official Mojave Mac Pro Metal GPU card list finally

[mattspace]

The PCIe fan bug is a known issue. Nothing to do with time, but most likely becasue around 2min boot to desktop. Some of your action stress the card a little bit.

Well, I booted the machine, used a menubar app to initiate my VPN, and then opened the iStat menu to watch the fan speed, that was it. Next time I boot the machine, I'll cut out the iStat part and see what happens.

But yeah, 2 minutes of fan noise is in the realm of "not worth considering" as a "problem".

 

[Squuiid]

The PCIe fan bug is a known issue. Nothing to do with time, but most likely becasue around 2min boot to desktop. Some of your action stress the card a little bit.

It’s known that once the card is stressed. The PCIe fan will back to normal. A simple automatic way to do it is download CL!ng from AppStore, and set it auto launch after boot. This apps will put some load on the GPU to measure the actual bandwidth. As a result, this little stress will make the SMC able to communicate with the GPU correctly, and stop the abnormal PCIe / PSU fan high idle issue.

Another even more automatic way is by using MacsFanControl to setup your own PCIe / PSU fan profile. This will completely override the system fan setting. Therefore, also can avoid the abnormal high RPM.

Correct me if I’m wrong here but my understanding is that this is purely a 2009 4,1->5,1 issue due to the mismatched SMC.

I have no such issue on my 2010 cMP but it is definitely present on my 2009 5,1 using the GTX 1080 in Windows.
Macsfancontrol takes care of it of course

 

[mattspace]

Correct me if I’m wrong here but my understanding is that this is purely a 2009 4,1->5,1 issue due to the mismatched SMC.

I have no such issue on my 2010 cMP but it is definitely present on my 2009 5,1 using the GTX 1080 in Windows.
Macsfancontrol takes care of it of course

Well, 4,1 -> 5,1 here and it goes to 2000rpm after boot, but settles back to 800 after a minute & a half.

 

[Auggie]

I have a a true 5.1 and my HD 5870 (which I swapped from my 3.1 when I got the 5.1) fans ramped up during boot then settled down; it’s original 5770 did not.

Now the 580 fans ramp up during boot but shut down afterwards. It’s way more quieter than the 5970 fans though and I don’t hear it with the side panel on.

 

[mattspace]

Now the 580 fans ramp up during boot but shut down afterwards. It’s way more quieter than the 5970 fans though and I don’t hear it with the side panel on.

Just to be clear in my case, it's not the graphics card's fans that ramp up after boot, it's the case fan that handles the pci section.

 

[Auggie]

Just to be clear in my case, it's not the graphics card's fans that ramp up after boot, it's the case fan that handles the pci section.

Ah! My mistake... I forgot about that fan there inside the big grey housing that doubles as a full-length PCIe guide with the button to move it forward to release the PCIe locking bar.

 

[h9826790]

Correct me if I’m wrong here but my understanding is that this is purely a 2009 4,1->5,1 issue due to the mismatched SMC.

I have no such issue on my 2010 cMP but it is definitely present on my 2009 5,1 using the GTX 1080 in Windows.
Macsfancontrol takes care of it of course

Not really, first of all, there is no mismatched SMC. If SMC mismatch, all fans will spin to 100% without absolutely zero control regardless which software you use.

Secondly, I know at least one case is a genuine 5,1.

 

[jacekkr]

This is the correct cable (male to male as this replaces your existing cables entirely; it does not "adapt" them) as I purchased this exact same one from the same seller and what is shown in my photos earlier (hint, he will take lower offers than asking price).

Even though I had already ordered another one from China, I just couldn't wait any longer (it's still in transit) and got his version. I will eventually swap in the China one once received as it's shorter and built with 16AWG (probably overkill and unnecessary).

Thank you for the advice and for posting the link Auggie!

 

[Amsterdamned]

Hello All,

I am looking to update my Mac Pro Mid 2012 5,1 to run Mojave. I was looking at this particular card. Will this be sufficient? I do all my gaming on consoles so this would be for graphics, video, Internet....etc. I don't need anything heavy duty but want to be be able to handle at least the next few years of OS upgrades.

https://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-11265-05-20G-Backplate-Graphics-Graphic/dp/B06ZZ6FMF8

Thanks!!
G-

Would this be a viable alternative? Much better value and the 570 is also a recommended card.

https://www.pccasegear.com/products/39087/asus-radeon-rx-570-expedition-oc-4gb/

 

[LightBulbFun]

Not really, first of all, there is no mismatched SMC. If SMC mismatch, all fans will spin to 100% without absolutely zero control regardless which software you use.

Secondly, I know at least one case is a genuine 5,1.

this got me wondering if this SMC Bug happens with an RX 580 in a 5,1 then we have good grounds to submit a bug report to apple especially as apple is recommending the use of an RX 580 now.

id submit a bug but I lack the hardware to check the bug out my self...

it would be nice to get an SMC firmware update out of apple for the first time ever for the 5,1

 

[tsialex]

this got me wondering if this SMC Bug happens with an RX 580 in a 5,1 then we have good grounds to submit a bug report to apple especially as apple is recommending the use of an RX 580 now.

id submit a bug but I lack the hardware to check the bug out my self...

it would be nice to get an SMC firmware update out of apple for the first time ever for the 5,1

If this ever happen, we will be capable of installing the SMC update on, at least, 4,1 single boards and get total parity with 5,1. Maybe use 2010 dual processor trays on 2009, too.

