MP 1,1-5,1 Strange Audio Issue on MP 4,1>5,1 Mojave 10.14.4

[panjandrum]

I'm not sure what you are asking about here, but I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with THIS forum topic. If you are looking for some type of cooling solution, you need to start a separate thread.

I think this is a language-barrier issue?

Are you trying to find the thermal-strips that fit on the bottom of your heat-sinks? Those are, I believe, technically long, thin, "thermal pads". Unfortunately, I've got no idea where to tell you to find those specific items outside the kits that are usually sold on eBay. I would expect if you contacted an eBay seller of these kits they could sell you a set of thermal strips.

 

[Franckymrs]

I think this is a language-barrier issue?

Are you trying to find the thermal-strips that fit on the bottom of your heat-sinks? Those are, I believe, technically long, thin, "thermal pads". Unfortunately, I've got no idea where to tell you to find those specific items outside the kits that are usually sold on eBay. I would expect if you contacted an eBay seller of these kits they could sell you a set of thermal strips.

thank you for information
yes !! the language barrier a problem

 

[foonon]

Ok, so this is my first post here since Ive been working
**I can confirm that the issue is no longer present once the stock E5520 chips were removed and replaced with X5680's**

***TL/DNR: So the issue is most likely relegated to GAINSTOWN (5500 series) Xeon chips in both 4,1 > 5,1 and 5,1 (if any) models running 10.14.4 and above. If you found this thread cuz that is you, the suggested fix is to either downgrade your OS (and leave it there) or upgrade your CPUs to a compatible WESTMERE chip***

I upgraded my CPUs this weekend and all is now well! Thanks to everyone
on this thread for their valuable input (especially Alex! You sir, are a star!)

~f

 

[sahyun]

I just updated the 2009 processor from 8 core (2 quad 2.26) to X5650 (so 12 core 2.66) and the sound output issue has been fixed (no more stuttering in iTunes, as far as I can tell) so I am quite happy with that. I went for the 5650 due to cost ($140 for upgrade kit). Thanks to everyone for helping figure this out and for feedback on how their processor upgrades went. Mine was pretty straightforward and the kit had detailed descriptions with pictures. I did need to do some odd stuff with the processor fan plugs (as directed in the kit and had washers to raise up the heat sinks) but seems to work fine now. The interesting thing is that Geekbench now reports the computer as a 2010.

 

[michaelrommel]

Dear all,

a while ago you convinced me to upgrade my MacPro4,1 to 5,1 to the 12-core version (2x6) to get rid of the stuttering issue and the pro runs like a charm - so again thanks for it.
Every now and then a new OS update comes out and every time I wonder: "what will it break now?". Can you recommend a thread, that I can follow to get the insights of others in the same position whether to perform an update or not?
Many thanks - you feedback is sincerely appreciated!

Michael.

 

[tsialex]

Dear all,

a while ago you convinced me to upgrade my MacPro4,1 to 5,1 to the 12-core version (2x6) to get rid of the stuttering issue and the pro runs like a charm - so again thanks for it.
Every now and then a new OS update comes out and every time I wonder: "what will it break now?". Can you recommend a thread, that I can follow to get the insights of others in the same position whether to perform an update or not?
Many thanks - you feedback is sincerely appreciated!

Michael.

Since MP5,1 is now obsolete and frozen, any software updates will be Security Updates from now on, so it's fairly secure that Apple will not change anything CPU support related in the future and no need to be overly paranoid about this.

 

[nsotiriou]

FYI

replacing the kernel only from 10.14.3 and running kextcache -invalidate / fixes this problem

Hi, is it possible?
I am very disappointed with Apple and this problem.
Please advice how to replace the kernel file.
Thank you in advance

 

[bsbeamer]

I am very disappointed with Apple and this problem.

This issue ONLY occurs on MP4,1 machines which are NOT Apple-approved for running Mojave. NONE of the processors issued for MP5,1 experience this issue. It's ONLY on machines hacked/updated from MP4,1>MP5,1 that have this issue.

The solution is to replace your 55XX-series processors with 56XX-series, which were/are officially issued with MP5,1. Again, no 56XX-series processor experiences this in Mojave.

 

[tsialex]

Hi, is it possible?
I am very disappointed with Apple and this problem.
Please advice how to replace the kernel file.
Thank you in advance

It's a lot of stretch to be disappointed with something that had official support up to El Capitan.

After Sierra, High Sierra and half of Mojave working correctly, some optimisation brought problems for Xeons not supported for 3 years. Better replace it for faster and still supported Xeons, no?

 

[Awahnee]

Hello, confirming the syndrome with another case: 4,1-->5,1 with dual E5520 @ 2.27GHz
I had the audio skipping issue in 10.14.4 and 10.14.5 so following reading this thread I rilled back to 10.14.3
Happy with audio.

NOW, I cannot open Photos library. Please tell me if this belongs here or I should start a separate thread simply about downgrading to 10.14.3 (though it all started with the E5520s)...

Upon opening Photos app it says "The library "Photos Library" is from a newer version of Photos. Please upgrade Photos to open this library."

