MP 1,1-5,1 Is Netflix 1080p supported on any Classic Mac Pro?

[EugW]

I'm currently typing this on a MacPro2,1 with 30" Cinema HD Display. Netflix 720p looks pretty mediocre on this. Going to 1080p is ginormous upgrade in video quality on this monitor.

I was thinking that upgrading to a later OS (MacPro4,1 or 5,1) could give Netflix 1080p, but judging by the Netflix HTML 5 requirements, that apparently is not the case, since all the Classic Mac Pros are too old.

Does anyone get Netflix 1080p on a cheese grater in OS X / macOS?

Netflix supported browsers and system requirements

You can use Netflix on Windows 8 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, Chrome OS version 76 or later, and iPads with iPadOS 16 or later using Safari, and some Linux computers.

help.netflix.com

See the last line above. If I can't get Netflix 1080p on a cheese grater, then as far as I'm concerned, there is almost no point in upgrading. Maybe I'd just be better off waiting for an Arm Mac mini.

BTW, in Windows 10, Netflix 1080p works in Edge and in the Netflix app, but eventually hard crashes the machine. Chrome 720p works all day long no problem.

 

[M3Stang]

If you get a 4,1->5,1 flash you can natively run Mojave with a supported GPU. I flashed my Mac Pro and happily run Mojave on it with a Sapphire Radeon RX 580. I don't use it for Netflix though, and have not tried it. With the X5680 6c/12t CPU I have in it, it feels just as modern as my newish gaming PC. YouTube works great at 1080p, so I assume Netflix would be fine as well.

 

[EugW]

If you get a 4,1->5,1 flash you can natively run Mojave with a supported GPU. I flashed my Mac Pro and happily run Mojave on it with a Sapphire Radeon RX 580. I don't use it for Netflix though, and have not tried it. With the X5680 6c/12t CPU I have in it, it feels just as modern as my newish gaming PC. YouTube works great at 1080p, so I assume Netflix would be fine as well.

Thx but the reason I ask is because the Netflix 720p limitation is a DRM issue, not a performance issue. YouTube 1080p works just fine on my MacPro2,1 in Safari. In fact, YouTube 1440p works fine in Chrome too, and even some YouTube 4K works in Chrome.

 

[M3Stang]

Thx but the reason I ask is because the Netflix 720p limitation is a DRM issue, not a performance issue. YouTube 1080p works just fine on my MacPro2,1 in Safari. In fact, YouTube 1440p works fine in Chrome too, and even some YouTube 4K works in Chrome.

Ah ok. Welp, I will have to log in and give it a try!

 

[h9826790]

Can, tested

Activate AMD hardware acceleration

I created a new "easy to install package" as per many requested (based on the official OpenCore). [The attached package updated to 1.0.0] For those who only need HWAccel, post #594 has everything you need. This new package mainly offer HWAccel + boot screen. Also, this package should work in...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[EugW]

Can, tested

Activate AMD hardware acceleration

I created a new "easy to install package" as per many requested (based on the official OpenCore). [The attached package updated to 1.0.0] For those who only need HWAccel, post #594 has everything you need. This new package mainly offer HWAccel + boot screen. Also, this package should work in...

forums.macrumors.com

You tested this specifically in Netflix and it works? Excellent!

Needs an opencore install though I guess that's other layer of complexity. Any glitches from the non-standard patch?

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P.S. To otherwise get Safari Netflix working on my setup, I need to use Silverlight 5, but it's still limited to 720p.

With Safari Netflix 1080p, no Silverlight is needed, but it's limited to my newer machines.

I don't mind on my old 2008 MacBook and 2009 MacBook Pro, I don't mind, but it's annoying for my Mac Pro.

 

[h9826790]

You tested this specifically in Netflix and it works? Excellent!

Correct, Netflix in Safari.

 

[h9826790]

Needs an opencore install though I guess that's other layer of complexity. Any glitches from the non-standard patch?

This patch doesn't requite OpenCore, just Lilu + WhateverGreen + a specific boot argument is required. But I still recommend using OpenCore. It's easier to use OpenCore indeed.