Frequently Asked Questions About NVIDIA PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards

[bsbeamer]

Ironically .108 is/was working great for me. The few very issues I had are basically gone. Don’t actively use METAL when presented with another option, however.

Hopefully at least one new driver release for High Sierra in the next few days with fixes.

 

[bsbeamer]

FYI, 387.10.10.15.15.108 was officially pulled by NVIDIA according to support. They are recommending only using 387.10.10.10.40.105 and will not comment on the availability of any updated releases.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Where info your info come from? The download link is still active. 108 is still working GREAT for me!

Lou

 

[bsbeamer]

^^^^Where info your info come from? The download link is still active. 108 is still working GREAT for me!

Lou

Directly from NVIDIA Customer Support. Had to open a ticket for another issue and asked for clarification.

Direct download link for .108 is currently active, but release notes have been removed and no longer available from the driver search. They state that they've pulled the driver and are only recommending the 387.10.10.10.40.105 release from July: https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/136062

Same for me, .108 still working great on two machines. Downloaded and saved that full installer in case it is fully pulled.

 

[blinds122000]

Still getting glitches and slow performance running 105 driver using the GTX980. Swapped out the GTX for the original GT120 and everything runs fine, even running on the Nvidia driver.

Would that mean there's a problem with the GTX980 itself?

 

[Theophany]

Is the latest thinking with nVidia cards still to stick with reference designs/founders edition cards when using the web drivers? I'm considering a 1080 Ti, but Founders Edition cards carry an absurd premium over cheaper blower-style GPUs. The only problem is it's not easy to work out which non-Founders Edition cards are reference designs.

 

[bsbeamer]

Is the latest thinking with nVidia cards still to stick with reference designs/founders edition cards when using the web drivers? I'm considering a 1080 Ti, but Founders Edition cards carry an absurd premium over cheaper blower-style GPUs. The only problem is it's not easy to work out which non-Founders Edition cards are reference designs.

For best compatibility, yes - the Founders Edition cards work best with the NVIDIA web drivers.

Easiest identification - any cards that do not have the NVIDIA logo near the PCIe connection are modified in some way from the NVIDIA (reference) design. Some are extremely minor, others are much more major and substantially beef up clock speed, cooling, etc. Personally would avoid Zotac cards for Mac usage - they are more heavily modified than many others.

Several people are using 1080 Ti's without an issue. I've been using a GTX 1080 FE and love the card. Personally would consider GTX 1080 FE or GTX 1070 FE for Mac usage at the moment, if sticking with NVIDIA. Also would suggest waiting a week or so to confirm Mojave drivers will be available from NVIDIA if you're upgrading in the future.

 

[Theophany]

Good points - cheers. I'm on a 980 Ti at the moment so a 1080 Ti is the only worthwhile performance move for me and the power draw issue is covered. I guess waiting a week may help lower 10 series prices too as people get their 20 series preorders and hopefully sell their old cards!

 

[h9826790]

Is the latest thinking with nVidia cards still to stick with reference designs/founders edition cards when using the web drivers? I'm considering a 1080 Ti, but Founders Edition cards carry an absurd premium over cheaper blower-style GPUs. The only problem is it's not easy to work out which non-Founders Edition cards are reference designs.

This is what I found, reference 1080Ti with after market cooler.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/getting-my-5-1-ready-for-vive-vr.2046670/page-3#post-25429070

Anyway, the PNY XL8 1080Ti is really fast and cool.
[doublepost=1537287999][/doublepost]

Still getting glitches and slow performance running 105 driver using the GTX980. Swapped out the GTX for the original GT120 and everything runs fine, even running on the Nvidia driver.

Would that mean there's a problem with the GTX980 itself?

You can try this in terminal (better to try it with SIP and Gatekeeper disabled)

bash <(curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Benjamin-Dobell/nvidia-update/master/nvidia-update.sh) 378.10.10.10.25.106

It will install the 378.10.10.10.25.106 driver regardless which High Sierra version you are actually running. This fixed lots of annoying issue for those have problems with the V387 drivers.

