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Theoprofil

macrumors member
Sep 23, 2016
39
8
Greece
75C is nothing for Xeon. Of course the fan won't spin up. From my observation, the fans are calibrated to spin up when the CPU temperature reach ~80C and keep it at around 85C.

Anyway, my Mac is a flashed 5,1, upgraded with the W3690. And it something running at 100% load continuously for a week. No shut down issue.

If you believe that's temperature related. All you need to do is install MacsFanControl, manually set the fan to 50%, and run the stress test again. 50% should be more than enough to keep the CPU cool.
Thanks for the reply.
The particular xenon x5675 has Tcase 81.3 Celsius. What this means is that the cpu if exceeds the 81.3 Celsius is about to burn. Also before goes that temperature the cpu throttles to cool and to prevent a damage. So there must be a temperature ramp, that make the fans have more rpms as the temperature rises at an effort to keep a stable temperature. If the fans start to have more rpm at the limit of the Tcase then this is a problem of smc.
Your mac running for 100% but you didn't help me to write me how many rpm your fans have and also if you watch a progressive climbing at the rpm as far as temperature rises.
Its no way possible the fans to be idle until your machine reaches the Tcase cpu limit.
Thats why i asked from the people to do their test and to reply at my questions. We must observe if the 4.1 smc is suits 6 and 12 cores systems.
Other way we cannot.
I write again:
If i had just one flashed 4.1 then i could accept that my computer had a problem. But 2 flashed 4.1 out of 2 are impossible to have the same problem.
You have a 6 core model which has a much much much bigger heatsink and the spare place at the processor tray is huge compared with the spare place of 12 core machine because all the tray has something to accommodate on it.
Anyway i kindly ask from other people to do their test and to write down their observations.
Its nice to flash a 4.1 to 5.1 and to install sierra (and not only) but its not nice to see the smc to be out of order (in my case at two out of two machines).
About Macs fan is the only solution to "cover and solve" the "problem" . It is not a problem as long as i can fix it with macs fan (and i have fixed it) BUT I NEED OBSERVATIONS ABOUT how the smc of a flashed 4.1 can handle to cool down 6 & 12 cores cpus. THIS IS THE HOT POINT.
I am not ask for a solution. I just want to discover if it is a problem after a flashing.
Come on people. You have flashed your machines. Just make a test with 100% cpu load and write down the temperatures and post them. Is your machines shut down? Are your cpus overheated?
 
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Chames

macrumors newbie
Mar 12, 2017
9
0
I have recently purchased a 2009 Mac Pro with the intention of upgrading the processor. I just installed a new ssd and memory and was checking to see if the memory was being read and I noticed that my mac is already on 5,1 and running Sierra. Not entirely sure how this is possible or if I am reading it wrong. Will I still need to upgrade the firmware or is it good to go?
 

h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,587
Hong Kong
I have recently purchased a 2009 Mac Pro with the intention of upgrading the processor. I just installed a new ssd and memory and was checking to see if the memory was being read and I noticed that my mac is already on 5,1 and running Sierra. Not entirely sure how this is possible or if I am reading it wrong. Will I still need to upgrade the firmware or is it good to go?

It's not unusual that someone already flashed it before. Anyway, that's your boot ROM version?
Screen Shot 2017-03-13 at 16.35.54 copy.jpg
 

gslrider

macrumors 6502
Nov 4, 2005
338
9
I have recently purchased a 2009 Mac Pro with the intention of upgrading the processor. I just installed a new ssd and memory and was checking to see if the memory was being read and I noticed that my mac is already on 5,1 and running Sierra. Not entirely sure how this is possible or if I am reading it wrong. Will I still need to upgrade the firmware or is it good to go?
Then you're set to go. The person who had the system before you could have flashed it already. Anyone tech savvy enough would have done so, if it can be done. Upsides. ;-) You practically got a "2010" model for the price of a "2009". Giving it at least another couple of extra years for longevity. So long as Apple keeps supporting it.

I have a flashed 2009 as well, which I use strictly for my design work. I have an older 2008, which I've maxed out as much as I can. But Apple has stopped support. Last supported OS is 10.11.x. I'm currently running 10.10.x on it now. Not as peppy as it used to be. But more than enough for my daily usage of emails, iTunes, and web browsing. I hope to get at least 3-4 years on the "5,1" before I have to switch over to the Trash Can. Not looking forward to that. The Mac Pro towers are the most versatile Mac system I've owned. The Trash Can is pretty much proprietary. So I'd have to get new peripherals. Especially for all my internal drives.
 

mikeguru

macrumors newbie
May 12, 2006
6
0
Actually I found the solution on Netkas.org. The site was down for a good portion of today and I wasn't abel to search their archives.

