Dual RX 480s in Mac Pro 5,1 running MacOS (w/ How-to)

[theitsage]

Installed Beta 6 last night. Unfortunately not much improvement with OpenGL. I was able to run Valley to completion. When I tried to benchmark, it crashed.
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More pics, benchmarks, subjective thoughts? I'm assuming you're running VR in bootcamp?

I'll get more time this coming weekend to play with the VR setup and will let you know.

Don't watch horror movies with one of these is my first impression.

 

[Xanix]

A Beta game and a Beta OS...

AMD R9 NANO & XBOX ONE

*macOS Sierra Beta + EVERSPACE Beta (metal) = Great fun!!!

 

[handheldgames]

Beta 6 update

AMDRadeonX4000.kext analysis
Although the base .plist has not changed, the 10.2MB driver file is updated. Overall, the beta 6 file is 1k smaller AND has countless binary changes across the breadth of the file. on to the .plist, I noticed that my modified order of graphic card Id's were out of hex incremental sequence: 67E0, 67FF, then 67DF. This is not the order followed in the rest of the .kext, so I changed the initialization order to
67DF, 67E0, 67FF.

display Output
hdmi 2.0 - appears to capped at hdmi 1.4
Displayport -> Mdp -> apple DL-DVI adapter -> dell 3007-wfphc - needs cold boot to be recognized
Multiple displays are accelerated.

Stability / Usability
Compared to the brief amount of time spent trying to use Beta 5, I am no longer seeing lockups in the OS, xcode or compiled Applications. While safari has display issues with some google search content and occasiocally fails to render, it can get stuck with momentary spinner. Cause unknown.

More cards coming soon
References to AMD's upcoming iceland HBM2 gpu is noted in the binary drivers, although initialization is tied to a pci_gen3 initialization. This could cripple iceland on the cMP.

Bottom line
Drivers for the rx480 are not complete. If you want a cutting-edge production ready card for the cMP, the R9 nano is about $150 more and the drivers are much more compete.

Those looking to take a risk can pick up a RX 480 for $250ish.

As always, YMMV. Support for all of these cards could be yanked in the next beta or release so plan your risk accordingly.

 

[theitsage]

I was able to boot successfully into both MacOS and Windows 10 with the pair of RX 480 GPUs in slot 1 and 2 (for x16). Prior to this I could only use slot 3 or 4 for the second card. The culprit was an XFX RX 480 I had which is clocked slightly higher and has a different subsystem ID. I'm now using 2 identical Sapphire RX 480s.

As handheldgames mentioned, the drivers for RX series in MacOS is not fully functional yet. I did try an RX 460 in my 5,1 last weekend but that got no where. My Mac Pro could not boot with the RX 460. It's ironic because the RX 460 has its PCIe ID in AMDRadeon4000.kext.

These RX 480s are working much better in Windows. With the latest Crimson 16.8.2 drivers in Widows 10 and CrossFire enabled, these are the results I'm getting. When I had older drivers prior to PCIe power overdraw hotfix, the system would crash running benchmarks.



These are results for a GTX 1070 in my Asus G20AJ.

 

[handheldgames]

Triple head with hot-plug works without issue.

FWIW...
dp 1 -> mdp -> dl-dvi -> dell 3007wfchc
dp 2 -> dvi -> hdmi -> dell 21" ips touchscreen
dp 3 -> not tested
hdmi -> benq 1080st -> Severtson 120" screen

 

[killawat]

Who will be the first to test PB7? Not I, I have no thunderbolt or 480 bits lol

 

[theitsage]

I installed DB7 this evening. Same results with the RX 480 unfortunately. OpenGL is still not fully working on it.

 

[pat500000]

A Beta game and a Beta OS...

AMD R9 NANO & XBOX ONE

*macOS Sierra Beta + EVERSPACE Beta (metal) = Great fun!!!

OH WHATTTT/!!!! nice!

 

[handheldgames]

no time to write a book, i have pokemon to catch!

AMDRadeonK4000.Kext internals point towards updated binaries.

The rx480 spins up monentarily at desktop initialization then quiets down.

Heat marks are appearing on the cMP's grey soft plastic padding along the bottom side of pcie slot 1

CRASH from app icon translucency when switching apps and opening a new safari window is gone.

Overall... the latest beta seems much more stable. Obvious crashing is gone. it boots, switches apps, opens windows. etc. CONGRATULATIONS!! its an operating system.

Apparently more is cleaned up than the 460 (mcv) and the 470. happy to see the 480 is not a 8gb boat anker yet.

 

[p.l]

GTX 1070 v RX 480 in compute!!!

 

[AndreeOnline]

GTX 1070 v RX 480 in compute!!!

I'd be very interested in a dual RX 480 setup and how it performs in Resolve. To clarify: is all of this in windows? What about current status in OS X? If possible, please try dual RX 480 in OS X. And I wrote in another thread: interested in Cinema 4D, so I liked the Cinebench demo.

Really appreciate the time and money spent by all you front runners!

 

[koyoot]

More cards coming soon
References to AMD's upcoming iceland HBM2 gpu is noted in the binary drivers, although initialization is tied to a pci_gen3 initialization. This could cripple iceland on the cMP.

Any more specifics on this? Are you sure it is Iceland?

Graphics IPv9 is the family of AMD GPUs with HBM2. Greenland, Raven Ridge APU GPU, Vega 10, Vega 11. Those are the only GPUs that have HBM2 memory controller.

Iceland codename is also in Graphics IP, but related to Tonga/Fiji family.

