MP 1,1-5,1 GPU Compatibility List for cMP

MarkC426 · Sep 22, 2021

Not sure about this card.
I know my RX580 only spins up the fans when under load.

Objectivist-C · Oct 11, 2021

I finally came up in the queue for an EVGA 3070, but I don’t have a gaming desktop built at the moment. The card’s maximum rated power draw is 220W, a hair under the cMP’s 225W max. As a temporary/comedy measure, will I be able to get by with feeding both MicroFit connectors into an EVGA PowerLink, or should I also tap my two free SATA ports?

(I know I won’t be able to boot macOS while it’s installed.)

edit: actually a 2x SATA —> PCIE 8-pin is only $8, I might as well do it to be safe. Is there any other problem I’m missing?

avro707 · Oct 13, 2021

Okay, I can add that XFX Radeon RX580 GTS XXX Edition 8GB card does work on Mac Pro 5,1 2010 with Mac OS Big Sur 11.6 using Opencore / SurPlus.

Power through dual mini 6-pin to 8 pin power connector.

Screen Shot 2021-10-13 at 7.47.50 pm.png

I had the recommended Sapphire Pulse RX580 8GB in this computer before. I just swapped the cards over quickly to test this one. It will go in the other MP5,1 when the faster CPU arrives. I'll keep the XFX card in the computer above until then and see how it goes. So far no problems - it just worked straight away.

davorrr · Oct 15, 2021

Hi all

NEED: I need a GPU with a passive cooling (no fans).
MACHINE: cMP 5.1
OS: Mojave or older. Can't go higher than Mojave, coz I got some devices…
PURPOSE: I only make music (I don't game, don't create videos, 3d).

Q:
Is Nvidia GeForce 7300 the only absolutely silent GPU for my cMP?
Will it be sufficient for my needs?

I've seen also other fanless graphic cards, but I guess they're not compatible with my beloved cMP

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Objectivist-C · Oct 15, 2021

Objectivist-C said:
I finally came up in the queue for an EVGA 3070, but I don’t have a gaming desktop built at the moment. The card’s maximum rated power draw is 220W, a hair under the cMP’s 225W max. As a temporary/comedy measure, will I be able to get by with feeding both MicroFit connectors into an EVGA PowerLink, or should I also tap my two free SATA ports?

(I know I won’t be able to boot macOS while it’s installed.)

edit: actually a 2x SATA —> PCIE 8-pin is only $8, I might as well do it to be safe. Is there any other problem I’m missing?

I found a problem I was missing: the PowerLink won’t physically fit on this model of 3070 because the heatsink extends out too far. I can either do 1x MicroFit—> 1x 8-pin for both power ports, or 2x MicroFit —> 1x 8-pin + 2x SATA power —> 1x 8-pin. I’ll probably do the latter since it’s what I have the cables for, hopefully I won’t burn out my SATA ports.

hamishb2 · Oct 16, 2021

Objectivist-C said:
edit: actually a 2x SATA —> PCIE 8-pin is only $8, I might as well do it to be safe. Is there any other problem I’m missing?

Where can you get a 2 x SATA —> PCIE 8-pin cable? I bought one recently thinking it would just plug into the SATA port in a spare drive bay on my 5,1. However the cable I bought (StarTech) is 15 pin and won’t fit.

Or are there other power only SATA ports I should hunt for e.g. optical drive bay?

Objectivist-C · Oct 16, 2021

It was this cable, I assumed it would fit but don’t have it in-hand yet to test.

joevt · Oct 16, 2021

hamishb2 said:
I bought one recently thinking it would just plug into the SATA port in a spare drive bay on my 5,1. However the cable I bought (StarTech) is 15 pin and won’t fit.

Macschrauber · Oct 16, 2021

davorrr said:
Hi all

NEED: I need a GPU with a passive cooling (no fans).
MACHINE: cMP 5.1
OS: Mojave or older. Can't go higher than Mojave, coz I got some devices…
PURPOSE: I only make music (I don't game, don't create videos, 3d).

Q:
Is Nvidia GeForce 7300 the only absolutely silent GPU for my cMP?
Will it be sufficient for my needs?

