI or Display Port --
-- Why my GPU's CineBench score is so low (post #56 to #68) --
-- How to avoid driver issue in Windows 10 for multi GPU setup (e.g. GT120) --
-- How to drive the LG 5K Ultrafine display on cMP (full 5120x2880 resolution) --
-- How to boot Mojave with both GT120 + RX580 installed --
-- PCIe fan mount mod for long graphic cards --
-- How to flash the Mac to enable UEFI GOP boot screen --
{AMD}
-- AMD Polaris (RX 4xx, RX 5xx) & Vega GPUs --
-- Golden Guide to Flashing GPUs --
-- AMD card 5 GT/s resistor mod -- (NOT required anymore with BootROM 138.0.0.0.0)
-- How to make a Mac EFI ROM for HD 7950, HD 7970, R9 280, R9 280X --
- fixrom script from Netkas forum (site no longer available)
-- How to fix the Sapphire HD 7950 Mac Edition card flickering issue --
-- How to check the GPU temperature and fan speed --
-- How to install rEFInd (special build) to get boot screen from unflashed AMD GPU --
-- How to enable H264 hardware accel and HEVC hardware decode --
-- How to boost AMD GPU performance in macOS --
-- How to install AMD driver for Mac Pro 7,1 GPU in Windows --
-- How to flash a graphic card without Windows --
-- How to flash a 6000 series card to make it can boot on cMP --
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / 6900 XT for macOS?
By design, the Mac Pro EFI BootROM uses UGA (an older standard) for screen output. Mac-compatible cards provide UGA, which lets you see the native boot picker and the early boot screens (before MacOS loads). Without a UGA-compatible card (i.e. with non-Mac/PC cards), you'll see a black screen...
forums.macrumors.com
{NVIDIA}
-- Latest Nvidia Web Drivers --
-- Frequently Asked Questions About NVIDIA PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards --
-- GTX 680 2GB and 4GB Mac EFI flashing --
-- How to avoid "black screen" when update MacOS and web driver (non EFI GPU) --
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-update-with-non-flashed-gtx-1080ti.2045822/#post-25678371
-- List of MacOS versions with links to their equivalent Nvidia Web Driver versions --
-- How to "fix" web driver issues by force installing the older driver --
- https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nvidia-webdriver-w-high-sierra-problem.2115396/#post-25989297
Bluetooth / WiFi Upgrades
-- DIY Guide --
-- I don't care about $$ option --
-- Continuity Activation Tool --
-- How to activate Handoff WITHOUT CAT --
-- How to select Bluetooth adaptor (without physically disable the internal BT) --
-- How to make BCM4332 works in Catalina and Big Sur --
-- Internal USB hub mod for BT to work in Ventura --
USB 3.x Upgrades
-- Everything you need to know --
Thunderbolt
-- Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card discussion --
-- How to have TB3 without Windows "hand shake" --
Other PCIe Upgrades
-- 10Gb ethernet PCIe card discussion --
-- High Sierra native support for 10Gb ethernet --
-- Modify Intel 10Gb NICs to use macOS Small Tree drivers --
-- Amfeltec x4 PCIe Express 4 way splitter --
Catalina
-- How to mount system volume as read-write in Catalina --
-- How to install and run Catalina on cMP WITHOUT Dosdude patch --
-- How to fix unbootable Catalina Recovery Partition --
-- How to install Catalina via OpenCore --
Big Sur
-- How to enable Big Sur support on Mac Pro 5,1 --
-- How to enable BCM4322 in Big Sur --
-- How to recover multi monitor support in Big Sur with HWAccel enabled --
Windows
-- How to install Windows and switch between different OS without boot screen --
-- How to install Windows in legacy mode without a DVD --
-- How to install Windows in EFI mode safely with OpenCore --
-- How to install Windows in EFI mode via Virtualbox --
-- How to convert legacy installed Windows to EFI Windows --
-- How to make your own "BootChamp" --
-- How to "bridge boot" Next Loader via OpenCore (for legacy Windows selection) --
-- How to "bridge boot" legacy Windows via OpenCore (extensive version) --
OpenCore
-- Everything about OpenCore on Mac Pro --
-- Pre configured OpenCore package for Mac Pro 5,1 --
-- How to change disk label in boot picker --
-- How to make multiple drives on a single PCIe card as internal --
Useful Resources and Links
-- Pixlas mod | PSU | CPU | GPU --
-- Pin layout --
-- How to Install Auxiliary PSU without drilling (requires soldering) --
-- All We Know About Maximizing CPU Related Performance --
-- How to fix the Northbridge heat sink revet --
-- How to upgrade to High Sierra WITHOUT converting to APFS --
-- How to download the old OSX / macOS installer --
-- How to install Mojave --
-- How to boot to Recovery Partition if "Command + R" doesn't work --
-- How to control brightness on 3rd party monitor "natively" --
-- How to Control HDMI / DP audio volume --
-- How to enable FileVault on Mojave --
-- How to make 3rd party fans work properly on cMP --
-- Noctua fan mod for cMP --
-- Everything about 5,1 BootROM --
-- Can I mix use 2009/2010/2012 Mac Pro CPU Tray --
-- How to check the NVRAM's main VSS free space --
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