Hi, CDF, this is amazing, but I have a couple of concerns/questions. I am currently running a 2009 5,1 updated Mac Pro with 2 x 3.33 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon chips running Mojave. I am using the Radeon RX 580 8 GB NOT Mac flashed, which means I do not have a safe boot capability.Updated: May 3, 2021
OpenCore on Legacy Apple Hardware
This guide explains how to use the excellent OpenCore bootloader on a Mac Pro 5,1 to install, run and update macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur, resulting in a clean, unpatched operating system no different than on a supported Mac.
🚫 macOS Big Sur 11.3 and higher is currently not viable for the Mac Pro 5,1. See the dedicated thread for updates.
Why OpenCore?
There are several advantages to using OpenCore on a classic Mac Pro:
Boot picker screen (even with a standard graphics card)
View attachment 1723702
Software Update (just like on a supported Mac)
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Hardware acceleration (and DRM for Netflix on Safari)View attachment 1723704
Another approach to installing and running macOS on unsupported Macs consist of applying a series of rigid patches. Although effective, this strategy may be considered undesirable, because it alters system files—a potential problem for updates. With OpenCore, macOS remains entirely untouched. Necessary modifications take place cleanly in memory.
Why this Guide?
The purpose of this guide is to provide step-by-step hands-on instructions to using OpenCore on the Mac Pro 5,1. Included with the instructions is a basic sample configuration to get you started. Guidelines for creating a more advanced configuration customized to your machine are also detailed.
👍 The included sample configuration is about as minimal of a configuration as possible for using OpenCore on a Mac.
Additional Resources
Since this guide appeared, other solutions to OpenCore on Apple hardware have been proposed. Here on MacRumors, you have a few options:
Another great solution is the OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) provided by the Dortania team. This solution, which applies not only to the Mac Pro 5,1, probes your hardware to dynamically configure OpenCore for your Mac.
- This guide (step-by-step hands-on instructions)
- Martin's Package (very popular easy-to-install one-package-fits-all solution provided by @h9826790 with emphasis on hardware acceleration)
- MyBootMgr (great multi-boot solution provided by @Dayo with a rich suite of helper apps for setting up and maintaining RefindPlus and OpenCore)
- OC Plistlib Generator (diligent programmatic solution provided by @TECK for automating OpenCore updates)
Requirements
This guide is aimed at systems with the following specifications:
Mac Pro model Early 2009 with MacPro5,1 firmware,* Mid 2010 or Mid 2012 Processor architecture Westmere (E56xx, L56xx, X56xx) / Gulftown (W36xx) Boot ROM version 144.0.0.0.0 Graphics EFI (flashed) or a standard UEFI card (PC GPU) supported in Catalina or Big Sur Wireless Chipset supported in Catalina or Big Sur (BCM943224, BCM9435x, BCM9436x)
Need to upgrade your boot ROM? See the upgrade instructions.
Regarding Graphics: Several GPUs supported in macOS High Sierra are not supported in macOS Mojave or later. This includes all non-Kepler generation NVIDIA GPUs as well as AMD GPUs earlier than HD 7950. Several HD 78xx GPUs (Pitcairn) were rebadged as R9 2xx and are not supported in macOS Mojave or later. All classic Mac Pro factory GPUs had support removed with Mojave.
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to @vit9696 and the other talented developers of Acidanthera for making all of this possible. Special gratitude goes to @h9826790 for spearheading the hardware acceleration study and @startergo for the relentless testing that led to boot screen support. And thanks to all those that have contributed to this thread!
PART I
Basic Installation
PART II
Advanced Configuration
PART III
Maintenance
PART IV
Installing and Updating macOS
APPENDIX
Installing Windows and Linux
Part of your instructions call for a boot into safe mode, which I can't do. Are the steps that precede that boot-up going to allow me to get past that issue?
Also, I don't follow the drive configuration/formatting requirement at the start. My current startup/boot drive is an APFS-formatted Samsung SSD. All other drives are external Journaled HFS+ drives. Do I need a new, separate drive to install this?
My live-or-die need for this computer is using Final Cut Pro. Of the different install choices you list, including your step by step plan, are there any advantages to one or the other for a basic novice for these things? Should I stick with your plan, or use Martin's all-in-one solution? Many, Many Thanks.