Slimline native cards for bootime graphics + Metal support?

[applCore]

I've got a 2010 Mac Pro with a Radeon RX 480 (that has no video on boot) and an old NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 just for good measure to give me verbose boot.

Are there any slimline / one slot cards (like the GT 120 format) that support Metal AND are considered to be native supported by macOS so as to get boot-time graphics? Or am I stuck booting with no video from here on out?

 

[homohurre123]

I'm not sure but i think Vega works. The CPU in the Imac Pro doenst have an iGPU either so it has to be able to do it natively. But they are quite expensive

 

[wubsylol]

Long answer: No video on boot is a strictly a GPU firmware thing, so it needs a special firmware specifically for Mac which would render the card unusable on PCs. I think the last 3rd party GPU released for Mac was the "Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Mac Edition" and that was years ago.

Medium answer: No, unless MacVidCards.com starts doing AMD again, or you want to deal with the headache that is nVidia on Mac.

Short answer: No

 

[applCore]

Long answer: No video on boot is a strictly a GPU firmware thing, so it needs a special firmware specifically for Mac which would render the card unusable on PCs. I think the last 3rd party GPU released for Mac was the "Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Mac Edition" and that was years ago.

Medium answer: No, unless MacVidCards.com starts doing AMD again, or you want to deal with the headache that is nVidia on Mac.

Short answer: No

I'm fine flashing my own Nvidia bios / firmware. I did it quite some time ago on another configuration and it worked out fine, but I'm not finding any like of the proper formfactor that also support Metal yet...

 

[bookemdano]

I've got a 2010 Mac Pro with a Radeon RX 480 (that has no video on boot) and an old NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 just for good measure to give me verbose boot.

Are there any slimline / one slot cards (like the GT 120 format) that support Metal AND are considered to be native supported by macOS so as to get boot-time graphics? Or am I stuck booting with no video from here on out?

There is nothing I am aware of that is one-slot and has an EFI to give you boot screens/FileVault2 compatibility.

As it stands now you'd have to pick 1 of your requirements--plenty of options for either.

But I want to ask--why do you want a single-slot card? You may not realize it, but there is a gap between slots 1 and 2 on your mainboard intended specifically to accommodate double-height GPUs without blocking a usable slot. So regardless if you use a single or double-height card in slot 1 you still have three other slots available.

 

[applCore]

Good thought, but I run 5 monitors for production and a 6th for "booting" sanity checks / debugging in case something crazy comes up (I also use it for some extra stuff). The single-slot card drives that 6th screen for that purpose. All of my other slots are consumed with extra SSD and various controllers.

 

[bookemdano]

Ah, well I don't think there is anything presently on the market that meets your needs (single slot, Metal-capable, with EFI). Maybe something will change depending on if Apple throws us cMP users a bone with Mojave and boot screens, but that's a long shot.

However, I think it's already been determined that the GT120 will work with Mojave, just in completely non-accelerated fashion (so, slow and glitchy in the GUI). But if as you said you only use the GT120 for troubleshooting then I think you can keep using it as such even if you upgrade to Mojave.

 

[Reindeer_Games]

Ah, well I don't think there is anything presently on the market that meets your needs (single slot, Metal-capable, with EFI). Maybe something will change depending on if Apple throws us cMP users a bone with Mojave and boot screens, but that's a long shot.

However, I think it's already been determined that the GT120 will work with Mojave, just in completely non-accelerated fashion (so, slow and glitchy in the GUI). But if as you said you only use the GT120 for troubleshooting then I think you can keep using it as such even if you upgrade to Mojave.

I believe I read somewhere on here that a user was using a GT 640 in a 4,1/5,1 for Mojave, but no bootscreen. In theory, one could flash the bios of a GT card with similarly supported series like the GTX 6XX/7XX Mac series approved cards or modded firmware and get applCore's solution. MacVidCards flashing services costs would likely be the same whether a GTX or GT though. I'm working with a modded GTX 770 just because there where other's like the 780M in iMac's which meant support for the 7XX series should remain for a bit more-which means modding a 6XX/7XX series slot card would be more likely for long-term payoff. Just a suggestion, if you are still looking for one as I'm in a similar position now considering my own options for adding a second monitor without pulling performance form my primary monitor or requiring additional power beyond what is supplied at the logic-board. While not exactly a single-slot, another newer GT series card modded may serve your purpose. I'm hoping to leave the option open for a primary GPU upgrade (without losing bootscreen) once Mojave web-driver are released (if ever). I'm hoping the GT 120 isn't my only option-but if it is, then, it is what it is.

EDIT: Not quite right-post corrected to GT 640.