MP 1,1-5,1 Odd graphics behaviours after installing an RX580 in my 4,1>5,1 MP

[liddokun]

I'm a new proud owner of an early 2009 Mac Pro. I followed all the guides to flash the firmware to 5,1, and install High Sierra and update the boot ROM to 144.0.0.0.0.

Now, in order to install Mojave, I had to install a metal compatible GPU, so I put in an MSI RX580 OC Armor (4gb). With this card installed, there's a bunch of random dots appearing on my screen. I've attached some photos. The issue gets worse if there's any movement on the screen, e.g. If I drag a window, depending on the direction, the clusters of dots gets worse (3rd photo). I've also attached a video of this phenomenon.

Now, the dots do not appear on the screen to select which account to log on to (4th photo). Additionally, they do not appear if I take a screenshot. I've spent the entire evening trying to figure out what the issue is; to no avail.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mattspace]

do they appear in a different user account, or if you create a fresh install of the OS on a different drive?

Tried a different cable, different card output / display input, different monitor etc?

There's a weird symmetry to the dots, looks almost as if there's a Life generator running.

 

[liddokun]

They appear in a different user account.

Fresh install is not helpful either, I've gone from High Sierra to Mojave, back to High Sierra, no avail. I have not tried it on a different drive though, I will give that a shot tomorrow morning and report back.

I've tried two different monitors, HDMI output, DVI output, the only one I haven't tried is the DP output as I don't currently have any monitors with DP input.

A buddy of mine suggested it might be DRM related, but videos play with no issues save for the dots.

 

[mattspace]

A buddy of mine suggested it might be DRM related, but videos play with no issues save for the dots.

If it was DRM, it would probably be in content, not in the UI.

 

[MarkC426]

Is it a new Gpu....?

 

[tsialex]

This is almost certainly caused by faulty video RAM on the GPU. See how the patterns are repetitive?

Replace the GPU, the VRAM is dying.

Btw, Windows and macOS initialise and use the VRAM differently, sometimes a GPU that have faulty VRAM works perfectly (without any artefacts) with Windows and don't work at all with macOS.

 

[liddokun]

@MarkC426 It's not new, it was a GPU that was given to me by a friend after he upgraded.

@tsialex I was hoping it wouldn't need to come to this, but alas if I have to then I have to.

 

[konzan]

@MarkC426 It's not new, it was a GPU that was given to me by a friend after he upgraded.

@tsialex I was hoping it wouldn't need to come to this, but alas if I have to then I have to.

Yo, I run a Msi Armor Rx 580 8gb in my flashed 4,1>5,1. It's totally possible that the ram is dying on the card, but I also had this issue the first couple times I booted my pro up with the card installed. After uplugging and plugging back in the display cables and doing a couple reboots the problem went away. It's possible yours is temporary like mine. it's running without problems now.

 

[liddokun]

Yo, I run a Msi Armor Rx 580 8gb in my flashed 4,1>5,1. It's totally possible that the ram is dying on the card, but I also had this issue the first couple times I booted my pro up with the card installed. After uplugging and plugging back in the display cables and doing a couple reboots the problem went away. It's possible yours is temporary like mine. it's running without problems now.

I'll give it a shot, maybe a fresh install on a different HD might help as well. I'm really hoping it's not hardware related, as the Apple load screen and the log-in account selection screen is not impacted by these artifacts.

 

[nobullone1964]

I'll give it a shot, maybe a fresh install on a different HD might help as well. I'm really hoping it's not hardware related, as the Apple load screen and the log-in account selection screen is not impacted by these artifacts.

Have you tried injecting radeonboost.kext and whatevergreen.kext? I've had graphics glitches in the past and those two files removed them all.

 

[liddokun]

I gave that a try, no dice either.

I might have to start accepting that my GPU will need replacing.