Resolved i7-940 and kernel panic

[tsialex]

Thank you for the in-depth response! I'm very comfortable with the command line so didn't see that as an impediment but I can see your point - it's very easy to mistype a command, and simply running the updater removes this barrier to entry.

My experience was limited to my MacBook Pro, so that could explain the differences in the behaviour. I must look in to this in more detail. I think I need ANOTHER Mac - just for testing, of course!

It's a lot easier to flash a MacBookPro, Mac Pro has the most cumbersome BootROM upgrade of all Macs - every other Mac evolved around 2009~2010 and Mac Pro 5,1 on the last days of 2012 still being fabricated with that POS (zero validation, not even size) method of firmware upgrade.

 

[ActionableMango]

Yeah, the how's and why's of Apple continue to confound us. I'm sorta glad that it's Apple, and not the i7-940. @ActionableMango was going to do a bunch of work in the CPU compatibility thread, but now it looks like just adding some information about boot rom versions is what's necessary.

Well I'm glad you pushed through because I wasn't looking forward to repeating the deep dive. I might still do it anyway later if I'm bored.

However, I've read through this thread and I'm not too sure what needs to be mentioned in the CPU compatibility list. Is it basically that Nehalem i7 CPUs are not compatible with firmware updates 089 and later? But the Gulftown i7 CPUs are still okay?

 

[Zeke D]

I’m sure that @tsialex will correct me if I’m wrong, but that is correct, but 0087 is the firmware that dropped Nehalem i7.

Well I'm glad you pushed through because I wasn't looking forward to repeating the deep dive. I might still do it anyway later if I'm bored.

However, I've read through this thread and I'm not too sure what needs to be mentioned in the CPU compatibility list. Is it basically that Nehalem i7 CPUs are not compatible with firmware updates 089 and later? But the Gulftown i7 CPUs are still okay?

 

[tsialex]

Is it basically that Nehalem i7 CPUs are not compatible with firmware updates 089 and later? But the Gulftown i7 CPUs are still okay?

Exactly, only C0/C1 Bloomfield i7s are not compatible with 0087 forward. Btw, if you ever update your excellent compatibility table, please identify correctly the core types. It'll be important from now on.

 

[LightBulbFun]

Well I'm glad you pushed through because I wasn't looking forward to repeating the deep dive. I might still do it anyway later if I'm bored.

However, I've read through this thread and I'm not too sure what needs to be mentioned in the CPU compatibility list. Is it basically that Nehalem i7 CPUs are not compatible with firmware updates 089 and later? But the Gulftown i7 CPUs are still okay?

I’m sure that @tsialex will correct me if I’m wrong, but that is correct, but 0087 is the firmware that dropped Nehalem i7.

Exactly, only Bloomfield i7 are not compatible with 0089 forward.

*bashes head against wall*

did no one read the last post I made in this thread?

Nehalem/Bloomfield Core i7 and Xeon CPUs work fine in the MP4,1/5,1

the only thing to watch out for is the C0/C1 Stepping Aka 106A4 CPUID Core i7 CPUs those where made incompatible with OS X in the MP5,1 by the 0089 BootROM.

the D0 aka 106A5 CPUID Nehalem/Bloomfield Core i7 CPUs will work perfectly fine even on the latest BootROMs AFAIK

 

[tsialex]

the only thing to watch out for is the C0/C1 Stepping Aka 106A4 CPUID Core i7 CPUs those where made incompatible with OS X in the MP5,1 by the 0089 BootROM.

It's more complicated that that. Some Nehalem generation Xeons are 106A4 too, but these will boot without microcode, i7s 106A4 can't boot without microcode.

 

[LightBulbFun]

It's more complicated that that. Some X34xx Xeons are 106A4 too, but these will boot without microcode, i7s 106A4 can't boot without microcode.

X34xx is LGA1156 sooo

do clarify.... (im getting Westmere-EX flashbacks here LOL)
[doublepost=1533749933][/doublepost]Thats a sneaky edit LOL

again tho, all "retail" LGA1366 Xeons are 106A5 only, the only 106A4 Xeons where Engineering sample prototypes.

 

[tsialex]

X34xx is LGA1156 sooo

do clarify.... (im getting Westmere-EX flashbacks here LOL)

I've edited my previous posts. Let's go again.

Not just i7s are C0/C1, but some early Xeons, like L5520, are 106A4 too, but seems the C0/C1 Xeons can boot macOS without microcode and C0/C1 i7s can't.

It's going to be more complicated with CPU support from 0087 forward.

 

[LightBulbFun]

I've edited my previous post. Let's go again.

Not just i7s are C0/C1, but some early Xeons, like L5520, are 106A4 too, but seems the C0/C1 Xeons can boot macOS without microcode and C0/C1 i7s can't.

It's going to be more complicated with CPU support from 0087 forward.

the Xeon L5520s only production stepping is D0 106A5...

so again ??? nothings complicated here its just 0089 dropped 106A4 microcode. so just early i7 Guys have to watch out thats about it. (unless you happen to be running a Engineering sample class Nehalem Xeon...)

im pretty positive that if you did get a C0/C1 106A4 Xeon and stick it in a 0087+ BootROM MP4,1/5,1 that it would kernel panic the same as the OPs Core i7 940 did.

 

[tsialex]

(unless you happen to be running a Engineering sample class Nehalem Xeon...)

I've bought a lot of Xeons on AliExpress, sellers send you anything they have.

im pretty positive that if you did get a C0/C1 106A4 Xeon and stick it in a 0087+ BootROM MP4,1/5,1 that it would kernel panic the same as the OPs Core i7 940 did.

I have some ES Xeons, I'll check if any is C0/C1 and test for the KP.

