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Mac Pro 3,1 Running Sierra

L

LarrikinAus

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 11, 2016
72
67
Hi Folks,


I've decided to create a specific thread for the Mac Pro 3,1 as that has its own unique set of circumstances to get Sierra up and running.

The good news is, after a LOT of help from Netkas, it looks like I'm finally there and have Sierra running on Mac Pro 3,1

It's installing now.

I will produce detailed, clear, unambiguous, instructions on how to get Sierra running on the Mac Pro. Given everything I have learned from repeated, failed installs, I now know what works and what doesn't, and you'll find that if you follow the instructions precisely, it isn't difficult to get it up and running. Nor will it be maintaining it.

NVIDIA has also released the web driver for Sierra - which is great news.

http://us.download.nvidia.com/7tx5AvsWQd8nYQnjJcntrzcxTzpKACuH/WebDriver-367.05.10.05b03.pkg
 
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As a fellow 3,1 owner I thank you for your efforts. I hope all goes well. I feel I will need to keep this beasty running as long as possible, as Apple is unlikely to make a machine that I wont have severe reservations about.
 
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OK, I'm up and running.

I can't get the NVIDIA web driver to work with my maxwell card (GTX950) so right now I am using my crappy 8800GT.

I don't know if its the NVIDIA web driver at fault but its a problem to solve.

If I type this in terminal, I get this error:

Mac-Pro-Server:~ macpro$ sudo nvram boot-args="nvda_drv=1"

Password:

nvram: Error setting variable - 'boot-args': (iokit/common) general error

Mac-Pro-Server:~ macpro$
 
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Thank you! that is actually the Mac Pro I have and just a day before the keynote I got a second 30" Apple cinema display and 1TB ssd internal drive from OWC. That computer still os useful, no need for Apple to ditch it. Thank you very much.
 
I can't get my Mac Pro to even boot with my GTX 950 anymore. It gets stuck in a kernel panic. I don't know if its because the NVIDIA web driver is broken or whether something more sinister in the underlying MacOS that is causing the issue.
[doublepost=1465957879][/doublepost]I see that the NVIDIA driver works with PC's / Hackintosh community - but not with the Mac Pro 3,1. I suspect based on this command failing sudo nvram boot-args="nvda_drv=1" that something more fundamental has changed with MacOS and the way it boots.
 
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Well half a success is better than nothing I guess. Did you even bother with OS provided driver? I imagine the web driver will need to be compiled against the macOS 12 kernel. How is the desktop performance? I read about very bad animations.
 
tralfaz said:
Well half a success is better than nothing I guess. Did you even bother with OS provided driver? I imagine the web driver will need to be compiled against the macOS 12 kernel. How is the desktop performance? I read about very bad animations.
Click to expand...

The OS provided driver does not support maxwell NVIDIA cards hence why NVIDIA publish the web drivers. Animations seem fine - and I bet a heck of a lot better when I finally get my card working which supports metal.
 
LarrikinAus said:
Hi Folks,


I've decided to create a specific thread for the Mac Pro 3,1 as that has its own unique set of circumstances to get Sierra up and running.

The good news is, after a LOT of help from Netkas, it looks like I'm finally there and have Sierra running on Mac Pro 3,1

It's installing now.

I will produce detailed, clear, unambiguous, instructions on how to get Sierra running on the Mac Pro. Given everything I have learned from repeated, failed installs, I now know what works and what doesn't, and you'll find that if you follow the instructions precisely, it isn't difficult to get it up and running. Nor will it be maintaining it.

NVIDIA has also released the web driver for Sierra - which is great news.

http://us.download.nvidia.com/7tx5AvsWQd8nYQnjJcntrzcxTzpKACuH/WebDriver-367.05.10.05b03.pkg
Click to expand...
Meanwhile....Tim cook and his friends read this post....
Tim: code 66
Craig: yes sir. Operation shut down for them.
 
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Thanks for the efforts:) I have a 3,1 as a 2nd / back up machine. It served me for a long time before I picked up a 5,1 in 2014 (I don't do trash cans)...
 
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Is that using the build-in Nvidia drivers or using the web beta drivers? Still no Pascal support? :/
 
netkas said:
Now take some time and make step by step tuto for others, based on tutorial you used. I may correct some steps so it would be good start for everyone.
Click to expand...

Absolutely will do and will run it past you to ensure its all correct. A big thank you again for all your help - you have been so good :)
[doublepost=1465987647][/doublepost]
Draeconis said:
Is that using the build-in Nvidia drivers or using the web beta drivers? Still no Pascal support? :/
Click to expand...

I am using the web driver to get that card supported. No Pascal support yet... it's coming though from what I have heard.
[doublepost=1465988984][/doublepost]Here is something cool:

Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 9.03.31 pm.png


Now - in terms of a step by step tutorial on how to get this working - please bear with me. I will do this on the weekend as I want to do it properly and make it as simple as possible for you to get it working. My dad is in town for 48 hours and I need to spend family time with him for the next 48 hours. That said, if you have any direct questions, please message me and I'll do my best to help you. On the weekend, I will write and post the tutorial.

In terms of degree of difficulty of being able to follow the tutorial, I'd rate it fairly easy. It is straight forward - there are a few steps that you'll need to follow, but they will be straight forward. I also know the pitfalls, so I'll also be able to warn you on what not to do as well :)

Maintaining it is very easy. It's a matter of deleting one file on boot post implementing an update. Again, I'll be very specific on exactly how to do that.
 
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I'd be surprised if Sierra contained drivers for the Radeon 2xxx series, but I don't have access to it currently.
 
MattMaber said:
Would they drop these? I guess if theyre dropping the 3,1 ...
Click to expand...

I guess the engineers have no idea which Mac will be supported at the very beginning. So, they have to build the driver for 3,1 and test it accordingly. Therefore, some drivers leave inside the new system for unsupported Mac is totally possible.
[doublepost=1466009207][/doublepost]
gpzjock said:
The HD2600XT had the graphics acceleration power of a digestive biscuit when new.
Surely a modest upgrade would solve your problems: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATI-Radeo...497134?hash=item4affe0b7ee:g:BZMAAOSwQaJXRKH-

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-HD-6870-vs-Radeon-HD-2600-XT-Mac
Click to expand...

Very interesting title in that 6870 link, IMO, a long title which try to confuse the buyer that this is a Genuine Mac Edition card, but in fact it just saying this card can be use in the Genuine Mac Pro.
 
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macz1 said:
I ended up using mainly Windows instead of Mac OS on my 3,1. Win10 has no issues with the graphics card, runs smoothly and does not force me to constantly work around Apple's planned obsolence measures.
Click to expand...

I have never tried bootcamp in my 3.1 mac pro. I have dual cpu, I heard you need windows 10 professional to use both cpu, is this true? I think I may need to start converting over to windows...
 
I just spent some pretty pennies on a flashed 7950 for my Octo 3,1 FCPX rig to keep it limping along, then they drop support. I'm just editing 1080p, so nothing too heavy, but would have been nice to keep up the latest OS. Guess I should be glad Apple didn't drop support for all cMPs at this point...
 
gpzjock said:
The HD2600XT had the graphics acceleration power of a digestive biscuit when new.
Click to expand...

They certainly did, when new. It's a garbage card and IIRC, Apple had a recall for that card due to a bunch of field failures. Certainly MattMaber can do better.

Lou
 
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