You do need a metal graphics card to install Mojave and beyond.
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MP 1,1-5,1 Getting ready to upgrade older mac pro to latest version of Mac OS
- Thread starter philm001
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One thing that is a little confusing with the guides is that alot of them say that I need a metal capable card to do the installation. For example, the Mojava update. I may need to do a clean install (again, I am not sure what method I took to update the firmware to 5.1 so it sounds like it is better for me to do a clean install to be safe)
However, in order to install Mojava, I need a metal GPU. Only issue is that the Metal GPU I have, the RX580, does not provide the boot screen. So I need to use my GT120. Next issue, the GT120 is not Metal compatible.
There seems to be a dilemma that I need resolved.
Can't use the RX580 becuase I won't get the boot menu.
So I do I use the GT120 to do a clean install Mojava if it is not compatible with Metal?
If I need the RX580 to install, how do I do the clean install if I am unable to see the boot menu?
So how do I resolve this dilemma?
However, in order to install Mojava, I need a metal GPU. Only issue is that the Metal GPU I have, the RX580, does not provide the boot screen. So I need to use my GT120. Next issue, the GT120 is not Metal compatible.
There seems to be a dilemma that I need resolved.
Can't use the RX580 becuase I won't get the boot menu.
So I do I use the GT120 to do a clean install Mojava if it is not compatible with Metal?
If I need the RX580 to install, how do I do the clean install if I am unable to see the boot menu?
So how do I resolve this dilemma?
Go back and read the Mojave BootROM post (see my post #2 in this thread). It walks through the various scenarios. If I recall you can update the BootROM and install Mojave with a Metal compatible card without a boot screen.
So for this scenario, if I create a bootable Mojave flash drive and stick it into the Mac, will it choose the USB drive? Or should I go into the Mac startup disk properties and select that I want the USB drive to be the boot disk?
When I am finished and unplug the USB drive, will Mac automatically boot into my working drive even though the USB was selected as the start disk? I am assuming yes it will but I know that Macs are much more delicate then PC
So how do I handle this case:
Hacked installs note:
If you did a hacked install, like dosdude one, you will probably need to do a clean install to upgrade your firmware.
Only the full Mac App Store installers work for upgrading the firmware, macOS installers patched with dosdude tool can't upgrade the firmware. Apple firmware upgrade tool needs a clean and standard EFI partition to do so, so you probably need to do a clean install before trying to upgrade the firmware if you used a hacked install.
I am asking becuase I am not sure what method I used to get 5.1. So I think a clean install is the best way to go
Hacked installs note:
If you did a hacked install, like dosdude one, you will probably need to do a clean install to upgrade your firmware.
Only the full Mac App Store installers work for upgrading the firmware, macOS installers patched with dosdude tool can't upgrade the firmware. Apple firmware upgrade tool needs a clean and standard EFI partition to do so, so you probably need to do a clean install before trying to upgrade the firmware if you used a hacked install.
I am asking becuase I am not sure what method I used to get 5.1. So I think a clean install is the best way to go
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I think I got confused
If you are on High Sierra and you don't have 144.0.0.0.0 then just run the Mojave installer with a compatible Metal card and then install the system. It is best to run the installer from High Sierra...
One more thing: a mouse and keyboard on a cable can be very helpful
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Hahah, I so sorry everyone. I really appreciate all of the work here and everyone taking their time.I think I got confused
If you are on High Sierra and you don't have 144.0.0.0.0 then just run the Mojave installer with a compatible Metal card and then install the system. It is best to run the installer from High Sierra...
It is just that I know Macs are very delicate and so many pitholes that one wrong move and the machine is bricked.
I read this on the guide:
Hacked installs note:
If you did a hacked install, like dosdude one, you will probably need to do a clean install to upgrade your firmware.
Only the full Mac App Store installers work for upgrading the firmware, macOS installers patched with dosdude tool can't upgrade the firmware. Apple firmware upgrade tool needs a clean and standard EFI partition to do so, so you probably need to do a clean install before trying to upgrade the firmware if you used a hacked install.
