Update to 144.0.0.0.0 BootROM and test with a clean install, preferably on a new drive. Install DriveDX and check if you don't have any problems your old ones.
MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)
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MP 1,1-5,1 Help? MP4.1 tale of woe
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MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)
Hi Alex,
I am looking at a BIOSTAR Gaming Radeon RX 560 4GB 128-bit DDR5 GPU. Does it have to be a specific-brand-card, MSI Gaming RX560 128-bit 4GB DDR5 GPU, or will the BIOSTAR model do the job?
I have ordered a copy of Drive DX program, that looks like a great tool. I have several drives that I need to check out. BTW, I plan on doing a clean install with a new 1TB SSD with APFS. The current boot drive is a 256GB SSD that is a couple of years old. Just like everything, the old SSD likely cost me an arm and a leg back then when SSD first came out. But I think that it is a good idea to put in a fresh new big drive at this point.
As I mentioned earlier, the MP is currently running HS 10.13.3, with Boot ROM Version: MP51.0084.B00. I would like to upgrade to Mojave, though not sure about Catalina at this time. I have a lot of old programs that may be problematic. I am planning at looking at a Catalina upgrade later, after getting the MP back in good order. The MP boots much better now. I flushed the caches, and some other general housecleaning. The machine had been dead for over a year.
When you say "update to 144.0.0.0.0 BootROM," as a newbie, I gotta ask is this a sequential update process, with seven (7) updates, from where it is showing now, MP51.0084.B00 to 144.0.0.0.0, or is there a cumulative firmware update?
I am in the process of working on my reading assignments from you. Your great thread, "What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instruction thread)." the Apple Support referenced link, :Install macOS 10.14 Mojave on MacPro (Mid 2010) and MacPro (Mid 2012)." Anything else for right now?
Thanks,
boomer
I am looking at a BIOSTAR Gaming Radeon RX 560 4GB 128-bit DDR5 GPU. Does it have to be a specific-brand-card, MSI Gaming RX560 128-bit 4GB DDR5 GPU, or will the BIOSTAR model do the job?
I have ordered a copy of Drive DX program, that looks like a great tool. I have several drives that I need to check out. BTW, I plan on doing a clean install with a new 1TB SSD with APFS. The current boot drive is a 256GB SSD that is a couple of years old. Just like everything, the old SSD likely cost me an arm and a leg back then when SSD first came out. But I think that it is a good idea to put in a fresh new big drive at this point.
As I mentioned earlier, the MP is currently running HS 10.13.3, with Boot ROM Version: MP51.0084.B00. I would like to upgrade to Mojave, though not sure about Catalina at this time. I have a lot of old programs that may be problematic. I am planning at looking at a Catalina upgrade later, after getting the MP back in good order. The MP boots much better now. I flushed the caches, and some other general housecleaning. The machine had been dead for over a year.
When you say "update to 144.0.0.0.0 BootROM," as a newbie, I gotta ask is this a sequential update process, with seven (7) updates, from where it is showing now, MP51.0084.B00 to 144.0.0.0.0, or is there a cumulative firmware update?
I am in the process of working on my reading assignments from you. Your great thread, "What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instruction thread)." the Apple Support referenced link, :Install macOS 10.14 Mojave on MacPro (Mid 2010) and MacPro (Mid 2012)." Anything else for right now?
Thanks,
boomer
Usually, compatible cards works fine, but some have very different ports/outputs configurations and all outputs may work or not. Apple certified those cards and guaranteed those to work, for other cards is trial and error. I don't remember anyone mentioning having problems with this specific BIOSTAR GPU.
You can use DriveDX to check if any of your drives is problematic, save the files and remove anything that is marked as failing. You can do a clean install with any drive, just don't use one marked as failing, like this:
It's easy to fully erase and test a HDD from the terminal, if you don't know how to do I can tell you how.
MP51.0084.B00 --> MP51.0089.B00 -->144.0.0.0.0
MP51.0089.B00 from 10.13.6 MAS full installer.