I've seen also other fanless graphic cards, but I guess they're not compatible with my beloved cMP

Best Passively Cooled Graphics Card for Silent PC in 2024

Best Passive Graphics Cards for building a silent PC. These are passively cooled graphics cards and are also called fanless graphics cards. They are great for building an HTPC and for running multiple monitors. The powerful ones can let you enjoy a decent bit of gaming too. These passive...

graphicscardhub.com

the 7300 is a EFI32 Card for the 1.1 / 2.1 and there are no drivers since 10.8 afair.

check for a gt640 with passive cooler.

Melbourne Park · Oct 17, 2021

I still have the 5,1 I bought new in 2012 and I am yet to edit all my videos - both analogue 8s, Hi8s and digital 8s and later digital tapes. I can convert the non digital to digital with the software and connections into the macpro. The speed of doing is the tape speed, so that issue cannot be sped up by an enhanced computer.

I was going to upgrade the 5,1 over a year ago, but right now, its still original. I will upgrade the ROM in one hit, and upgrade the two CPUs (mine are still 2.4 Hz 4 thread ones). I have had replacement CPUs sitting there, ready to go ...

I was wanting to keep Photoshop CS6 which I own ... but I now think it's not worth holding back the OS due to avoiding renting from Adobe. Instead I'll buy another company's purchasable software. I also intend to rent software though from Sketchup though, as I have a project to do in four months and so I'll rent Sketchup for a year (which is what they require).

My question: I bought a Sapphire Radeon Pulse 8 GB over a year ago ... I haven't taken it out of its box. It cost me $Au330 I think. They seem to have gone up in value? Should I keep it, or sell it for a profit? I am wondering if I'd be smarter to do all my editing video work in a later mac, but I don't even know if an iMac with an i9 and 10 cores would be able to operate my colour accurate Eizo 24" monitor at the same time ...

Do they still make RX580 GPUs? Will these cards drop in price next year? Since Sapphire branded 8 GB Pulse RX580s seem to have gone up in value, is that because people still want them? It doesn't make much sense to me ... I know they suit the later macOS in 5,1s though ...

flowrider · Oct 17, 2021

^^^^Have you looked at Photoshop Elements 2022? I tried Elements 2019 and it was OK, but I was unhappy with the printing options. So, I am renting PS ?

New RX580s are still available, but as with all GPUs in todays market they are severely overpriced.

https://www.amazon.com/Radeon-RX-580/s?k=Radeon+RX+580

Lou

MarkC426 · Oct 18, 2021

Melbourne Park said:
I was wanting to keep Photoshop CS6 which I own ... but I now think it's not worth holding back the OS due to avoiding renting from Adobe.

Depending what version of MacOS you are using, CS6 should still work.
I was using CS5 in High Sierra, it just needed the legacy Java runtime from Apple.

But I have since moved over to Affinity products.

If your getting the current CC from Adobe you may need to be on latest MacOS....?

avro707 · Oct 18, 2021

I was also using legacy CS5 with High Sierra as well. But since we have a deal with Adobe (we are one of their very big clients) I can get the Creative Cloud as part of that deal so it made sense to upgrade it then not have to deal with the legacy java runtime.

It's fortunate my fully upgraded MP runs those very fast, also for the local AEM instance too which runs very fast - that was one of the reasons to upgrade this Mac as far as I did, then I just got carried away.

Melbourne Park said:
My question: I bought a Sapphire Radeon Pulse 8 GB over a year ago ... I haven't taken it out of its box. It cost me $Au330 I think. They seem to have gone up in value? Should I keep it, or sell it for a profit? I am wondering if I'd be smarter to do all my editing video work in a later mac, but I don't even know if an iMac with an i9 and 10 cores would be able to operate my colour accurate Eizo 24" monitor at the same time ...

Do they still make RX580 GPUs? Will these cards drop in price next year? Since Sapphire branded 8 GB Pulse RX580s seem to have gone up in value, is that because people still want them? It doesn't make much sense to me ... I know they suit the later macOS in 5,1s though ..

I would say keep the RX580 and use it. Or sell it for AU$1800 (someone will probably buy it - stupid as that price is). Every time I look for Radeon VII just to see if one might turn up, even a second hand one is ridiculously expensive. I'm not spending thousands on a second hand video card. No way.

Surely you can get adapters to connect your Eizo screen to a later Mac? Does it use Display Port or is it old style DVI?

