MP 1,1-5,1 cMP {classicMacPro}{4,1 & 5,1} - Upgrade Guide Sticky Discussion

[kschendel]

The Mac Pro CPU Compatibility thread front post will have any info on steppings etc. For the X5680/90 I don't see anything noted. The CPU model (X5680 etc) implies the "type" that you are concerned about, i.e. X5680 *is* a Dual Xeon.

I don't know about the RAM, but I will say that unless you are running CPU / memory bandwidth limited applications, which are pretty rare IMO, you'll never see the difference. I'd say don't worry about it, boot it up with pram/smc resets after you put the CPU's in, and see what speed the memory is running at. If it's still 1066 you can upgrade the RAM at your leisure but I wouldn't make it a priority by any means.

 

[h9826790]

Would 3x Samsung 16 GB Sticks (M393B2K70CM0-YF8) work in a 4-core Mac Pro 2010 (original, not flashed)?

http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/dram/module/M393B2K70CM0-YF8/

Thanks,
Magnus

Most likely can run at 3x16GB config but not guarantee. You should go for 2Rx4 DIMM, but not 4Rx4.

 

[ActionableMango]

I am looking at getting a mac pro 2010 duel 2.4 quad core.

Also regarding ram, currently it has 16GB 1066mhz, would it be likely that i need to eventually upgrade Ram, or do they tend to put in 1333mhz ram but is currently just running lower due to the current cpu.

A genuine 5,1 came stock with 1333 RAM. When paired with a 1333 CPU it will run at 1333.

The 4,1 came stock with 1066 RAM. So if you buy a non-genuine 5,1 (4,1 flashed to 5,1 and seller does not disclose this), then the stock RAM is 1066 and will stay that way even with a 1333 CPU.

 

[XNorth]

Since the Mojave era is upon us, would be great if this sticky guide was updated with recommendations for Mac EFI and Metal supported cards.

 

[orph]

worth adding windows install instructions, it's a fairly common question both bootcamp and on to a second drive.
ie bootcamp install on same drive use bootcamp
for install on independent drive pull all hard drives and pci cards (just have one GPU installed) then boot to the windows installer usb/DVD, install windows drivers ect then shut down and reinstall all drives and pci cards.

h9826790@ GPU power explorations, they helped me relax about my gtx 770

native nvidia driver gpu's 620/650/660/670/680/770
require nvidia driver 750ti/780/970/980/1070/1080

think the 970/1070 work ok from memory & maybe the 650TI or 750TI had problems in osx at one point dont know if they where fixed

was it only revision A GTX 780's (or was it the TI) work with native drivers rev B have problems, only way to check is to look at the chip ie remove heat sink and look at text on the GPU core

from memory all cards that use native driver work with few problems but think the lower gtx9xx/10xx cards can be more buggy/don't work with the native or nvidia drivers

got to say relay cool topic, good work

edit
ill come back later and clean that up if anyone thinks it's helpful

Turn a "new" Sapphire RX580 PULSE into the "Mac Edition" card-
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...x580-pulse-into-the-mac-edition-card.2101909/

good topic to add to the ATI section if it's still relevant info

 

[h9826790]

worth adding windows install instructions, it's a fairly common question both bootcamp and on to a second drive.
ie bootcamp install on same drive use bootcamp
for install on independent drive pull all hard drives and pci cards (just have one GPU installed) then boot to the windows installer usb/DVD, install windows drivers ect then shut down and reinstall all drives and pci cards.

h9826790@ GPU power explorations, they helped me relax about my gtx 770

native nvidia driver gpu's 620/650/660/670/680/770
require nvidia driver 750ti/780/970/980/1070/1080

think the 970/1070 work ok from memory & maybe the 650TI or 750TI had problems in osx at one point dont know if they where fixed

was it only revision A GTX 780's (or was it the TI) work with native drivers rev B have problems, only way to check is to look at the chip ie remove heat sink and look at text on the GPU core

from memory all cards that use native driver work with few problems but think the lower gtx9xx/10xx cards can be more buggy/don't work with the native or nvidia drivers

got to say relay cool topic, good work

edit
ill come back later and clean that up if anyone thinks it's helpful

Turn a "new" Sapphire RX580 PULSE into the "Mac Edition" card-
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...x580-pulse-into-the-mac-edition-card.2101909/

good topic to add to the ATI section if it's still relevant info

The link to install Windows without boot screen is actually included, but the title was about how to switch between Windows and macOS. Now I corrected the title to make it clear.

