MP 1,1-5,1 Manually Configured OpenCore on the Mac Pro

[cdf]

where can I get the OpenCore validation tool? do you know how can I add the thunderbolt 3 driver? thank you!

The ConfigValidity tool is located in the Utilities folder of the latest OpenCore release. As for Thunderbolt, see my previous response to you.

 

[Fred4]

I'm using 0.5.9 now.
Weird behavior, when I used to mount my EFI; "sudo diskutil mount EFI" on 0.5.8, it always mounted my booted volume's EFI. Now it seems random, and I have had to use a program to select the one I want manually. (EFI Mounter v3.1).
Would it be possible to load custom icons for the drives, if they exist, then if not, use the default OC ones? (ie. if exist /MyDrive/.VolumeIcon.icns)
The only other thing I have noticed, is the BT MagicMouse is really jumpy. I have to use a wired mouse, and unlike pressing a key, moving the mouse, doesn't pause the boot timer. When you're moving the mouse, the boot can suddenly continue.

 

[EddieK420]

The ConfigValidity tool is located in the Utilities folder of the latest OpenCore release. As for Thunderbolt, see my previous response to you.

thank you so much!! I’ll let you know how it goes. Can’t wait to get home now lol

 

[jackfennimore]

Correct

impressive. i'm not gonna be able to figure out how you did that. still looks good though!

 

[EddieK420]

The ConfigValidity tool is located in the Utilities folder of the latest OpenCore release. As for Thunderbolt, see my previous response to you.

So I was able to load the Thunderbolt 3 drivers thanks to @cdf. And again I had the same problem, the LG Ultrafine 5K works fine on the first boot and then after restarting once it just goes black and my mouse goes sluggish (on the 2nd monitor)

So, I tried my friend's thunderbolt cable (an akitio node short cable) and guess what? I worked!! The Ultrafine 5K got brightness controls, speakers, facetime camera, usb working perfectly.

So my long thunderbolt cable is bad, somehow it works on the first boot (but only for thunderbolt display image) and it works with my old alpine ridge card (again only for display image).

Now, investing in another longish thunderbolt cable might be too much. new thunderbolt cable + titanridge card + rom flasher. Its a lot of dough just for getting some brightness controls, facetime camera and speakers on my LG Ultrafine.

Also, I am losing sleep support (sleep works fine w/ the alpineridge). And I have to powercycle the Ultrafine 5K every time (no need to power cycle with the alpine ridge).

Do you guys think its worth it? Should I just unflash it and return the card to amazon and go back to my alpine ridge? Just use the ultrafine 5k without brightness controls, usb, camera and speakers?

PS: Btw, Opencore is super awesome. Got the basic setup and advanced configuration from the tutorial all done and OMG. This just brought new life into my MacPro 5,1. Catalina, Netflix HD on safari, boot screen and modern black boot screen, Nightshift. Beautiful.

 

[t8er8]

How does one "be careful with the installation" (of Linux)? More generally, are there recommended procedures and/or Dos and Don'ts for the process? I need to get Manjaro Linux installed onto a Mac Pro 12-core X5690 machine just upgraded to Mojave on a Samsung 970 EVO Plus. I have OpenCore set up w/ @h9826790's HWaccel config. We'd like to get Manjaro installed onto the now-vacated 850 EVO SATA drive and be able to switch between that and Mojave. Recommended steps (or a link to them)? If the EFI Partition gets overwritten, just go back and recopy the OC folders back in there?

Thx,
Fred

Any update on this? I have Catalina installed on an 970 evo with OpenCore set up I want to also have a linux distro running on a separate partition of the drive, is this process any different with OpenCore or will a normal installation work the same way? Thanks in advance.

 

[startergo]

Any update on this? I have Catalina installed on an 970 evo with OpenCore set up I want to also have a linux distro running on a separate partition of the drive, is this process any different with OpenCore or will a normal installation work the same way? Thanks in advance.

What happens if you select the live usb from the OC boot picker screen? Also you can use the raw disk access from VirtualBox similar to the Windows EFI installation.

 

[t8er8]

What happens if you select the live usb from the OC boot picker screen? Also you can use the raw disk access from VirtualBox similar to the Windows EFI installation.

I'll experiment a bit, I was just wondering if there was some conclusive experiences with linux booting on OpenCore so I could know what I was getting into, safety first.

