MP 1,1-5,1 OpenCore and MATT Card

[superparati]

Hello,

Almost ready to jump to OpenCore after being a long time reader of this tool since its beginning, I have few queries
Knowing the number of bricked MacPro due to updating rom & the use of OpenCore at its beginning, I did order a MATT Card for my MacPro to be safe. I want to keep my rom in the current state and not deteriorating it any further.

I won't receive the MATT card before a couple of weeks but I'm kind to start installing and setting up OpenCore right now.
Furthermore, I'll share my experience throughout the different steps and update you on my progress and issues I will be facing.

Spec

• OpenCore thread as main support available here
• Method selected OPLP
• Starting installation from Mojave 10.14.5 in a SSD in Bay 1
• Operating system selected for the installation Monterey BigSur 11.6.2
• Require SurPlus
• Will install the installer on an internal hard drive bay 2
• MacPro 2009 4.1 5.1
• Dual CPU 3.33Ghz
• 96Gio RAM
• Boot ROM v144
• AMD RX VEGA 56 slot 1
• Target disk NVMe PCI slot 3.
• One additional NVMe in Slot 4 and a USB3 PCI card in Slot 2 (not installed during the OpenCore/OS installation)

My current working station is mainly dedicated to photography digital & analogic.



Pre-installation questions

1. Is OpenCore not anymore messing up or touching the ROM?
2. Do I need to setup DirectGopRendering to false with a Vega 56?
3. looks like I do not need to install SurPlus with Monterey 12.1

Thanks

 

[tsialex]

Pre-installation questions

Is OpenCore not anymore messing up or touching the ROM?

OpenCore save some entries inside the NVRAM for it's own use. macOS still use the NVRAM as always.

Changing to a MATT card don't solve the MacPro5,1 issues with NVRAM usage. MacPro5,1 NVRAM is insufficient for today's macOS, it's a 13 years old design that is now the Achilles heel of MacPro5,1. A MATT card is just the exactly same design but brand new, same issues.

Do I need to setup DirectGopRendering to false with a Vega 56?

I remeber that VEGA GPUs have/had an issue with the OpenCore BootPicker, people with VEGA GPUs will know more.

looks like I do not need to install SurPlus with Monterey 12.1

Nope, but you'll need it for everything else.

Btw, don't install Monterey, use Big Sur. You don't know yet how to use OC or the issues that BigSur/Monterey have with your hardware (like USBv1.0 support removed, poor original BT2.0 support and everything else), installing Monterey will make the transition even more complex and it's a moving target.

BigSur 10.6.2 runs perfectly fine with an upgraded MacPro5,1 right now.

 

[superparati]

The benefits to use the MATT card or a brand new ship rom is starting from a none altered one with 0 cycle. I know this won't solve the 13 years old architecture to face the new age, but it will avoid to destroy the current ship while running OpenCore and modern macOS.

Download/install BigSur 11.6.2 seems to be more reasonable indeed, but will require the use of SurPlus.
I went on the
I'll do more research on the VEGA GPU and the BootPicker for my RX Vega 56. In the meantime if someone else when through the same process do not hesitate to share your experience .

 

[tsialex]

Download/install BigSur 11.6.2 seems to be more reasonable indeed, but will require the use of SurPlus.

OCLP already incorporates Surplus.

 

[superparati]

Hello,

Since at least a week Big Sur 11.6.2 is not available from Apple using the shell script installinstallmacos.
I only found the v 11.6.1 and download it from my 2019 rMBP 16". And even now this version can't be found.

Are you facing the same issue?

 

[tsialex]

Hello,

Since at least yesterday Big Sur 11.6.1 is not anymore available from Apple using the shell script installinstallmacos.
View attachment 1941444

Luckily I did download 11.6.1 on Friday. Are you facing the same issue?

Apple removes installers frequently, only what really needs to be available for InternetRecovery is kept overtime.

Anyway, 11.6.2 full installer is still available right now as an InstallAssistant package (that contains the same image that you can download via installinstallmacos):

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/04/42/002-42341-A_4PL6G0S8GN/cs65avpi1aelh133lc36fy0ste3lihe71n/InstallAssistant.pkg

 

[superparati]

Thanks tsialex

Do I need to install OpenCore using OpenCore Patcher on my final NVMe from where I want to have BigSur or do I install it, for now, on the external hard drive from where the macOS installer will be running?