I am not sure if there is any good post about how to use Bootcamp to install Windows on a partition (share use the same drive with macOS). Most members doesn't do that, and I've heard that Bootcamp in High Sierra doesn't work well with cMP. If you have any good link, please post it here, I can put that into the sticky thread.

For Nvidia cards' supportability already included in another sticky thread.

AFAIK, that Rev A / B issue was fixed some time ago, now all 780 should be natively supported (assume running the latest macOS).

That RX580 ROM mod thread is included already, the 3rd link under the AMD section. It's hidden inside the RX4xx / RX5xx section. May be a bit hard to fine, but since this mod is not required anymore the current OS, may be this is good enough.

 

[orph]

ah >.< im to slow then still relay cool sticky, already using the links in posts

 

[alphaod]

This is the first ever processor I delidded last night. I already sanded off all the solder, buffed the core to a shiny mirror, and installed this into my Mac Pro (along with the other processor that I delidded) and ran some tests. Seems to be working just fine.

However I want to get a replacement online… or am I fine?

The bottom capacity is a bit chipped.

 

[orph]

^^ well just saw this topic
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-13-4-mac-pro-2008-graphics-problems.2113393/
and for the first time found out my nvidia drivers where not correctly installed so about to run some tests, in the past iv had lots of random crashes with the nvidia drivers and now i know why i gess
may be worth sticking to the nvidia gpu section as "how to check drivers relay have installed"

 

[h9826790]

^^ well just saw this topic
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-13-4-mac-pro-2008-graphics-problems.2113393/
and for the first time found out my nvidia drivers where not correctly installed so about to run some tests, in the past iv had lots of random crashes with the nvidia drivers and now i know why i gess
may be worth sticking to the nvidia gpu section as "how to check drivers relay have installed"

Thanks for the suggestion, I actually re-read that whole thread again. May I know if your case is on a 3,1 or 4,1/5,1?

 

[orph]

on my 5.1 osx 12.6 gtx 770, looked at the post and noticed that i had no g-sync panel so ran the command line to install the driver and it worked (with SIP disabled).
last time i had tried to install the nvidia driver SIP was enabled (using normal web installer).

my 3.1 ruining osx 11 gtx660 also dose not have the g-sync panel so tonight ill check to see if it will update the same too.

in the past iv had lots of crashes when using the nvidia drivers so at the mo ruining them to see if i still hit the same problems, so far from light tests i see no speed change but atmonitor is correctly displaying GPU use for the first time since osx10.9? i think (used to display 50% use of gpu when it was at 100% use, now displays 100% odd bug?)

 

[orph]

yep with SIP enabled i was not able to install the web driver on my 3.1 osx 10.11 GTX 660 (G-sync panel missing ect)

 

[bsbeamer]

Was Gatekeeper also disabled?

With 10.13.6 and NVIDIA Web Drivers on authentic 5,1, the G-SYNC panel is available (but not active) with the GTX 1080 FE (not flashed) installed. Both SIP & Gatekeeper enabled.

 

[orph]

hum now im not sure, there may not be a G-sync panel on osx10.11 or it's not installing even with sip and gatekeeper disabled.


as a plus with hardware monitor and fake SMC installed i can see all the info from my GTX660 temp, fan speed and core clock

 

[orph]

now apples hiding old versions of osx from me in the apple shop (why i got an apple ID ! to keep old versions of osx for troubleshooting)
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/309399/how-can-i-download-an-older-version-of-os-x-macos
has direct link to the apple shop for osx10.12 & osx10.13 installers

and AHT links https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

 

[msh]

I would like to try the firmware upgrade most immediately for Mac OS upgrade beyond El Cap, a little later for the hex CPU. I am a little wary but it seems to be tried and true by now. So give me a sanity check on what I might expect on my current system:

'09 single 2.66 cpu
firmware B07
32 GB 1066 ram (2 x 16 GB)
Boot drive on PCIe card with Samsung SSD
Boot clones on two separate SSDs attached via sata in internal optical bay
ZFS storage array in the 4 3.5" internal bays.
Radeon HD5770 Mac version

Can I install the firmware upgrade from the PCI boot drive under current El Cap?
I assume after successful installation that I can boot from the other drives normally?

