MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 5,1 OpenCore problems Monterey

[Zobec]

Hi,

Please I was really hoping someone can help with my Opencore issue, or any advice or any feedback?

I have a Mac Pro 5,1 with a flashed AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB 96gbram

Backstory
I was using opencore running big Sur then I upgrade to Monterey on a OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD it was running okay for 2 years. I originally had the EFI on a USB thumb drive and then a year later when I upgraded to Monterey I moved the EFI opencore to the OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD it self then on the USB thumb drive wiped that USB Thumb drive clean. At that time I also upgraded my Bluetooth and WIFI Internal card to a Broadcom WIFI it was working well till a few months ago.

Using the GPU I am using all the ports on my GPU, 1 HDMI, 1DVI, 1 Display port at the same time.

About 2 months ago the for some reason the bootpicker would change from screen to screen at startup, I didn’t think much of it, but some days after it would then start to take multiple reboots to get into Monterey then about 3 weeks ago my music programs would not launch VEPRO and Cubase so I done a PRAM Reset rebooted and continued work on that day. I powered off and the next day it would just stall and would never enter Monterey it would hang in the progress bar.

I had my original apple SSD installed with Mojave not Opencore and it still works though when everything is messed it takes 4 chimes of a PRAM reset to even boot into Mojave.

Using a brand new USB Thumb drive. I have tried so many things but all have failed. one of the attempts was to try and reinstall Monterey over the original Monterey OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD drive but at installation it would get a Preflight error 21.

Another attempt was on the same OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD, I even wiped the Monterey volume that had the original Big Sur/Monterey OS but kept my data and then I tried to reinstall the Monterey in a fresh Volume within the same OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD no luck, at install it would never complete at the 12min mark on stage 1 it would never get past the 12minute mark.

Using the USB Thumb Drive I had an old Western Digital black 1TB mechanical HD drive and I managed to Install Monterey on it 12.7.4. It runs and it is very slow on that old mechanical HD drive. I cannot use it for work.

A few days after I brought a new ScanDisk Plus 480GB SSD and tried to install Monterey, Ventura even Sonoma on it via OpenCore and it never reaches pass stage 2 of install, halfway through stage 2 it has a prohibited sign. I have no idea why it is like that.

Present/Today
I am thinking to buy a new OWC 2Tb mercury electra 6G pro drive and try to install Ventura and possibly Sonoma and if not those OS’s try and install Monterey again via Opencore but I honestly don’t know if there is something wrong with the Mac 5,1 because my attempt to install any OS on a Scandisk 480Gb Ssd drive has ended always on a Prohibited sign. If I buy this drive and it don’t work meaning that I get a prohibited sign, I will lose the money on that drive.

Ventura and Sonoma rely on AVX/AVX2 which my intel cpus don’t support

Would there be any problems with Cubase 14, VEPRO and Native Instruments

So what should I do, I honestly am lost right now. and my real question why could I install Monterey on an old mechanical HD but not on the 2.5 inch Sandisk 480Gb ssd in Drive bay?

Maybe I had or have the settings wrong in opencore, maybe i changed some setting, I turned Verbose mode on in the opencore legacy patcher settings when I originally created the Monterey install on the mechanical HD drive and now I can't seem to take that away even if I build a new opencore and place it on the USB thumb drive. The EFI/opencore is on the USB thumb drive so I need that to enter my current Monterey install.

My previous Monterey OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD drive is totally gone, the Monterey volume is wiped like I stated only the data remains but it is very difficult even to see that data in current mechanical HD drive that has Monterey, there I have to use terminal commands just to mount the data from OWC Mercury Electra 3G 1TB SSD drive in Monterey.

Does this make sense, I am not very clear, I am just very lost and erratic at the moment.

There are maybe my 3 options:
1-Buy a OWC 2Tb mercury electra 6G SSD drive

2-Buy a Mac mini and somehow connect the 2 machines the Mac Pro will be in Mojave with all old programs and used as a slave sample player with 96gb ram and the Mac mini would run the modern apps. I need cables and possibly another license for a few of my programs. This sounds like a good option but I don’t think it is.

3-Buy another Mac Pro 5,1 with Sonoma already installed and transfer all my stuff from my current Mac Pro to the newly purchased 5,1

Both option 2 and 3 are vastly more money, and really something of last resort

What should I do any advice would be greatly appreciated. If I buy the Buy a OWC 2Tb mercury electra 6G SSD drive will I be able to install Monterey/Ventura/Sonoma on the SSD? If I am not clear I am sorry also this is difficult for me to explain as I am not very good at this.

thanks kind regards

This is on a western Black old 1TB mechanical HD drive

 

[tsialex]

SanDisk Plus is the lowest end SanDisk SATA SSD, I had problems with this model when used as a main disk, usable only for data storage, not reliable even for a scratch disk.

Did you check the health of the SSDs with DriveDX?

DriveDx - the most advanced drive health diagnostics and monitoring utility

DriveDx - the most advanced drive health (S.M.A.R.T.) diagnostics and monitoring utility. Save yourself the data loss and downtime that is associated with unexpected SSD and HDD failures. Don't worry about losing your important data, music, and photographs.

binaryfruit.com

When you are having problems do the basic maintenance and take some steps back - install Mojave completely native, without OC/OCLP.

Did you run ASD/AHT?

Mac Pro 5,1 powers ON for a second, but quickly shuts off.

AHT/ASD: You need an Apple OEM GPU (HD 2600XT, 8800GT, Quadro FX 5600, GT120, HD 4870/5770/5870) to run AHT/ASD. AHT/ASD can be used with PC flashed GPUs, but will fail mid test with a sensor error when the GPU sensors are tested. Non flashed PC GPUs won't work at all. You need to boot...

forums.macrumors.com

Only after you did the basic maintenance (replace the RTC battery, inspect internally, clean internally, etc), run ASD/AHT sucessfully without errors to be sure that the hardware is ok, checked your BootROM and native Mojave runs without any issues, you'll try unsupported releases.

If you have a hardware problem, like a low voltage BR2032 RTC battery or even a problematic SSD, you will never get anywhere with an unsupported macOS release.

 

[Zobec]

Thank you tsialex for all the help,

SanDisk Plus is the lowest end SanDisk SATA SSD, I had problems with this model when used as a main disk, usable only for data storage, not reliable even for a scratch disk.

Did you check the health of the SSDs with DriveDX?

I did not know this regarding the Sandisk SATA SSD, it was cheap but it was the only manufacture they had in the shop I went to. It is brand new only purchased 2 weeks ago never used only to try and install mac OSX Monterey, Ventura and Sonoma.

I have not checked the drive with DriveDX maybe I will try that tomorrow if there is a free version I could use.

When you are having problems do the basic maintenance and take some steps back - install Mojave completely native, without OC/OCLP.

Did you run ASD/AHT?

Thank you for this I will try to do the test tomorrow. I have my original Apple SSD 512Gb with Mojave not OpenCore can I use that?

No I have not run the any hardware tests but now i will try, I have the ATI HD5870 and the original Apple install hardware test will this be okay?

Original GPU

Only after you did the basic maintenance (replace the RTC battery, inspect internally, clean internally, etc), run ASD/AHT sucessfully without errors to be sure that the hardware is ok, checked your BootROM and native Mojave runs without any issues, you'll try unsupported releases.

If you have a hardware problem, like a low voltage BR2032 RTC battery or even a problematic SSD, you will never get anywhere with an unsupported macOS release.

I will try this test tomorrow, it might fail the test because my Bluetooth/Wifi card is not the original, I can't seem to find it. It is Broadcom card. I will report back if there is anything wrong with the hardware.

Thanks

 

[Zobec]

Hi, I put my original GPU a HD5870 in the Mp5,1 and used my official Apple SSD that is installed with Mojave (no OpenCore) today and it loaded fine that was a surprise. I performed Apple hardware test using the official CD using my original HD 5870 Gpu with an old mac screen that seems to work after 10 years in a damp place I was surprised and it passed the hardware test.

Do you think I need to replace the battery even if the test has not mentioned anything? I did clean the Mp5,1 today as best as I could. I didn't check the boot rom I need to do that in Mojave, right now I am in Monterey opencore.

Honestly and i am hoping from what you said tsialex regarding the Sandisk plus SSD, that the problem of trying to install opencore Monterey, Ventura or Sonoma on that SSD is the problem.

The SanDisk 480gb SSD was brand new only brought 2 weeks ago. I ahve not done a test on it I might need to do that next using DriveDX like you suggested.

Have you heard many mention the Sandisk plus SSD causing any problems?
And why would the SanDisk Plus 480GB SSD cause errors such as a Prohibited sign to appear after 1st reboot and midway through 2nd stage? it always appears there. could it be the ssd fault or my Opencore configuration?

Hopefully get the new OWC 2.5 inch 2Tb drive soon and I hope I can install Sonoma?
Can I ask would my Broadcom BCM94360 Wifi Blue tooth dongle work in Sonoma?

 

[tsialex]

Do you think I need to replace the battery even if the test has not mentioned anything? I did clean the Mp5,1 today as best as I could.

Did you measure the BR2032 voltage? AHT/ASD only detects a completely spent battery, one that will cause all sort of issues (below 2,95V) will not be detected since the MacPro does not have a RTC battery voltage sensor.

Honestly and i am hoping from what you said tsialex regarding the Sandisk plus SSD, that the problem of trying to install opencore Monterey, Ventura or Sonoma on that SSD is the problem.

The SanDisk 480gb SSD was brand new only brought 2 weeks ago. I ahve not done a test on it I might need to do that next using DriveDX like you suggested.

Have you heard many mention the Sandisk plus SSD causing any problems?

Yes. Is a shi__y SSD. You shouldn't have bought it and I'll never buy low end disks again for a Mac Pro disk, not even for a data disk. If you can avoid headaches for just a little bucks more, do not think twice.

macOS does a lot of simultaneous access when booting, not all SSDs can work with macOS and is the reason why we have compatibilty charts here. Some low-end models even fail/die when installing macOS.

And why would the SanDisk Plus 480GB SSD cause errors such as a Prohibited sign to appear after 1st reboot and midway through 2nd stage? it always appears there. could it be the ssd fault or my Opencore configuration?

Take some steps back, install Mojave and see if it also happens with 10.14.6.

Hopefully get the new OWC 2.5 inch 2Tb drive soon and I hope I can install Sonoma?

OWC is the last vendor that I would bought anything… Get a Samsung 860 EVO (870 have all sort of issues when installed to a MacPro5,1) or move to NVMe like WD SN770.

Can I ask would my Broadcom BCM94360 Wifi Blue tooth dongle work in Sonoma?

Apple removed the 94360 drivers from Sonoma, OCLP installs for the internal one, but is not a good job and requires tweaking since is not a Mac Pro standard config and OCLP is not exactly good for upgrades, even if is one very common with users.

Anyway, use the search and see what people did in the past to make it work, I don't own one and won't help you with that.

 

[Zobec]

Did you measure the BR2032 voltage? AHT/ASD only detects a completely spent battery, one that will cause all sort of issues (below 2,95V) will not be detected since the MacPro does not have a RTC battery voltage sensor.

Hi tsialex, and thanks once again for the help, I have not checked the voltage of the BR2032 I don’t think I have the means but I did buy a CR 2032 Battery and I will install it if necessary. is that battery okay?

Yes. Is a shi__y SSD. You shouldn't have bought it and I'll never buy low end disks again for a Mac Pro disk, not even for a data disk. If you can avoid headaches for just a little bucks more, do not think twice.

macOS does a lot of simultaneous access when booting, not all SSDs can work with macOS and is the reason why we have compatibilty charts here. Some low-end models even fail/die when installing macOS.

Take some steps back, install Mojave and see if it also happens with 10.14.6.

I took your advice and from my Apple SSD Mojave (no opencore) I downloaded Mojave OS install through the App Store 6 Gb download. I first had to find a link on google that redirected me to the app store to download but I was surprised they still let me download that old OS.

I tried to install from within my Mojave I wiped the Sandisk SSD 480Tb in APFS Format and then continued with trying to install from Mojave to the SSD disk, it done a reboot and then soon after a prohibited sign appeared.

