Installer keeps trying to update my firmware (Mac Pro 5,1 12-core)

[Kenaz Filan]

I ran into problems downloading the last beta upgrade on Mojave: when I finally got things up and running again I discovered that I was now back on High Sierra(?!?). HS is running fine now, but when I try reinstalling Mojave (after downloading it from the App Store) the installer keeps coming back to the "Firmware Update" which I did when I first installed Mojave. I have updated the firmware twice, only to return to the installer telling me I need a Firmware Update.

My machine is a Mac Pro 5,1 3.33 x 2 six-core with 64 gig of RAM, a 1tb SSD boot drive and a Radeon RX580.

Not sure what is going on here. I was pretty favorably impressed with Mojave and look forward to using it again: hope they haven't decided to exclude 5,1s from the final release.

 

[Fangio]

... and a Radeon RX580 ... I have updated the firmware twice, the installer keeps telling me I need a Firmware Update

That won't work with a RX580. You'll have to use a GPU with EFI (bootscreen-capable) for the FW-Update.

 

[bookemdano]

This may require a delicate dance too, as the Mojave installer checks for a Metal-capable GPU and won't let you proceed with the install unless all installed GPUs are Metal-capable.

So you have two options.

With the Mojave installer you already have, you can keep the RX580 installed, run the installer, let it pre-load the firmware and shut down when it prompts you to. Once it's off, take out the RX580 and replace with your stock GPU (or another one with EFI). Then press and hold the power button to complete the firmware update.

Once that's done (you can verify the version in System Profiler) then you can power off again, swap the cards back and proceed to install Mojave.

A slightly simpler method would be to download the full installer of High Sierra 10.13.6 from the app store (NOT from the Updates tab). That includes the same 0089 firmware, and you'd be able to run the firmware update with both your RX580 and the EFI GPU installed at the same time.

There is absolutely no way around the EFI GPU requirement though. You can't install a new firmware without one.

Edit: You could possibly skirt around the flashing requirement altogether by editing the Mojave installer and deleting the Mac Pro firmware file. I've never tried that but it would probably work. Thing is though, you want to be on 0089 since it's the only fw to incorporate the Spectre/Meltdown microcode patches.

 

[Steve01234]

spectre / meltdown are *CPU* updates. I've updated my CPU's to 3.4ghz models, GPU is Titan X with mac compatible rom so I have boot screen. still stuck with release installer.

This may require a delicate dance too, as the Mojave installer checks for a Metal-capable GPU and won't let you proceed with the install unless all installed GPUs are Metal-capable.


A slightly simpler method would be to download the full installer of High Sierra 10.13.6 from the app store (NOT from the Updates tab). That includes the same 0089 firmware, and you'd be able to run the firmware update with both your RX580 and the EFI GPU installed at the same time.

There is absolutely no way around the EFI GPU requirement though. You can't install a new firmware without one.

Edit: You could possibly skirt around the flashing requirement altogether by editing the Mojave installer and deleting the Mac Pro firmware file. I've never tried that but it would probably work. Thing is though, you want to be on 0089 since it's the only fw to incorporate the Spectre/Meltdown microcode patches.

 

[bookemdano]

spectre / meltdown are *CPU* updates. I've updated my CPU's to 3.4ghz models, GPU is Titan X with mac compatible rom so I have boot screen. still stuck with release installer.

The newest Mac Pro firmwares contain CPU microcode updates to mitigate the spectre and meltdown vulnerabilities.