MP All Models Turn a "new" Sapphire RX580 PULSE into the "Mac Edition" card

[h9826790]

After reading thru this 11 page thread I'm still uncertain what I should buy:

* Nitro+ RX580
- Someone said it may draw too much power?? Someone measured, and said it would be fine.
- Stupid RGB Logo Led
+ Cheaper than Pulse RX580
+ Better cooling
+ Dual firmware = flash away

* Pulse RX580
- worse cooling
- no dual firmware switch
+Might work with Orinoco Frame Buffer OOTB?


I don't like the idea of paying more to get less cooling on a GPU. Please help me chose! (on a Mac Pro 5,1)

Edit:
Found a post of tsialex hat said this: "Sapphire Nitro+, .. maximum power comsumpition of 237W, Mac Pro only can feed 225W."

And I found a better deal on the Pulse RX580, so the Pulse it is.

The PULSE V2 has dual ROM

IMO, go for dual slot card whenever possible, the PCIe slots in cMP is really very valuable.

Pay less with better cooling sounds good, but only useful if the PULSE cooling is not good enough. In my own test, it’s cooling is adequate. Thermal throttling rarely happen under stock setting. I also shared how to make the PULSE RX580 run cooler and faster by under volt it.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/sapphire-pulse-rx580-8gb-vbios-study.2133607/

Anyway, the Nitro+ can work within cMP’s power envelop. The 6pin is optional.

 

[dme881]

I installed the Pulse 8Gb Today. And I could not get it to fit in slot 1. Is there any downsides to using slot 2? Slot 2 has PCIe x16 written on it aswell.

 

[startergo]

I installed the Pulse 8Gb Today. And I could not get it to fit in slot 1. Is there any downsides to using slot 2? Slot 2 has PCIe x16 written on it aswell.

You can install it in any slot preferably slots one or two I just don't understand how could you not fit it in slot 1? Was there something installed in slot 2? This is what I was saying: it is hard to install anything in slot 2 after this card is installed in slot 1. But if you install it in slot 2 you will lose slots 3 and 4... Which is worst for me. So I prefer slot 1 or slot 4(removing HDD's)

 

[dme881]

You can install it in any slot preferably slots one or two I just don't understand how could you not fit it in slot 1? Was there something installed in slot 2? This is what I was saying: it is hard to install anything in slot 2 after this card is installed in slot 1. But if you install it in slot 2 you will lose slots 3 and 4... Which is worst for me. So I prefer slot 1 or slot 4(removing HDD's)

It worked when i laid the Mac Pro down. Probably a combination of slightly worn contacts and bad lightning. Anyhow, now slot 1 works

 

[skizzo]

You can install it in any slot preferably slots one or two I just don't understand how could you not fit it in slot 1? Was there something installed in slot 2? This is what I was saying: it is hard to install anything in slot 2 after this card is installed in slot 1. But if you install it in slot 2 you will lose slots 3 and 4... Which is worst for me. So I prefer slot 1 or slot 4(removing HDD's)

can you actually put it in slot #4?..... the DVI port protruding from the top half of the GPU, does this not get in the way of proper alignment to the notches in the PCIe slot? I am not at home to take a gander before I say anything but I am wondering if that would prevent it from being installed in slot #4 due to DVI port potentially being placed against the inside of the case rather than protruding out of the case, since there is no PCIe faceplate to remove for a "6th slot" if you will

 

[startergo]

can you actually put it in slot #4?..... the DVI port protruding from the top half of the GPU, does this not get in the way of proper alignment to the notches in the PCIe slot? I am not at home to take a gander before I say anything but I am wondering if that would prevent it from being installed in slot #4 due to DVI port potentially being placed against the inside of the case rather than protruding out of the case, since there is no PCIe faceplate to remove for a "6th slot" if you will

You may be right .never thought about this .
I see there is way around that by removing the bracket or replacing the bracket and a cutout. I am not sure if Titan X has DVI output though...

 

[Earl Urley]

My Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX580 came with a switch that lets you select between Gaming Mode (default) and Compute Mode. Are these going to have any effect in macOS?

Right now I have it set to the default but if it will make compute faster in the other mode..

 

[h9826790]

My Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX580 came with a switch that lets you select between Gaming Mode (default) and Compute Mode. Are these going to have any effect in macOS?

Right now I have it set to the default but if it will make compute faster in the other mode..

