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

[crjackson2134]

It's slower. Even on subsequent boots.


Testing 0138 for boot support was an early step. The drives can be selected in startup disk, but the system will not boot from them. All you get is a longer / delayed boot, staring at the grey screen form an extra 30 seconds.

Yeah, I found the same as far as no NVMe boot support.

Next problem...

138.0.0.0.0 + Nvme injection doesn't work on my machine.

Dump goes fine, DXEinject goes fine, programming mode boot goes fine, flashing goes fine... End result... NVMe not bootable.

Several pram resets, restarts, reboots... NVMe not detected by boot picker and won't boot...

Reflashed to 0089-NVMe and it's all back to normal...

So I guess I'm locked to this firmware version.

 

[MIKX]

It's a Beta . .still early days.

 

[crjackson2134]

It's a Beta . .still early days.

Still puzzled why it worked for @handheldgames machine and not mine.

I guess I’m version-locked for now.

 

[tsialex]

Mac Pro 5,1 recent firmware releases:

10.13 DP5 with MP51.0083.B00 with initial APFS support
10.13 DP6 with MP51.0084.B00 with APFS support
10.13.4 with MP51.0085.B00 (Mojave DP1/DP2/PB1/DP3/PB2 too)
10.13.5 with MP51.0087.B00 missing the Intel Xeon microcodes
10.13.6 with MP51.0089.B00 updating to the Spectre mitigated microcodes on the April 2 Microcode Update Guidance.
10.14 DP7 with 138.0.0.0.0

Forgot any release?

 

[dosdude1]

Upgrading to Beta 7, ROMTool no longer works. DirectHW.kext cannot load.

I just tested it myself on Mojave DP7, works fine there. Is SIP disabled?

 

[MoerBoer]

These are some great updates via the firmware!

I am keeping my hopes up that we will get boot screens. I cannot see Apple saying "Yeah, you can run your RX560 / 580 but sorry, you can't have security via FileVault". Security is paramount these days, so keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

Is this new boot rom available for high sierra or just for the beta Mojave install, can I flash the boot rom with out Mojave installation? If yes guys any links to tools needed and the new boot rom file?

Matty

 

[Pandanl]

Has anyone booted in windows and tested GPU-Z to check if it runs at 5GT/s?

If it does than this will means a few extra fps in games.

BTW: what is the link to do a bug report for Nvme?

 

[h9826790]

I could be totally wrong, but from what I saw investigating the 138.0.0.0.0 binary and other things, Apple will get the firmware updates more dynamically for now on, the firmware changed a lot.

I found some interesting things but some of that seems covered in NDA until Mojave release. All the needed things still present, so not need to worry much. You still can easily personalise MP51.fd for example.

Correct, and be careful that this firmware version may allow Apple update our firmware automatically like all other modern Mac does.

For the newer Mac users, firmware update is a transparent process. If that happens on any NVMe EFI injected cMP, the NVMe bootability may be killed without any warning to the user.

 

[tsialex]

Is this new boot rom available for high sierra or just for the beta Mojave install,

Only on Mojave DP7/PB6 full installer.

can I flash the boot rom with out Mojave installation?

Yes, just run the Mojave DP7/PB6 full installer and do as the screen says. When the firmware flash completes and you return to High Sierra with the Mojave installer app opened, close it.

 

[h9826790]

Yeah, I did already, so what happens if you keep filing a bug report on the same thing?

Yes, open another bug report and tell them the latest 138.0.0.0.0 firmware still can’t boot MVMe yet.

In worst case, they just determine that’s a duplicated report and close it.

 

[Pandanl]

Yes, open another bug report and tell them the latest 138.0.0.0.0 firmware still can’t boot MVMe yet.

In worst case, they just determine that’s a duplicated report and close it.

Where can i submit a bug report?

EDIT: Filed a bug report for missing Nvme boot support under my developer account.

 

[h9826790]

These are some great updates via the firmware!

