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

[MIKX]

Same here one of my Mac Pros still have an EFI gtx970 in it that was NVMe flashed on 089 and High Sierra. I just extracted recovery from one of other Mac Pros, and ran it on the High Sierra install. Retained NVMe support while gaining the the newest firmware and still on High Sierra.

highvoltage12v
Thanks for your feedback, I'm in exactly the same setup as you. High Sierra bootrom MP51.0089.B00 & have been booting from a Samsung M.2 NVMe 970 EVO. Your post was exactly what I wanted to hear.

Did you notice any obvious improvements booting into & using High Sierra 10.13.6 with the 140.0.0.0.0 bootrom ?

I won't be installing Mojave until it is finalised but am looking forward to the improvements we've been hearing about.

tsialex very kindly created the 140.0.0.0.0 bootrom for my 4,1>5,1 tonight .. I'm cloning my boot 970 EVO now to a spinner HDD in case anything untoward should occur.

I'll post my findings after the upgrade.

Hopefully the next bootrom upgrade will allow USB 3.0 booting - fibers ( & toes ) crossed.

 

[crjackson2134]

I won't be installing Mojave until it is finalised but am looking forward to the improvements we've been hearing about

Just curiosity, not criticism... I understand waiting for a few more builds in order to hopefully achieve better stability and performance for your production machines. Nothing wrong there, don’t fix what isn’t broken.

That said, exactly when do YOU consider the OS to be finalized?

 

[fhturner]

tsialex very kindly created the 140.0.0.0.0 bootrom for my 4,1>5,1 tonight .. I'm cloning my boot 970 EVO now to a spinner HDD in case anything untoward should occur.

He did this for me as well...Alexandre rocks!

Hey Alex, out of curiosity...is there any chance we can find a way to just run the firmware installer only from the RecoveryHD image files, even if we don't have a Metal GPU or Mojave installed yet (IOW bypassing these checks)? Without bothering you each time, I mean!! I have a few servers and test machines that I maintain that can benefit from the firmware updates but without having to install or swap around my lone RX 580 or go purchase new cards (yet).

 

[crazyhorse90210]

<trim...>
5) Double click this "install macOS Mojave Beta.app" to trigger the firmware update. View attachment 793387

6) Then just the usual stuff. Follow the on screen instruction, click shut down, wait 10s, press and hold power button until the long beep, release power button and wait for auto reboot. Anyway, as expected, this can be down with just the RX580, no Mac EFI GPU is required.

Three questions.
1. Is there an obvious bail-out point after the firmware install where I can quit and retain 10.13.6 but have the new FW?
2. If I DO install Mojavi, I understand my 32 bit applications will still run, is that correct?
3. Are there Nvidia web drivers yet for Mojavi?

Thanks everyone. Very excited about that.

 

[bookemdano]

Three questions.
1. Is there an obvious bail-out point after the firmware install where I can quit and retain 10.13.6 but have the new FW?
2. If I DO install Mojavi, I understand my 32 bit applications will still run, is that correct?
3. Are there Nvidia web drivers yet for Mojavi?

Thanks everyone. Very excited about that.

1. Firmware flash is the first step, and requires shutting down and holding the power button until you hear a beep tone. It will then reboot back into 10.13.6 to begin the install. But you can cancel the setup at that point with no problems.

2. Yes, Mojave is the last release of macOS that will run 32-bit apps (or so Apple says). They run fine, albeit with a warning about future compatibility.

3. No. There is a thread keeping up with the progress here on the forum. I suggest subscribing to it so that when/if the drivers are released you will be apprised.

 

[marcoscc]

Agree, the PULSE won't completely block slot 2. But it may infringe slot 2.

Anyway, anyone know if the Highpoint 7101A is thin enough to install in slot 2 with a PULSE RX580 in slot 1?

RX 580 fan can interfere with the HighPoint but I have installed it with a simple spacer. Look photos attached ...