1,1->2,1 again =)

 

[jacekkr]

Those new firmware for cMP so far always hide inside the macOS full installer. If you download a 10.13.5 HS installer from appstore and run it now. It will ask you to upgrade the firmware even you are already at 10.13.5.

h9826790, newbie question here, is it possible to do this install not as a clean install? I don't want to lose my current HD data right now. I downloaded the HS 13.6 installer form appstore as suggested and it wants to upgrade the firmware, but what is the process after that - will it give me an option to not do a clean install?

Also, other than the ability to install Mojave, what are the other advantages of updating the firmware?
Thank you.

 

[mattspace]

this got me wondering if this SMC Bug happens with an RX 580 in a 5,1 then we have good grounds to submit a bug report to apple especially as apple is recommending the use of an RX 580 now.

OK here's what I don't get - this "bug" has a duration of literally 1 minute 30 seconds after each boot, in which the PCI Expansion Slots fan ramps up to 2000, then back down to idle of a steady 800... or is there more to it that others have experienced?

 

[tsialex]

h9826790, newbie question here, is it possible to do this install not as a clean install? I don't want to lose my current HD data right now. I downloaded the HS 13.6 installer form appstore as suggested and it wants to upgrade the firmware, but what is the process after that - will it give me an option to not do a clean install?

Also, other than the ability to install Mojave, what are the other advantages of updating the firmware?
Thank you.

Just run the installer, it'll ask for the firmware upgrade. Do the upgrade, your Mac Pro will restart, then don't continue with 10.13.6 install.

Read about MP51.0089.B00 here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mp51-0089-b00-the-return-of-microcodes.2126752/
[doublepost=1532147314][/doublepost]

OK here's what I don't get - this "bug" has a duration of literally 1 minute 30 seconds after each boot, in which the PCI Expansion Slots fan ramps up to 2000, then back down to idle of a steady 800... or is there more to it that others have experienced?

It happens with other GPUs too, at least happens on my HD7870, but it's just that and since I rarely power off or restart the fan bothered me for the first 2 or 3 startups.

 

[mattspace]

It happens with other GPUs too, at least happens on my HD7870, but it's just that and since I rarely power off or restart the fan bothered me for the first 2 or 3 startups.

OK. I can't imagine caring enough about something so minor, that has such a short duration, to try to do anything to change it... but then again I'm not booting back and forth between windows etc, so maybe it would be more annoying if I was. My car idles a little higher when it's warming up first time I start it in a day, so it wouldn't have occurred to me as something "wrong" had I not read about it beforehand.

 

[tsialex]

OK. I can't imagine caring enough about something so minor, that has such a short duration, to try to do anything to change it... but then again I'm not booting back and forth between windows etc, so maybe it would be more annoying if I was. My car idles a little higher when it's warming up first time I start it in a day, so it wouldn't have occurred to me as something "wrong" had I not read about it beforehand.

Yeah, but if I'm not mistaken, it's something that started since the beginning of the firmware upgrades, it didn't happened before and only happens with my home Mac Pro with HD7870, never happened on my office one with GT120 then, now with GTX680. I'll pay more attention from now on.

 

[mattspace]

Yeah, but if I'm not mistaken, it's something that started since the beginning of the firmware upgrades, it didn't happened before and only happens with my home Mac Pro with HD7870, never happened on my office one with GT120 then, now with GTX680. I'll pay more attention from now on.

yeah my GT120-only with the 4,1->5,1 didn't do it. I'm assuming it's something to do with there being a dedicated temperature sensor in the Apple-supplied GPUs that lets the system know from the outset what temperature the card is, whereas cards without it, the system assumes the worst, and ramps up until the system ambient (and perhaps power draw) stabilises.

I'd be curious to see what happens if you boot the machine with no pci cards in it, but that's more trouble than it's worth

 

[mikas]

Would this be a viable alternative? Much better value and the 570 is also a recommended card.

https://www.pccasegear.com/products/39087/asus-radeon-rx-570-expedition-oc-4gb/

I am using that one as of writing this, right now on this Mac Pro (4.1->5.1) with Sierra 10.12.6. Works very well, and performance is almost on par with RX 580 which is installed on my other Mac Pro. I can't see why this RX 570 wouldn't work with High Sierra, and I will be upgrading this to HS pretty soon. The card should be Metal capable, but it's not on Apples list of supported cards for Mac Pro + Mojave combination. There are only two cards on Apples list as far as I know: Sapphire RX 580 Pulse, and MSI RX 560 Gaming.

 

[jacekkr]

Just run the installer, it'll ask for the firmware upgrade. Do the upgrade, your Mac Pro will restart, then don't continue with 10.13.6 install.

Read about MP51.0089.B00 here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mp51-0089-b00-the-return-of-microcodes.2126752/

Thank you tsialex! Much appreciated.

 

[Amsterdamned]

I am using that one as of writing this, right now on this Mac Pro (4.1->5.1) with Sierra 10.12.6. Works very well, and performance is almost on par with RX 580 which is installed on my other Mac Pro. I can't see why this RX 570 wouldn't work with High Sierra, and I will be upgrading this to HS pretty soon. The card should be Metal capable, but it's not on Apples list of supported cards for Mac Pro + Mojave combination. There are only two cards on Apples list as far as I know: Sapphire RX 580 Pulse, and MSI RX 560 Gaming.

I’m basing my belief that the 570 WILL be supported on this:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208544

 

[mikas]

It's a good guess, I would think the same way happily. Me too would like to keep my card in use after Mojave update. But it's not on the Mac Pro + Mojave list yet though.

By the way, anybody, where is that official list now? I can find it from many sites, but not Apples own sites.

 

[slamjack]

I got a strange issue with fan speed on my RX580 pulse (seems like a bug) — from time to time after boot or waking from sleep, RX580 fans start spinning on high speed. It goes to normal, If i put Mac Pro in to sleep again and then wake up.

 

[h9826790]

I got a strange issue with fan speed on my RX580 pulse (seems like a bug) — from time to time after boot or waking from sleep, RX580 fans start spinning on high speed. It goes to normal, If i put Mac Pro in to sleep again and then wake up.

Never has this issue on boot (both warm and cold), and I never sleep my Mac as well, so has no idea if sleep is an issue.

Anyway, are you sure it's the GPU's fan but not the PCIe fan?

 

[Auggie]

So, my whole point of getting the RX580 was to upgrade to Mojave beta. Unfortunately, I had the beta 3 full installer which didn't have the latest FW version 89 (I was at 87), and after booting to Mojave for the first time, the automatic OS update system installed beta 4.

Thus began my odyssey of FW upgrading post RX580 install. When I initiated it by launching the beta 4 full installer, I forgot to swap in my 5870 and was met with the unending black screen. I had to repeat the whole process from the beginning but swapped in the 5870 while it was shutdown. The FW update was successful and rebooted to Mojave, surprising me with the fact that Mojave was able to run with the 5870, albeit with some graphical glitches here and there, but nothing significant that prevents its use.

Feeling like now was finally the time to try booting into my UEFI Windows 10 Pro partition (Apricorn Velocity Duo x2 using a pair of 2TB 850's hardware RAID'd, with the first partition NTFS) under my new 580, this is when things got ugly.

1) I used Paragon NTFS to boot to Win10 but after a period of time in a black screen, it rebooted again and was greeted with no boot device found. Without the boot screen picker, there was nothing I could do to prevent always getting to this screen: I tried PRAM reset, pulling all Windows drives, pulling all drives. But the Mac always booted to this message.

2) I swapped the 5870 back in to use the boot screen picker to properly pick my Win10 partition, which is labelled "EFI Boot" on this screen, and was finally able to run Win10. I suspect the Paragon NTFS startup manager (which I have never needed to use before) doesn't properly select the Win10 boot partition (it doesn't show "EFI Boot" but the actual name of the partition).

3) Verifying that Win10 was now the startup disk by rebooting, I shutdown, swapped in the 580 then powered up. Unending black screen. Forced a power down, then powered on and waited: nothing but black screen. Again just couldn't would get away from that black screen despite all my attempts. I reinstalled the 5870 and it booted just fine into Win10 and Mojave. I then tried to pre-install drivers from the 580's install CD, but without it physically installed, there is no way I could get the drivers to install (without an external power source, I can't install and power both the 580 and 5870).

After pulling and reinstalling my 580 about a dozen times, I'm now an expert in throwing that puppy in almost effortlessly... but at present I have no way to boot into my existing UEFI Win10 partition under the 580.

I will try doing a brand new Win10 install under the 580 on a spare drive when I have the time, but I'm open to suggestions until then.

 

[bookemdano]

No idea about the Win10 stuff but yes, Mojave will boot and "work" with non-metal GPUs like your 5870--that's because even though there are no drivers for them in the OS, the basic EFI driver in the card's ROM gets used instead. It's completely unaccelerated though, as you saw... so very sluggish with screen artifacts and such.

This has been the same experience with MVC-flashed NVIDIA cards that require loading the NVIDIA web driver after each OS update. After the reboot into the new version, the GUI loads but is using the card's EFI driver and is really slow and glitchy. But because it's at least functional, we are able to download and install the newest Nvidia web drivers, and after a reboot the card uses those drivers for full functionality. This is in contrast to using one of those cards without an EFI driver in the ROM--they don't work at all after an OS update, unless you jump through hoops to pre-load the newer NVIDIA drivers after every MacOS update (even minor ones). Super annoying.

So yes, I think anyone who's using a card without EFI as their "daily driver" should hold onto (or obtain) one that has an EFI. There are lots of cases where it can be handy to have around.