144.0.0.0.0 from Mojave 10.14.6 MAS full installer.
Start doing a clean install of 10.13.6, then you will be updated to MP51.0089.B00.
Just follow the instructions, pay attention with the notes and you will get 144.0.0.0.0 and Mojave installed. It's a long process, but it's easy to do now that we listed all the pitfalls.
I am still on my ongoing MP upgrade journey....sometimes it is seeming like 5 steps forward and 2 steps back, but overall progress.
I did purchase DriveDX and installed it on my old SSD boot drive that was running HS 10.13.3, with Boot ROM Version: MP51.0084.B00, it received excellent scores, all of the parameters were in the green zone. I got similar results for all of the my SSD drives that I tested.
In preparation of upgrading from an older version of High Sierra, I had a Time Vault backup, and a SuperDuper Clone copy of the current HS 10.13.3. However, this is where it was late at night and I got a bit confused. I repeatedly tried to make a 10.13.6 HS installer and do a clean install, using Disk Maker X7, thinking that I had installed the installer on a new USB drive. (I have come to the opinion that this was the start of my subsequent issues.) What should I have done differently to do a clean install? This is the article that I was using as a reference, https://blog.macsales.com/42448-create-a-bootable-macos-high-sierra-install-drive-with-diskmaker-x-7. In the middle of trying to make a HS installer, I believe that it upgraded, not a clean install, but via the clone. At one point, I was given the option to update the BootROM and did update to MP51.0089.B00. The machine is now reported to be using macOS 10.13.6 High Sierra. Everything seems to be working well, except I don't have a High Sierra installer. Also when I go to upgrade software through the Apple App Store, I get an error message:App store error "An SSL error as occurred and a secure connection to the server cannot be made." I think this is a problem with my Kaspersky virus program, and will go into Safe Mode to hopefully straighten it out.
At this point, I am wondering if I should revert back to the previous High Sierra version. I am at a bit of a loss as to the correct way to do a clean install??? Am I overthinking this? I think I have to re-read your first article.
Thanks and appreciate your help and support,
boomer
I did purchase DriveDX and installed it on my old SSD boot drive that was running HS 10.13.3, with Boot ROM Version: MP51.0084.B00, it received excellent scores, all of the parameters were in the green zone. I got similar results for all of the my SSD drives that I tested.
In preparation of upgrading from an older version of High Sierra, I had a Time Vault backup, and a SuperDuper Clone copy of the current HS 10.13.3. However, this is where it was late at night and I got a bit confused. I repeatedly tried to make a 10.13.6 HS installer and do a clean install, using Disk Maker X7, thinking that I had installed the installer on a new USB drive. (I have come to the opinion that this was the start of my subsequent issues.) What should I have done differently to do a clean install? This is the article that I was using as a reference, https://blog.macsales.com/42448-create-a-bootable-macos-high-sierra-install-drive-with-diskmaker-x-7. In the middle of trying to make a HS installer, I believe that it upgraded, not a clean install, but via the clone. At one point, I was given the option to update the BootROM and did update to MP51.0089.B00. The machine is now reported to be using macOS 10.13.6 High Sierra. Everything seems to be working well, except I don't have a High Sierra installer. Also when I go to upgrade software through the Apple App Store, I get an error message:App store error "An SSL error as occurred and a secure connection to the server cannot be made." I think this is a problem with my Kaspersky virus program, and will go into Safe Mode to hopefully straighten it out.
At this point, I am wondering if I should revert back to the previous High Sierra version. I am at a bit of a loss as to the correct way to do a clean install??? Am I overthinking this? I think I have to re-read your first article.
