MP 1,1-5,1 MacPro mid 2010 5.1

[Larsvonhier]

Don´t get me wrong. The OPs question was "is it possible to connect a screen without a graphics card?".
Answer: Yes.
Feasibility: Given, 22$ on ebay, Kensington drivers work up to Monterey (tested here).

Usefulness: Intermediate, as I wrote, better find the true show stopper! ;-)

 

[tsialex]

Don´t get me wrong. The OPs question was "is it possible to connect a screen without a graphics card?".
Answer: Yes.
Feasibility: Given, 22$ on ebay, Kensington drivers work up to Monterey (tested here).

Usefulness: Intermediate, as I wrote, better find the true show stopper! ;-)

DisplayLink is an USB video adapter, still counts as a "graphics card" in my view.

 

[Larsvonhier]

Funny.
You can always "attach" any screen without any means of video output (whatever you call it) by just nailing it to the Mac.
Helpful?

 

[tsialex]

Funny.
You can always "attach" any screen without any means of video output (whatever you call it) by just nailing it to the Mac.
Helpful?

In what way this is helpful for the OP?

 

[Larsvonhier]

Ok, tsialex, seems not to be your day.
Read my initial answer, strip off the nomenclature ("graphics card") and see that there is possibly more than one way to approach the problem.

Got enough, it´s up to the OP to think it trough and eventually react and post some new insights. Or not...

 

[JacquiL]

Is the graphics card the only way of connecting a monitor?

So thinking of some basics - have you tried another cable between the graphics cards and monitor? have you confirmed that the graphics cards work in another computer? can you describe your boot sequence (do you hear the boot chime?).

I get the chime, and the fan work on the graphics card, just no signal is going to the monitor. I have t checked the LED, as suggested by another post, although I’m not sure what it means if it is or isnt working.

 

[tsialex]

I get the chime, and the fan work on the graphics card, just no signal is going to the monitor. I have t checked the LED, as suggested by another post, although I’m not sure what it means if it is or isnt working.

With the Mac Pro still making the chime sound, you probably have POST and then your problem could be incorrect/damaged macOS install and GPUs without pre-boot configuration support.

Do you have another Mac that you can install High Sierra to a disk and after checking that the High Sierra install is working, you install the High Sierra disk to your Mac Pro? Also, enable ScreenSharing on your High Sierra disk, before installing it on your Mac Pro.

Try to get High Sierra with your supposedly working Apple HD 5770.

 

[JacquiL]

This is not helpful to this case. First you have to buy a DisplayLink, find one that still works with USB2.0 and install the drivers for it to work.

Forget that, it's not useful for diagnostics, OP still don't know what is the problem and is assuming that it's the GPU, but it's probably something else since the four GPUs tested already.

 

[JacquiL]

Looking at the diagnostic leds I seem to have one green and two ambe.

 

[tsialex]

Looking at the diagnostic leds I’m not sure whether this should be lit up or not.

Apple Technician Manual have the full description of diagnostic LEDs, page 33. You can get it on the first post of the thread below:

PDF: Apple Mac Pro Mid 2010 Mid 2012 Technician Guide Service Manual

Mac Pro (Mid 2010/Mid 2012) published: 2012-06-11 resolved (1 new document): =============================== Apple Mac Pro Mid 2010 Mid 2012 Technician Guide Service Manual [pdf. 2012/06/11] =============================== Is this service manual available? I see it only referenced here and of...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Melbourne Park]

Are there any guides to installing High Sierra on my Mac Pro 5,1?

I formatted a disk and put an clone of Sierra onto the disk. It boots etc. But on the software upgrade, it doesn't mention upgrading to high Sierra.

Boot ROM Version: MP51.0084.B00

 

[JacquiL]

Ok as an update. I briefly managed to get the Mac to show up on the monitor. I remounted the Mac start up disk, pressed to restart and it’s gone again. So I know it’s alive, I just need to know what I did to get it up in the first place.

 

[KeesMacPro]

on the software upgrade, it doesn't mention upgrading to high Sierra.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

 

[Melbourne Park]

From another thread, I got High Sierra installed. There is an upgrade to high sierra file / app in the applications folder, and once that deleted, the upgrade happened without a hitch.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Now I have to do some maintenance. I bought my 5,1 new in 2012 (a run out 2010 version of the 5,1) and its time to replace the thermal paste on the heatsinks. While I'm at it I'll upgrade the CPUs (which I've had for over a year). My main problem with doing so will be the intel I/O heat sink, its called the Northbridge (it's diode is running at 76C and the Heatsink on i is 65C). Seems hot to me ... plus its never been service. The heat sink is retained by two plastic spring loaded retention rivets. Getting replacement ones has been difficult for me, in Australia. I can order some from China, but they'll take a while to get here. And they don't fit, I'll have to cut them down to size.

And alternative would be to use some but and bolts, and retain the current springs .... but that would result in my having to drill the metal support which the CPU board sits on, because short bolts don't work ...

 

[tsialex]

Now I have to do some maintenance. I bought my 5,1 new in 2012 (a run out 2010 version of the 5,1) and its time to replace the thermal paste on the heatsinks. While I'm at it I'll upgrade the CPUs (which I've had for over a year). My main problem with doing so will be the intel I/O heat sink, I think its called the Northbridge, which has plastic spring loaded retention rivets. Getting replacement ones has been difficult for me, in Australia. I can order some from China, but they'll take a while to get here. And they don't fit, I'll have to cut them down to size.

