MP 1,1-5,1 Ensure as much as possible upgrade to OpenCore and Catalina.

[scruti]

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model ID: MacPro5.1 (Originally 4.1 Early 2009)
Boot ROM version: 144.0.0.0.0.0
SMC version (system): 1.39f5
SMC version (processor tray): 1.39f5

Sabrent 1TB Rocket NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 SSD
PCI Express slot 2
2 partitions of 512 Gigas, for two different booting of two Mojave 10.4.6.(boot selected by ALT key)
One only with 3 photo applications (not to load the CPU and RAM), and another with applications and utilities of all kinds.


KINGSTON SA2000M8500G 512 gigabytes NVMe
PCI Express slot 3
Used as CACHE for photography applications exclusively. (Old single boot disk, reused)

4 HDD of 6, 4, 4 and 2 Tb. In the 4 bays. (Main use for photo archives)


RAM: 3x16 gigs = 48 gigs. 1333Mhz DDR3

Processor W3690. 3,46 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon

Radeon RX580 8 gigs of MacVidCards slot 1
2 DisplayPort: DELL U2412M (2K) y BENQ SW271 (4K)

USB 3.0 card in slot 4
Apple internal wifi and BT card

I would like to upgrade my photography software, but with the current I already notice that Mojave doesn't seem to take advantage of the capabilities of the current hardware with the capabilities of the newer software. Core processor and graphics card usage.
Specifically, Adobe Photoshop and DxO Nik Collection.

Thinking then about upgrading the OS at least for a dedicated photography boot, and assuming it should be through OpenCore, how would you advise me to do it? I have read that there seems to be problems with NVMe drives for OpenCore boot, what changes do you think I would have to make on my machine for an "unproblematic" installation of Catalina or Monterey on my cMP?

Should I change one of the NMVe for a normal SSD for OpenCore or you don't see it necessary? This is my biggest doubt.

And which Kexts do you think I should mount then in Opencore? For the NMVe and for the Graphics Card.

Any advice will be welcome.

 

[tsialex]

Start small and don't mess with your current working setup, try first OCLP 0.4.3 on a new SSD (buy a cheap SATA SSD just for learning and experimenting with OCLP/OC).

Release 0.4.3 · dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher

With today's macOS 12.3 release, I decided it would be best to release this build of OpenCore Legacy Patcher to ensure some important issues are resolved with today's release (namely Open/Save dial...

github.com

After you get it working, you start to read and experiment with OC, following with these instructions:

OpenCore on the Mac Pro

This guide explains how to use the excellent OpenCore boot loader to install, run, and update the latest version of macOS on the MacPro5,1, resulting in a clean, unaltered operating system just like on a supported Mac.

forums.macrumors.com

 

[scruti]

Thanks. I will do so.

 

[scruti]

Tests carried out. I don't see improvements in photography applications by installing Monterey.

Initial test with OpenCore Legacy Patcher on an external SSD, to learn how it works. Correct installation of Monterey, correct later boot and I see that it allows in later option to prepare the EFI to boot from NMVe.

Second test: I repeat the whole process but now on my NMVe Kingston. Everything ok, afterboot fine, and I migrate the photo partition over this one in Monterey.
Boot again and now software test. check that only updating the operating system to 12.2 does not solve software performance problems, it is clear that the machine has reached its power limit.

As it is simply a process speed problem, but it does not prevent me from continuing to work, I decide to continue using Mojave for my work, waiting for bigger problems to force me to change my cMP for another more modern machine.
It has been great to be able to test all this on my own machine. OpenCore is great software.