Apparently all you have to do is this:

Download the Mac Pro Firmware update 1.5 (MacProEFIUpdate.dmg) from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1321

With the downloaded .dmg on the desktop, double click to mount the image.

Run the Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool. It will automatically locate the package and proceed to the next phase of reboot and power switch hold until the little light above the power button begins to flash or you hear a long beep.

There is no need to rename or replace anything. The Firmware Tool grabs the package and proceeds with the process with no 5570 error message.

Hope this helps other Mac Pro 2009 users who are attempting this firmware update.

This worked perfectly, once I found your instructions, which includes the critical step: "With the downloaded .dmg on the desktop, double click to mount the image." This is the only way running the subsequent "Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool" will operate properly! The rest was easy - my 2009 MacPro4,1 now shows updated firmware and reports itself as "MacPro5,1". With this accomplished, it's now possible to install the very latest version of macOS Sierra, 10.12.5, using dosdude1's excellent YouTube video instructions and software tool. Here's a link: How to Install macOS Sierra on an Unsupported Mac.

Enjoy!
 

h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,587
Hong Kong
This worked perfectly, once I found your instructions, which includes the critical step: "With the downloaded .dmg on the desktop, double click to mount the image." This is the only way running the subsequent "Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool" will operate properly! The rest was easy - my 2009 MacPro4,1 now shows updated firmware and reports itself as "MacPro5,1". With this accomplished, it's now possible to install the very latest version of macOS Sierra, 10.12.5, using dosdude1's excellent YouTube video instructions and software tool. Here's a link: How to Install macOS Sierra on an Unsupported Mac.

Enjoy!

I am a bit confused. You don't need any work around to install Sierra after the 5,1 firmware installation. Your cMP is now a "supported" Mac.
 

Bollockser

macrumors regular
Oct 28, 2014
172
423
My 4,1>5,1 2x2.26 quad core still shows my new 1333MHz RAM as 1066MHz and it wouldnt boot Sierra.
I suppose the Xeon E5520 processors don't support it?
 

namethisfile

macrumors 65816
Jan 17, 2008
1,190
176
Then you're set to go. The person who had the system before you could have flashed it already. Anyone tech savvy enough would have done so, if it can be done. Upsides. ;-) You practically got a "2010" model for the price of a "2009". Giving it at least another couple of extra years for longevity. So long as Apple keeps supporting it.

I have a flashed 2009 as well, which I use strictly for my design work. I have an older 2008, which I've maxed out as much as I can. But Apple has stopped support. Last supported OS is 10.11.x. I'm currently running 10.10.x on it now. Not as peppy as it used to be. But more than enough for my daily usage of emails, iTunes, and web browsing. I hope to get at least 3-4 years on the "5,1" before I have to switch over to the Trash Can. Not looking forward to that. The Mac Pro towers are the most versatile Mac system I've owned. The Trash Can is pretty much proprietary. So I'd have to get new peripherals. Especially for all my internal drives.

I have a mid-2010 Mac Pro 51, myself. But, it's off most of the time. I only use it if I need to edit videos. I don't have it on, even for surfing the web or writing because it's an old architecture and runs like 140 watts on the desktop, even with an RX 460 GPU in there.

I feel dumb using 150 watts for surfing the web. But, thats just me.

the trashcan uses thunderbolt, which is not a proprietary technology. Yes, more expensive than bare drives using SATA. But, the Mac Pro is for people who can afford it anyway.

But, the cool thing about the trashcan Mac Pro is that it is like a lot more energy efficient than the tower Mac Pro's. I believe it can idle less 90 watts, which is like 100 watts less than the old Mac Pro...

I believe that newer architectures like Kaby Lake and even AMD Ryzen... are even more power efficient. So, as an example, you can be playing Battlefield 1 these days and be pulling 210-220 watts off the wall with a GTX 1080. While, some of your classic tower Mac Pro's are probably idling doing nothing and sipping the same amount of juice....
 
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Luba

macrumors 68000
Apr 22, 2009
1,807
379
Fair enough, that's why I said you may have your good reason.

Anyway, may I know what's your plan about the RAM upgrade? IMO, it's quite hard to define best performance in the area of RAM (of course, I am only talking about the 4,1/5,1).

If you want purely max speed, non ECC RAM is faster (about 2%), but you lost the ECC protection.

If you want purely max speed, you can't use all 4 slots. However, when you run out of RAM, there will be a huge performance hit.