 

[thinkaboutblink]

<dict>
    <key>DeviceProperties</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Add</key>
        <dict>
            <key>PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x3,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)</key>
            <dict>
                <key>@0,name</key>
                <data>
                QVRZLE9yaW5vY28=
                </data>
                <key>ATY,EFIVersion</key>
                <data>
                MDEuMDEuMTgz
                </data>
                <key>CFG,CFG_FB_LIMIT</key>
                <data>
                BA==
                </data>
                <key>CFG,CFG_PTPL2_TBL</key>
                <data>
                ggAAAHwAAAB2AAAAcAAAAGoAAABkAAAAXgAAAFgAAABS
                AAAATAAAAEYAAABAAAAAOgAAADQAAAAuAAAAKAAAAA==
                </data>
                <key>PP,PP_PowerPlayEnabled</key>
                <data>
                AQAAAA==
                </data>
                <key>PP,PP_WorkLoadPolicyMask</key>
                <data>
                IA==
                </data>
                <key>agdpmod</key>
                <data>
                cGlrZXJhAA==
                </data>
                <key>model</key>
                <data>
                QU1EIFJhZGVvbiBSWCA1ODA=
                </data>
                <key>rebuild-device-tree</key>
                <data>
                AA==
                </data>
                <key>shikigva</key>
                <data>
                kA==
                </data>
            </dict>
        </dict>
        <key>Delete</key>
        <dict>
            <key>PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x3,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)</key>
            <array>
                <string>ATY,EFIVersion</string>
            </array>
        </dict>
    </dict>
</dict>

These are my properties.
This parameter is for 4 video output ports. If you have 5 change it accordingly. Make sure all outputs work:

<key>CFG,CFG_FB_LIMIT</key>
                <data>
                BA==
                </data>

[automerge]1591540754[/automerge]
If you use radeonboost.kext you have to disable it.

This is really interesting. Sorry I'm new to this... What would I change in the code if I had 5 outputs (I have a Sapphire Pulse RX 580 with 1x DVI-D, 2x HDMI, and 2x DisplayPort 1.4)?

I used to use a modified ROM to change the RX 580 into the "Mac Edition" for the Orinoco properties from this thread but had to change it back to the original ROM to use OpenCore and HWAccel.

 

[startergo]

What would I change in the code if I had 5 outputs

<key>CFG,CFG_FB_LIMIT</key>
                <data>
                BQ==
                </data>

But I would recommend testing all outputs.

 

[t8er8]

What happens if you select the live usb from the OC boot picker screen? Also you can use the raw disk access from VirtualBox similar to the Windows EFI installation.

update, i installed live manjaro on a usb key and it booted up and worked with opencore perfectly, so i decided to go for the full install on a partition of the opencore/catalina drive, problem is, now I cannot see the opencore bootloader when booting up, I'm guessing what happened is that its being hogged by the manjaro efi but I'm not too sure. I still boot into linux fine, but I lost my bootpicker screen, any ideas?

 

[startergo]

update, i installed live manjaro on a usb key and it booted up and worked with opencore perfectly, so i decided to go for the full install on a partition of the opencore/catalina drive, problem is, now I cannot see the opencore bootloader when booting up, I'm guessing what happened is that its being hogged by the manjaro efi but I'm not too sure. I still boot into linux fine, but I lost my bootpicker screen, any ideas?

I thought you wanted to install it on a separate drive? Anyway there is an option in the configuration called bootstrap:

https://github.com/acidanthera/OpenCorePkg/blob/master/Docs/Configuration.tex#L484

Setting up Bootstrap.efi · GitBook

dortania.github.io

 

[dirte]

I bought a 5700 XT while still running High Sierra on my mid-2010 5,1 with the intention of upgrading to Catalina first. I got a RX 560 2GB to use just for the upgrade since I was still on my original 5770. I also bought the wifi/BT4.2 upgrade (BCM943602CDP) since I read here that the original wifi would stop working. I swapped the wifi/BT card a few days ago with no noticeable issues. I installed OC yesterday for the first time using the latest (0.5.9). I Installed it to a running Mojave instead of using two drives, which actually worked, then updated to Catalina through the app store which also worked. Booted fine. Everything seemed to work fine within Catalina. Updated the config and added kexts for everything but Nightshift. Swapped graphics cards to the 5700 XT and got stuck in a boot loop. I had set OC to bypass the boot picker earlier so I thought I'd try stopping there on one of the reboots and my magic mouse (gen 1) didn't work on the boot picker so I switched to a usb mouse. Swapped back to the RX 560 and it booted fine. Opened BT preferences to reconnect my mouse and got pinwheeling. Force quit system preferences and tried again. System preferences hangs every time I open the BT preferences menu. If I let it pinwheel for a couple minutes it starts responding again but only for about 1 or 2 mouse clicks and then hangs again. I don't know if the BT and graphics card issues are related but I wonder if anyone has thoughts. I left the GOP renderer enabled because the wiki said that some 5700 XT models require it and I wasn't sure if mine was one of them. Should I disable hardware acceleration before swapping cards? Any ideas about the bluetooth?