I am curious if anyone can help me determine if it was the .4 or .5 update that 'did' this to Photos. I can restore a backed up Photos Library from April or May when those patches were automatically applied on my machine (have since turned that off to stay at 10.14.3). Or is there some plist or something in the .photoslibrary package that I can delete or tweak?

 

[crjackson2134]

NOW, I cannot open Photos library. Please tell me if this belongs here or I should start a separate thread simply about downgrading to 10.14.3 (though it all started with the E5520s)...

Upon opening Photos app it says "The library "Photos Library" is from a newer version of Photos. Please upgrade Photos to open this library."

I am curious if anyone can help me determine if it was the .4 or .5 update that 'did' this to Photos. I can restore a backed up Photos Library from April or May when those patches were automatically applied on my machine (have since turned that off to stay at 10.14.3). Or is there some plist or something in the .photoslibrary package that I can delete or tweak?

Different problem, different thread...

This isn't even MP specific... I'd take this to the macOS Mojave section and post a new thread there.

 

[DeppJones]

I didn't check the whole thread for this information but the stuttering is on my flashed 4,1>5,1 with 10.14.6 only at the speaker output. When using Bluetooth speaker or Headphones, everything is fine.

 

[bluicebank]

I'm getting the stuttering problem on my MP3,1 after upgrading to Mojave. Intermitant on iTunes, but will occur if I stream a movie and then switch to iTunes, and switch back. Problem resolves on restarting the browser, or rebooting.

 

[goochbuntu]

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone that addressed this audio dipping issue. I went out and bought a brand new rx580 8gb of ram having audio issue after this caused me to believe it was a power not being delivered right to my mac. Then i remembered it was converted from 4,1 to 5,1 so i thought it was a patch or something to do with the patcher patching my system for a 5,1 when i had a 4,1. but i ran across another thread somewhere where they also had audio issues so i was thinking its less to do with hardware and more to mac os. when i came across this thread i saw so many with my problem. so i bought 2 cpu @ 5675 for $22 bucks each. when i get it in ill put them in a vice and remove the lid on them. so this only set me back 45 bucks to do this fix. so if you dont think you you really need much cpu performance upgrade and just want to get a 4 more cores and a newer cpu its worth 45 dollars.

I'm only brining up 45 dollars to get 2 x 3.06 ghz 6 core cpu you wont break much of a bank. there are people who show a vice method to take the lid off and the vice method is said to be the safest. but you can find youtube videos showing how to install a lidded cpu in this mac and not break anything.

again Domo arigato!!!
[automerge]1577585768[/automerge]
here is my system information. its a 4,1 converted audio dipped as well.

 

[daralathas]

Hey all... excellent sleuthing. I have a 4,1 with 2x2.26GHz and was considering the 4,1->5,1 switcheroo. Does the audio stuttering occur even in Apple Airport Expresses from iTunes? I see mention of the stutter being absent in Apple TVs.

Ta,

 

[goochbuntu]

thank you everyone. when i was using clipstudio paint i would notice that i was getting a delay between strokes when i was drawing. but now with the new x5675 i dont get audio drops or any issues drawing. i think the cpu was choking not the audio. meaning that the cpu would stall this would explain why adding graphics cards and usb sound devices the audio would still be there. so this explains to me what happens with the x5500 series cpus. they would stall for a second causing the sound to dip.

again thank you guys for helping me out.

 

[2013.1]

Had the same issue with mac pro 2x4core 2.26 Intel Xeon E5520 4,1>5,1 10.14.6 in iTunes and Finder (not Safari eg beta.music.apple.com).

Upgraded to 2x 6core Intel Xeon X5690 yesterday.

Solved.

Thank you! 🙏

 

[MIKX]

Maybe my 4,1>5.1 was blessed by Steve Jobs😇 . . it's the 2.93ghz early 2009 with dual X5570s - I never get the stuttering problem

Additionally, I have native HDMI AUDIO for both of my monitors connected to an MSI Armor RX 580 8gb but there are no 3rd. party kexts installed.

Just lucky I guess.

 

[tsialex]

Maybe my 4,1>5.1 was blessed by Steve Jobs😇 . . it's the 2.93ghz early 2009 with dual X5570s - I never get the stuttering problem

Additionally, I have native HDMI AUDIO for both of my monitors connected to an MSI Armor RX 580 8gb but there are no 3rd. party kexts installed.

Just lucky I guess.

Maybe it's time to admit that you can't detect the problem with your workflow and sound output configuration, no?

All Polaris/VEGA/VII cards have native HDMI audio since 10.14.4.

 

[MIKX]

No, I can actually HEAR that there is no stuttering at all.

 

[KingCachapa]

Following up with another data point for the thread. I updated my single to double and it is, like all affected, a 4,1 to 5,1.

Same audio stutter / sound crackle issue. Most noticeable for me with iTunes and Spotify as well as editing apps such as FinalCut. On YouTube the effect is milder.

Stutter is present regardless of I/O port. What's interesting is that the stutter sometimes is present, and sometimes it is not. The only thing that makes a difference for me is completely powering off, and starting up again. Sometimes unplugging the power cable for a couple minutes, and then restarting seems to help but only temporarily.

