MP 1,1-5,1 MacPro3,1 Graphics Card Recommendation for Upgrade

[JoeRalat]

Hello,
I'm currently looking for a compatible graphics card to use with a MacPro3,1, as I’d like to upgrade the system to macOS Sequoia using OpenCore Legacy Patcher. At the moment, I’m unable to proceed with the upgrade due to the stock ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT, which does not support Metal.

I was advised that the Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Pulse 8GB might be a suitable option. Would this card allow me to see the boot screen (including the Apple logo), and is it generally a good choice for this setup?

I'm also open to other Metal-compatible graphics cards in the ~$100 range. I’d greatly appreciate any advice or recommendations you might have.

Thank you!

 

[tsialex]

I was advised that the Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Pulse 8GB might be a suitable option.

Sapphire Pulse RX 580 is a 2,2 slots wide GPU and can potentially block the usage of slot-2. There are other RX 580 GPUs that are just 2 slots wide and fit inside the Mac Pro without blocking a card installed to slot-2, like the XFX 580.

Remember that you need to buy a RX 580 with 2304 SPs, macOS DOES NOT SUPPORT RX 580 models with just 2048 SPs GPUs.

Read more here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/video-card-recommendation-for-mac-pro-5-1-in-2024.2419960/post-34053134

For almost all RX 580 non-OC models you'll also need a cable, 2 miniPCIe 6-pin to 8-pin:

Dual Mini PCI-E 6Pin 6P to Standard PCIE 8Pin 8P Video Graphics Card Cord Power Cable for Apple Mac G5 for Mac Pro Accessories (30cm)

Dual Mini-PCIe 6Pin Mac-Pro G5 to Standard PCIe 8Pin Video Card Power Cable. Length: 20cm/30cm/40cm optional. Connector A: Dual Mini 6 Pin Male Connector B: 8 Pin Male Suitable : For Mac Pro Video Card Power Cable It is used to replace your broken,damaged,cracked,unusable power cable. ...

www.amazon.com

Would this card allow me to see the boot screen (including the Apple logo), and is it generally a good choice for this setup?

No, PC GPUs do not provide pre-boot configuration support with a Mac Pro earlier than the 2019 Mac Pro. EnableGop also does not work with MacPro3,1.

The only option is a MacVidCards flashed GPU or something like MyBootMgr.

 

[JoeRalat]

Sapphire Pulse RX 580 is a 2,2 slots wide GPU and can potentially block the usage of slot-2. There are other RX 580 GPUs that are just 2 slots wide and fit inside the Mac Pro without blocking a card installed to slot-2, like the XFX 580.

Remember that you need to buy a RX 580 with 2304 SPs, macOS DOES NOT SUPPORT RX 580 models with just 2048 SPs GPUs.

Read more here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/video-card-recommendation-for-mac-pro-5-1-in-2024.2419960/post-34053134

For almost all RX 580 non-OC models you'll also need a cable, 2 miniPCIe 6-pin to 8-pin:

Dual Mini PCI-E 6Pin 6P to Standard PCIE 8Pin 8P Video Graphics Card Cord Power Cable for Apple Mac G5 for Mac Pro Accessories (30cm)

Dual Mini-PCIe 6Pin Mac-Pro G5 to Standard PCIe 8Pin Video Card Power Cable. Length: 20cm/30cm/40cm optional. Connector A: Dual Mini 6 Pin Male Connector B: 8 Pin Male Suitable : For Mac Pro Video Card Power Cable It is used to replace your broken,damaged,cracked,unusable power cable. ...

www.amazon.com

No, PC GPUs do not provide pre-boot configuration support with a Mac Pro earlier than the 2019 Mac Pro. EnableGop also does not work with MacPro3,1.

The only option is a MacVidCards flashed GPU or something like MyBootMgr.

Tsialex,


Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions—I really appreciate your help.


So, it sounds like the XFX RX 580 would be a better fit since it takes up less slot space. How can I confirm that a specific XFX RX 580 model has 2,304 stream processors?


If I go with the XFX RX 580, I understand I won’t be able to see the boot screen unless I use a MacVidCards-flashed GPU or something like MyBootMgr. In that case, would it be possible to keep my original ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT installed solely for accessing the boot screen when needed—such as during macOS installation or troubleshooting?


Again, thank you for your guidance. My main concern is ensuring I can access the screen during OS installs or critical moments, even with the RX 580 installed.

 

[tsialex]

Tsialex,


Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions—I really appreciate your help.


So, it sounds like the XFX RX 580 would be a better fit since it takes up less slot space. How can I confirm that a specific XFX RX 580 model has 2,304 stream processors?

Sorry, XFX is not a GPU maker that is common on the market here, I do not own a XFX RX580 and can't say the exact model that you should buy. Unfortunately you'll have to do your due dilligence with the 2304 SPs.

I have two Sapphire Pulse RX 580 and the 2,2 slots wide is one of the dumbest things Sapphire ever did.

If I go with the XFX RX 580, I understand I won’t be able to see the boot screen unless I use a MacVidCards-flashed GPU or something like MyBootMgr. In that case, would it be possible to keep my original ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT installed solely for accessing the boot screen when needed—such as during macOS installation or troubleshooting?

No. macOS do not support dissimilar GPUs since Mojave and having a METAL and a non-METAL GPU makes both macOS and OCLP crazy. Won't work.