JMStearnsX2 · Oct 18, 2021

Melbourne Park said:
I still have the 5,1 I bought new in 2012 and I am yet to edit all my videos - both analogue 8s, Hi8s and digital 8s and later digital tapes. I can convert the non digital to digital with the software and connections into the macpro. The speed of doing is the tape speed, so that issue cannot be sped up by an enhanced computer.

I was going to upgrade the 5,1 over a year ago, but right now, its still original. I will upgrade the ROM in one hit, and upgrade the two CPUs (mine are still 2.4 Hz 4 thread ones). I have had replacement CPUs sitting there, ready to go ...

I was wanting to keep Photoshop CS6 which I own ... but I now think it's not worth holding back the OS due to avoiding renting from Adobe. Instead I'll buy another company's purchasable software. I also intend to rent software though from Sketchup though, as I have a project to do in four months and so I'll rent Sketchup for a year (which is what they require).

My question: I bought a Sapphire Radeon Pulse 8 GB over a year ago ... I haven't taken it out of its box. It cost me $Au330 I think. They seem to have gone up in value? Should I keep it, or sell it for a profit? I am wondering if I'd be smarter to do all my editing video work in a later mac, but I don't even know if an iMac with an i9 and 10 cores would be able to operate my colour accurate Eizo 24" monitor at the same time ...

Do they still make RX580 GPUs? Will these cards drop in price next year? Since Sapphire branded 8 GB Pulse RX580s seem to have gone up in value, is that because people still want them? It doesn't make much sense to me ... I know they suit the later macOS in 5,1s though ...

I would hold onto that Radeon, it's a good card for the 5,1.
I use Pixelmator Pro on my 5,1. It's a bit of a learning curve compared to Photoshop, but for what I use it for it's amazing.

Objectivist-C · Oct 19, 2021

hamishb2 said:
Where can you get a 2 x SATA —> PCIE 8-pin cable? I bought one recently thinking it would just plug into the SATA port in a spare drive bay on my 5,1. However the cable I bought (StarTech) is 15 pin and won’t fit.

You can just cut off the plastic guide tab if it won’t fit into the notch between the power and data pins.

I think I’m going to try running it with a 2x MicroFit —> 1x 8-pin and 2x SATA —> 1x 8-pin connected to
an EVGA PowerLink, connected via 2x 8-pin extension cables to my video card.

mikas · Oct 19, 2021

^ I would probably do the same. Route everything through the powerlink, and from there to the card. It might be uglier inside, but a safer bet than that 2xSATA to 8-pin. I wouldn't want to do that, not if the card is actually used for something demanding. I have done 2xSATA to 6-pin, and that's not so much of a risk.

The way you described it above makes pretty sure the card does not draw more than SATA spec, 2x54W=108W, from the SATA connectors. Powerlink evens the draw from all your connected power sources to the same level. I believe you would be covered from sudden spikes with power draw too, which can be a lot more than the TDP (thermal design power) of the card. It could be TDP is 225W and there are sudden temporary spikes of 300W or something like that.

davorrr · Oct 20, 2021

Macschrauber said:
the 7300 is a EFI32 Card for the 1.1 / 2.1 and there are no drivers since 10.8 afair.

check for a gt640 with passive cooler.

Thanks! Were there different gt640, like mac edition or something? Or can choose just the one with passive cooler?

Macschrauber · Oct 20, 2021

There was never a Mac Edition of a GT640. Those were fantasy names adapted from the GTX680 Mac Edition.

Some sellers sell flashed cards with an UGA Bootscreen.

As long as the GT640 has a GOP Bootscreen (or you inject one with the proper tools) you can get a bootscreen with RefindPlus or OpenCore.

Melbourne Park · Oct 20, 2021

MarkC426 said:
Depending what version of MacOS you are using, CS6 should still work.
I was using CS5 in High Sierra, it just needed the legacy Java runtime from Apple.

But I have since moved over to Affinity products.

If your getting the current CC from Adobe you may need to be on latest MacOS....?

Firstly, thanks for the replies guys.

My problem with CS6 is firstly, I have lost the disk and also it's packaging. It runs fine though. I like the Adobe colour editing and can print exactly the colours I see on my screen.

But ... when I upgrade to a later OS, CS6 won't work. And am not going to rent it. But maybe for one year?

But I think now, Affinity is what I'll do.

