MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 5,1 graphics card upgrade

[tsialex]

I picked up a GT710 for use when reflashing the bootrom - I assumed I’d get no video at all with the 6600XT in OS’s prior to Monterey. In any case, it will make the process a lot more pleasant.

A lot better option spending a little more:

4.1>5.1 W3520 to X5690 Upgrade Help!

Cheapest NVIDIA GT710 I could find today on eBay USA is $35 with free shipping within USA, no affiliation, I've found it cheaper some weeks ago. https://www.ebay.com/itm/384677182805?hash=item59908bfd55:g:5joAAOSwixph4DiE It's the weakest and cheapest METAL supported GPU, but works good if you...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[mode11]

I thought with the GT630 and similar models, there's a risk that you could get either a Fermi or Kepler card? If that particular HP card is definitely Kepler then fair enough, but one of my priorities was Mojave support.

It sounds like Mojave+ installers don't see the card as Metal compatible? This could be inconvenient if I needed to do a full reinstall of Monterey? When you installed in your dad's Mac, it sounds like the drive already had Big Sur installed?

Also, can it be flashed in a Mac Pro 5,1 under Windows, or does it need a (later) PC? The link wasn't clear.

The 710 will only be used for reflashing the bootrom / emergency use, so for the sub-£20 I paid for it, it'll do fine. The 6600XT is the daily driver.

 

[tsialex]

I thought with the GT630 and similar models, there's a risk that you could get either a Fermi or Kepler card?

Part numbers are listed, so, no error.

If that particular HP card is definitely Kepler then fair enough, but one of my priorities was Mojave support.

It sounds like Mojave+ installers don't see the card as Metal compatible?

If installing Mojave from a createinstallmedia USB installer, yes. All Kepler cards are only supported by installing from macOS.

This could be inconvenient if I needed to do a full reinstall of Monterey?

No.

When you installed in your dad's Mac, it sounds like the drive already had Big Sur installed?

Clean install.

Also, can it be flashed in a Mac Pro 5,1 under Windows,

Yes.

or does it need a (later) PC? The link wasn't clear.

No need.

The 710 will only be used for reflashing the bootrom / emergency use, so for the sub-£20 I paid for it, it'll do fine. The 6600XT is the daily driver.

 

[mode11]

I wasn't implying you had made an error - I was just saying why I avoided the GT630-660.

OK, so if booted into any macOS under this GPU, (re)installing Monterey won't be a problem.

Seems like a pretty cool card then, and available cheap on eBay. The Mac EFI / bootscreen could be useful.

 

[tsialex]

I wasn't implying you had made an error - I was just saying why I avoided the GT630-660.

OK, so if booted into any macOS under this GPU, (re)installing Monterey won't be a problem.

Seems like a pretty cool card then, and available cheap on eBay. The Mac EFI / bootscreen could be useful.

No error as no way to get the wrong card since the HP part numbers are specified.

 

[mode11]

Is there any particular version of NVflash you need to use, or will the latest one be OK?

 

[tsialex]

Is there any particular version of NVflash you need to use, or will the latest one be OK?

Used the most recent one from TechPowerUp, no problems.

 

[zozomester]

I read in the other topic that maybe one of the Radeon VII bios supports the Boot Screen. Could this be true?

 

[tsialex]

I read in the other topic that maybe one of the Radeon VII bios supports the Boot Screen. Could this be true?

No. Open Core boot picker/verbose boot.

 

[mode11]

Used the most recent one from TechPowerUp, no problems.

Cancelled the GT710 order and picked up an HP GT630 instead. In case it helps anyone, NVFlash 5.792 seems to have the 32 and 64 bit versions named the wrong way round. When I was trying to flash with nvflash64, it told me I was using a 32-bit app on a 64-bit OS. On a hunch I tried using nvflash32 and it worked fine. Tried out the GT630 this evening and all working well. Created a Mavericks boot disk on a spare HDD as well - will save a small amount of friction having to mess with SIP when reflashing the BootROM.

The 6600XT also flashed fine, and is now installed.

Edit: corrected the HP card name.

 

[tsialex]

Cancelled the GT710 order and picked up an HP GT230 instead. In case it helps anyone, NVFlash 5.792 seems to have the 32 and 64 bit versions named the wrong way round. When I was trying to flash with nvflash64, it was telling me I was using a 32-bit app on a 64-bit OS. On a hunch I tried using nvflash32 and it worked fine. Tried out the GT230 this evening and all working well. Created a Mavericks boot disk on a spare HDD as well - will save a small amount of friction having to mess with SIP when reflashing the BootROM.

The 6600XT also flashed fine, and is now installed.

Nice! Btw, it's HP GT630, not GT 230.

 

[mode11]

My Mac's PCIe slot fan is a bit noisier since the GPU upgrade (currently at 1700rpm). The 6600XT uses very little power when idling, so don't know why this should be.

I've reset the SMC already (I believe - I pressed the power button 5 secs after reconnecting the power cable). Computer is just idling at the moment.

I had swapped through a load of different GPUs last night as I was testing them out for various reasons (RX580, GT120, GT630, GTX680, RX6600XT).

Would resetting PRAM help?

 

[tsialex]

My Mac's PCIe slot fan is a bit noisier since the GPU upgrade (currently at 1700rpm).

Known early-2009 1.39f5 SMC bug, search for PCIe racing fan.

 

[mode11]

What's the solution? Macs Fan Control?

 

[tsialex]

What's the solution? Macs Fan Control?

Use the search and see the main thread about this issue, people developed some mitigations over the years. I had it back in 2018ish with a GTX 680 4GB, but since then I've bought a mid-2010, a mid-2012 later, and moved my GPUs to the newer ones - I'm not the right person to answer this question.

How-To: FIX MAC PRO FAN SPEEDS when using PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards

The temperature sensors in the Mac Pro are not tuned for things like modern nVIDIA graphics cards and certain SSDs or HDs, and will ramp up the fans tremendously, even though the temperatures are low. The sensitivity range was tuned for the super-cold, old graphics cards the system shipped with...

forums.macrumors.com

AirOut: A solution to the racing fan bug

Introduction The racing fan bug is a well known issue that affects certain cMP systems with upgraded video cards, particularly systems with SMC version 1.39f5. On these systems the PCI, PS, and booster fans spin abnormally fast at idle, causing unnecessary noise. Although the issue appears to...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[mode11]

AirOut 2 fixed it, thanks. I've now set it as a login item, delayed by 60 seconds.