 

[p.l]

I'd be very interested in a dual RX 480 setup and how it performs in Resolve. To clarify: is all of this in windows? What about current status in OS X? If possible, please try dual RX 480 in OS X. And I wrote in another thread: interested in Cinema 4D, so I liked the Cinebench demo.

Really appreciate the time and money spent by all you front runners!

Hey Andree

Those tests where in Windows, still awaiting drivers for the 10x0 cards in OS X..
Im currently benchmarking 2x 480's now video will be up soonish

I did a quick look at OS X and the RX 480.

 

[AndreeOnline]

Those tests where in Windows, still awaiting drivers for the 10x0 cards in OS X..

Allright! I might be trying to read up on this too quickly over several threads, but I was under the impression that OpenCL—which should mean both Windows and OS X— was working OK with the RX 480 after modification, but that OpenGL was sketchy in OS X?

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Looked at your video above again... ahh, is it the DUAL card setup that won't work?

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Still enjoy the tests from a strictly performance comparison perspective.

 

[orph]

which version of Resolve do you use? most version's will only use 1 gpu

 

[AndreeOnline]

which version of Resolve do you use? most version's will only use 1 gpu

Yes, you need the Studio version for two cards. It's $995 with a dongle, but quite agreeable at $495 from the Mac App store. Of course, $495 might seem steep if you already have your needs covered with the free version. Horses for courses.

 

[ClassicMartini]

I tried this test and timed it 3 times for average. 20.25s is what this setup got.
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Step 1 - Disable SIP in Recovery mode (Command + R at boot, open Terminal then type csrutil disable).
Step 2 - Reboot then locate AMDRadeonX4000.kext in /System/Library/Extensions/. Right click and choose show package content. Edit the info.plist within Contents folder to include your GPU ID. I believe the Nano ID is 7300 so the full ID to add is 0x73001002. Refer to my post #27 for the exact line where you add your GPU ID.
Step 3 - Use Kext Utility to repair the kext permissions then reboot.

If all goes well you'll have acceleration.

Thank you. Apologies for late thanks, guess I don't have "email replies" thingy on.

 

[theitsage]

Installed GM macOS Sierra build 16A319 today. While the RX 480 still works after the kext mod, OpenGL crashes remain an issue. The RX 470 on the other hand is fully functional without boot screen.

 

[SolidCake]

Installed GM macOS Sierra build 16A319 today. While the RX 480 still works after the kext mod, OpenGL crashes remain an issue. The RX 470 on the other hand is fully functional without boot screen.

Could the crashes from the RX 480 be the result of the cards power issue? This has been fixed with drivers but there not being any for OSX/macOS....

 

[electonic]

Installed GM macOS Sierra build 16A319 today. While the RX 480 still works after the kext mod, OpenGL crashes remain an issue. The RX 470 on the other hand is fully functional without boot screen.

I have a qeustion: why do a lot of these cards have a 1 x 8 pin power connection, when top is 110 to 120 watts? Is it safe to run them with a 6 pin to 8 pin adapter? Thanks!

 

[theitsage]

Could the crashes from the RX 480 be the result of the cards power issue? This has been fixed with drivers but there not being any for OSX/macOS....

I tried the RX 480 with a Y adapter to supply 225W max to the card. It still crashes in OpenGL. Unlikely to be power related.
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I have a qeustion: why do a lot of these cards have a 1 x 8 pin power connection, when top is 110 to 120 watts? Is it safe to run them with a 6 pin to 8 pin adapter? Thanks!

All the Polaris 10 GPUs I've tried only have 1 x 6-pin. Mini 6-pin to 8-pin should work fine.

 

[electonic]

All the Polaris 10 GPUs I've tried only have 1 x 6-pin. Mini 6-pin to 8-pin should work fine.

Yes, I see. But I'd like to go for the 8GB model and I have only found two models, which are apparently also overclocked and come with 8 Pin input. That seems strange, because of the TDP of 120w. And because the 480 also comes with a 6 pin ... So I guess 6 pin to 8pin should be fine. Just wanted to ask beforehand.

 

[h9826790]

Yes, I see. But I'd like to go for the 8GB model and I have only found two models, which are apparently also overclocked and come with 8 Pin input. That seems strange, because of the TDP of 120w. And because the 480 also comes with a 6 pin ... So I guess 6 pin to 8pin should be fine. Just wanted to ask beforehand.

May be that's for OC, the graphic may not really pulling 75W from the PCIe slot (Apart from the RX480 ). Therefore, e.g. if the card only pull 55W from the slot, and it will draw 140W after OC, the card will need another 85W from the cable(s), which will be outside the official 75W 6pin limit.

 

[electonic]

May be that's for OC, the graphic may not really pulling 75W from the PCIe slot (Apart from the RX480 ). Therefore, e.g. if the card only pull 55W from the slot, and it will draw 140W after OC, the card will need another 85W from the cable(s), which will be outside the official 75W 6pin limit.

Thank you for your input. That may actually be true. Too bad I can't find an non-OC version with 8GB RAM. I'll have to think about trying it out anyways ... worst thing that can happen will be a hard shutdown, I guess

 

[h9826790]

Thank you for your input. That may actually be true. Too bad I can't find an non-OC version with 8GB RAM. I'll have to think about trying it out anyways ... worst thing that can happen will be a hard shutdown, I guess

Pretty sure nothing will happen, the cMP mini 6pin can deliver up to 120W (hard shut down limit), I don't think the 470 can draw anything close to that, even with the 8pin.