Thanks and appreciate your help and support,
boomer
Hi Alex,
Ok, I have been reading and reading and researching. Yep, reading the articles you referenced, and a bunch of Apple support, OWC articles on creating bootable installer for macOS. I have been peeling old programs, and documents, etc. off of the MP4.1-.5.1, with good success. The machine certainly doesn't seem as sluggish and obtunded as before. Seems to be running just fine in Hgh Sierra. Ran it through Safe Mode, nothing out of the ordinary. Just getting used to my old friend after over a year hiatus. My intention is to upgrade to Mojave and call it good. I spent a couple of days dealing with Microslop, trying to install Office 365 for Mac subscription on my 13" MBP. Dealing with MS customer (dis)service poignantly reminded me of one of the many reasons why I migrated to Apple products 11 years ago.
I was able to successfully produce a bootable installer for Mojave employing Terminal commands on a 125GB SSD. Still no bootable installer for High Sierra. Will likely do that later, my wife's MBP is currently running Sierra.
I was able to pick up on eBay a nVidia GeForce GTX 680 for a reasonable price. Just waiting to get it back from Mac flashing service at MacVideoCard. USPS should deliver it this week. Gonna rescan the various articles on Mojave install on this MP4.1-.5.1, and get ready to to the upgrade.
Any more pearls of wisdom?
Ok, I have been reading and reading and researching. Yep, reading the articles you referenced, and a bunch of Apple support, OWC articles on creating bootable installer for macOS. I have been peeling old programs, and documents, etc. off of the MP4.1-.5.1, with good success. The machine certainly doesn't seem as sluggish and obtunded as before. Seems to be running just fine in Hgh Sierra. Ran it through Safe Mode, nothing out of the ordinary. Just getting used to my old friend after over a year hiatus. My intention is to upgrade to Mojave and call it good. I spent a couple of days dealing with Microslop, trying to install Office 365 for Mac subscription on my 13" MBP. Dealing with MS customer (dis)service poignantly reminded me of one of the many reasons why I migrated to Apple products 11 years ago.
I was able to successfully produce a bootable installer for Mojave employing Terminal commands on a 125GB SSD. Still no bootable installer for High Sierra. Will likely do that later, my wife's MBP is currently running Sierra.
I was able to pick up on eBay a nVidia GeForce GTX 680 for a reasonable price. Just waiting to get it back from Mac flashing service at MacVideoCard. USPS should deliver it this week. Gonna rescan the various articles on Mojave install on this MP4.1-.5.1, and get ready to to the upgrade.
Any more pearls of wisdom?
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You could have boot Windows and flashed yourself your GTX 680 within 5 minutes, anyway continue your journey.
Si, am continuing my journey. BTW, this message is being sent via my venerable Lazarus MP4.1->5.1 machine. Many thanks to you for your guidance and inspiration in helping to make this feat possible. I will be honest. I thought that my ol MP was a goner..the cheesegrater lives on, just need a bit of Pecorino Romano and a glass of Brunello di Montalcino to round out the celebration.
I can appreciate your suggestion about me booting the GPU, however, I don'y own any Windows-based machines, and the most current Windows license is for Windows XP (I think..). All of my acquaintances either have Lenovo laptops or MBP laptops. I swore off of most Microslop products when I migrated to Mac. In my last posting I alluded to my most recent encounter with MS and their "new" revenue-generation con job, selling annual subscription licenses. The Kafkaesque-style of customer (dis)service at MS just further validated my rationale for switching to Mac (and I ain't going back)!
The flashed GPU should be delivered today... Tante grazie...
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So did you forgo the Biostar RX 560 completely in favor of the nVidia GeForce GTX 680? Just curious, because I was hoping you would be able to report on the compatibility of the Biostar product in a classic Mac Pro 5,1.
Yea, I did opt for the Nvidia GTX 680 over the Biostar RX 560, sorry to disappoint you. From everything that I could find to read on the subject, the Biostar should work. But after all was said and done, I had my sights on a MSI Radeon RX 560, saw some on Ebay for crazy money, Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 580s evidently are made of unobtainium. From my PC modding exploits of last century...lol.. I seem to recall that Radeon GPUs tend to run hotter than nVidia GeForce GPUs, and I saw a reasonable deal on the nVidia GeForce GTX 680. Though, it wasn't a Mac edition, I had done some biz with smel-LA-based MacVideoCards (MVC) in the past, so I got the GTX 680, forwarded it onto MVC and am now awaiting USPS delivery today of the "flashed for Mac" GTX 680. Do I have to look at installing CUDA drivers?