=> found my answer
1. OpenCore require to be installed on the external HardDrive because this is where you are going to have your first boot and install macOS.
2. Once the installation is done you need to perform a second installation of OpenCore and this time on your Internal HardDrive.

 

[tsialex]

Thanks tsialex

Do I need to install OpenCore using OpenCore Patcher on my final NVMe from where I want to have BigSur or do I install it, for now, on the external hard drive from where the macOS installer will be running?

If you gonna boot from the createinstallmedia USB installer, install OC/OCLP to it. Later, after you have it running you can install OC/OCLP directly to the drive you installed BigSur.

 

[superparati]

That is what I sow indeed.
Expressing my thought help to think twice


From your experience is there any specific setting you or the community would suggest to turn on/off once I'm installing OpenCore on my NVMe (Samsung 970 evo 1To)?

 

[tsialex]

That is what I sow indeed.
Expressing my thought help to think twice


From your experience is there any specific setting you or the community would suggest to turn on/off once I'm installing OpenCore on my NVMe (Samsung 970 evo 1To)?
View attachment 1941467

For a fully upgraded MacPro5,1 you can use all the default settings, only if you have the original BT/AirPortExtreme you need to disable SIP. AFAIK, you don't need to disable SecureBootModel, but this depends on how the firmwarefeaturesmask are configured.

 

[superparati]

I did install OC using both the GUI app and the TUI. each time I install the macOS Install BigSur Hard Drive in Slot 1, I've a black screen. The computer doesn't load OC, I can hear the macOS boot sound and that all.

I tried to keep the harddrive in the external dock from where I install the OC and same result.

I can shutdown the computer immediately clicking on the power button.

I'm now checking both the OpenCore first post to understand what I've done wrong and the OPLP website.

 

[superparati]

Finding:
According to OPLP and installation process EFI SETUP

Missing

1. Boot folder and efi file
2. ACPI files

I did restart the process with OPLP and the GUI version and selected the additional setting
- verbose boot
- OpenCore Debug
- force SurPlus in all newer OSes

Also updated the config.plist
set DeviceProperties to the new PCI Slot 1 value you can find in the first post of OpenCore on the Mac Pro
=> PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x3,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)


At the reboot I removed my Mojave boot drive set the external hard drive back in slot 1 and reboot keeping the keys Command + R to boot in recovery mode and did work.

 

[superparati]

And voila !
Now time to recover all my backup to my new environment.

I'll share my setting tomorrow.

 

[TECK]

it will avoid to destroy the current ship while running OpenCore and modern macOS

Just do a BootROM dump and save it for easy restore. Even better, contact @tsialex to clean it for you for a small fee, so you have a fresh vanilla ROM to write every 3 months (yes, that's the price you pay for using an old Mac). I'm pretty sure your Rom is torpedoed by now. Most people buy a MATT card to avoid soldering a chip or replacing the board.

 

[tsialex]

Just do a BootROM dump and save it for easy restore. Even better, contact @tsialex to clean it for you for a small fee, so you have a fresh vanilla ROM to write every 3 months (yes, that's the price you pay for using an old Mac). I'm pretty sure your Rom is torpedoed by now. Most people buy a MATT card to avoid soldering a chip or replacing the board.

Already done. The dump was double corrupt, failed garbage collection and with both the primary and the secondary VSS store completely trashed. He got it just in the nick of time before bricking it.

Not exactly a surprise, since @superparati Mac Pro was a cross-flashed early-2009.

 

[superparati]

With the purchase of the MATT card, I'll keep my original rom safe and only use the MATT card moving forward with open core.

 

[sfalatko]

With the purchase of the MATT card, I'll keep my original rom safe and only use the MATT card moving forward with open core.

Exactly though still setup a reminder/schedule to reflash your clean ROM onto the MATT card periodically. Many here reflash every 90 days.

The MATT card gives you a "fresh" chip but it does nothing to change the underlying garbage collection routines, etc. so it is good practice to start clean periodically.