Update: the only thing that somewhat mitigates the problem is resetting the NVRAM. I just did that 3 times, and then the SMC (unplugging for 15 secs, then waiting 5 secs before starting up again) and the stutter pretty much went away.
Usually Youtube is hit or miss, but when the problem is present opening Spotify triggers it as well as iTunes. I tried both of those after this refresh, and after a 5ish minute song I started to hear a slight stutter. I wonder if it builds up over time whatever the issue is, and it gets cleared / refreshed once we do NVRAM / SMC reset. Even if we don't have a fix, I'm really curious to understand how it is that such a powerful machine can come to struggle with something as simple as audio.

Specs:
Mojave 10.14.6 on PCIe NVMe
[2x QuadCore X5570 2.93GHz]
64GB RAM // [Flashed & shows boot] Vega 56 8GB (w/2 displays via 1xHDMI 1xDP)

It seems that up to date, the only fix is to switch up processors and now I'm reading up to find out what is a good recommendation for this setup. I saw the compatibility list, but I welcome if anyone has a recommendation for a change of processors to get rid of this audio problem, while retaining or improving performance, or even longevity. I don't have to buy the top of the top unless necessary, since those consume more power overall right?

Thanks for the time!

 

[MotorMac]

Another newly enlightened MP 4,1>5,1 owner seeking solution to stuttering audio.
Thanks to you guys, solution is in sights - THANK YOU!

FWIW, below are my machine specs and all the grizzly details.
Currently running 10.13.6 flawlessly on HFS+ HDD and 10.14.6 Mojave on HFS+ HDD having audio issue.
(Strangely, streaming audio is fine in Mojave even tho iTunes, Final Cut, etc. stutter like crazy.)
Boot ROM = 144.0.0.0.0 from Mojave install, no problem w/High Sierra.

(2009) MacPro 4,1 now identified as 5,1
Quad-core Intel Xeon E5520 @ 2.27GHz
2.26GHz, 2 processors, 8 cores
38GB RAM
Boot ROM version 144.0.0.0.0
SMC version 1.39f5
AMD Radeon RX 580 GPU (startup manager not supported by RX 580 GPU).

Upgraded to 10.13.6 High Sierra with no issues. (OEM NVIDIA GT 120 required to upgrade).
Boot ROM went from MP41.0081.B07 to MP51.007F.B03 to MP51.0089.800 to 144.0.0.0.0 and finally 144.0.0.0.0

First Mojave upgrade (using SSD) updated Boot ROM to 141.0.0.0.0. All audio input/output channels went missing, resulting in no audio capability at all, and machine developed a sleep/wake issue.
A newer Mojave installer updated Boot ROM to 144.0.0.0.0, all audio channels returned and the sleep/wake issue was cured (startup manager not supported by RX 580 GPU).

Again, 1000 thanks for putting an end to this mystery. (Apple deleted my post there, glad MacRumors is on it.)

 

[Craig from Long Island]

Hi, folks, I'm a little late to the party and trying to catch up on audio stuttering fixes described in this thread.

I have a 2009 MP upgraded from 4,1 to 5,1. Currently running Mojave 10.14.6 after installing a Radeon RX 580 8 GB GPU, and 64gb RAM.

My MP has 2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon chips - original CPUs.

If I take an MP3 from any drive (startup or external) and play it in iTunes the audio always stutters. Same issue with latest VLC.

BUT - it plays perfectly fine in QT. Version 10.5 (935.5)

Is the consensus that I need to upgrade my CPUs? If so, what's everyone's favorite chips in Spring 2020, and are some easier than others to install? Also, is QT 10.5 (935.5) the most current version for my configuration?

Thanks.

 

[tsialex]

Hi, folks, I'm a little late to the party and trying to catch up on audio stuttering fixes described in this thread.

I have a 2009 MP upgraded from 4,1 to 5,1. Currently running Mojave 10.14.6 after installing a Radeon RX 580 8 GB GPU, and 64gb RAM.

My MP has 2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon chips - original CPUs.

If I take an MP3 from any drive (startup or external) and play it in iTunes the audio always stutters. Same issue with latest VLC.

BUT - it plays perfectly fine in QT. Version 10.5 (935.5)

Is the consensus that I need to upgrade my CPUs? If so, what's everyone's favorite chips in Spring 2020, and are some easier than others to install? Also, is QT 10.5 (935.5) the most current version for my configuration?

Thanks.

Nothing changed, besides the fact that now X5690 are more costlier than earlier on in the thread.

X5677 and X5680 are the most common choice. Anything that you gonna choose, will need to be de-lidded for installing in a MP4,1 dual CPU tray.

See the sticky Mac Pro CPU upgrade thread for more options.

 

[MotorMac]

Hi Craig - I'm a late bloomer, too.
Having eliminated ALL other variables, including app versions and boot ROM (version 144.0.0.0.0), I'm still looking for a software solution. Audio is fine across the board using latest High Sierra OS, only change being Mojave causing stuttering in apps (iTunes, Final Cut), but no problem while streaming audio online (YouTube) or using QuickTime (v10.5) in Mojave. Obviously our CPUs are capable - but not cooperating with Mojave for some reason.