MP 1,1-5,1 MacPro5,1: BootROM thread | 144.0.0.0.0

[handheldgames]

This issue is very random so far.

Two identical setup, one user may constantly hit this high fan speed bug. The other one may be completely unaffected.

From my experience, flash of not won't affect the result. I met this bug before when I was using the genuine Sapphire HD7950 Mac Edition card. From memory, I can hit this bug even with the stock HD4870 as well.

That's why I end up study the SMC key, and make my own version of fan control software to let the fans do exactly what I want.

The base file in the ROM that's been identified can probably be used to change default fan behaviors, possibly voltage as well for tweaking memory voltage to accommodate for DDR3L 1.35v modules.

One more thing... what slot do you have your video card in? I’ve noticed the higher fan speed issue with a 4,1 logic board with the video card in slot 2.

 

[kings79]

This thread is ( from post #1) a " hack your bootrom to boot from NVMe "

It's not actually.

It's just a thread about the new 'mp5-1-new-bootrom-138-0-0-0-0-on-mojave-dp7-pb6.2132317' and 5GT/s link speed on macOS/Windows without R17 mod.

Issues booting on NVMe were discovered later.

 

[tsialex]

I knew that isn’t gonna work, but let’s test…

[doublepost=1536320679][/doublepost]My Mac Pro is incredibly dirty and I cleaned with compressed air less than two months ago.

 

[LightBulbFun]

those generic black Chip clips sadly are F*cking useless from my experience.

I bought one to make reprogramming GPU EEPROMs easier (I Do a lot of PowerPC and x86 VBIOS cross flashing)

and it never worked even once...

I wonder if the genuine Blue ones are any good but those are £££

 

[tsialex]

those generic black Chip clips sadly are F*cking useless from my experience.

I bought one to make reprogramming GPU EEPROMs easier (I Do a lot of PowerPC and x86 VBIOS cross flashing)

and it never worked even once...

I wonder if the genuine Blue ones are any good but those are £££

I have a real POMONA MODEL-520 (from Digikey), a fake POMONA MODLE-520 and that black one. The problem it's not the clip, but the high drain of the components of the board and the way Apple wired the circuit. I even injected 3V3 on VDD to overcome the drain.

 

[Macschrauber]

if they make contact you must supply almost the whole board with the programmer...
[doublepost=1536321536][/doublepost]maybe a stupid idea ? Is there a dip8 chip what can replace the sop8 one ? So we can solder easy sockets

 

[tsialex]

if they make contact you must supply almost the whole board with the programmer...

Yep, but that's impossible with any programmer that I know. I can try to read the SPI flash with power on.
[doublepost=1536321771][/doublepost]

Is there a dip8 chip what can replace the sop8 one ? So we can solder easy sockets

Better solution:

 

[handheldgames]

I knew that isn’t gonna work, but let’s test…

View attachment 780084

View attachment 780082
[doublepost=1536320679][/doublepost]My Mac Pro is incredibly dirty and I cleaned with compressed air less than two months ago.

I suspect this location on the Logic Board may have something to do with the FlashRam as well.

 

[tsialex]

This morning before starting with the Mac Pro, I've read the 32Mb SPI flash from two Intel boards, DH67BLR and DH61CR, to test if the clip/programmer works.

Then I started with the Mac Pro. I couldn't get flashrom to find the SPI Flash. I've tested:

• power off, with VDD
• power off, injecting 3V3 to VDD
  
• with stand-by (just the power connected but still power off), with or without VDD
• full power on, with or without VDD

So, definitively no go with clips with Mac Pro 2009-2012.
[doublepost=1536334605][/doublepost]

I suspect this location on the Logic Board may have something to do with the FlashRam as well.

View attachment 780111

That is PS EP CFG. The pin to side of the PCIe slots is ground, the other I couldn't find where it goes.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

This morning before starting with the Mac Pro, I've read the 32Mb SPI flash from two Intel boards, DH67BLR and DH61CR, to test if the clip/programmer works.