Update: a simple restart fixed the bluetooth. Still need to figure out the 5700 XT.

 

[t8er8]

I thought you wanted to install it on a separate drive? Anyway there is an option in the configuration called bootstrap:

https://github.com/acidanthera/OpenCorePkg/blob/master/Docs/Configuration.tex#L484

Setting up Bootstrap.efi · GitBook

dortania.github.io

This helps a bunch as its just the option i’m looking for. Although i went through the documentation and attempted to edit the config plist On my mojave backup, rebooted to my catalina drive and it wouldn't boot past the boot chime. I’m almost positive I’m doing something wrong but i tried both adding “Bootstrap” to the string which didnt work, and "Bootstrap.efi" both won't boot into anything and shut the mac off by itself. I'm brand new to opencore so apologies for my ignorance.

 

[cdf]

I’m almost positive I’m doing something wrong but i tried both adding “Bootstrap” to the string which didnt work, and "Bootstrap.efi" both won't boot into anything and shut the mac off by itself.

This indicates that Catalina is trying to boot without OpenCore (probably as the result of an NVRAM reset after GRUB took over). Remove your Catalina disk, boot into Mojave, select your Mojave disk in Startup Disk, put your Catalina disk back, and finally rebless OC. For installing Linux, see these general guidelines.

 

[Flacko]

I bought a 5700 XT while still running High Sierra on my mid-2010 5,1 with the intention of upgrading to Catalina first. I got a RX 560 2GB to use just for the upgrade since I was still on my original 5770. I also bought the wifi/BT4.2 upgrade (BCM943602CDP) since I read here that the original wifi would stop working. I swapped the wifi/BT card a few days ago with no noticeable issues. I installed OC yesterday for the first time using the latest (0.5.9). I Installed it to a running Mojave instead of using two drives, which actually worked, then updated to Catalina through the app store which also worked. Booted fine. Everything seemed to work fine within Catalina. Updated the config and added kexts for everything but Nightshift. Swapped graphics cards to the 5700 XT and got stuck in a boot loop. I had set OC to bypass the boot picker earlier so I thought I'd try stopping there on one of the reboots and my magic mouse (gen 1) didn't work on the boot picker so I switched to a usb mouse. Swapped back to the RX 560 and it booted fine. Opened BT preferences to reconnect my mouse and got pinwheeling. Force quit system preferences and tried again. System preferences hangs every time I open the BT preferences menu. If I let it pinwheel for a couple minutes it starts responding again but only for about 1 or 2 mouse clicks and then hangs again. I don't know if the BT and graphics card issues are related but I wonder if anyone has thoughts. I left the GOP renderer enabled because the wiki said that some 5700 XT models require it and I wasn't sure if mine was one of them. Should I disable hardware acceleration before swapping cards? Any ideas about the bluetooth?

Update: a simple restart fixed the bluetooth. Still need to figure out the 5700 XT.

There have been a few reports of the 5700 XT not working with Cat 15.5. The solution seems to be replacing System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX6000HWServices.kext with a version from 15.4.

 

[t8er8]

This indicates that Catalina is trying to boot without OpenCore (probably as the result of an NVRAM reset after GRUB took over). Remove your Catalina disk, boot into Mojave, select your Mojave disk in Startup Disk, put your Catalina disk back, and finally rebless OC. For installing Linux, see these general guidelines.

I've gone back to square zero, but this time set up bootstrapping and used the debugger version to ensure it works according to the OC manual, with this set up, am I clear to ignore the general guidelines you gave and install normally? or should I try to figure out the process you give in those guidelines. I'd like to think that with bootstrapping set up it should handle any issues I had with GRUB taking over, But any input would help me out a ton.