 

[LightBulbFun]

I've bought a lot of Xeons on AliExpress, sellers send you anything they have.



I have some ES Xeons, I'll check if any is C0/C1 and test for the KP.

outa curiosity what LGA1366 ES Xeons do you have? (ie What are the sSpecs?)

while your at it can ya boot windows and grab a CPU Z screen shot?

im a sucker for weird whacky and obscure PC/macintosh stuff

 

[tsialex]

outa curiosity what LGA1366 ES Xeons do you have?

while your at it can ya boot windows and grab a CPU Z screen shot?

im a sucker for weird whacky and obscure PC/macintosh stuff

I'm almost certain that one of my L5506 bought on AliExpress is a ES, I have to find it and check if is a C0/C1 one.

I have some uncommon Nec/NatSemi/Cyrix/NexGen/IBM/VIA x86 processors, but nothing that I'd call weird =)

 

[ActionableMango]

The CPU table isn't really suited to the level of detail being discussed here.

So to boil it down, how about this:

i7 975**
i7 965**
i7 960**
i7 950**
i7 940**
i7 930**
i7 920**

** Some steppings of these CPUs don't work with certain newer Mac Pro firmware versions. See this thread.

(And "this thread" links to the thread we are in)​

Does that seem okay?

 

[tsialex]

The CPU table isn't really suited to the level of detail being discussed here.

So to boil it down, how about this:

i7 975**
i7 965**
i7 960**
i7 950**
i7 940**
i7 930**
i7 920**

** Some steppings of these CPUs don't work with certain newer Mac Pro firmware versions. See this thread.

(And "this thread" links to the thread we are in)​

Does that seem okay?

Could you please do a note on ES CPUs too? Something like:

Some steppings of Engineering Sample Nehalem Xeons don't work with BootROMs newer than 0085.

 

[LightBulbFun]

the Core i7 940 and Core i7 extreme edition 965 only shipped as C0/C1 106A4. so those are pretty much screwed.

the Core i7 920 was 106A4 C0/C1 but later had a D0 106A5 release.

the rest of the Nehalem i7 LGA1366 CPUs where all 106A5 D0 and are safe.

 

[ActionableMango]

the rest of the Nehalem i7 LGA1366 CPUs where all 106A5 D0 and are safe.

Okay, so the following don't need the "** note" because they are all fine?

i7 975
i7 960
i7 950
i7 930​

So basically, this:

i7 975
i7 965**
i7 960
i7 950
i7 940**
i7 930
i7 920**

** Some or all steppings of these CPUs don't work with certain newer Mac Pro firmware versions applied by High Sierra 10.13.5 updates and newer. See this thread.​

[doublepost=1533757687][/doublepost]

Could you please do a note on ES CPUs too? Something like:

Some steppings of Engineering Sample Nehalem Xeons don't work with BootROMs newer than 0085.

Sorry, I have a personal issue against doing that.

I do not object in the slightest if others want to support ES processors and use their own personal time to add the appropriate compatibility information. The first post is a wiki--anyone can edit it and I encourage them to do so.

 

[Zeke D]

LOL. I booted into Lion because I reset the SMC, and apparently, Lion no likey the i7...

 

[Zeke D]

The adventure continues. Using @dosdude1 's installer, I tried to install Mojave on the 4,1 with the i7-940 in it, and no dice. The installer wouldn't even load. Put the xeon back in, and everything works.

 

[tsialex]

The adventure continues. Using @dosdude1 's installer, I tried to install Mojave on the 4,1 with the i7-940 in it, and no dice. The installer wouldn't even load. Put the xeon back in, and everything works.

Why? Your 4,1>5,1 is supported on Mojave.

 

[Zeke D]

Why? Your 4,1>5,1 is supported on Mojave.

But no metal or wifi. I erroneously thought that @dosdude1 's patch would make the video work, but all I cab do on my GT8800 or GT120 is 1680x1680, which is unusable on my monitor.

 

[tsialex]

But no metal or wifi. I erroneously thought that @dosdude1 's patch would make the video work, but all I cab do on my GT8800 or GT120 is 1680x1680, which is unusable on my monitor.

Get a real Apple BCM94322MC and try to find a cheap PC eVGA GTX680, 5' to flash with eVGA GTX680 Mac Edition ROM.

 

[Zeke D]

Sometime down the road, I'll do that. The BCM94322MC arrived yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to put it in. (I'm actually gonna put it in my 2010, and put that card in the 2009, since I'm having random wireless issues in Windows on my 2010.)

As for the PC GTX680, I'm keeping an eye on eBay, but I don't gave the funds right now.

Get a real Apple BCM94322MC and try to find a cheap PC eVGA GTX680, 5' to flash with eVGA GTX680 Mac Edition ROM.

 

[tsialex]

Sometime down the road, I'll do that. The BCM94322MC arrived yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to put it in. (I'm actually gonna put it in my 2010, and put that card in the 2009, since I'm having random wireless issues in Windows on my 2010.)

As for the PC GTX680, I'm keeping an eye on eBay, but I don't gave the funds right now.

I've looked for almost six months for one eVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition on the cheap. When I finally found one, two weeks later I've found another, this time a PC version (Signature 4GB with backplate). Now I have Metal cards for all my MPs.

 

[verdejt]

Try this seller. This is where I got my GTX680 with a Mac EFI for about $230.
https://www.ebay.com/str/upgrademac

 

[tsialex]

Try this seller. This is where I got my GTX680 with a Mac EFI for about $230.
https://www.ebay.com/str/upgrademac

I've payed ~$120 on my eVGA SC 4GB and flashed it in 5', $230 is a hell of markup.