Will Metal work with a Mac Pro 3,1 or would I need a significantly upgraded video card? I'm running the 5770.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac Pro 3,1 and Metal?
- Thread starter honeycombz
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
So I shouldn't concern myself at the moment with upgrading my videocard if I'm not having problems and can update to El Capitan without metal?
Noticed this earlier in the year. I know this thread was resurrected from the dead...
Results seem to speak for themselves...
OPENCL:
METAL: (lost RT playback with Lumetri Color)
People agree that a used GTX680 flashed myself would be the way to go to keep this 3,1 chugging a bit longer? I've already got 14gb RAM and SSDs keeping pace but the 5770 is showing it's age. Not really ready for an iMac 
. I'm actually pretty pleased with the upgrade from Mavericks to El Capitan it seems to have really given this machine some new life.
. I'm actually pretty pleased with the upgrade from Mavericks to El Capitan it seems to have really given this machine some new life.
It is the same card as GTX680 yet newer and cheaper, but for exact model nubmer (if you want to flash it) please scroll throug these two threads:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...out-nvidia-pc-non-efi-graphics-cards.1440150/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/confirmed-and-possible-flashable-gtx-680-models.1578255/
Adobe Premiere Pro CC timeline -- one with Metal enabled, the other using Open CL. Metal has some effects not able to be viewed in real-time (the red).
I second this. 680 is a better value. I have a flashed 770 4gb in my 5,1, works with metal.
Guess I'll have to review what the flashing process is to see if it's within my skillset. I feel like my beast baby 3,1 is reaching the end of it's lifespan but am hoping maybe to get another productive year out of it. Probably updating the GPU would be the best bet... not sure if any 3,1 owners have tried out the Sierra patching tool... I'll probably hold way off on that for now.
Many 3,1 owners are on the Sierra without problems (if you upgrade/use WiFi and BT).
You can use the tool, or patch few files yourself. Those are just few text files that lists 3,1 as unsupported model, or don't have 3,1 as supported model. So you just have to dellete/add 3,1 identifier and Board-ID.
Well, i have bricked my HD6850 few times and then flashed HD7950 with my eyes closed...
Since the GTX680/770 is easy to flash, i wouldn't worry to much if you read and prepare yourself for it.
Since the GTX680/770 is easy to flash, i wouldn't worry to much if you read and prepare yourself for it.
This screensaver is a simple way to see whether Metal is operational on your Mac:
https://github.com/nickzman/rainingcubes
https://github.com/nickzman/rainingcubes/releases/download/v1.0/RainingCubes1.0.dmg
https://github.com/nickzman/rainingcubes
https://github.com/nickzman/rainingcubes/releases/download/v1.0/RainingCubes1.0.dmg
Cool thanks! Can someone link me to the most straightforward instructions for flashing a GTX680?
I found this but not sure if it's the best one http://www.sugarway.com/blog/evga-gtx680-flashed-for-mac-use/
Also, could I flash from vmware fusion win 7?
I found this but not sure if it's the best one http://www.sugarway.com/blog/evga-gtx680-flashed-for-mac-use/
Also, could I flash from vmware fusion win 7?
Last edited:
Are any brand of the GTX680 fine? http://www.ebay.com/itm/msi-gtx-680-/191991602959?hash=item2cb3975f0f:g:nrIAAOSwYIxX-suF
Here are my instructions.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-pci-e-2-0-5gt-s.1603260/page-4#post-17832428
That one looks okay to me, but no promises. Most cards will flash, but not all. Some weird ones don't. Basically if it looks like a reference card its probably fine, and this MSI one looks fine. If it is really exotic it may have a problem.
If you want 100% confirmation you can check this thread for exact cards that have flashed fine:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/confirmed-and-possible-flashable-gtx-680-models.1578255/
And don't forget there are also 4GB versions of the card:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ens-full-clock-rates-pci-e-2-0-5gt-s.1603260/
Just as random information, the current mac version of World Of Warcraft is fully metal enabled.
Runs fantastic on my Mac Pro 5,1 in metal mode.
Runs fantastic on my Mac Pro 5,1 in metal mode.
And does everyone agree that the 680 is probably the most practical gpu to target for an aging 3,1?
I think that depends a lot on what you are trying to accomplish. It's entirely possible that a GPU upgrade will do nothing for you at all.
What are you trying to speed up? What software are you the most concerned about?
Yes it looks like you would benefit, in some but not all cases.
- Some Adobe CC apps have GPU acceleration and will improve. Some don't use it, so will not improve at all.
- Gaming will be improved.
- General OS will not change at all--an SSD would be best for that.
So do you agree that the 680 would be the most practical for my situation? It seems like from a price point the 2GBs 670s are more attainable. Not sure what the difference is between the two.
Last edited: