MP 1,1-5,1 GPU for Mac Pro 1.1 and other questions

[Reflej0]

Hello, I bought a Mac Pro 1.1 not for everyday use, but because it contained 4 1TB disks and the cost-benefit ratio was profitable for me (Argentina haha).
The Mac Pro has a damaged GPU (the screen looks bad) and has a Geforce GT 7300, I have 2 options:

1. Find a PC video card (Not Mac Edition) and get the MP to work.
2. Sell the PM in parts or in its entirety, to make a profit.

To be honest, I already have other MAC equipment at home, but I am excited to see a 2006 machine work (although I sell it anyway), so I would like to know if the purchase of the GPU is feasible (not mac edition).

Other doubts I have are:

• What power supply does the MP come with from the factory? Since I don't see any 6 pin power molex connector.
  
• Specifically, what is the latest version of Mac Os that can run without problems? I know that you have to do some hacks to install a newer one.

Thanks since now ! Greetings.

 

[reukiodo]

There's a GPU thread that already has a lot of info for you to read through. A cheap just-to-get-it-working GPU should be the GT120.

It came as the default in later Mac Pros and works fine as a 2D-only GPU for the early Mac Pro also. It should be reasonably cheap and can serve as a backup even if you get a more modern and powerful GPU later.

 

[reukiodo]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/gpu-compatibility-list-for-cmp.2174600/ for the GPU thread with tons of info

 

[reukiodo]

As far as a cheap PC GPU, I don't know what is cheap in Argentina, but you can search for which cards would be openly flashable.

I bought 2 7970 cards cheaply and easily flashed them to be Mac compatible, and are quite useful in an early Mac Pro. You do need to buy the mini6 to 6 adapter cables from Amazon or eBay to use the card though.

 

[Reflej0]

Thanks for the answer, I had already viewed the post, but my concise question was not answered, it may be very silly.
Can I connect any "old" 7300GT, 9500GT, 210GT video card whose versions are not mac edition and that they work?
If the answer is yes, then I buy any video card available, if the answer is no, then I should look for another alternative.
In particular I am viewing video cards that do not need external power.

 

[mikas]

I think you would need to flash them to Mac cards. PC-versions do not work. You should buy one that is allready a Mac flashed version of a that particular card. PC versions of GPUs started to function (w/o flash) at High Sierra then Apple announced their Metal compatibility towards some AMD cards. You can't use any of the more modern nVidia cards in a 1,1, nor with a 5,1. They would need a driver softaware to work, and there are none driver software available at the moment for your machine - and not so sure if there ever will be anymore for the foreseeable future. Not even for a newer intel Mac Pros there will be.

Please read the first post with a thought. If there is "Metal" mentioned, that's a no with your Mac. If there is a "Flashable" mentioned, you might have a go. Check all lines explained of a card. Any from the last couple of years would not work. Search the older ones please, of the era of a few years of the Mac Pro of yours..

 

[Reflej0]

I think you would need to flash them to Mac cards. PC-versions do not work. You should buy one that is allready a Mac flashed version of a that particular card. PC versions of GPUs started to function (w/o flash) at High Sierra then Apple announced their Metal compatibility towards some AMD cards. You can't use any of the more modern nVidia cards in a 1,1, nor with a 5,1. They would need a driver softaware to work, and there are none driver software available at the moment for your machine - and not so sure if there ever will be anymore for the foreseeable future. Not even for a newer intel Mac Pros there will be.

Please read the first post with a thought. If there is "Metal" mentioned, that's a no with your Mac. If there is a "Flashable" mentioned, you might have a go. Check all lines explained of a card. Any from the last couple of years would not work. Search the older ones please, of the era of a few years of the Mac Pro of yours..

Of course, I saw the GPU post, and I did an investigation in other places on the internet, but nobody provides a certainty.
Some people say that putting a GPU (not mac edition) in an MP 1.1, the logo is not seen when booting but then the mac works perfectly.
The issue is that a normal GPU (7300GT, 9500GT, GT210, etc) is approximately 10 ~ 20 US$ (Argentina) while the Mac version is 100 ~ 200 US$ so it would not be worth the purchase sincerely.
I think when in doubt I will try my luck with a 9500GT or 7300GT that I get for 10 US$ and I will pray that it works.
Thanks !

 

[mikas]

I understand perfectly, and I wish good luck with your hunting of a card.
And I wish health for your country too.

 

[jbarley]

Specifically, what is the latest version of Mac Os that can run without problems? I know that you have to do some hacks to install a newer one.
Thanks since now ! Greetings.

10.7.5, but El Capitan 10.11.6 runs well with only slight modification.

 

[reukiodo]

Ah, missed the OS part... I run 10.11 on my MP1,1 flashed with 2,1 firmware.

I'm not sure if the firmware matters for any stability with 10.11, but it does allow for 64GB of RAM, which is much nicer than the 32GB max of the 1,1 firmware.

 

[reukiodo]

How much is a used GT120 on Argentina?

 

[Reflej0]

Hi, in the end today I tried with a 9400GT and it did not work.
Now I have another question if I can do it in this thread.
I have a Mac Mini 2018 with Catalina and I have the Mac Pro 1.1 system disk (which does not give video), can I install Mac Os Lion on the Mac Pro disk, externally?
The MP 1.1 disk has Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on it, and I have access to the disk since I connected it with a SATA to USB adapter.
Thanks since now !

 

[reukiodo]

I think the earliest OS that the Mac Mini 2018 would allow to to install is Mojave on any drive, which wouldn't boot on the MP1,1. You really should find a cheap Mac GPU or if you have a windows PC handy, a flashable PC GPU that is Radeon 7970/GeForce 8800 or earlier to be compatible with the MP1,1.

 

[Reflej0]

I was finally able to get video with some instability with the original video card (7300GT) which allowed me to upgrade to OS X Lion and use Mac Pro 1.1 for a few moments (10 minutes) until the fault reappeared.
At least I was able to experience having an old high-end computer and an old OS X, which was what I wanted, it is already on sale.
Thanks.

PD: I use a 2018 Mac Mini every day, and I had a 2015 MBP and MBA, but I have never had such an old machine

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I was finally able to get video with some instability with the original video card (7300GT) which allowed me to upgrade to OS X Lion and use Mac Pro 1.1 for a few moments (10 minutes) until the fault reappeared.
At least I was able to experience having an old high-end computer and an old OS X, which was what I wanted, it is already on sale.
Thanks.

PD: I use a 2018 Mac Mini every day, and I had a 2015 MBP and MBA, but I have never had such an old machine

I have a Gigabyte HD6670 2GB, and it can boot my MP 1,1 to desktop (no boot screen). I can use the MP for normal task (Word processing, web surfing, Youtube video watching. etc.)
I have another GTX680 2GB, flashed but still no boot screen.
Many cards can work with the MP1,1. Just check the GPU thread.