If my HD7970 hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have purchased anything. I had to get something so I went with Apple’s recommendations. I probably will change soon, I’m not thrilled about the slot shortage. I can live with it, but I don’t want to.
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MP5,1 & Sapphire PULSE RX580 8GB - Spacer/Wedge for PCIe Slot 2?
- Thread starter bsbeamer
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If my HD7970 hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have purchased anything. I had to get something so I went with Apple’s recommendations. I probably will change soon, I’m not thrilled about the slot shortage. I can live with it, but I don’t want to.
I only purchased because it was on sale. I could make accommodations to drop the Velocity Solo X2 from the system by upgrading/increasing the capacity of the two drives in the Velocity Duo X2, but that would be about an additional $800 to have the same total SSD capacity I have now (with one less drive). System would also likely be slower without the separate PCIe SSD for the system drive. Nothing about that sounds appealing.
Will try the thermal pad spacer/wedge fix first. Then will look at removing the two PCIe side backplate screws to see if that helps at all. If not happy with either or a combination of the two, will return the RX580 and wait to see what happens with Mojave (and NVIDIA support or possible additional GPU recommendations) before making a purchase.
Had a chance to add the Sapphire PULSE RX580 8GB back to the system this AM, with a modified install in slot 1. Troubleshooting the install issues from a card in slot 2 drooping into the GPU and an audio interference issue from another thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rx580-audio-interference.2134677/
Put one thermal pad sheet (20x20x1mm) on top of each of the four bottom backplate screws, but was running into issues with the fit/install when used in combination with four stacked thermal pads on four different parts of the top of the GPU to prevent interference with the card in slot 2. Was creating a bridge to keep the end of the card in slot 2 out of the first GPU fan (closest to the ports).
Here's the original plan:
Was hearing some GPU fan interference. Immediately turned the machine off. Removed the GPU and the pads on the two screws closest to the PCIe connectors were already heavily torn apart. There's just not enough clearance on the PCIe connector side. Removed the ripped pads and removed two backplate screws on the GPU closest to the PCIe connectors. Left the thermal pads on top of the two other remaining backplate screws.
Forgot to take a photo of the changed top installation setup, but ended up ONLY using the top stacked thermal pads in-between the two GPU fans. Removed the two stacks on the side near the GPU ports. The card in slot 2 was not interfering in that area, only towards the middle/end of the first GPU fan (closest to the port side).
After reinstalling into the system, everything works fine. There are no GPU fan issues resulting from the card in slot 2.
The stacked thermal pads on the top of the GPU are four square 20x20x1mm stacked for approximately 4mm of height near the PCIe connector (the larger area of the GPU case). The spot near the middle of the two fans is one 20x20x1mm cut into 4 strips and stacked for approximately 4mm of height (one square cut in half, then each half cut in half again).
There is absolutely no audio interference. Using the same exact power cables and setup that I was using previously, except for the GPU swap. (This same exact setup was working 100% fine with the NVIDIA GTX 1080 FE installed.)
Hopefully will have some time to further test the RX580 throughout the week.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rx580-audio-interference.2134677/
Put one thermal pad sheet (20x20x1mm) on top of each of the four bottom backplate screws, but was running into issues with the fit/install when used in combination with four stacked thermal pads on four different parts of the top of the GPU to prevent interference with the card in slot 2. Was creating a bridge to keep the end of the card in slot 2 out of the first GPU fan (closest to the ports).
Here's the original plan:
Was hearing some GPU fan interference. Immediately turned the machine off. Removed the GPU and the pads on the two screws closest to the PCIe connectors were already heavily torn apart. There's just not enough clearance on the PCIe connector side. Removed the ripped pads and removed two backplate screws on the GPU closest to the PCIe connectors. Left the thermal pads on top of the two other remaining backplate screws.
Forgot to take a photo of the changed top installation setup, but ended up ONLY using the top stacked thermal pads in-between the two GPU fans. Removed the two stacks on the side near the GPU ports. The card in slot 2 was not interfering in that area, only towards the middle/end of the first GPU fan (closest to the port side).
After reinstalling into the system, everything works fine. There are no GPU fan issues resulting from the card in slot 2.
The stacked thermal pads on the top of the GPU are four square 20x20x1mm stacked for approximately 4mm of height near the PCIe connector (the larger area of the GPU case). The spot near the middle of the two fans is one 20x20x1mm cut into 4 strips and stacked for approximately 4mm of height (one square cut in half, then each half cut in half again).
There is absolutely no audio interference. Using the same exact power cables and setup that I was using previously, except for the GPU swap. (This same exact setup was working 100% fine with the NVIDIA GTX 1080 FE installed.)
Hopefully will have some time to further test the RX580 throughout the week.
Are you still using the RX580? If so, it's been roughly 4 months since you devised the thermal pad solution. I'm very interested to know if all has continued running well -- particularly whether the GPU has kept itself cool?