 

[flowrider]

I use and like the Gigabyte 3 fan coolers. My last three GTX cards have all been Gigabyte models and have all been flashed by MVC. My current card is a Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 1080.

All have worked just fine with the MVC EFI and Nvidia Web Drivers.

There's a 106 driver? Where?

Lou

 

[Speedstar]

My configuration of Mac Pro 5.1 (OOB) includes Mac edition EVGA 680 2GB and Quadro K2200 (Maxwell in Kepler mode).

Since HS 10.13.3 it was impossible either to log on with 2 monitors hooked to two cards, or use one display with 680.

With 105 driver for 10.13.6 openCL and OpenGL disappeared on 680 with one display but the newer K2200 was still available ONLY.

I went back all drivers without SIP https://vulgo.github.io/nvidia-drivers/ and finally 680 works both cards are fully supported with 378.10.10.10.25.106 !!!! CUDA 387.128@10.13.6.Even GFXBench-Mark works on both cards.

Last 108 driver had metal problems with Finder !!!! mMTLsth driver error pop up dialog.

Also if anyone knows other workout to use multiGPU config with current drivers let me know.

I wish some one would give us Nvidia Mac users tutorial from Hackintosh forums to activate Video-ACCeleration for FFmpeg via kernel extension.
Custom kexts:

https://github.com/mologie/NVWebDriverLibValFix
https://github.com/lvs1974/NvidiaGraphicsFixup
https://github.com/acidanthera/WhateverGreen/blob/master/README.md
https://github.com/acidanthera/WhateverGreen/blob/master/Manual/FAQ.Shiki.en.mdd

There is a Shiki forum in Russian but I do not understand:

https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/t...o-playback-support-on-recent-hardware/?page=1
https://applelife.ru/threads/chernye-trejlery-itunes.42290/

It is not about DRM only but it is also about VDA​

ESPECIALLY :

• How can I set hardware video decoder preferences (might be needed for some ATI and old NVIDIA cards)?

Run one of the following lines:
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA forceNV -boolean yes — forces NVIDIA decoder
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA forceATI -boolean yes — forces ATI decoder
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA forceIntel -boolean yes — forces Intel decoder
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA forceSWDecoder -boolean yes — forces software decoder
defaults write com.apple.coremedia hardwareVideoDecoder disable — disables hardware decoder
defaults write com.apple.coremedia hardwareVideoDecoder force — forces hardware decoder
Please note that this preference is not needed in most cases, and its improper usage will break CL and VDA decoding.​

AS FAR AS I KNOW You can proof Video VDA decoding with:

https://www.macxdvd.com/mac-video-c...acceleration-video-processing-performance.htm

screenshot:https://ibb.co/c80x2K

download for testing:macx-video-converter-pro.dmg

https://www.macxdvd.com/mac-video-converter-pro/fastest-free-cuda-video-converter.htm

Is there a Hack to use current Kepler Maxwell Pascal Chips too ?​

Once VDA decoding is instaledl I hope other applications can use it instead of iNTEL Quicksync especially in MacPro 4.1,5.1
I have not found any other GUi for VDA decode testing if You know a free tool let me know too.

Please contribute !!!​

PS: with mentioned Driver in HighSierra I use HDMi 5.1 DTS Audio works via Patch HDMIAudio-1.1.dmg too.
PSS: On Sierra both cards are operational with last Web-Drivers+CUDA+HDMI-Audio Patch

sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1"​

 

[flowrider]

New Cuda Driver:

https://www.nvidia.com/object/macosx-cuda-410.130-driver.html

Lou

 

[ricrob2]

My computer recently automatically updated to the latest Nvidia Web Driver - 387.10.10.10.40.105, and now I'm just getting black screens. I spoke with a Nvidia tech for over an hour and he was unable to help me, said he would get back to me in a few days (madness). I am able to use screen sharing from my Powerbook, so this is how I know what the issue is. I desperately tried finding the older Web Driver - 387.10.10.15.15.108, but it been pulled off every site. My mac pro 5,1 only has a 1080 TI in it, so I don't have any option but a working driver. Is anyone experience this issue or have a solution? or does anyone have the older driver locally as its nowhere to be found on the web. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^So you don't have an EFI card. Go to "Security & Privacy" in "System Preferences" and see if the "system extension" was prevented from loading. If it didn't load that would cause a black screen with a non EFI card.