 

[skizzo]

RX 580 fan can interfere with the HighPoint but I have installed it with a simple spacer. Look photos attached ...

that's probably the most tidy solution I have seen for this cramped space issue. what are those pads you used? they sort of look like something you would put on the bottom of chairs so they do not scratch up a hardwood floor lol

 

[crazyhorse90210]

1. Firmware flash is the first step, and requires shutting down and holding the power button until you hear a beep tone. It will then reboot back into 10.13.6 to begin the install. But you can cancel the setup at that point with no problems.

2. Yes, Mojave is the last release of macOS that will run 32-bit apps (or so Apple says). They run fine, albeit with a warning about future compatibility.

3. No. There is a thread keeping up with the progress here on the forum. I suggest subscribing to it so that when/if the drivers are released you will be apprised.

Thank you so much for your reply, roger that and will follow thread for web drivers.

 

[MIKX]

Just curiosity, not criticism... I understand waiting for a few more builds in order to hopefully achieve better stability and performance for your production machines. Nothing wrong there, don’t fix what isn’t broken.

That said, exactly when do YOU consider the OS to be finalized?

crjackson2134

When they release the very last upgrade & announce it as a Gold Master , stop making Mojave Betas and start working on 10.15.X

 

[RetroDan]

Amfeltec Squid.

...but those are even more expensive than the Highpoint...they just quoted me nearly $500 for one.

 

[tsialex]

...but those are even more expensive than the Highpoint...they just quoted me nearly $500 for one.

HighPoint SSD7101A was $275 when released on Amazon, now the least expensive card with a PLX switch is $400.

 

[turluttu]

Will it work? Thanks!

 

[handheldgames]

The cards from QNAP use the same asmedia chipset. Note. This is a x8 part. Any boards that use it are limited to an x8 connection.

Qnap has 2 and 4 port m.2 cards also at reasonable prices. Compatibility with the asmedia parts is still unknown.

Irrespective of the vendor, these cheaper cards could deliver full pcie 3.0 ssd speeds for up to one ssd at a time, if the chipset is compatible.

 

[tsialex]

He did this for me as well...Alexandre rocks!

Hey Alex, out of curiosity...is there any chance we can find a way to just run the firmware installer only from the RecoveryHD image files, even if we don't have a Metal GPU or Mojave installed yet (IOW bypassing these checks)? Without bothering you each time, I mean!! I have a few servers and test machines that I maintain that can benefit from the firmware updates but without having to install or swap around my lone RX 580 or go purchase new cards (yet).

I really don't know how the installer checks this, maybe someone could take a look on this. I have limited available time and I'm not going to look on this.

 

[radus]

I just want to thank apple and the engineers for giving us this firmware update, I appreciate it and it helps.
I hope at least one of them is reading this and feels good.

 

[marcoscc]

that's probably the most tidy solution I have seen for this cramped space issue. what are those pads you used? they sort of look like something you would put on the bottom of chairs so they do not scratch up a hardwood floor lol

This one ...
[doublepost=1539103653][/doublepost]

HighPoint SSD7101A was $275 when released on Amazon, now the least expensive card with a PLX switch is $400.

Mine was USD 281 in JUL 31 and now around USD 390.00 ..

 

[fhturner]

I really don't know how the installer checks this, maybe someone could take a look on this. I have limited available time and I'm not going to look on this.

I will see if I can find anything. Where is the actual firmware file on that image? I looked around but couldn't locate it yet. I think somebody (maybe you) has mentioned the path to it in another post on this thread, but....1616 prior posts....yeah.

 

[tsialex]

This one ...

Your solution is better than the spacers used by my local friend, I really didn't like how he bent his HighPoint card.

I bet with him that he will have problems in the near future.
[doublepost=1539103831][/doublepost]

This one ...
[doublepost=1539103653][/doublepost]

Mine was USD 281 in JUL 31 and now around USD 390.00 ..

He bought in June, $275 If I remember correctly.
[doublepost=1539103895][/doublepost]

I will see if I can find anything. Where is the actual firmware file on that image? I looked around but couldn't locate it yet. I think somebody (maybe you) has mentioned the path to it in another post on this thread, but....1616 prior posts....yeah.

