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Augustots

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Mar 23, 2021
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Hi everyone I have seen a little bit around on youtube and on the web and also on this forum, about the possibility of installing mac OS Sierra via the patch
on a mac pro 3.1 from 2008.
I have seen that some are enthusiastic and say that it works very well without problems, while others say the opposite, so I ask you more experts if it really works well sierra on a mac pro 3.1 or even high sierra maybe it is better?
I'm interested more than anything else because some applications I use don't work on el capitan but only on Sierra or high sierra.
I await your advice thanks.
 
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jbarley

macrumors 601
Jul 1, 2006
4,023
1,895
Vancouver Island
Dosdudes patcher for High Sierra, found here, works perfectly on my MP3,1.

Screen Shot 2021-03-25 at 10.38.03 AM_1.png


Installed easily I've had no problems updating it using SilentKnight.
 
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Augustots

macrumors regular
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Mar 23, 2021
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A curiosity, but what changes between OS sierra and OS high sierra?
for me that i work with fcpx or premiere pro cc 2018 does it change a lot or is it the same?
Thanks
 

Wowfunhappy

macrumors 68000
Mar 12, 2019
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It's really a lot like Leopard → Snow Leopard. Lots of under-the-hood changes, but fewer user-visible ones.

Most notably, High Sierra is the first release designed to run off APFS. As long as you're using an SSD as your boot drive, this is generally a good thing, but maybe not so much if you've got an HDD.
 

AlexMaximus

macrumors 65816
Aug 15, 2006
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A curiosity, but what changes between OS sierra and OS high sierra?
for me that i work with fcpx or premiere pro cc 2018 does it change a lot or is it the same?
Thanks
Go for the max you can go, High Sierra would be good, this way you only spend one time hassle to install everything. Other than that, more recent updates and bug fixes also for internet purposes And better gpu drivers. By the way Augustus, there might be one more speed upgrade you can do that doesn’t cost much but is effective. Go for a pcie card adapter for your sata to speed up your system. See if you can find one of those on eBay:



 

Augustots

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 23, 2021
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Hi everyone, I got the 2008 mac pro 3.1 eight core with a disk containing windows 7.
Well they also gave me 2 leopard x macpro installation dvds and they say they are the originals so I removed the disk with windows 7 and put an empty 256 gb ssd, then started the macpro by clicking F12 and the dvd drawer opened where I inserted dvd N.1 and started by clicking C but nothing to do I hear the mac going when it starts but I don't see the apple and therefore it does not start from dvd 1 nor dvd 2, the screen always remains black, I also tried with keys T ALT T but nothing to do the screen remains black.

On the other hand, if I put the disk with windows7 then it starts and works, so only windows 7 works.
Advice?
thanks.
 

Augustots

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 23, 2021
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I tried with windows 10 to open the macpro installation dvd n.1 and it tells me as below:


The software on this disc is used to install Boot Camp, install the DVD or CD Sharing Setup for use with MacBook Air, or remotely install Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard on a MacBook Air. For system requirements and to learn more about each of these technologies, refer to www.apple.com/support.


but is it normal ????
 

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KeesMacPro

macrumors 65816
Nov 7, 2019
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It's a while ago that i sold my MP3,1 but IIRC the gtx550 is compatible with OS 10.7 or newer so Leopard will not work with this card

Short version: I think you have basically 2 options :

1) buy a second hand OEM GPU e.g. GT120 for installing Leopard and from there upgrade to EL Capitan , from there install High Sierra , Nvidia drivers and the GTX960

2) On another Mac make a bootable usb installer of El Capitan or a clean installed El Capitan drive connected via USB , install 1 empty drive in the MP , plug the usb in , power it on without pressing any keys and wait . The installer/external drive will be found automatically.
This way you can install El Capitan on the internal drive and go from there.

BTW: sounds like the installed GPU (GTX550ti) is unflashed so no bootscreen and no options during startup to choose the OS/ drive to boot from.
Nonetheless the Mac will boot and show screen image after the Apple logo.
With multiple OS installed once booted , in system preferences you can set the preferred drive to boot from.
 