I think that with the flashed GPU, I think that I will be ready to do a clean install of 10.14 Mojave. I think that I see a light at the end of the tunnel...I just hope it isn't a train coming my way....
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Yes, indeed continuing on my journey, and still doing the same dance step as before, 5 steps forward, 2 steps back.....
The flashed nVidia GPU was delivered, found out about the apparent corporate fighting between Apple and nVidia, resulting in no driver support for nvidia GPUs for macOS 10.14. That blows my nVidia GPU prospect down the chute. Still have that unstested Biostar AMD RX560???? A buddy says he will make me a good deal on his Sapphire pulse RX580, he succumbed to the Evil Empire from Redmond. Gonna ponder this a bit.... Still just enjoying getting my ol' cheese grater back in shape.... Thoughts or comments??
NVIDIA Kepler GPUs have native/official support with 10.14, GTX 680 is a Kepler GPU. Please re-read the first post MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread).
Alex, you are da mang!!! As so many times before.....Thank you, thank you. Yes, I will re-read your 26page treatise from 2018. Damn, bigger than Stuttgart on the next page that is now dog-eared from me referring to it, I see your info about Kepler GPUs. As a matter of fact, I printed out a two-sided hard copy for quick reference.
I have to shut this ol MP down, and slap in its "new" GPU..... Many thanks again!
Will do.
I have upgraded the BootROM to MP51.0089.B00, and I am currently using High Sierra 10.13.6 . I have a flashed for Mac nVidia GeForce GTX 680 , FileVault is turned off. In the PCIe slots I have installed, a Sonnet Tempo SATA E4P card [slot 4], a PSX3 USB 3.0 controller card [slot 3], {Vacant} [slot 2], nVidia GeForce GT-120 GPU [slot 1].
The GTX680 GPU will replace the GT-120 and take up two slots. Thinking about removing the SATA card, moving the USB3 card up to slot 4, and placing the new GPU into slots 2 and 3, leaving slot 1 open for a possible NVMe PCIe card in the future. I was primarily using the SATA card for an external TimeVault back-up arrangement. I can do the same external back-up via FireWire.
The current HS macOS 13.6.2 in on a Sandisk SSD mounted on an internal SATA drive sled (OWC Mount Pro (OWMP)). I also have the Mojave installer on a small SSD installed on another OWMP. Do I still need this separate Mojave installer? Finally, the new target 1TB drive is mounted on a OWMP. It sounds like I have too many drives, doesn't it?
WE HAVE SUCCESS !!!!
Alex, thank you so much for the coaching, prodding, information and guidance !!!
I have spent the last hour installing anti-virus software, getting software updates, setting up the VPN, etc. My venerable ol' Mac Pro is back at the top of her game. We are running macOS 10.14.6, BootROM version 144.0.0.0.0 . The upgrade install went with our a hitch. The display is beautiful with the nVidia GeForce GTX 680. I have a full day planned for tomorrow, installing printer and scanner drivers, DVD burning software, etc.... and migrating files from the MBP to the MP.
CHEERS !!!
Alex, thank you so much for the coaching, prodding, information and guidance !!!
I have spent the last hour installing anti-virus software, getting software updates, setting up the VPN, etc. My venerable ol' Mac Pro is back at the top of her game. We are running macOS 10.14.6, BootROM version 144.0.0.0.0 . The upgrade install went with our a hitch. The display is beautiful with the nVidia GeForce GTX 680. I have a full day planned for tomorrow, installing printer and scanner drivers, DVD burning software, etc.... and migrating files from the MBP to the MP.
CHEERS !!!