MP 1,1-5,1 To upgrade or not to upgrade? That is the question

[benny gsr]

I have my beloved cMP 5,1 2010 model - a hobby machine used for basic browsing and intermittent large-file photo and video editing. A few years ago I bought another 5,1 for it's dual processors so now my 2010, has
dual 3.46's.
rx580 sapphire 8gb. NO boot screen but compatible.

So a year ago, I remember seeing that these MP's can be upgraded to Mojave whilst looking up some unrelated stuff last ((a smashed iphone in case you are wondering!).

I've since read the wonderful guide by Tsialex on upgrading to Mojave, started investigating the Wifi/BT upgrade, and maybe get new RAM (I currently have unbuffered 32gb but can't find additional unbuffered sticks that easily). THen eventually go down the Nvme path.

My issue is:
I thought by upgrading to Mojave that my uprade path to Big Sur/ Monterey is assured and straight forward. Turns out I was wrong.

I've started reading the Open core info, and would highly likely follow one of the "one size fits all" options, but I won't lie - it all looks daunting and time consuming for me. Questions arise like: HOw stable is it going to be? How much work am I going to have to do just to keep it going? I don't mind tweaking and learning (like changing my own processors!) but when things go wrong am I going to have time to fix it?
Numerous other "upgrade" threads I've read go into so much detail with specific issues and tweaks required I just wonder whether I can do it?
Also, if I spend the money on a Mojave upgrade, I'm still nowhere near up to date.

Some of the money for the above mentioend upgrades would go a long way to buying an M1 Mini which would likely have better perforamce too - with no tweaking, adjusting, swapping, side loading etc. Obviously the big negative of a Mini is the lack of upgrade capacity and in addition, I run a boot SSD, two 4tb hard drives that then backup to another 2x 5tb drives - all in one unit. Something the MIni can't match (Let's not talk about power consumption though !! ).

Maybe I can extend the cMP for a few more years until I can afford a new MP again? With the pricing they are at here in Australia, it's possible I'll never afford one without selling a kidney and may end up on a Mini anyway?

Please help me with my dilemma.

 

[sfalatko]

I have my beloved cMP 5,1 2010 model - a hobby machine used for basic browsing and intermittent large-file photo and video editing. A few years ago I bought another 5,1 for it's dual processors so now my 2010, has
dual 3.46's.
rx580 sapphire 8gb. NO boot screen but compatible.

So a year ago, I remember seeing that these MP's can be upgraded to Mojave whilst looking up some unrelated stuff last ((a smashed iphone in case you are wondering!).

I've since read the wonderful guide by Tsialex on upgrading to Mojave, started investigating the Wifi/BT upgrade, and maybe get new RAM (I currently have unbuffered 32gb but can't find additional unbuffered sticks that easily). THen eventually go down the Nvme path.

My issue is:
I thought by upgrading to Mojave that my uprade path to Big Sur/ Monterey is assured and straight forward. Turns out I was wrong.

I've started reading the Open core info, and would highly likely follow one of the "one size fits all" options, but I won't lie - it all looks daunting and time consuming for me. Questions arise like: HOw stable is it going to be? How much work am I going to have to do just to keep it going? I don't mind tweaking and learning (like changing my own processors!) but when things go wrong am I going to have time to fix it?
Numerous other "upgrade" threads I've read go into so much detail with specific issues and tweaks required I just wonder whether I can do it?
Also, if I spend the money on a Mojave upgrade, I'm still nowhere near up to date.

Some of the money for the above mentioend upgrades would go a long way to buying an M1 Mini which would likely have better perforamce too - with no tweaking, adjusting, swapping, side loading etc. Obviously the big negative of a Mini is the lack of upgrade capacity and in addition, I run a boot SSD, two 4tb hard drives that then backup to another 2x 5tb drives - all in one unit. Something the MIni can't match (Let's not talk about power consumption though !! ).

Maybe I can extend the cMP for a few more years until I can afford a new MP again? With the pricing they are at here in Australia, it's possible I'll never afford one without selling a kidney and may end up on a Mini anyway?

Please help me with my dilemma.

Benney,

The upgrade path isn't to far from straight forward to Big Sur/Monterey from Mojave. The easiest path is to use OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Take a look at the install guide - Dortania's OpenCore Install Guide.

I am happy with Monterey though several people also recommend waiting on Monterey to get even more mature and to move to Big Sur 11.6.2. Big Sur will get you security updates for another year and Monterey for two years.

You certainly can get more life out of your cMP if you want. We should see what an M1 MP looks like later this year though I expect it will still be expensive - probably more than the 16" MBP.

 

[benny gsr]

Thanks for your reply. I Haven't looked at that guide you linked. I did know about Martin's package, but this could be an option.

 

[tsialex]

Maybe I can extend the cMP for a few more years until I can afford a new MP again? With the pricing they are at here in Australia, it's possible I'll never afford one without selling a kidney and may end up on a Mini anyway?

Please help me with my dilemma.

I had more or less the same dilemma, the first M1 Mac mini is to weak for my usage, I avoid first generation Apple products and more important, I can't afford the current insane local prices now for anything beyond MB Air or Mac mini.

So, with some careful upgrades done without rush over the past year, my Mac Pros are now running completely vanilla Big Sur as the main macOS and Monterey as a test OS. No hacks or patches at all, just Open Core and fully compatible hardware (basically modern AMD GPUs, BCM94360 AirPort Extremes and USB hubs for the legacy USB 1.x devices).

With Monterey running fine, even if the next macOS version won't work with our Mac Pros, we'll have two more years of Security Upgrades support and then probably better Mac minis will be available at a reasonable cost.

 

[Grumply]

For an affordable upgrade that'll keep you in the game, I'd suggest having a look at the last-generation of 16" Intel MBP.

So many people have been selling them off (to upgrade to the M1 Max/Pro) that there are some really enticing used purchases available at the moment. I've never seen prices plummet on Macs so quickly.

I've just had to head overseas for a 5 week job, and needed more grunt for travelling than my base-model 2019 15" could provide. And I managed to pick up a 16" 8-core with 32GB RAM and the terrific 5600M GPU, for basically half of what it cost new only 12-18 months ago(!).

And performance-wise (if you run the fans enough to keep it cool) it matches the 8-core 7,1 Mac Pro for single-core performance, and actually sits halfway between the 8-core 7,1 and 12-core 5,1 for multi-core performance(!) so you can actually do some genuinely heavy work on it (though again, with the fans running). You can even game on it.

I'd look at that, or perhaps one of the most recent Intel iMacs (which also have genuinely strong performance, if you put a 16GB 5700xt in them).

It's FINALLY possible to get usable performance on a Macintosh again, for a reasonably reasonable price. Something that's been long overdue.

 

[sfalatko]

Thanks for your reply. I Haven't looked at that guide you linked. I did know about Martin's package, but this could be an option.

And you could also consider OpenCore Legacy Patcher guide - OpenCore Legacy Patcher

 

[dontpokebearz]

I've had the same dilemma.

If you still have room to upgrade and eek out performance, it will be more cost effective than purchasing a new M1 Mini. This gives you time to see what Apple will bring out in desktop form factors and what the competition responds with.

I still haven't done the usual Wifi/bluetooth upgrades or NVME. The machine will be much better after that. Opencore is fairly easy as well.

 

[benny gsr]

Thanks for the "pep talk"!
I've just upgraded the firmware. 144 no issues. Excellent.
I was under the impression I had to install a clean install of Mojave, to get the 144.0.0.0.0. I only realised on re-reading I just need to get the firmware - and I can upgrade my existing 10.13.6. A lot less effort!

Next is the OpenCore.

 

[Fastsavage]

Next is the OpenCore.

Read this post and choose which route you want to go down - I used OCLP - it was easy....

OpenCore on the Mac Pro

This guide explains how to use the excellent OpenCore boot loader to install, run, and update the latest version of macOS on the MacPro5,1, resulting in a clean, unaltered operating system just like on a supported Mac.

forums.macrumors.com

OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Experience macOS just like before

dortania.github.io

Good luck

 

[benny gsr]

Read the dortania GitHub and it seems very diy friendly! Thanks again

 

[Melbourne Park]

When you upgrade to an M1, you could always use your Mac Pro as a data server. So you won't chuck away your drives. They use lots of power, but for that task, they don't need to be running all the time. One day switch to a NAS, which is what the Pros use.

As far as I go, if Apple doesn't bring out something like a contemporary M1 CX on its side, that's affordable, then I'll consider Windows. Heck a half sized G4 tower would be nice.

I've found that switching software packages in order to run 10.14.6 hasn't been so difficult. OS X has become quite complex too - Mac OS used to be intuitive and simple, and Windows a nightmare. The gap is darn close now and if Apple doesn't respect people like us by offering an affordable box with owner affordable upgradability, then it's Windows time.

And if that happened, I'd save on the Apple watches, the Apple Tvs, the Macbook Pros, the iPads, the phones, the ear buds, all the subscriptions etc etc. If there isn't something that's attractive and affordable - Apple will save me a fortune. Until then I'll keep the once great CMP going and boast about Apple's longevity. But watch out Apple, don't be like Quark Xpress and ignore a significant group. Give us what we want. An affordable user upgradeable, flexible and expandable long life Mac.

 

[VaZ]

Read this post and choose which route you want to go down - I used OCLP - it was easy....

OpenCore on the Mac Pro

This guide explains how to use the excellent OpenCore boot loader to install, run, and update the latest version of macOS on the MacPro5,1, resulting in a clean, unaltered operating system just like on a supported Mac.

forums.macrumors.com

OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Experience macOS just like before

dortania.github.io

Good luck

I tried doing what you did but get stuck halfway on the progress bar loading Big Sur. What Settings did you use/change? Also my Post Install is always grey. Was yours?