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Augustots

macrumors regular
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Mar 23, 2021
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So do you think the problem is all about the gtx550ti?
Buying a used gt120 and installing it the problem would be solved, would I be able to install leopard from the originalki installation dvd of the mac pro?
thanks.
 

Augustots

macrumors regular
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Mar 23, 2021
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But since windows 7 pro installed now and very old and from 2004 so premiere pro doesn't work because it requires at least windows 7 SP1 pro then is there a way to install windows 7 pro SP1 now on this mac pro?
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,710
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But since windows 7 pro installed now and very old and from 2004 so premiere pro doesn't work because it requires at least windows 7 SP1 pro then is there a way to install windows 7 pro SP1 now on this mac pro?
You really need to upgrade to Windows 10. I am using it on a 2008 Mac Pro without any difficulty. You should be able to upgrade your installation of Win 7 to Windows 10 without any problem.
 
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Augustots

macrumors regular
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Mar 23, 2021
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switch to windows 10 pro maybe, and how can i do it?
help me i don't know how to do it i have a usb with windows 10 pro but if i put it in the mac pro it doesn't start, how should i proceed?
thanks
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,710
7,280
switch to windows 10 pro maybe, and how can i do it?
help me i don't know how to do it i have a usb with windows 10 pro but if i put it in the mac pro it doesn't start, how should i proceed?
thanks
Any of the standard processes to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 will work. Here's the first link that was returned after searching Google for "how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10" https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-windows-10-for-free-now-that-windows-7-is-dead/
 
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KeesMacPro

macrumors 65816
Nov 7, 2019
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Buying a used gt120 and installing it the problem would be solved, would I be able to install leopard from the originalki installation dvd of the mac pro?
Yes, if the DVD is original it should work.

Anyway, this is a Mac , so i would advice to first get a Mac OS installed.
At least to check if all works correctly and for testing and troubleshooting in case of problems.


Once you got a Mac OS installed and properly working, it's no problem at all to install a Windows version through the Bootcampassistant.

So windows will be a secondary OS , your Mac OS e.g. High Sierra remains the main OS.

EDIT: having a OEM GPU e.g. GT120 can be very practical for e.g. installs from scratch like in your case.
I think the majority of cMP users have a OEM GPU stored somewhere for just in case scenarios.
 
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Augustots

macrumors regular
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Mar 23, 2021
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So I managed to install windows 7pro from scratch and it works fine, I bought a used GT120 on ebay it will arrive in days, but I saw that on the mac pro 3.1 there are various PCI slots.
So I'm wondering I have already installed the GTX960 and removed the gtx 550ti that I had before, but now I can do it like this:
I install the GT120 leaving also the GTX 960, I disconnect the monitors from the gtx960 and connect them to the gt120, boot from the leopard installation dvd and then update to el capitan, when I have finished I unplug the cable from the gt120 and reconnect it to the gtx 960, and i leave the gt120 installed even if i don't use it, basically i will have 2 gpu but i will only use one.
Is it possible to do this?
thanks.
 

KeesMacPro

macrumors 65816
Nov 7, 2019
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It could work with both GPUs installed, but TBH I never tested it.

Nonetheless, I would recommend to only install the GT120 to get your MP running with a Mac OS.
Especially for installing I'd keep the hardware as close as possible to the original state.
In case of issues , it's much easier to find the cause wenn you've eliminated possible causes .

Once Leopard / El Capitan runs fine, you could test if it works too with both GPUs installed, if you really need them both installed.
This way, if it doesnt work/irregularities , you'll know what the cause is.

The GT120 is compatible with OS up to High Sierra, without Nvidia web drivers , just natively.
Obviously, the GTX 960 performs much better, but IMO the easiest way is to first get High Sierra working fine , then install the web drivers for the GTX, and then install the GTX, and remove the GT120.
 
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