How do I boot 64bit on a 2006 macpro1'1?

[austie400]

So I have a 2006 macpro1'1 with Dual-Core intel Xeon processor my kernel version is Darwin 10.8.0 and under Extensions it says
Kind: intel
Architectures: i386, x86_64
64-bit (Intel): yes
and 64-bit Kernel and Extensions: No
and i'm running OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 but I can't boot 64bit I used the terminal commands and no I don't have a 64bit efi so how do I get 64bit on my Mac?
I'm so lost...

 

[kingtj]

You should search for "Mac Pro 2006 upgrade options" and the like in Google, or even in these forums. There's plenty of info around on what you can and can't do with one. (I just got a 2006 Mac Pro, free, from my employer - since they retired it recently.)

The 2006 model has a 32-bit EFI, even though the processors themselves are 64-bit capable. That causes a lot of problems trying to use it for many different modern operating systems.

A project was coded, years ago, to allow re-flashing it with the firmware intended for the 2008 Mac Pro (64-bit EFI). Once that's done, your 2006 Mac Pro is able to run OS X versions all the way up through El Capitan assuming you also use a second project that patches a couple of files in OS X so it will still run despite detecting a "unsupported" Mac.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/06-07-mac-pro-1-1-2-1-and-os-x-el-capitan.1922266/

 

[jbarley]

Either of these 2 threads should help shed some light...
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2006-2007-mac-pro-1-1-2-1-and-os-x-yosemite.1740775/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2006-2007-mac-pro-1-1-2-1-and-os-x-el-capitan.1890435/

 

[haralds]

You should search for "Mac Pro 2006 upgrade options" and the like in Google, or even in these forums. There's plenty of info around on what you can and can't do with one. (I just got a 2006 Mac Pro, free, from my employer - since they retired it recently.)

The 2006 model has a 32-bit EFI, even though the processors themselves are 64-bit capable. That causes a lot of problems trying to use it for many different modern operating systems.

A project was coded, years ago, to allow re-flashing it with the firmware intended for the 2008 Mac Pro (64-bit EFI). Once that's done, your 2006 Mac Pro is able to run OS X versions all the way up through El Capitan assuming you also use a second project that patches a couple of files in OS X so it will still run despite detecting a "unsupported" Mac.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/06-07-mac-pro-1-1-2-1-and-os-x-el-capitan.1922266/

This is technically not quite correct.
1. It is possible to flash a Mac Pro 1,1 with the 2,1 firmware. This supports CloverTown processors.
2. Both of these are 32 Bit EFI
3. If you follow the threads there is a BOOT.EFI that can be used to load 64 BIT operating systems through El Capitan. These are not patched, the BOOT.efi just adds a translation wedge between 64bit calls to the 32BIT EFI for things like NVRAM.
4. Systems newer than El Capitan and the latest Supplemental Update to El Capitan use Xeon instruction set extensions not supported on the original processors.

 

[kingtj]

Sorry.... I was just trying to describe the upgrade processes from memory. I guess that is true that the newer 2,1 firmware still leaves the machine with a 32 bit EFI.

(From what I've seen explained on YouTube upgrade videos too - it sounds like the CloverTown processors actually work in the 1,1 Mac Pro - even if you don't do the EFI upgrade. It's just that the system profiler won't be able to identify the CPU(s) in that case and will display it/them as unknown? I was warned to do the 2,1 firmware update before swapping the CPUs though -- so can't verify that this is true.)

This is technically not quite correct.
1. It is possible to flash a Mac Pro 1,1 with the 2,1 firmware. This supports CloverTown processors.
2. Both of these are 32 Bit EFI
3. If you follow the threads there is a BOOT.EFI that can be used to load 64 BIT operating systems through El Capitan. These are not patched, the BOOT.efi just adds a translation wedge between 64bit calls to the 32BIT EFI for things like NVRAM.
4. Systems newer than El Capitan and the latest Supplemental Update to El Capitan use Xeon instruction set extensions not supported on the original processors.

 

[haralds]

...it sounds like the CloverTown processors actually work in the 1,1 Mac Pro - even if you don't do the EFI upgrade. It's just that the system profiler won't be able to identify the CPU(s) in that case and will display it/them as unknown? I was warned to do the 2,1 firmware update before swapping the CPUs though -- so can't verify that this is true.)

The firmware update also provides the necessary microcode updates for the particular CPU family handled by the hardware family. Newer CPUs are not supported by the 1,1 firmware. It is not known, what problems the lack of update would cause.