MP 1,1-5,1 Upgraded to Big Sur, firmware still old

[mahdif62]

I upgraded Mac pro mid 2010 running High Sierra to Big Sure using oclp.
I thought that would automatically upgrade the firmware too, but it didn't.

I have a couple of questions:

1.How can I upgrade the firmware now? (I use the original, non-metal gpu)

2.If I decide to completely ditch MacOS, and install linux, can I boot linux off an nvme drive (considering the old firmware )?

Thanks for answering my noob questions.

 

[bax2023]

MacPro5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (10.13/10.14 BootROM upgrades instructions thread)

Please fully read this first post, you will probably find that you have one or more problems described into the various notes below. Mojave will only install if you have upgraded your BootROM to the current release and your Mac Pro have a Metal capable GPU*. If you are trying to install Mojave...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[MarkC426]

Extract from above link:

METAL capable GPU as in any METAL supported GPU that works with High Sierra:

For upgrading from MP51.0089.B00 to 144.0.0.0.0, METAL support is the requirement, not pre-boot configuration support like from earlier BootROM versions to MP51.0089.B00.

Your GPU can even be a NVIDIA GPU that has METAL support and doesn't work with Mojave, like Maxwell (like GTX 980) or Pascal (like GTX 1080). Newer AMD GPUs that won't work with High Sierra, like VII (only works with 10.14.5+) and RX 5500/5600/5700 (NAVI GPUs only work with 10.15.1+) won't work for upgrading the Mac Pro BootROM.

A GPU that High Sierra System Information recognises it as METAL: Supported is the key here.

 

[mahdif62]

Guys I'm receiving private messages with people claiming they can manully update the firmware if I send them system dump. Is this safe to do?

 

[MarkC426]

Guys I'm receiving private messages with people claiming they can manully update the firmware if I send them system dump. Is this safe to do?

If it’s @tsialex then yes
He is the bootrom guru

 

[mahdif62]

If it’s @tsialex then yes
He is the bootrom guru

It's not him. Are there any risks?

 

[MarkC426]

It's not him. Are there any risks?

That’s anyone’s guess…..
Do you trust the sources…..🧐

 

[flaubert]

It's not him. Are there any risks?

I wouldn't trust anyone but @tsialex .

 

[Macschrauber]

I wouldn't trust anyone but @tsialex .

that's not neat to me, when it comes to Mac Pro firmware ;-)

 

[crjackson2134]

I wouldn't trust anyone but @tsialex .

Agree!

 

[Macsonic]

It's not him. Are there any risks?

You can send @tsialex a PM. He can help you with the boot rom, tsialex knows his way around the classic Mac Pro. He's the master expert.

 

[mahdif62]

Just wondering why this is not documented anywhere? Every video or article says the ONLY way to update the firmware is through installing Mojave (which requires a metal gpu).

 

[Macschrauber]

Just wondering why this is not documented anywhere? Every video or article says the ONLY way to update the firmware is through installing Mojave (which requires a metal gpu).

What do you expect?
A knowledge base article from Apple, to tell manual reconstruction and flashing by Flashrom is method b?

Flashrom and the kext to unlock the memory is on the xprotect malware list. This is way not the usual method to update the firmware, so you wont get hints about that.

 

[mahdif62]

What do you expect?
A knowledge base article from Apple, to tell manual reconstruction and flashing by Flashrom is method b?

Flashrom and the kext to unlock the memory is on the xprotect malware list. This is way not the usual method to update the firmware, so you wont get hints about that.

Got it, thanks much.

 

[Macschrauber]

Lance explains some basics, from an end user perspective. It's about adding EnableGOP to the Mac Pro firmware and using the tools.