Go back two pages.

 

[crjackson2134]

It's doable, but heat and pressure are not friends with either card. We can nearly always force things, but it's not for me personally. By not forcing, and placing the card where it fits best, is a better solution for me.

 

[h9826790]

Will it work? Thanks!

It should work.

But for NVMe, this Adata SX8220 960GB only cost $210. Direct from Adata, free shipping, metal heatsink included. It really looks like the best "low cost' NVMe option to me at this moment.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

RX 580 fan can interfere with the HighPoint but I have installed it with a simple spacer. Look photos attached ...

I can see you have clearance from the fans but they will not operate properly being starved of air, with that small distance above the fan's there efficiency has been cut in half if not more. as a simple experiment, take a 12v fan say 1000 to 2000 rpm leave it in open air and feel the wind force from the fan CFM, then place a house brick 6mm in front of the fan and feel the wind force again, even better use a small ribbon. you will find that the fan is starved of air and will not be able to move as much air across the heatsink of the GPU for cooling.

the best solution is to swap the GPU to slot 2 where it can breath easy.

 

[h9826790]

I can see you have clearance from the fans but they will not operate properly being starved of air, with that small distance above the fan's there efficiency has been cut in half if not more. as a simple experiment, take a 12v fan say 1000 to 2000 rpm leave it in open air and feel the wind force from the fan CFM, then place a house brick 6mm in front of the fan and feel the wind force again, even better use a small ribbon. you will find that the fan is starved of air and will not be able to move as much air across the heatsink of the GPU for cooling.

the best solution is to swap the GPU to slot 2 where it can breath easy.

That's sure the best solution on cooling, but if the user not often stress the GPU, but want to use all 4 PCIe slots, it may not be best for him to install the card in slot 2 (IF no need to bend the Highpoint card). The RX580's fan may not even spin at all anyway (under low stress).

So, if the user need all 4 PCIe slots, but not extreme cooling for RX580. I think that's still a pretty "balanced" solution. Also, we can further down volt and down clock the card (if the user don't need extreme performance from the RX580), which can further help the situation.

 

[crazyhorse90210]

1. Firmware flash is the first step, and requires shutting down and holding the power button until you hear a beep tone. It will then reboot back into 10.13.6 to begin the install. But you can cancel the setup at that point with no problems.

2. Yes, Mojave is the last release of macOS that will run 32-bit apps (or so Apple says). They run fine, albeit with a warning about future compatibility.

3. No. There is a thread keeping up with the progress here on the forum. I suggest subscribing to it so that when/if the drivers are released you will be apprised.

OKAY, successful upgrade of my 4,1->5,1 to Boot ROM 140.0.0.0 and can use my NVMe PCIe drive as boot!!! Had to remove GT120 but was able to use GTX970 to install, which is weird as the Mojavi installer let me proceed without the 'all graphics card must be compatible with metal' message, which I assumed I would get.

 

[bsbeamer]

RX 580 fan can interfere with the HighPoint but I have installed it with a simple spacer. Look photos attached ...

that's probably the most tidy solution I have seen for this cramped space issue. what are those pads you used? they sort of look like something you would put on the bottom of chairs so they do not scratch up a hardwood floor lol

I used a very similar solution. The cabinet door bumpers were the backup to the stacked thermal pads:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-for-pcie-slot-2.2134562/page-2#post-26413743

 

[Matty_TypeR]

That's sure the best solution on cooling, but if the user not often stress the GPU, but want to use all 4 PCIe slots, it may not be best for him to install the card in slot 2 (IF no need to bend the Highpoint card). The RX580's fan may not even spin at all anyway (under low stress).

So, if the user need all 4 PCIe slots, but not extreme cooling for RX580. I think that's still a pretty "balanced" solution. Also, we can further down volt and down clock the card (if the user don't need extreme performance from the RX580), which can further help the situation.

I can see your point, but I would say if the user doesn't need extreme performance then no point buying a RX580, choose a single slot alternative and have no issues at all.