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MP 6,1 Mac Pro 6,1 won't update efi firmware with Aura Pro X2 ssd

ApplyPie

ApplyPie

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 2, 2019
18
10
Here n There
I installed the Aura Pro X2 ssd months ago on my Mac Pro 6,1. I followed the instructions, and it works great. The only problem is that the EFI firmware seems to have stopped upating with the OSX updates. I've got 10.14.6 installed, but my firmware is still sitting at 130.0.0.0. I think it should be at 132.0.0.0, as I understand that came out with 10.14.6 for the Mac Pro 6,1.

I read that firmware updates won't take place if non-apple SSD's are present, but OWC doesn't mention anything about keeping the old Apple SSD around so I can get firmware updates.

Is that what I have to do, re-install the old Apple SSD every time I want to get the EFI firmware updated?
 
ApplyPie said:
I installed the Aura Pro X2 ssd months ago on my Mac Pro 6,1. I followed the instructions, and it works great. The only problem is that the EFI firmware seems to have stopped upating with the OSX updates. I've got 10.14.6 installed, but my firmware is still sitting at 130.0.0.0. I think it should be at 132.0.0.0, as I understand that came out with 10.14.6 for the Mac Pro 6,1.

I read that firmware updates won't take place if non-apple SSD's are present, but OWC doesn't mention anything about keeping the old Apple SSD around so I can get firmware updates.

Is that what I have to do, re-install the old Apple SSD every time I want to get the EFI firmware updated?
Click to expand...
You only can update MP6,1 firmware if you have the Apple OEM SSD installed, don't need to be the original from factory, any Apple OEM MP6,1 compatible SSD will work. It's not know why Apple did it this way, maybe a security feature or a integrity check, whatever.

Every time Apple releases a new firmware update, you have to install back the Apple SSD.

Current MP6,1 EFI release is 133.0.0.0.0, from Catalina DP8 and DP9.

Code: 
$IBIOSI$ MP61.88Z.F000.B00.1907241309
Copyright (c) 2005-2019 Apple Inc.  All rights reserved.
Apple ROM Version
  Model:        MP61
  EFI Version:  133.0.0.0.0
  Built by:     root@saumon
  Date:         Wed Jul 24 13:09:53 PDT 2019
  Revision:     133 (B&I)
  ROM Version:  F000_B00
  Build Type:   Official Build, Release
  Compiler:     Apple clang version 3.0 (tags/Apple/clang-211.10.1) (based on LLVM 3.0svn)
 
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tsialex said:
Btw, install the SSD back to the secondary GPU SSD slot, the firmware upgrade won't work if it is installed in a USB/Thunderbolt case.
Click to expand...

Hey @tsialex

Just stumbled across this thread whilst doing some research, was the above reply a mistake? As far as I'm aware there is no secondary ssd slot on the 6,1.
 
ade90054 said:
Hey @tsialex

Just stumbled across this thread whilst doing some research, was the above reply a mistake? As far as I'm aware there is no secondary ssd slot on the 6,1.
Click to expand...
Secondary GPU, the PCIe SSD slot is located on the back of GPU B.

late-2013-mac-pro-system-block-diagram.png


remove_correct.png
 
My Mac Pro 2013 Catalina 10.15.3

I found that the version is:
Boot ROM Version: 134.0.0.0.0
[automerge]1580903074[/automerge]
EFI Version: MP61.88Z.F000.B00.1912181758 (Boot ROM Version: 134.0.0.0.0)
 
Oh Nooo! I never notice this, I already sold the OEM one. Is the firmware update very important? what is the change? If I get the OEM one back, Can it update just by plug it in and boot? or need to start a fresh MacOS installation?
 
zhpenn said:
Oh Nooo! I never notice this, I already sold the OEM one. Is the firmware update very important?what is the change?
Click to expand...
New Intel microcodes, NVMe support/corrections, Meltdown/Spectre/Thunderstrike mitigations and more.
If I get the OEM one back, Can it update just by plug it in and boot? or need to start a fresh MacOS installation?
Click to expand...
Any 12+16 Apple OEM PCIe SSD like Samsung SSUAX/SSUBX or SanDisk models of the same era will work, even 32GB blades from Fusion drives (656-0029D). Don't buy a SSPOLARIS or SSPHOTON.

You need to install the Apple OEM SSD inside, then install Catalina and boot from it. Firmwares will be updated automatically by macOS after some reboots.

[automerge]1580904465[/automerge]
chkwong said:
My Mac Pro 2013 Catalina 10.15.3

I found that the version is:
Boot ROM Version: 134.0.0.0.0
[automerge]1580903074[/automerge]
EFI Version: MP61.88Z.F000.B00.1912181758 (Boot ROM Version: 134.0.0.0.0)
Click to expand...
This is not news, see posts #4,110 and #4,111.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
New Intel microcodes, NVMe support/corrections, Meltdown/Spectre/Thunderstrike mitigations and more.

Any 12+16 Apple OEM PCIe SSD like Samsung SSUAX/SSUBX or SanDisk models of the same era will work, even 32GB blades from Fusion drives (656-0029D). Don't buy a SSPOLARIS or SSPHOTON.

You need to install the Apple OEM SSD inside, then install Catalina and boot from it. Firmwares will be updated automatically by macOS after some reboots.

[automerge]1580904465[/automerge]

This is not news, see posts #4,110 and #4,111.
Click to expand...
Apple 128GB SSD - Samsung MZ-JPV128S/0A4 SSUBX MacBook Pro Retina 2013 - 2015
is this one can also work on the mac pro 6,1 for firmware update?
 
@tsialex Sorry I see what you meant now...re-install the ssd to the slot ON the back of the secondary gpu...not a secondary ssd slot (which doesn't exist)👍
 
nvme speed bottleneck new on 6,1， can 960 evo plus go full speed on 6.1？
 
zhpenn said:
Thanks a lot
PCIe 2.0 X4 has 2000 MB/s of bandwidth available, the actual can be about 1500?
Click to expand...
Theoretical PCIe bandwidth, real world MP6,1 is around 1400MB/s.

MP5,1 usually has a little bit more bandwidth than MP6,1 for the same PCIe SSDs since there are less lane congestion.
 
tsialex said:
Theoretical PCIe bandwidth, real world MP6,1 is around 1400MB/s.

MP5,1 usually has a little bit more bandwidth than MP6,1 for the same PCIe SSDs since there are less lane congestion.
Click to expand...
I see thanks as a lot
 
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