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MP 6,1 Latest Boot ROM and SMC version on Mac Pro Late 2013 (trashcan)
- Thread starter dtelena
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In the 600 mb/s range last time I tested it a couple weeks ago with firmware 423 or 425. It was in the 1400 mb/s range a few months ago (the last time I ran the benchmark). It has about 60% free space. It’s a Toshiba XG5-P. I ordered a Samsung 970 EVO Plus to see if it performs better.
Anyone else experiencing low write speeds with your NVMe on the Big Sur firmwares?
I have Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB SSD. On firmware 425, the R/W are about 1300+ MB/sec. With Catalina, the speeds were about the same. Just FYI...
Speeds are the same with Catalina. Have an OWC Arura 1 TB. Might be your SSD..
Geekbench for overall multicore is higher for my 8 core, but I don't know if it's due to the firmware because I haven't ran it since I was on 10.15.5 with firmware 136. I also have more RAM installed. 872 single, and 6139 multi for E5-1680 v2. https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/compare/2437299?baseline=5162412
It might be Big Sur. I noticed improvements in speeds on all systems that I installed it on.
MacPro 6.1 here with AngelShark Carrier Board, equipped with 2 x NVMe and 1 Apple (original) drive. Catalina runs on Samsung 970 Pro (NVMe), Big Sur - on Apple drive.
Innie installed - all drives are shown as internal. After installing BigSur 11.0.1 (on Apple SSD), Boot ROM has not been updated - still on 137. Anyone had such experiences?
Innie installed - all drives are shown as internal. After installing BigSur 11.0.1 (on Apple SSD), Boot ROM has not been updated - still on 137. Anyone had such experiences?
That's a known issue unless Apple has made an update to allow it, but the firmware will not update with the carrier board installed. You have to remove it to update the firmware.
Well, this is odd...
I am running Mojave 10.14.6 on my Trashcan Mac Pro. My boot ROM version was 13x.0.0.0.0
Yesterday I installed the "Security & Safari 14.0.1 Update" and the boot rom is now at 426.0.0.0.0, which seems to be the Big Sur version.
Also, I have the two identical Dell 4K monitors on it and for the last few years the Mac won't always start or restart with both monitors being used. I need to power off/on the monitor then all is well.
Well, I think that issue is resolved. When I powered up this morning, it started with 2 functioning monitors!
Time will tell, but it would be great is this issue is resolved.
Monitor Update:
Same issue... Only one monitor powers up. The other one needs to be turned off then on for it to display the desktop.
I am running Mojave 10.14.6 on my Trashcan Mac Pro. My boot ROM version was 13x.0.0.0.0
Yesterday I installed the "Security & Safari 14.0.1 Update" and the boot rom is now at 426.0.0.0.0, which seems to be the Big Sur version.
Also, I have the two identical Dell 4K monitors on it and for the last few years the Mac won't always start or restart with both monitors being used. I need to power off/on the monitor then all is well.
Well, I think that issue is resolved. When I powered up this morning, it started with 2 functioning monitors!
Time will tell, but it would be great is this issue is resolved.
Monitor Update:
Same issue... Only one monitor powers up. The other one needs to be turned off then on for it to display the desktop.
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That's typical of what Apple has done in the past. Apple usually keeps firmware versions synchronized across its supported OSes.
I was wondering if they released the new firmware with the Mojave and Catalina security updates. It must contain fixes that aren't specific to Big Sur.
I replaced the Toshiba XG5-P NVMe with the Samsung 970 EVO Plus and the write speeds look normal. Around 1340 MB/s. It runs warmer though. It's about 50-55 degrees C at idle, while the Toshiba was about 40-45 degrees C at idle. Same heatsink. I read a review that the Toshiba NVMe SSDs are pretty much unmatched when it comes to thermal efficiency. It's too bad the performance wasn't good.
Latest Boot ROM is 428.0.0.0.0. Big Sur 11.4 beta is very snappy on the 6,1. Much faster than previous releases. Might be due to the new firmware too.
I got excited when I read your message about your 6,1 being snappier, but if anything it's solely due to changes in Big Sur 11.4. I'm running the release version of 11.3, haven't run a beta version in a loooooong time, my firmware version is also 428.0.0.0, and my computer isn't noticeably snappier with this firmware compared to previous versions. Bummer.
It seemed snappier for me on 11.2.3, but Big Sur 11.3 is also good. Maybe it is the Boot RAM update, for on 11.3 my Mac Pro is at 428.0.0.0.0 What I have noticed is single core improvement and response. Not sure about multi-core.
MisterAndrew: Are you saying that you noticed more improvements with Big Sur 11.4? If so, I am waiting in anticipation for the release of 11.4. That would be great news for Mac Pro 2013!
I haven't tried 11.3, so I can't give a comparison. I wanted to take a look at the new graphics drivers for Navi in 11.4 so I installed that. The drivers may also have been updated for the 6,1 GPUs so maybe that's helping it too.
Edit:
Looks like the graphics drivers have improved some. I scored 32632 for Metal on Geekbench for the D700. Previous best was 31867. https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/compute/2776859
LuxMark for both is 23044. That's almost as good as a Vega 56. http://www.luxmark.info/node/8979
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I have a 6.1 with a Samsung 960 Pro in a Sintech adapter and I recently updated to 11.3, and now 11.3.1. The firmware version is 428.0.0.0.0. I did not have switch in the Apple drive to get the firmware update. I think the 6.1 feels a lot snappier on 11.3.1 than it did on Catalina, which always felt sluggish.
My 6,1 used to have USB random disconnect issue. Big Sur fixed that when it first came out. However, with 11.3.1, my USB drives got disconnected again!