I have two things to do next year: edit a huge number of videos into something worthwhile. Which was my excuse for buying the 5,1 in 2012 (it's a 2010 model which Apple in Australia hugely discounted when they started shipping the 2012 version of the 5,1, which I knew, were the same machines).

Years later, here I am and I have barely started to transfer the videos onto the computer.

then, I'll want to edit them in Final Cut Pro (which I own), and then upscale their resolution, and then save them to a format which can be viewed by clicking on the files.

As far as my monitor goes, it has two DVI-I inputs and one Display Port. The monitor is still supported too ... not sure though about Apple, but evidently it can run PS 18 version or something at 10 bits. It benefit is that I like the size of a 24" and also, its even colour across the whole screen, plus its colour calibration is phenomenal. While it typically looks a dull screen, if one prints something, the output is just the same as the screen representation.

However ... I rarely print these days.

I just want to get the video work done.

I figure now, the bottlenecks are (and this is all in my home office and I have now retired except for two things I am working on):

Downloading all the videos into the computer (which happens in real time) so I will need to have to setup a production line.

Edit the movies and put in photos and effects, and voice over etc.

Increase the resolution of them so they can be tolerated on today's viewing platforms

Save them to a clickable (accessible from I guess the cloud) platform.

There are several bottlenecks in all this.

I figure though, that I can put all the digitised un processed videos, onto a USB-C external drive, or even a mirrored one (for security).

I could edit on an M processor (even now a MacBook pro)

An issue for me, is the upscaling. I really like how it works. But ... it seems to be much better value in the PC area, and software such as Topaz, which I found excellent, works much much better on nVidia GPUs. Hence its best done on a PC.

I am now thinking that if companies like Topaz port their software to the M architecture, then a complex task for me in upscaling, may be quite efficient on an M Pro or M Pro Max.

So ... maybe I should check the monitor issue, download all the videos to my 5,1, move them onto a USB C drive or something like that, and do the work on an M Apple machine, hence no longer use the machine I intended to use all those years ago.

One advantage of a fast notebook too, is that I could quickly turn around tomorrows videos while I am travelling. We have an off road caravan, and go up very rough tracks and can camp for weeks self sustained. Its called "Clamping" in Australia - glamorous camping. If I can take some shots and videos and quickly process them - that would be a boon for me. We have to now try and see a lot of Australia, so a better notebook may make sense.

So ... the issues with software, mixing GPUs, the overall speed issues too - I am thinking maybe I should after moving the videos into a digital format, the 5,1 is past its day. As my 2017 MacBook Pro probably is too - its a late 2017, but it missed out on the chip that speeds up the FCP to save format by a quantum leap.

With all that ... maybe I should sell the RX 580 because right now, its overpriced. I bought it new in November 2020, so it's definitely still got warranty. I've never used it, and bought it here in Australia from a proper dealer. I have the receipts for it somewhere too. Its the one which works well in the 5,1 - Sapphire pulse Radeon tm RX 580 * GB GDDR5. SKU 11265-05-20G

Funny thing is, Apple told me my 2017 was worth Au700. Add the card to that, a new MacBook Pro could be not expensive. Curiously, I think my 5,1 is not worth much at all now. I love it too. I haven't even upgraded its ROM yet, or put in the two 3.1 6 cores I bought for it. Or the two worthless now 3.46 deal core processors I bought!

I was hoping for a lower priced and spec. desktop with new M processors - but they did not come. But maybe notebook will be a Keep It Simple Stupid route for me, once I get the videos digitised. Faster CPUs and GPUs will not effect those tasks either. But I do need the 5,1 to do that work - I don't think the software works on recent mac computers and OS versions, for instance with Hi8 linear videos into digital (via my digital 8 camera that does digitise Hi 8 onto the 5,1 computer).

If the RX580 is worth a bit now, I am wondering how much effort I am going to have to put in, to get it all working. And some of my bottlenecks will be quite major on the 5,1 I suspect.

Cheers Guys.

Melbourne Park · Nov 13, 2021

I've sold the RX580. The auction is not yet over, but it met my minimum. The prices are ridiculous. Mine is the Apple recommended Sapphire version, its got one year warranty left on it, and I've never taken it out of its box. The box also has an OC overclocked label on it. I bought it exactly a year ago, because they were becoming rare, and I found one in Australia.