Thanks

 

[startergo]

I've gone back to square zero, but this time set up bootstrapping and used the debugger version to ensure it works according to the OC manual, with this set up, am I clear to ignore the general guidelines you gave and install normally? or should I try to figure out the process you give in those guidelines. I'd like to think that with bootstrapping set up it should handle any issues I had with GRUB taking over, But any input would help me out a ton.

Thanks

Run the config validity against the config file. Running debug build is a smart move. Also enable debugging with target=65.

 

[cdf]

I've gone back to square zero, but this time set up bootstrapping and used the debugger version to ensure it works according to the OC manual, with this set up, am I clear to ignore the general guidelines you gave and install normally? or should I try to figure out the process you give in those guidelines. I'd like to think that with bootstrapping set up it should handle any issues I had with GRUB taking over, But any input would help me out a ton.

Thanks

The guidelines refer to the approach I used to install Linux before BootProtect was available. The approach definitely works, but perhaps a normal install would work now. A word of advice: Linux tends to make the destination disk a hybrid MBR for some reason, and that can be problem. Fortunately, you can use gdisk after the installation to change the disk back.

 

[t8er8]

Run the config validity against the config file. Running debug build is a smart move. Also enable debugging with target=65.

Ran the config validity executable on my main config and it had no issues (from what I can tell). The way I made sure that the Bootstrapper was working was with the debugging logs because the new options weren't showing up on the boot picker (as described in the manual section you sent), so that's something I've already got covered.

The guidelines refer to the approach I used to install Linux before BootProtect was available. The approach definitely works, but perhaps a normal install would work now. A word of advice: Linux tends to make the destination disk a hybrid MBR for some reason, and that can be problem. Fortunately, you can use gdisk after the installation to change the disk back.

I see, so I'll test it out to see how it'll handle it this time around and fingers crossed I won't have to redo everything. I'm assuming the linux partition needs to be GPT to show up in the boot picker, so I'll be sure to switch that with gdisk after installation, thanks.

 

[t8er8]

Ran the config validity executable on my main config and it had no issues (from what I can tell). The way I made sure that the Bootstrapper was working was with the debugging logs because the new options weren't showing up on the boot picker (as described in the manual section you sent), so that's something I've already got covered.


I see, so I'll test it out to see how it'll handle it this time around and fingers crossed I won't have to redo everything. I'm assuming the linux partition needs to be GPT to show up in the boot picker, so I'll be sure to switch that with gdisk after installation, thanks.

Update, it works! I now have the boot switcher and it’s not being taken over by GRUB after a normal install with OC and Manjaro on same EFI partition. Thanks for the help @cdf @startergo

 

[docter_luke86]

Hi there! this works great! only a few questions left:

1. How to fix the Mac Pro's (mid2012) internal wifi-card?
2. How to fix the optical drive?
3. In the boot-picker screen my Catalina icon is named "catalina", but the Mojave icon is called "test".

Any one encountered these problems as well? Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks a lot (especially for this great post!)

 

[205Maxi]

You may try my 0.5.9 package. Or compare your config / EFI folder to my package.

I have OpenCanopy running since 0.5.9 beta
View attachment 920623

Can you PM me the package it does not seem to work any more or it is not longer there I would like to try it, since ndk is not being updated thank you an beautiful screenshoot. Thank you again

 

[h9826790]

Can you PM me the package it does not seem to work any more or it is not longer there I would like to try it, since ndk is not being updated thank you an beautiful screenshoot. Thank you again

Activate AMD hardware acceleration

I created a new "easy to install package" as per many requested (based on the official OpenCore). [The attached package updated to 1.0.0] For those who only need HWAccel, post #594 has everything you need. This new package mainly offer HWAccel + boot screen. Also, this package should work in...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Flacko]

Hi there! this works great! only a few questions left:

1. How to fix the Mac Pro's (mid2012) internal wifi-card?
2. How to fix the optical drive?
3. In the boot-picker screen my Catalina icon is named "catalina", but the Mojave icon is called "test".

Any one encountered these problems as well? Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks a lot (especially for this great post!)

Catalina does not have the AirportBrcm4331.kext in the IO80211Family.kext plugins. You can add the Mojave version to the Catalina plugin. Dosdude1's patcher can do this for you. Alternatively upgrade the hardware to a BCM94360CD as this works OOB with Catalina. Many have done this and it has the benefit of giving you all the handoff/continuity features. A thought for @cdf - can the AirportBrcm4331.kext be added to the Kernel part of OC to do this for members who wish to keep the old wifi card working in Catalina?

What problems are you having with the optical drive. Mine works fine.