Then I started with the Mac Pro. I couldn't get flashrom to find the SPI Flash. I've tested:

• power off, with VDD
• power off, injecting 3V3 to VDD
  
• with stand-by (just the power connected but still power off), with or without VDD
• full power on, with or without VDD

So, definitively no go with clips with Mac Pro 2009-2012.
[doublepost=1536334605][/doublepost]
That is PS EP CFG. The pin to side of the PCIe slots is ground, the other I couldn't find where it goes.

If you remove the SPI chip can you flash it then?

 

[lovechoco]

Hello everybody,

I follow thread for modification ROM from many month. You have already made a incredible job with BootROM. If you need some help to test, maybe I can help (test FW & Little Frank). I think is a great idea to create a solution for testing bottom.

I have a 4.1 (with FW 5.1) and a 5.1. For the moment, only standard GPU (GT120 & HD 5770) and HD & SSD. I have plan to buy a NVMe & a better GPU (I don't know which for the moment).

EDIT: *Bootrom

 

[tsialex]

If you remove the SPI chip can you flash it then?

Yes, I'm going to remove it with my hot air station and externally reprogram it later this afternoon.

I was testing every possibility to put the ICSP with SOIC clip to rest. It's a no go with a Mac Pro 2009-2012.
[doublepost=1536335272][/doublepost]

Hello everybody,

I follow thread for modification ROM from many month. You have already made a incredible job with BootROM. If you need some help to test, maybe I can help (test FW & Little Frank). I think is a great idea to create a solution for testing bottom.

I have a 4.1 (with FW 5.1) and a 5.1. For the moment, only standard GPU (GT120 & HD 5770) and HD & SSD. I have plan to buy a NVMe & a better GPU (I don't know which for the moment).

Welcome! If you want to test NVMe/reconstructed firmwares, do a dump, compress it and PM me. I'll get to you when I'm back with my Mac Pro working.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

Yes, I'm going to remove it with my hot air station and externally reprogram it later this afternoon.

I was testing every possibility to put the ICSP with SOIC clip to rest. It's a no go with a Mac Pro 2009-2012.

So hopefully you will be back up and running later then, fingers crossed all goes good.

 

[tsialex]

So hopefully you will be back up and running later then, fingers crossed all goes good.

Once out of the board, it's easy to reprogram.

I just need to organize everything at my desk to do it in one go. I'll have to find where I stored my Kapton tape, maybe find my wide SOIC 8 ZIF adaptor too, but I can use the SOIC clip for that.
[doublepost=1536338856][/doublepost]Found my box of Kapton tapes, was misplaced but almost in front of me. Now I have to organize everything I’ll need on my desk.

 

[tsialex]

From this:

To this:

Just compressed air.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

From this:
View attachment 780128

To this:

View attachment 780129

Just compressed air.

That looks like new! very good job.

 

[tsialex]

Out of the case:

You gonna get heat, baby!

 

[Matty_TypeR]

2 or 3 hours and it will be back up and running purring like a kitten, good luck

 

[tsialex]

2 or 3 hours and it will be back up and running purring like a kitten, good luck

It’s gonna take a little longer than 3 hours, I’m gonna clean everything, spray deox on every contact, clean the board with IPA, etc.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

It’s gonna take a little longer than 3 hours, I’m gonna clean everything, spray deox on every contact, clean the board with IPA, etc.

As long as its all working it don't matter how long, sounds like a complete refurb you're doing. and talking of refurbs I see on Ebay the Mac Pro 5.1 seems to be going up in value, just seen a £4000 Mac Pro 5.1 they seem to be getting more expensive again.

 

[tsialex]

I almost forgot to get the hot air heads from my office…

 

[handheldgames]

From this:
View attachment 780128

To this:

View attachment 780129

Just compressed air.

Be careful. Using a standard air compressor, there is a tendency to build up static charges that are strong enough to wipe out components.