 

[h9826790]

I would like to try the firmware upgrade most immediately for Mac OS upgrade beyond El Cap, a little later for the hex CPU. I am a little wary but it seems to be tried and true by now. So give me a sanity check on what I might expect on my current system:

'09 single 2.66 cpu
firmware B07
32 GB 1066 ram (2 x 16 GB)
Boot drive on PCIe card with Samsung SSD
Boot clones on two separate SSDs attached via sata in internal optical bay
ZFS storage array in the 4 3.5" internal bays.
Radeon HD5770 Mac version

Can I install the firmware upgrade from the PCI boot drive under current El Cap?
I assume after successful installation that I can boot from the other drives normally?

You can

 

[msh]

Thanks H. Where are the detailed instructions? I have downloaded the installer from NETKAS but no instructions. I know i have to disable SIP and do a hard reboot holding down the power on button 'til it flashes, right? What else?

 

[h9826790]

Thanks H. Where are the detailed instructions? I have downloaded the installer from NETKAS but no instructions. I know i have to disable SIP and do a hard reboot holding down the power on button 'til it flashes, right? What else?

You better read though that post in Netkas. It's all there.

e.g. Apart from SIP disabled. You still need to download the 5,1 firmware from Apple website, and mount it on the desktop, etc.

And NO, you don't NEED a "hard reboot". Normal SHUTDOWN, then press + hold power button is good enough. All you should avoid is "warm RESTART".

 

[msh]

Installed successfully first time under Yosemite. Thanks.

I see that the app store doesn't automatically offer an upgrade to mac os Sierra, so I am downloading it manually from Apple. I assume I have to install Sierra first before proceeding to High Sierra, right?

 

[kohlson]

I assume I have to install Sierra first before proceeding to High Sierra, right?

You should be able to go straight to HS.
This is a good time to see if you have lots of "helper" apps and rationalize accordingly. Check SysPrefs - Users & Groups and check the Login Items tab. Download Etrecheck after upgrading and see if there are any issues with apps or utilities that may conflict with HS.

 

[msh]

I am wary of APFS in High Sierra. Does it really add anything? Less file corruption? Better performance?

 

[bsbeamer]

I ran into issues with APFS in High Sierra during one of the point updates (10.13.2 or 10.13.3) and basically went back to HFS+ via cloning to an HFS+ formatted drive with Carbon Copy Cloner.

If you are not using an Apple issued SSD, there COULD be issues with APFS. Some people report no issues. Other report several issues. It was not consistent enough at that time to have a report of which SSDs (or which connections) cause issues vs. ones that do not.

Personally still on 10.13.6 with HFS+ on authentic 5,1 and not using APFS on any of my SSDs. Currently have 7 installed via SATA & PCI adapter. All are Samsung EVO 840, 850 and 860's.

 

[msh]

So there is an option to install without APFS?

I have been using OpenZFS for data on the four internal HDDs for several years and it has worked very well. From what I understand APFS is not nearly as robust as ZFS. On the other hand, I can't boot from a ZFS pool so APFS might offer some protection for the boot drive. This is a real concern as I just had my boot drive corrupted by a sudden crash from a bad logic board. Will APFS prevent that?

 

[bax2003]

This is my current Mac Pro configuration:

Mac Pro (8c) 4.1 -> 5.1
CPU: 2x 3.46GHz
RAM: 128GB DDR3 ECC (8x 16GB Micron MT36KSF2G72PZ-1G6P1KF)
GPU: Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Pulse 8GB
Boot Drive: 2x Samsung EVO 860 250GB in RAID0 (saving PCIe slots)


PCIe Cards: (tested)
Areca ARC-1882ix-12 (EFI Bootable)
Chelsio N320E 10GbE connected via Direct Attach Twinax Cable to NAS
Marvell 88SE9230 4-port AHCI controller (EFI Bootable)
ASM1142 USB-C card
Fresco Logic FL1100 4-port USB 3.0 card

*Replaced plastic chipset rivets with screws