I bought the card mostly for video work in FCP, which I own. But first, I've got 70 or more odd video tapes to digitise or input - all in real time. I've been avoiding doing that since I bought new the 5,1. That work is not related to GPU, or the OS. I think I'll either put in a faster GPU with Opencore next year ... but also, I may switch to new Macbook Pro as they seem quicker than buying a fast but likely still expensive card, and have to handle all the issues of when things go wrong, power supply issues, etc. I haven't even upgraded my CPUs, despite having bought fast ones. I haven't even upgraded the rom, and to do that properly, I'd have to have a metal GPU to do so ... mine is an ancient ROM. Also, one should avoid multiple ROM updates, so I am doing that ... hmmm.

With support/protection for older Mac OSs getting dropped, I am becoming resigned to the 5,1 having run its course. Maybe use it as a high power data server. Turn it off at night ... I have 14kw of solar panels on my house. No battery though.

Funny thing about the crazy GPU prices, is that it must be a windfall for Apple's single memory GPU on the CPU strategy, as with a new macbook pro, you get an onboard GPU that's pretty fast and for Final Cut, its looking like a reasonable solution.

Melbourne Park · Nov 15, 2021

Update on the RX 580 Sapphire - the best version to buy it seems. Although one day prices will drop and then via Opencore faster choices will be around like the AMD 5500 etc.

I sold the RX 580 for double what I paid. The chap who bought it fixes up Macs here in Melbourne! He said he's buying as many good RX 580s as he can.

He was delighted that it had not even been taken out of its box. He did not read the eBay story !!!! He was delighted that the invoice I gave him provided another year of new warranty

... but the price was a bit embarrassing - for me at least.

So I'll digitise my videos and find out about how best to increase their resolution up to 4k level.

I have tried resolution increased from 640x480 to 4K on my Macbook 2017 which was an i7 and a 4 GB 560 proc GPU - it was a very, very, very slow process using Topaz. But the result was extraordinary. The video sample from 21 years ago looked superb on our 4k 75" TV! I'm also found the colour of an old analogue Hi8 with a top Sony stabilised ProSumer lens is nicer than other colours ... not sure though about my Sony A7RII - I have a few nice lenses for that. But I hardly use that camera now - the iPhone's taken over. It's always there and its lighter than full frame lenses with a camera behind them.

When I find out if the M Pro or Max works well with Topaz - and they have said the M processor is ported now via an email enquiry I made - I'll likely buy one macbook 16 Pro or a Max if it makes a difference. Or soup up the PC and put an Nvidia card in it .. because Topaz hav previously said their software works much much better on nVidia GPUs.

But with the crazy graphic card prices at the moment, I may sell or give away my macbook pro (or put a Windows 10 system I have onto it and give it to my wife) and move on.

prefuse07 · Nov 22, 2021

@ReallyLongLogin So did you ever get the 5600XT to work? any updates?

jowaju · Nov 22, 2021

I just installed a Nvidia Quadro K600 1GB video card in my MacPro5,1. Full Metal compatibility and they are under $15 shipped. I have verified both DVI and DisplayPort work simultaneously in High Sierra and Big Sur, and with OpenCore you get the OCLP Boot Screen. Interestingly, my 15" Dell LCD that worked in High Sierra with a VGA - DVI adapter did NOT work once I switched to Big Sur, but another monitor hooked up to the DVI directly worked fine. Not sure if it's the old 1024x768 monitor or the generic DVI adapter. The DisplayPort I am actually using 2 Adapters - DisplayPort to HDMI on the Video card end and HDMI to DVI on the back of the monitor, and it works perfectly.

MarkC426 · Nov 22, 2021

Maybe a used one is $15.
New on Amazon UK, cheapest is £165.

jowaju · Nov 23, 2021

MarkC426 said:
Maybe a used one is $15.
New on Amazon UK, cheapest is £165.

Yes, obviously since it was $15 it was not new. This is just an informative post for people who want the cheapest upgrade path that is still Metal capable, who don't care that the card isn't brand new. They are cheapo workstation cards from Dell and HP and it's very unlikely they were pushed very hard during their life. Not everyone needs a $250 card when a $15-$20 one will do everything they need.

MP 1,1-5,1 GPU Compatibility List for cMP

macrumors 68040

macrumors 6502

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macrumors 6502

macrumors 6502

macrumors 6502a

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macrumors 68030

macrumors 65816

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