Lou

 

[ricrob2]

^^^^So you don't have an EFI card. Go to "Security & Privacy" in "System Preferences" and see if the "system extension" was prevented from loading. If it didn't load that would cause a black screen with a non EFI card.

Lou

The system didn't block any Nvidia update, only this but don't think that's from Nvidia

 

[bsbeamer]

I’m on .108 driver and have been since it was released. Personally not running into any issues with it. Running GTX 1080 FE, internally powered via dual mini 6-pin to standard 8-pin.

Make sure SIP & Gatekeeper enabled, or both disabled.

You have NO EFI card available at all? Understand it’s not in the machine, but none available to swap in? Would suggest picking one up cheap, it’ll save a ton of headaches.

Is the NVIDIA Web Driver panel loading? Is it available to choose between macOS and NVIDIA in upper right?

How is the GPU powered?
What firmware are you running?

Saw one report of an issue with 8 & 6 pin GPU not working correctly after the 138.0.0.0.0 firmware install. No clue why this was and did not follow closely.

 

[ricrob2]

Seem like the issue is with the 1080 TI. I have a 970, I plug that in, it works. The 1080 TI and the latest Nvidia Web Driver - 387.10.10.10.40.105 on my Mac Pro 5,1 running 10.13.0 (17G65) have some conflict. If anyone is having the same issue or found a workaround, please post.

 

[bsbeamer]

Seem like the issue is with the 1080 TI. I have a 970, I plug that in, it works. The 1080 TI and the latest Nvidia Web Driver - 387.10.10.10.40.105 on my Mac Pro 5,1 running 10.13.0 (17G65) have some conflict. If anyone is having the same issue or found a workaround, please post.

How is the GPU powered?
What firmware are you running?

 

[flowrider]

The system didn't block any Nvidia update, only this but don't think that's from Nvidia

maybe it's behind the Micron extension, don't really know. I'd load it and see what shows behind it? I've used both the 105 and 108 drivers without incident, except for the initial loading issue. But, I have an MVC flashed GTX 1080, the EFI makes things a lot easier. BTW, I have the 108 driver. If you want to try it, PM me your eMail address and I can send it to you.

Lou

 

[ricrob2]

How is the GPU powered?
What firmware are you running?

The GPU is powered directly from the motherboard and my firmware is: MP51.0084.B00

My system has been working without hitch til this new update.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^What about the connectors on the board? Your FW needs to be updated.

Lou

 

[Synchro3]

Still no web driver for Mojave...

 

[bsbeamer]

Still no web driver for Mojave...

No, wait at least a few days. Most expect NVIDIA Web Drivers or Mojave to be available soon, but nothing is 100% confirmed yet.

FYI, there may be a 10.14.1 update or security update (with another build number) released later this week to fix an early security venerability, which would likely break any NVIDIA Web Driver until another update was released. All depends on if/how NVIDIA will support Mojave on Mac.

 

[h9826790]

No, wait at least a few days. Most expect NVIDIA Web Drivers or Mojave to be available soon, but nothing is 100% confirmed yet.

FYI, there may be a 10.14.1 update or security update (with another build number) released later this week to fix an early security venerability, which would likely break any NVIDIA Web Driver until another update was released. All depends on if/how NVIDIA will support Mojave on Mac.

This is from the Nvidia forum.

That 24-48 days should be 24-48 hours. However, the main point is, they need to get approval from Apple

So, if Apple stop approve the web driver. All Nvidia card will be dead

 

[bsbeamer]

Let's see how serious Apple is about their good-faith effort to the Professional community with 10.14 Mojave...

I'll be on 10.13.6 as long as I legally can. Will be forced to upgrade by mid-October for client compliance. If no NVIDIA drivers by then, will be forced to use Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB and physically will swap SSDs (between 10.13.6 and 10.14.X) for this particular client.