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erik6061

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 19, 2025
9
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so, i just acquired a mac pro 3,1. ideally i got it for a PC build inside the most beautiful case ever made but noticed all the components but the Wi-Fi card was there yet. there is 16gb ram, a Hd49-something GPU in it (too lazy to pull case apart atm but that GPU won't live long in there, and it is a mac version gpu). i plugged power cord in and got the boot up sound. no video (2 reasons) i have no DVI cable or capable monitor right now, it's been like 10 years since I've used dvi honestly and 2nd no mini poc ie to pcie cables from logic board to GPU. i have dvi to HDMI adapter coming and the cables also. i have 3.5 to 2.5 hdd adapters coming also as i have a couple extra ssds and hdds here. guy i got it from said his IT guy said the power supply was bad, id imagine it wouldn't power on if it was and if one leg of it is bad ill order another PSU.
My goal with this id to have a decent working, yet beautiful shop computer. more nostalgic than anything as one of my best friends who passed away was a mac guy and this was the model he had, and it was his pride and joy.
I am by far NOT a mac guy, i build custom PCs and have been for about 15 years so im very versed in windows, ultimately id like to have a natively booting Windows machine (my shop programs only run windows unfortunately). I'd like not to have to do the whole bootcamp thing if possible but am also intrigued to have a SSD running only mac (reading El captain is highest supported OSx but newer could be installed with modded OSx distros). I'd like to pick up a gtx1080 or a titan x to put in this machine (or the best possible GPU it can handle). Since the Xeons are so cheap id most likely be upgrading the CPUs to a pair of the 3.3ghz variants also.
so bottom line is someone with more experience with these machines please answer a few questions for me plz
1: can the mac pro run a direct install Windows OS (win 10 or 11 with the tpm requirement removed)? if not any modded or variations that can be installed this way?

2: what is the newest OSx (modded/hacked/or other) can i run on this 3,1?

3: what is the most powerful GPU that this machine can use? not too worried about boot screen, not much for flashing GPU firmware either and would like something i can use the dual mini 6 pin pcie but not opposed to Sata to pcie adapter if worth it

4: what Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card should i get? read some had issues after el captain OSx, would a pcie wifi adapter be better?

5: pcie to nvme adapter worth it? can it be used to boot either OS?

i don't intend on gaming on this machine or anything to that extent but don't need issues trying to watch 4k movies or even light gaming if i get bored (borderlands 3 ish games, GOW) if i wanted to. i really think id end up giving it to my wife to use for her vinyl plotter, possibly using Mac OSx as i think she'd be better with mac vs windows that already stumps her pretty good.
All input and advise is appreciated, cant let this machine go to waste, i have a whole $50 into it right now so wouldn't be super mad if i just put a high-end PC in it but i know its still pretty powerful machine that will handle what i need it to do.
 
Start here. Everything you ever wanted to know. Welcome to the club.
thank you, have read alot and most sources come from this site, although sometimes conflicting information it seems this is the place to get moving in the right direction.
 
so i ordered a gtx 680 4gb i will be flashing ( want a boot screen for now as im still learning all the mac short cuts on start up) and a Vega 64 ( pixal mod incoming also) so i can run some better things in Windows when wanted, maybe ill grab a amd 5xxx gpu once i get the machine ironed out. ordered 2 1tb ssds and 4 3.5 to 2.5 adapters so i can use the extra drives i already have here too. Once i get machine up and going ill be buying the bigger CPUs for it ( as long as temps stay nice) and maxxing ram out with fastest it will handle. Have a Mac keyboard and mouse on the way also along with the mini pcie to 6 pin and some mini pcie to 8 pin cables so i have flexibility depending on what i wanna hook up. have some DVI to HDMI adapters so i can use the ATI HD card thats in it till i can figure out the flashing of the 680. Lots of information in that link above, many hours of reading left me a bit more cornfused than when i started but rereading a few time i think i have a grasp on the hardware side of things. the software side is going to be a whole nother adventure.
 
so have put El Capitan on the MP and got it up ang oing and seeing that everything is working properly. have a gtx 680 4g im going to try and flash but have a Vega 64 8g here for when i get everything dialed in and working to where i dont need a mac boot screen. i broke down and bought a Peladn AMD Radeon RX 580 8gb apple metal out of a mac pro 5,1 hoping itll just work with this machine vs trying to patch and flash stuff. i attempted to flash the gtx 680 but found out it is a different model number than the "known good" to flash ones...hopefully it works but not a big deal bc i have a bunch of pc parts and could throw one together and sell with that GPU if it doesn't work.
currently think im going making a oclp Ventura install. itll end up on its own drive and i think ill be using it there exclusively and boot camp win 10 ( or 11 if its not too hard to do) and let the machine live its life. Also will be doing the Pixal PSU mod for the vega 64 or whatever ends up in here.
Fortunately this forum didnt just hand me answers but made me go figure it out myself but gave me the resources to figure it out. My wife is pissed ive spent the last few days glued to this machine but i have learned ALOT, one being i would rather stick to building PCs lol and as for right now i have no real reason to NEED mac OS in my life, that may change tho the more i use it. the MBP 14,3 i have tho is exceptional build quality so i for see keeping Mac machines around as they are def built to last.
 
So I got oclp of big sur on machine once , got greedy and went to go to Ventura. Nothing seems to boot on this machine except El capitan. I'd be good with that except I can only run windows 7 and it won't support any of the gpus I have. Getting kinda pissed. Have literally the whole weekend into MANY attempts. Anyone know where a guide for Mac pro 3,1 oclp big sur or newer install?
 
"Anyone know where a guide for Mac pro 3,1 oclp big sur or newer install?"
I don't think you looked long enough. It was right in front of you!
2.png

3rd book from the right, 1st chapter 2.8 paragraphs in you'll find written:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mr.+macintosh
3.png
 
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"Anyone know where a guide for Mac pro 3,1 oclp big sur or newer install?"
I don't think you looked long enough. It was right in front of you!
View attachment 2514285
3rd book from the right, 1st chapter 2.8 paragraphs in you'll find written:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mr.+macintosh
View attachment 2514288
Wel ended up with Catalina using dodude1 patcher. Reinstalled like 4 times and always ended up just grey screen. Let it sit overnight and had an epiphany. Was using a ati Hd 48xx ( cant remember the exact model) and it's not metal supported. I plugged in the GTX 680 and rebooted, went right to setup screen , and after that info was in went to desktop. I haven't flashed this card yet so no boot screens. For now I'll leave the ati in top pcie slot and the 680 on the bottom ( still have to do the pixalas mod for bigger GPU I have a Vegas 64 and a rx580 coming) I will be using dual screens so I'll leave On of the second screens inputs hooked to the ati card Incase I need boot screen access untill I can get one of the cards flashed and work. Going to try oclp install on another SSD just to see if it's same issue with non metal GPU .
 
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