I am keeping my hopes up that we will get boot screens. I cannot see Apple saying "Yeah, you can run your RX560 / 580 but sorry, you can't have security via FileVault". Security is paramount these days, so keeping my fingers crossed.

This is another must filed bug report. This FileVault issue may end up force them to provide us boot screen with any PC GPU. If we are lucky enough. The Nvidia GPU may also able to get some basic support. That may allow us to install web driver without any help from Mac EFI / remote control.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

Only on Mojave DP7/PB6 full installer.


Yes, just run the Mojave DP7/PB6 full installer and do as the screen says. When the firmware flash completes and you return to High Sierra with the Mojave installer app opened, close it.

Thanks very much! Will try it later when home

 

[LightBulbFun]

im happy to report that with testing by @Gamer9430

the new BootROM enables PCIe 2.0 for his stock GTX 1070 in windows (BIOS install IIRC)

ill let him post the pictures

 

[MriX]

This is another must filed bug report. This FileVault issue may end up force them to provide us boot screen with any PC GPU. If we are lucky enough. The Nvidia GPU may also able to get some basic support. That may allow us to install web driver without any help from Mac EFI / remote control.

I have already opened a issue for that. I hope others will also open a issue

 

[Pandanl]

im happy to report that with testing by @Gamer9430

the new BootROM enables PCIe 2.0 for his stock GTX 1070 in windows (BIOS install IIRC)

ill let him post the pictures

That is awesome, will sure give some more frames in VR which are much needed.

I will update tonight to the latest bootROM and see if the RX 480 also does 5GT/s under Windows.

 

[thomasthegps]

Has anyone tried this bootrom on a 4.1 - 5.1 fw upgrade ? I guess it works but you never know...

 

[Pavo]

Has anyone tried this bootrom on a 4.1 - 5.1 fw upgrade ? I guess it works but you never know...

Yes it works, after you flash from a 4,1->5,1 Apple doesn’t see it as a 4,1 anymore, to Apple it’s just a 5,1 so any firmware upgrades will work normally.

 

[thomasthegps]

Cool have we gained other stuff like os internet restore like on newer macs ?

 

[krakman]

Just wanted to share:

Firmware update to 138.0.0.0 went fine on my 4.1>5.1 with 3.46ghz 12 and AMD RX480 8GB

Black Screens during Firmware update.

It rebooted into High Sierra after the firmware update. Installing Mojave now...

RX480 shows 5GT/s

 

[RamMac]

Only on Mojave DP7/PB6 full installer.


Yes, just run the Mojave DP7/PB6 full installer and do as the screen says. When the firmware flash completes and you return to High Sierra with the Mojave installer app opened, close it.

Is there a way to get "official" PB full installer? I am Public Beta tester...
[doublepost=1534256015][/doublepost]

Is there a way to get "official" PB full installer? I am Public Beta tester...

Found a way, sign in to your Public Beta account on App Public Beta website and there you click show it in Mac App store. I am sorry I could not remember the correct place in Apple Public Beta website, but there is a link, when you click it opens the full installer in Mac App store.

 

[MIKX]

Seeing that this new 138.0.0.0 bootrom may disable NVMe booting it would be nice if posters could include info ( after upgrading the bootrom ) whether their boot drive is AHCI or NVMe.

EDIT : My NVMe M.2 960 boots 10.13.6 formatted to HFS+

 

[tsialex]

Cool have we gained other stuff like os internet restore like on newer macs ?

All Mac BootROMs that have Internet Recovery natively are at least 8MiB in size, MP5,1 SPI-Flash is a 4MiB one.

 

[crjackson2134]

Seeing that this new 138.0.0.0 bootrom may disable NVMe booting it would be nice if posters could include info ( after upgrading the bootrom ) whether their boot drive is AHCI or NVMe.

EDIT : My NVMe M.2 960 boots 10.13.6 formatted to HFS+

138.0.0.0.0 was able to boot both AHCI Sierra/Mojave on HFS+ and APFS.

No booting at all with NVMe on my machine. I may try again later to see if I overlooked something, but I don't expect a positive result.