We don't want you to kill your 2009 Logic Board.

 

[Modmike]

I am a long time Mac and apple gizmo owner. I recently found myself in need of serious horse power so I jumped on 2009 bandwagon and have a unit on its way. My intended applications ae:

1) Fusion 360 cad
2) Compiling software
3) Video editing for youtube.

I am stripping the system, adding ram, cpus, M.2 drive, and graphics card, which I would like to order today but before I do that, I'd like to understand how or if this EFI changes our hardware options, especially in regards to NVE bootable M.2 drive.

I am also concerned about getting a good video card. Can someone recommend the best bang for the buck?

Any and all advice appreciated,

Thank you!

 

[tsialex]

Be careful. Using a standard air compressor, there is a tendency to build up static charges that are strong enough to wipe out components.

We don't want you to kill your 2009 Logic Board.

It’s risky, but I only use it to clean boards when the humidity is high enough.
[doublepost=1536348981][/doublepost]

I am a long time Mac and apple gizmo owner. I recently found myself in need of serious horse power so I jumped on 2009 bandwagon and have a unit on its way. My intended applications ae:

1) Fusion 360 cad
2) Compiling software
3) Video editing for youtube.

I am stripping the system, adding ram, cpus, M.2 drive, and graphics card, which I would like to order today but before I do that, I'd like to understand how or if this EFI changes our hardware options, especially in regards to NVE bootable M.2 drive.

I am also concerned about getting a good video card. Can someone recommend the best bang for the buck?

Any and all advice appreciated,

Thank you!

To boot from a NVMe drive, you need to inject the NVMe driver into your Mac Pro firmware, I can help you with that.

If you gonna buy a NVMe drive, look at Samsung 970 EVO or Pro, if you want a cheaper/bigger drive, HP EX920 https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820326778

Anandtech review: https://www.anandtech.com/show/13037/the-hp-ex920-m2-ssd-review

GPU depends a lot on what you do. So it’s better that you wait until you started to use your Mac Pro. Maybe you will need boot screens, or hardware encoding or CUDA. So, it’s the last thing.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

I am a long time Mac and apple gizmo owner. I recently found myself in need of serious horse power so I jumped on 2009 bandwagon and have a unit on its way. My intended applications ae:

1) Fusion 360 cad
2) Compiling software
3) Video editing for youtube.

I am stripping the system, adding ram, cpus, M.2 drive, and graphics card, which I would like to order today but before I do that, I'd like to understand how or if this EFI changes our hardware options, especially in regards to NVE bootable M.2 drive.

I am also concerned about getting a good video card. Can someone recommend the best bang for the buck?

Any and all advice appreciated,

Thank you!

Everything you need to know is on the forums, if you plan on upgrading the CPU in your 2009 Mac Pro you will first need to flash it from a 4.1 to a 5.1 and DDR3 1333 MHz will be come available after flashing to 5.1 although you might need to purchase new ram for this. and instructions on how to do so are a search away. also if you plan on new CPU's then you will want to go hex core 6 cores and will need to delid the CPU remove the ICH from the CPU. again instructions are a search away. or you can go with the shim method if your not confident with Deliding a CPU. use shims not stamped out washers.

As for a GFX card Mojave the soon to be released OSX supports AMD cards and one which falls into the Mac Pro's available power usage is the AMD RX 580 sapphire pulse card. but that has no boot screens, if you need boot screen then the GTX680 Mac edition or a flashed GTX 680 will suit better.

As for NVMe boot drives this is still not available from apple direct, but as you can see from this tread there are some with substantial knowledge on how this is attained. Samsung AHCI drives are supported but becoming harder to find as they are no longer made, but offer similar speeds to NVMe drives using a single PCIe controller card.

there are plenty of helpful people on the forum to help you with your build of your Mac Pro 4.1 A good read of all the relvant information would be a good start so you can get an idea of what is required.

Good luck with your build and welcome to the forums!