And alternative would be to use some but and bolts, and retain the current springs .... but that would result in my having to drill the metal support which the CPU board sits on, because short bolts don't work ...

clip (snap rivet) for Northbridge heat-sink on 2009 Mac Pro 2X2.26

Just my 46 cents, here. I have just finished completely refurbishing 2 Mac Pro (5,1 - 2010-2012) CPU trays (and am about to do a third) and have had to deal with this problem. In both cases, the original plastic rivets and springs were intact but, after reading numerous reports of failure over...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Melbourne Park]

Repeated comment, I don't know how to delete this!

 

[mattspace]

Now I have to do some maintenance. I bought my 5,1 new in 2012 (a run out 2010 version of the 5,1) and its time to replace the thermal paste on the heatsinks. While I'm at it I'll upgrade the CPUs (which I've had for over a year). My main problem with doing so will be the intel I/O heat sink, its called the Northbridge (it's diode is running at 76C and the Heatsink on i is 65C). Seems hot to me ... plus its never been service. The heat sink is retained by two plastic spring loaded retention rivets. Getting replacement ones has been difficult for me, in Australia. I can order some from China, but they'll take a while to get here. And they don't fit, I'll have to cut them down to size.

And alternative would be to use some but and bolts, and retain the current springs .... but that would result in my having to drill the metal support which the CPU board sits on, because short bolts don't work ...

FWIW - 76-77C is the normal running temp for the northbridge in a dual processor machine in Australia, if you have an upgraded GPU, multiple drives, ethernet, wifi, bluetooth etc all connected up and running,

If you don't want to use pushpins for the heat sink, Jaycar (for folks outside .au, an electronics component seller) sells nylon nuts, washers & bolts that fit without drilling.

 

[JacquiL]

When the screen for High Sierra comes up it says it. Reds a firmware update? Is that different from just upgrading to high sierra

 

[tsialex]

When the screen for High Sierra comes up it says it. Reds a firmware update? Is that different from just upgrading to high sierra

High Sierra requires a firmware update (BootROM will be updated to MP51.0089.B00) to support APFS volumes and to install Intel microcode security mitigations.

Mojave also requires a firmware update (BootROM will be updated to 144.0.0.0.0).

MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)

Please fully read this first post, you will probably find that you have one or more problems described into the various notes below. Mojave will only install if you have upgraded your BootROM to the current release and your Mac Pro have a Metal capable GPU*. If you are trying to install Mojave...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Melbourne Park]

FWIW - 76-77C is the normal running temp for the northbridge in a dual processor machine in Australia, if you have an upgraded GPU, multiple drives, ethernet, wifi, bluetooth etc all connected up and running,

If you don't want to use pushpins for the heat sink, Jaycar (for folks outside .au, an electronics component seller) sells nylon nuts, washers & bolts that fit without drilling.

Thanks, I'll check Jaycar, and the advise on the length given here. Thanks guys.

As far as my setup goes, I am still using 85 watt I think 4 thread slow CPUs ... I have high watt coming. I've several drives, just one small SSD run a CD space.

A thing about digital drives (SSD/NVME) versus Winchester drives - the digital drives use less power. But IMO, the digital drives produce much more heat. I guess the spinning motor use energy for mechanical operations, but IMO they run much cooler than do digital.

I'll likely now put in metal GPU which will increase heat.

I really should put in an extra fan and a silent one, while I am at it.

So, it's time to do some maintenance. A proper very careful clean must be a good idea. I don't have an anti static setup though. Funny thing is that people advise earthing anti-static matts and wrist wires to hydronic heaters - but my house's hydronic heaters are connected with plastic hot water pipes rather than the traditional copper pipes! And where I'd do the cleaning, the floors heat the house! Sometimes one has to be careful of the advise one learns on Youtube!

The Northbridge and the CPUs, and the motherboard, deserve maintenance after so much time.

 

[mattspace]

So, it's time to do some maintenance. A proper very careful clean must be a good idea. I don't have an anti static setup though. Funny thing is that people advise earthing anti-static matts and wrist wires to hydronic heaters - but my house's hydronic heaters are connected with plastic hot water pipes rather than the traditional copper pipes! And where I'd do the cleaning, the floors heat the house! Sometimes one has to be careful of the advise one learns on Youtube!

Most Australian electrical appliances have grounded 3-prong power cables, and Apple suggests earthing yourself by touching the Mac Pro before unplugging it for that reason... got a metal desk / pedestal fan or standing lamp you can clip on to?

 

[Melbourne Park]

Most Australian electrical appliances have grounded 3-prong power cables, and Apple suggests earthing yourself by touching the Mac Pro before unplugging it for that reason... got a metal desk / pedestal fan or standing lamp you can clip on to?

I haven't even got a conducting wrist wire!! Or a conducting matt ... I could plug in the G4 twin mirror door and connect to that ... except its covered in plastic!!! But that light idea is good - I've got a PC with a metal case on my desk too ... I could plug that in and connect to that ... nice idea ... now only to find a wrist earth wire!!! I'll check Jaycar when I look for the bolts for the Northbridge.


Thanks.

 

[rmanbike]

That is absolutely NOT true. I just installed a Nvidia Quadro K600 1GB video card in my MacPro5,1. Full Metal compatibility and they are under $15 shipped. I have verified both DVI and DisplayPort work in Big Sur, and with OpenCore you get the OCLP Boot Screen.

How did you connect to the Mac power supply? I dont see a power cable connector on this board.

 

[Macsonic]

How did you connect to the Mac power supply? I dont see a power cable connector on this board.

Reviewing the GPU design, probably jowaju installed the Nvidia Quadro K600 without the need of power cables. Its power consumption is only less than 50 watts https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/quadro-k600.c1839 Unless I'm mistaken, the GPU can run via PCIe alone.