And if you really want 1333 RAM, you may need to pay attention on the "memory rank" as well. Some RAM may able to run 1333, but not on the Mac Pro because of that.
What does it mean by "memory rank"? I just upgraded the firmware to 5,1 but it still says my RAM speed is 1066. Can the 2.66 Quad Core CPU that came with my '09 Mac Pro run 1333 RAM?
 

h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,587
Hong Kong
What does it mean by "memory rank"? I just upgraded the firmware to 5,1 but it still says my RAM speed is 1066. Can the 2.66 Quad Core CPU that came with my '09 Mac Pro run 1333 RAM?

No, W3520 only support 800 and 1066MHz RAM.
 

Luba

macrumors 68000
Apr 22, 2009
1,807
379
No, W3520 only support 800 and 1066MHz RAM.
Thanks for the info. Not that concerned about the extra speed. Thrilled to know the firmware upgrade went smoothly fir the most part. I did a PRAM zap a couple times and it didn't upgrade the speed and was concerned it was a mistake and thus perhaps the firmware didn't upgrade 100% correctly. So glad to know it wasn't supposed increase to 1333Mhz.

However, I did have to restart or shutdown a few times after the firmware upgrade and Sierra upgrade. I don't know if it's because of the firmware upgrade or the macOS upgrade to Sierra, I'm guessing it's probably the Sierra upgrade … but after the upgrades System Preferences and another Mac utility would crash, it also took a while for the "mouse" pointer to show up right after a restart.

Btw, I have Guest login shutoff, but after the firmware upgrade it turned it on. I shut it off again, and after Sierra upgrade it came back on. Is Guest login turned on the default??
 

h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,587
Hong Kong
Thanks for the info. Not that concerned about the extra speed. Thrilled to know the firmware upgrade went smoothly fir the most part. I did a PRAM zap a couple times and it didn't upgrade the speed and was concerned it was a mistake and thus perhaps the firmware didn't upgrade 100% correctly. So glad to know it wasn't supposed increase to 1333Mhz.

However, I did have to restart or shutdown a few times after the firmware upgrade and Sierra upgrade. I don't know if it's because of the firmware upgrade or the macOS upgrade to Sierra, I'm guessing it's probably the Sierra upgrade … but after the upgrades System Preferences and another Mac utility would crash, it also took a while for the "mouse" pointer to show up right after a restart.

Btw, I have Guest login shutoff, but after the firmware upgrade it turned it on. I shut it off again, and after Sierra upgrade it came back on. Is Guest login turned on the default??

Sure it's the Sierra's issue, nothing to do with the firmware.

You can turn the guess account back off. It should stay off now. Anyway, if system preference crash, that's a bad sign. May be you should consider a clean install now.
 

Luba

macrumors 68000
Apr 22, 2009
1,807
379
Sure it's the Sierra's issue, nothing to do with the firmware.

You can turn the guess account back off. It should stay off now. Anyway, if system preference crash, that's a bad sign. May be you should consider a clean install now.

If System Preference doesn't crash any more, would you still recommend a clean install? Meanwhile, sometimes my "mouse" pointer is tracking erratically and unpredictably, is that another sign of a bad Sierra install?

Is it better to do a clean install on High Sierra, or do a clean install now with Sierra and do a regular install with High Sierra? I rather do just one clean install since it's a pain to reinstall all the apps and settings. The good news for me is that I have my data in a separate HDD from the OS and apps which are on a SSD.
 
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h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,587
Hong Kong
If System Preference doesn't crash any more, would you still recommend a clean install? Meanwhile, sometimes my "mouse" pointer is tracking erratically and unpredictably, is that another sign of a bad Sierra install?

Is it better to do a clean install on High Sierra, or do a clean install now with Sierra and do a regular install with High Sierra? I rather do just one clean install since it's a pain to reinstall all the apps and settings. The good news for me is that I have my data in a separate HDD from the OS and apps which are on a SSD.

Check your Wifi, if that's using 2.4GHz network, better switch to 5Hz. Also, if you have any USB 3.0 card installed, that can also affect the BT mouse accuracy.

If you can fix the critical issue, e.g. crash / mouse. Then I think you can wait until High Sierra and do a clean install when it launch (if you happy to use the initial release).

But if you can't fix that, then most likely better to do a clean install now. Otherwise, the cMP is not quite usable.

Also, you can try to boot to recovery partition / another OS (if you have) to check if the mouse work properly.
 

unfragile

macrumors regular
Jul 20, 2013
204
0
Hi,

Can anyone could help me. I can't find the answer after reading so many threads.

Can I upgrade a Mac Pro 4.1 (with firmware b07) to a Mac Pro 5.1 firmware using the same hardware, or I need to upgrade the CPU too?
 
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