And this has me worried becuase I am not sure how I updated the firmware to 5.1. So I am thinking that I need to do a clean install. Or does this not matter?
First thing, what is your current BootROM release /AboutThisMac/SystemReport/Hardware/System Firmware Version?
Is this case relevant? Did you install High Sierra using the dosdude's package?
tsialex's quote: "... you have first to upgrade your BootROM to version MP51.0089.B00 and to High Sierra 10.13.6, then you can install a Metal capable GPU* that works with High Sierra and finally you can upgrade your firmware and install Mojave."
So... Just insert your Metal compatible card and install Mojave. After installation you will have new boot ROM and then you can start with Open Core.
So... Just insert your Metal compatible card and install Mojave. After installation you will have new boot ROM and then you can start with Open Core.
You already have the most recent High Sierra BootROM, so, just install the METAL supported GPU, download Mojave and open it to upgrade the firmware, you won't even need to install it.
I'm yet to go to Opencore hence my interest here.
But with booting via Opencore - if something goes wrong, and the Mac is set to boot via Opencore, can you remove your drives, put in a Mojave booting drive, thereby having only one drive in the Mac, and then, will the Mac boot into Mojave? Hence being able to leave one's non boot screen metal graphics card still in the Mac?
So from High seirra, can I go directly to Monterey? Once I get the firmware update.
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Yes for both questions.
I wouldn't do it. Install Mojave to a small disk so you can have a rescue disk to correct any problems. Mojave is a lot better than High Sierra for this job.
Don't go to Monterey, it's a moving target and you will have trouble with USB 1.0 devices and if you still haven't upgraded the original AirPort Extreme, you won't have Wi-Fi or BT (both problems also happen with Big Sur).
Big Sur is fast, stable and works fine with a Mac Pro with upgraded AirPort Extreme BCM94360. Also, since Big Sur now is only on maintenance support/Security Updates, you won't have Software Upgrades every two weeks like with Monterey.
Last thing, what is needed to upgrade to Big Sur is now consolidated, while for Monterey every new release is a different challenge.
That is not good. I don't think that I upgraded the Airport. Will need to check. Will OS Cataline still work with it?
No.
- AirPort Extreme BCM94321MC (usual card for early-2009, but some/most early-2009s made in 2010 already have the BCM94322MC) works up to Sierra.
- AirPort Extreme BCM94322MC (usual card for mid-2010/mid-2012) works up to Mojave.
Ok, that is good to know
So for Mojava, I should be able to install it from the applications folder. No need to make a bootable usb or anything special. Jsut run the full installer and I will be good to go.
Squeezing the most out of my 5,1
Yes correct exactly like that. Mojave can restart fine back into itself with the GT120 card installed as long as the hdmi cable is being used in the RX 580 and nothing in the GT120. Leaving the dvi cable plugged into the GT120 while restarting results in a freeze during trying to load the 32bit...
forums.macrumors.com
I'm not sure if I understood this correctly, but this thread also reported that its possible to get a boot screen, by leaving in the metal card (Like an RX 580), along with the non metal (ie 120) card in a slot ... but do not connect the non metal card to a monitor ... evidently one would see the boot choices even with an unflashed metal card. I think ...
Awesome, looks like this was found out in the last year. I remember back in 2018, it was you cannot have 2 cards in there.Squeezing the most out of my 5,1
Yes correct exactly like that. Mojave can restart fine back into itself with the GT120 card installed as long as the hdmi cable is being used in the RX 580 and nothing in the GT120. Leaving the dvi cable plugged into the GT120 while restarting results in a freeze during trying to load the 32bit...
I'm not sure if I understood this correctly, but this thread also reported that its possible to get a boot screen, by leaving in the metal card (Like an RX 580), along with the non metal (ie 120) card in a slot ... but do not connect the non metal card to a monitor ... evidently one would see the boot choices even with an unflashed metal card. I think ...
Anyways, can anyone confirm this as working?
This is very good to know for the future