Again, thank you for your guidance. My main concern is ensuring I can access the screen during OS installs or critical moments, even with the RX 580 installed.

If you can't get a MacVidCards flashed GPU on the cheap, maybe will be easier and even cheaper to buy a MacPro4,1/5,1 instead, then you can use EnableGop with a RX 580 to have native pre-boot configuration support.

 

[reukiodo]

If you get an RX580, you can add support for Mac EFI boot screen. I have done this with many cards (RX480, RX570, RX580) and works well. You can also find such pre-flashed cards on eBay if you don't have access (or time, etc) to a Windows PC to flash the card.

 

[JoeRalat]

Sorry, XFX is not a GPU maker that is common on the market here, I do not own a XFX RX580 and can't say the exact model that you should buy. Unfortunately you'll have to do your due dilligence with the 2304 SPs.

I have two Sapphire Pulse RX 580 and the 2,2 slots wide is one of the dumbest things Sapphire ever did.



No. macOS do not support dissimilar GPUs since Mojave and having a METAL and a non-METAL GPU makes both macOS and OCLP crazy. Won't work.



If you can't get a MacVidCards flashed GPU on the cheap, maybe will be easier and even cheaper to buy a MacPro4,1/5,1 instead, then you can use EnableGop with a RX 580 to have native pre-boot configuration support.

Thank You again. I need to stick to the 3,1 I don't want to spend more than $100. Not sure what to do.

 

[JoeRalat]

If you get an RX580, you can add support for Mac EFI boot screen. I have done this with many cards (RX480, RX570, RX580) and works well. You can also find such pre-flashed cards on eBay if you don't have access (or time, etc) to a Windows PC to flash the card.

I only see if for mac 4,1 and 5,1 Need it for Mac 3,1

 

[reukiodo]

Well, when in doubt, the Radeon HD 7950 3G with the retail Mac Sapphire ROM works in all the cMPs, from MP1 up to MP5. I use this card in both my MP1 as well as my MP5 with both EFI bootscreen and Metal support.

 

[tsialex]

Well, when in doubt, the Radeon HD 7950 3G with the retail Mac Sapphire ROM works in all the cMPs, from MP1 up to MP5. I use this card in both my MP1 as well as my MP5 with both EFI bootscreen and Metal support.

Bad choice for someone wanting to run Sequoia - Chrome and anything Electron based, for example, does not work correctly anymore with a Radeon 7xxx or 2xxx installed, see the issues MacPro6,1 have after Monterey, same GPUs of HD 7xxx with Pro names instead.

Polaris GPUs after Monterey are essentially the only choice, maybe also VEGA (if you do not need VideoToolbox hardware acceleration).

 

[Dayo]

Here are the steps with MyBootMgr, based on my understanding of your setup:

• You are running a MacPro3,1 (MP31)
• You have a disk with a supported version of Mac OS installed
  • I will refer to this as "Mountain Lion" as you have not specified what it is but could be anything that is Lion to El Capitan
  • Mountain Lion is good, if available, as performance is fine when using RX580 without acceleration
    • You will need to go through a step of running the RX580 without hardware acceleration
    • You can install Mountain Lion using this script: https://gist.github.com/dakanji/1ab88389c7aaffe4b156db9741687b3a
• You have a natively supported GPU
• You have an RX580 available

Based on these, you need to do the following:

1. With the natively supported GPU in place, boot into Mountain Lion and follow the implementation instructions set out in the MyBootMgr thread
   • Run MyBootMgr's ConfigFactory app in "SOLO" mode to only install RefindPlus
     • This will be an initial/interim setup just to allow running RefindPlus
2. Shut down when done with the initial step above, swap your RX580 in, then restart into Mountain Lion via RefindPlus
   • You will be able to boot into Mountain Lion with your RX580 via RefindPlus
     • This will be without acceleration, hence the Mountain Lion suggestion
   • Execute "IMPLEMENTATION >> STAGE 2 - INSTALLATION" of POST 1 of the MyBootMgr thread
     • Run the ConfigFactory app in "DUAL" mode to install RefindPlus and OpenCore
       • This will be the actual MyBootMgr run (with the RX580 in place) as the first was just an initial/interim run to get to a point where you could connect that GPU and proceed.
       • Indicate which newer Mac OS version(s) you plan to install when prompted
         • You can install Monterey/Older directly using the relevant OpenCore instance MyBootMgr creates and that is displayed by RefindPlus
         • You can install and incorporate OCLP based Ventura/Newer by following instructions posted in the MyBootMgr thread

After completing the steps above...

• You will be able to run the following, subject to options selected while running ConfigFactory, on RX580/MP31
  • 10.4 Tiger to 10.11 El Capitan via RefindPlus or MyBootMgr Configured OpenCore displayed by RefindPlus
  • 10.12 Sierra to 12.x Monterey via MyBootMgr Configured OpenCore displayed by RefindPlus
  • 13.x Ventura to 26.x Tahoe via OCLP Configured OpenCore displayed by RefindPlus
• Refer to "IMPLEMENTATION >> STAGE 3 - CUSTOMISATION" of POST 1 of the MyBootMgr thread to incorporate Ventura/Newer
  • Do not add another ESP with any other OpenCore configuration, including by the OCLP, or overwrite the MyBootMgr created ESP, but incoporate Ventura/Newer into the MyBootMgr created setup as instructed in that section

Raise any related queries on the MyBootMgr thead ... Good luck!