MP 7,1 Can I run 2 MPX modules in my MacPro7,1?

[CenerianStin]

When I purchased my MacPro7,1 I couldn't afford to upgrade the video card from the base Radeon Pro 580X MPX. But now that Apple has dropped the price for the Radeon Pro w5700 MPX I have ordered one.

My question is can I leave the 580 in place and install the 5700 above it? As to why—I would like to have the extra HDMI ports.

Thank you.

 

[teagls]

Yes! Although I think you should put 5700 on the bottom and 580 above it.

 

[Theophilos]

When I purchased my MacPro7,1 I couldn't afford to upgrade the video card from the base Radeon Pro 580X MPX. But now that Apple has dropped the price for the Radeon Pro w5700 MPX I have ordered one.

My question is can I leave the 580 in place and install the 5700 above it? As to why—I would like to have the extra HDMI ports.

Thank you.

May I ask where you see Apple has dropped the price on the 5700? I see it listed as $1,000 on the Apple Store, which I believe is the original price. Am I missing something?

 

[joevt]

Yes! Although I think you should put 5700 on the bottom and 580 above it.

The 580X is a half height MPX module. Doesn't the 580X in slot 1 let you use slot 2? Yes it does, according to this: https://www.apple.com/mac-pro/pdf/Mac_Pro_White_Paper_Feb_2020.pdf

If the 580X is in slot 3 then can you use slot 4? I don't think so but I haven't seen it tested.

If the 580X in slot 1 lets you use slot 2, and the 580X in slot 3 does not let you use slot 4, then you should keep the 580X in slot 1.

I guess it doesn't matter if you don't need the extra slot.

A W5700X will let you connect 6 displays. If you need HDMIi, then there exists USB-C to HDMI adapters. Some can do HDMI 2.1. Problem is, Apple doesn't do HDR to these third party adapters (even if they specifically mention HDMI 2.0b or HDMI 2.1 HDR support). Also, in Big Sur, Apple broke (or purposefully disabled?) DSC support which is required for HDMI 2.1 timings.

 

[flowrider]

If the 580X is in slot 3 then can you use slot 4? I don't think so but I haven't seen it tested.

Yes - I have my 580X in slot 3 and am using slot 4.



Lou

 

[joevt]

Yes - I have my 580X in slot 3 and am using slot 4.

Oh right. I got confused. The 580X does not have Thunderbolt controllers, so it doesn't need PCIe lanes from the next slot to be routed to the MPX slot. Therefore the next slot is free to use. The 580X is only using the MPX slot to route four DisplayPort connections to the top and rear Thunderbolt controllers.

 

[ivion]

Has anyone tried to put the 580X in slots 5 to 7?

 

[TrevorR90]

Has anyone tried to put the 580X in slots 5 to 7?

That wouldn't work I don't think? 5-7 don't have the proprietary power slot that powers the GPU, only 1 and 3 does.

 

[TrevorR90]

May I ask where you see Apple has dropped the price on the 5700? I see it listed as $1,000 on the Apple Store, which I believe is the original price. Am I missing something?

Yeah, I just checked and its listed as $1,000 on Apple, it's always been that price. Where do you see a price drop OP?

 

[flowrider]

That wouldn't work I don't think? 5-7 don't have the proprietary power slot that powers the GPU, only 1 and 3 does.

That is in fact correct👍 As well as the bandwidth being too low in slots 6&7.

Lou

 

[ivion]

I can now confirm it as well. It doesn’t fit in slots 5 to 7, also because of the PCIE-card lock mechanism blocks the top half of the 580x card.

Amazon has very good deals from time to time. Bought an extra Vega ii yesterday for 45% off. Use Keepa.com for price tracking and automatic reminders. @TrevorR90

Using the Mac Pro as an Ethereum mining node at night as a fun experiment and it works surprisingly well with vega😁 (1 x Vega ii duo, 1 x Vega ii solo)

 

[joevt]

Has anyone tried to put the 580X in slots 5 to 7?

You can connect it using a riser and a hand made power connector but it probably won't work (except maybe it can in a new Mac Pro?)
https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/preliminary-mpx-580x-success/
If it did work, it would be limited to the two HDMI ports unless you figure out how to wire the four DisplayPort connections.

 

[fritzzzzzz]

Yes - I have my 580X in slot 3 and am using slot 4.

View attachment 1751491

Lou

APPLE HAD ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT THE SYSTEM WON'T GET ANY BENEFITS IF Mac Pro INSTALLED 2 580X. eventually, the system only use 1. unless you bought 2 x 5500X. otherwise no use at all. if you have 2 GPUs, apple suggested to use slot 1 and 3, which are x16 slot, check the white paper from Mac Pro page on Apple.com

 

[flowrider]

^^^^I'm not using it for system benefit, it mostly remains unconnected. It's there because my main GPU is an RX5700XT that doesn't provide a boot screen. When I want a boot screen I connect the 580X.

Hopefully when I finally can obtain an RX6800XT (with the USB-C output) I will get a boot screen and can remove the 580X.

Lou

 

[fritzzzzzz]

^^^^I'm not using it for system benefit, it mostly remains unconnected. It's there because my main GPU is an RX5700XT that doesn't provide a boot screen. When I want a boot screen I connect the 580X.

Hopefully when I finally can obtain an RX6800XT (with the USB-C output) I will get a boot screen and can remove the 580X.

Lou

once you removed 580x the Mac Pro cannot output 5K or above.

 

[daylightpro]

so I have a 580x, and added the 5700x, but adobe uses the 580x and not the 5700x. I have 5700x in one and 580x in 3. I took the 580x out and adobe is running great