I'm still on High Sierra 10.13.6 with GTX 1080 FE 8GB for my daily GPU. Have done numerous tests with the RX580 over the past 4 months and it works fine with the thermal pad solution. The RX580 runs hotter than the GTX1080, but have not noticed any major temperature increases to cause concern.
Have also changed the Apricorn Velocity Solo X2 > Angelbird Wings PX1 PCIe x4 M.2 Adapter with NVMe SSD. This card is a better fit with the RX580. Still need to use thermal pad stacks, but there is more clearance. It is also a shorter card (from logic board out) and allows more of the first fan on the RX580 to be open and vented. Fan #2 is fully clear and open when in use.
Thanks for the descriptive update.
I'm currently running okay with a GTX 680, but as it gets longer in the tooth I'm keeping tabs on what I'll do if it suddenly fails, and also trying to keep up with whatever turns out to be the next compelling GPU upgrade for 5,1 especially for Mojave as it matures.
I don't have a Sapphire Pulse ( I have an MSI Armor RX 580 8gb) but I agree with h9826790 about removing the Sapphire Pulse's backplate screws but I would go one step further and completely remove the backplate ( if that is possible ). Assuming that there are no electrical contacts with the backplate
Installed in a 4.1 / 5,1, cMP GPUs rest on the factory installed non-conductive pad at the bottom of the PCI cage and if the Apple 'PCI card 2 screw locking strip' is correctly secured I can't see any danger of shorting anything out.
If one is still worried having removed the Pulse's backing plate then a 'cut to shape' piece of 'oven baking paper ( or similar, non-conductive material) could be placed under bottom of the the Pulse.
As for "non-conductive WEDGES / SPACERs I have always used new, clean erasers which can be easily cut, shaped to fit and placed at strategic locations.
This should save a couple of mm and allow a Pulse to be in PCIe slot 1 yet allow other PCI cards to be in slot 2 without dramatically interfering with airflow.
==================================================
Off topic note :
The use of USB powered hi-CFM fans could also be considered -
I have a 16.5 CFM unit cooling my NorthBridge Tdiode at the moment. Works very well.
I have another unit cooling my Samsung 970 EVO Plus- works extremely well.
Both fans powered by an external self-powered 7 port USB HUB.
Just saying.
Installed in a 4.1 / 5,1, cMP GPUs rest on the factory installed non-conductive pad at the bottom of the PCI cage and if the Apple 'PCI card 2 screw locking strip' is correctly secured I can't see any danger of shorting anything out.
If one is still worried having removed the Pulse's backing plate then a 'cut to shape' piece of 'oven baking paper ( or similar, non-conductive material) could be placed under bottom of the the Pulse.
As for "non-conductive WEDGES / SPACERs I have always used new, clean erasers which can be easily cut, shaped to fit and placed at strategic locations.
This should save a couple of mm and allow a Pulse to be in PCIe slot 1 yet allow other PCI cards to be in slot 2 without dramatically interfering with airflow.
==================================================
Off topic note :
The use of USB powered hi-CFM fans could also be considered -
I have a 16.5 CFM unit cooling my NorthBridge Tdiode at the moment. Works very well.
I have another unit cooling my Samsung 970 EVO Plus- works extremely well.
Both fans powered by an external self-powered 7 port USB HUB.
Just saying.
Forgive me if I'm not understanding But are you running 2 Graphic cards ? One in slot 1 and the other in slot 2 so you can use Mojave on 5,1 ? I have Sapphire 5770 and I tried a Flashed Nvidia GT 630 2 GB it work ok but would not see the Sapphire card so i have to sell it or do something with it.
But thats what want to do is use Mojave on 5,1 with 2 Cards
But thats what want to do is use Mojave on 5,1 with 2 Cards
No, just an MSI Armor RX 580 8gb. I don't miss having EFI booting asI almost never use Windows.
I have these EFI flashed GPUs as 'spares' in case of need.
Sapphire Dual-X 7970 3gb / Sapphire HD 5870 1 gb / XFX HD 5770 1 gb.
Oddly enough the XFX HD 5770 has been the easiest & most convenient as it's a single 6 pin & can be powered by a '2 X SATA to 1 X 6pin' cable alongside the RX 580 if required.
Though this is an old post, just sharing my experience with a Sapphire Pulse RX570 8gb. GPU design is the same as Sapphire RX580. My Sapphire RX570 is on Slot 1 and could not use the slot 2 PCIe lane with almost no airspace if another card is in slot 2. And the screws at the backplate caused some linear scratches on top of the CPU Processor Cage enclosure. Should have removed the protruding screw heads before installing this GPU
Removed the Sapphire RX570 and installed a Nvidia 770GTX 2gb card Reference design. The 770GTX works fine in Mojave. Also have a Nvidia 780GTX 3gb and was able to install Mojave on another HD using the Nvidia 780GTX.
The Sapphire 570 works fine but I’ll likely sell the Sapphire RX570. I prefer the blower type GPUs so I don’t have to worry on fans being too near on a PCIe card on top in slot 2. Thanks