 

[TECK]

The MATT card gives you a "fresh" chip but it does nothing to change the underlying garbage collection routines, etc.

Exactly, that is why people buy a MATT card only when they have technical issues with the chip, is a lot easier than to deal with soldering. You still have to refresh your ROM every 3 months.

 

[amstel78]

Sorry to go sightly off topic here, but where are people sourcing MATT cards from for their cMP5,1? One place I found via Google search only sells such cards for Mac laptops.

Second question, but can the MATT card be used as a sacrificial NVRAM device. Meaning, if my SPI flash ROM is still good, can a MATT card be used to take its place in order to mitigate further wear on the SPI chip?

And lastly, I understand the MATT card is flashed using the same ROM image found on the SPI chip. If I have a clean rebuilt image from Alex, do I use it and flash it in the same way we do for the backplane ROM chip?

 

[prefuse07]

Sorry to go sightly off topic here, but where are people sourcing MATT cards from for their cMP5,1? One place I found via Google search only sells such cards for Mac laptops.

Second question, but can the MATT card be used as a sacrificial NVRAM device. Meaning, if my SPI flash ROM is still good, can a MATT card be used to take its place in order to mitigate further wear on the SPI chip?

Ask and ye shall receive!

And lastly, I understand the MATT card is flashed using the same ROM image found on the SPI chip. If I have a clean rebuilt image from Alex, do I use it and flash it in the same way we do for the backplane ROM chip?

That is correct, you redo the same thing you did when you flashed, except this time with the MATT card attached to the board.

 

[amstel78]

Ask and ye shall receive!


That is correct, you redo the same thing you did when you flashed, except this time with the MATT card attached to the board.

Thanks for the link, however, I found that site yesterday before posting my question. I asked because CMIzapper only lists MATT cards for Macbooks and Mac Minis. Didn't see anything pertaining to the cMP5,1 - unless one of those models being sold is compatible?

Also, appreciate the confirmation on flashing the MATT card. Glad to hear I don't need a separate device to do so.

Edit: found the listing for the MP MATT cards; it was listed under the Mac Mini menu. Finally, where is the SPI connector on the backplane located? I was searching Alexandre's posts because I know he posted a picture of it installed before, but can no longer find it. Thanks.

 

[tsialex]

where is the SPI connector on the backplane located? I was searching Alexandre's posts because I know he posted a picture of it installed before, but can no longer find it. Thanks.

Mac OS 11.3 has broken support for older Mac Pros

I'm glad to answer, but this is a very old topic that I've written extensively about all pros and cons, use the search for MATT written by me, you will find more than you ever want to read about this. SPI flash has a limited life, if your Mac Pro has being in use continuously, it's probably...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[amstel78]

Mac OS 11.3 has broken support for older Mac Pros

I'm glad to answer, but this is a very old topic that I've written extensively about all pros and cons, use the search for MATT written by me, you will find more than you ever want to read about this. SPI flash has a limited life, if your Mac Pro has being in use continuously, it's probably...

forums.macrumors.com

Thank you, Alexandre. Much obliged.

I assume this card only plugs in one way?

 

[tsialex]

The MATT card have the arrow to show the correct orientation. The MOLEX connector only connects one way, if you force, you probably can broke it.

 

[superparati]

Sorry to go sightly off topic here, but where are people sourcing MATT cards from for their cMP5,1? One place I found via Google search only sells such cards for Mac laptops.

Second question, but can the MATT card be used as a sacrificial NVRAM device. Meaning, if my SPI flash ROM is still good, can a MATT card be used to take its place in order to mitigate further wear on the SPI chip?

And lastly, I understand the MATT card is flashed using the same ROM image found on the SPI chip. If I have a clean rebuilt image from Alex, do I use it and flash it in the same way we do for the backplane ROM chip?

Hello amstel78,

I have not yet setup the MATT cards on my MacPro (not time).
But I can confirm the website is selling the MacPro one and the card is the same for all cMacPro 2006-2012 which is make it easier.

But I can confirm my plan is to indeed have my original rom in the state of where the chip is and with a freshly rebuild rom and then to use the MATT card for good with OpenCore.

I already flashed the card with a CH341A usb programmer.
Now it will be just a plug and play exercice .