so, i just acquired a mac pro 3,1. ideally i got it for a PC build inside the most beautiful case ever made but noticed all the components but the Wi-Fi card was there yet. there is 16gb ram, a Hd49-something GPU in it (too lazy to pull case apart atm but that GPU won't live long in there, and it is a mac version gpu). i plugged power cord in and got the boot up sound. no video (2 reasons) i have no DVI cable or capable monitor right now, it's been like 10 years since I've used dvi honestly and 2nd no mini poc ie to pcie cables from logic board to GPU. i have dvi to HDMI adapter coming and the cables also. i have 3.5 to 2.5 hdd adapters coming also as i have a couple extra ssds and hdds here. guy i got it from said his IT guy said the power supply was bad, id imagine it wouldn't power on if it was and if one leg of it is bad ill order another PSU.
My goal with this id to have a decent working, yet beautiful shop computer. more nostalgic than anything as one of my best friends who passed away was a mac guy and this was the model he had, and it was his pride and joy.
I am by far NOT a mac guy, i build custom PCs and have been for about 15 years so im very versed in windows, ultimately id like to have a natively booting Windows machine (my shop programs only run windows unfortunately). I'd like not to have to do the whole bootcamp thing if possible but am also intrigued to have a SSD running only mac (reading El captain is highest supported OSx but newer could be installed with modded OSx distros). I'd like to pick up a gtx1080 or a titan x to put in this machine (or the best possible GPU it can handle). Since the Xeons are so cheap id most likely be upgrading the CPUs to a pair of the 3.3ghz variants also.
so bottom line is someone with more experience with these machines please answer a few questions for me plz
1: can the mac pro run a direct install Windows OS (win 10 or 11 with the tpm requirement removed)? if not any modded or variations that can be installed this way?
2: what is the newest OSx (modded/hacked/or other) can i run on this 3,1?
3: what is the most powerful GPU that this machine can use? not too worried about boot screen, not much for flashing GPU firmware either and would like something i can use the dual mini 6 pin pcie but not opposed to Sata to pcie adapter if worth it
4: what Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card should i get? read some had issues after el captain OSx, would a pcie wifi adapter be better?
5: pcie to nvme adapter worth it? can it be used to boot either OS?
i don't intend on gaming on this machine or anything to that extent but don't need issues trying to watch 4k movies or even light gaming if i get bored (borderlands 3 ish games, GOW) if i wanted to. i really think id end up giving it to my wife to use for her vinyl plotter, possibly using Mac OSx as i think she'd be better with mac vs windows that already stumps her pretty good.
All input and advise is appreciated, cant let this machine go to waste, i have a whole $50 into it right now so wouldn't be super mad if i just put a high-end PC in it but i know its still pretty powerful machine that will handle what i need it to do.
My goal with this id to have a decent working, yet beautiful shop computer. more nostalgic than anything as one of my best friends who passed away was a mac guy and this was the model he had, and it was his pride and joy.
I am by far NOT a mac guy, i build custom PCs and have been for about 15 years so im very versed in windows, ultimately id like to have a natively booting Windows machine (my shop programs only run windows unfortunately). I'd like not to have to do the whole bootcamp thing if possible but am also intrigued to have a SSD running only mac (reading El captain is highest supported OSx but newer could be installed with modded OSx distros). I'd like to pick up a gtx1080 or a titan x to put in this machine (or the best possible GPU it can handle). Since the Xeons are so cheap id most likely be upgrading the CPUs to a pair of the 3.3ghz variants also.
so bottom line is someone with more experience with these machines please answer a few questions for me plz
1: can the mac pro run a direct install Windows OS (win 10 or 11 with the tpm requirement removed)? if not any modded or variations that can be installed this way?
2: what is the newest OSx (modded/hacked/or other) can i run on this 3,1?
3: what is the most powerful GPU that this machine can use? not too worried about boot screen, not much for flashing GPU firmware either and would like something i can use the dual mini 6 pin pcie but not opposed to Sata to pcie adapter if worth it
4: what Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card should i get? read some had issues after el captain OSx, would a pcie wifi adapter be better?
5: pcie to nvme adapter worth it? can it be used to boot either OS?
i don't intend on gaming on this machine or anything to that extent but don't need issues trying to watch 4k movies or even light gaming if i get bored (borderlands 3 ish games, GOW) if i wanted to. i really think id end up giving it to my wife to use for her vinyl plotter, possibly using Mac OSx as i think she'd be better with mac vs windows that already stumps her pretty good.
All input and advise is appreciated, cant let this machine go to waste, i have a whole $50 into it right now so wouldn't be super mad if i just put a high-end PC in it but i know its still pretty powerful machine that will handle what i need it to do.