After that for some reason I could not log back into my normal Mojave because the computer kept wanting to install Mojave on the Sandisk SSD, I then removed that drive so I could log back into my normal Apple Mojave drive. I then tried to use OpenCore that was on a USB thumb drive and entered the installer of the USB Thumb drive to enter disk utility and wipe the SanDisk drive from there.

I then went back into my normal Apple Mojave drive and created a Mojave Installer for the USB Thumb Drive using the terminal command

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/mojave2installer

I removed all the drives and kept only the SanDisk plus 480GB drive and the USB Thumb drive in the computer. I then tried to install Mojave after a reboot. I got a black screen at first so I tried again. The 2nd time it passed the 1st phase with the white screen and progress bar and it rebooted and began phase 2 halfway through phase 2 it stopped and a prohibited sign appeared once again.

I cannot seem to even install a 10+ year old Mac OSX Mojave OS to the Sandisk SSD, and before that trying to install Monterey/Ventura/Sonoma via OpenCore on the SanDisk SSD it has in the end wasted 2 weeks. I should never have brought the SanDisk SSD to try and install an OS. If I cannot even install Mojave on that Drive and Mojave is supported by my Mac pro 5,1 I can only conclude that it has to be the SanDisk SSD Drive. If only I had known prior that the Mac needs certain types of SSD's to install a OS.

It has been 2 weeks but tomorrow I will try to return that drive back to the shop to see if I can get my money back I hope.

If I had known about the drives you have suggested I would never have brought the OWC it would be quite difficult to cancel the order now.

So if I get some thing like this WD SN770 2Tb and a NVMe to PCIe adapter this should be okay to install Sonoma?

Is this the 2Tb WD SN770 drive I can use in my Mp5,1?
https://www.pccomponentes.com/disco...RUwY0vnjT2-jn81RfmGHSRd4ZR80XgZAaAp0fEALw_wcB

And Do I need this also?
https://www.pccomponentes.com/conce...&utm_content=58b5ac277dfb8705d351f51f5575dd0d

I might be able to order this tomorrow if you say it is the correct part for my Mp5,1

Regarding the WIFI/Bluetooth card as long as the BCM94360 card I have has a workable WIFI and maybe a little bluetooth in Sonoma that would be enough for me. can OpenCore provide at least the very basic use of WiFi and Bluetooth?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[tsialex]

Hi tsialex, and thanks once again for the help, I have not checked the voltage of the BR2032 I don’t think I have the means but I did buy a CR 2032 Battery and I will install it if necessary. is that battery okay?

View attachment 2541616

No.

CR2032 have a different chemestry from BR2032 that does not support the temperature right below the GPU. A CR2032 will works for tests and diagnostics, fail overtime and can even leak if you have a hot GPU - buy the correct BR2032.

So if I get some thing like this WD SN770 2Tb and a NVMe to PCIe adapter this should be okay to install Sonoma?

Is this the 2Tb WD SN770 drive I can use in my Mp5,1?
https://www.pccomponentes.com/disco...RUwY0vnjT2-jn81RfmGHSRd4ZR80XgZAaAp0fEALw_wcB

I had a WD SN770 for over a year with my MacPro6,1 and several weeks with my MacPro5,1, no problems. Currently works fine inside a 2014 15" rMBP.

There are fakes of Samsung and WD blades, I don't know this store and can't say if is the real one.

And Do I need this also?
https://www.pccomponentes.com/conce...&utm_content=58b5ac277dfb8705d351f51f5575dd0d

I might be able to order this tomorrow if you say it is the correct part for my Mp5,1

Yes, you need a M.2 to PCIe adapter like this one.

You'll also gonna need a heatsink. I like this one a lot, my goto M.2 heatsink:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808404131047.html

Regarding the WIFI/Bluetooth card as long as the BCM94360 card I have has a workable WIFI and maybe a little bluetooth in Sonoma that would be enough for me. can OpenCore provide at least the very basic use of WiFi and Bluetooth?

Not with Sonoma, use the search on the MacPro forum and see the current modification needed for it to work. Again, can't help you with this issue, you'll need to do your homework.