AFAIK, little to no effect.

Gaming mode / Compute mode should be just a name for different clock speed. My suggestion is no need to touch it.

If you want more performance, the follow post has better explanation about how make this RX580 run faster by editing the ROM.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/sapphire-pulse-rx580-8gb-vbios-study.2133607/

 

[tommy chen]

switch to compute gives you 10-12% less performance

 

[Ryito1]

Hello everyone
I am new to this forum and I have some questions?Why can’t you flash the card in Mac OS, instead of going to windows. I want to purchase a nitro rx 580 to flash it for EFI Boot screen. Can some one share some knowledge. I have read all the post on here just want to make sure. That the card I am picking is the best to flash.

 

[tsialex]

Hello everyone
I am new to this forum and I have some questions?Why can’t you flash the card in Mac OS, instead of going to windows. I want to purchase a nitro rx 580 to flash it for EFI Boot screen. Can some one share some knowledge. I have read all the post on here just want to make sure. That the card I am picking is the best to flash.

The last AMD GPU capable of having Mac EFI is R9 280X and no GPU newer than AMD R9 280X can have preboot configuration/boot screens with a Mac Pro 5,1.

Sapphire Nitro+ is not an ideal card to use into a Mac Pro, its GPU for PC overclockers/modders, it's a 2.2 slots card that blocks the second PCIe slot and it's maximum power consumption is 237W, Mac Pro 5,1 can supply up to 225W without any mods.

You can't flash from macOS, there isn't a tool for macOS that can flash current GPUs, only from DOS or Windows.

 

[Ryito1]

The last AMD GPU capable of having Mac EFI is R9 280X and no GPU newer than AMD R9 280X can have preboot configuration/boot screens with a Mac Pro 5,1.

Sapphire Nitro+ is not an ideal card to use into a Mac Pro, its GPU for PC overclockers/modders, it's a 2.2 slots card that blocks the second PCIe slot and it's maximum power consumption is 237W, Mac Pro 5,1 can supply up to 225W without any mods.

You can't flash from macOS, there isn't a tool for macOS that can flash current GPUs, only from DOS or Windows.

Which card would be best to mod then

 

[tsialex]

Which card would be best to mod then

Mod?!?

If you want a Mac EFI GPU, buy one that is capable, like AMD R9 280X or NVIDIA GTX 680. If you want a newer GPU stick to the Apple suggested Mojave list.

 

[TheStork]

Mod?!?

If you want a Mac EFI GPU, buy one that is capable, like AMD R9 280X or NVIDIA GTX 680. If you want a newer GPU stick to the Apple suggested Mojave list.

Or you can get a flashed PC card from MacVidCards.com from his current list. Be advised that he developed the Mac EFI VBIOS mod on his own, and, thus, he sells the newer graphics cards at a $100 to $200+ premium vs. a stock PC graphics card.

You can also use a PC card and forgo the Mac Pro boot screen. I'm currently doing just that with a Sapphire RX 580 Pulse 8GB which is supported natively in macOS 10.13.6 and Mojave.

 

[gordonleung]

Can Vega II use this method to get the correct identification?

 

[h9826790]

Can Vega II use this method to get the correct identification?

NO

 

[gordonleung]

NO

Have you tried it?

 

[h9826790]

Have you tried it?

No, but I know what I was writing (and what’s that part number mod is doing).

 

[casperes1996]

Can Vega II use this method to get the correct identification?

Actually quite the opposite. You'd give the system completely incorrect information if you tried this.

Funny naming though. Vega II or Radeon VII. I mean, arguably the V is Vega, but it's also VII as in 7 because 7nm. It's a second gen Vega on 7nm. That's a lovely little 'wordplay'... Or numberplay.... Or Roman Numeral play I guess

 

[gordonleung]

Cannot find hexminer download address？？

No, but I know what I was writing (and what’s that part number mod is doing).

Cannot find hexminer download address？？

 

[h9826790]

Cannot find hexminer download address?

That's an Appstore apps, and not available anymore.

Any Hex editor can do the job, and few free options available in Appstore as well. Just pick one you want.

 

[mavots]

I'm thinking about selling my 2017 iMac 4.2GHz i7 and sticking with my trusty Mac Pro 2010 3.46GHz 6-core and NEC PA series monitor. Now that NVME cards a doable thing (already flashed the BootROM), I'd love to upgrade the MP and get recoup my +/- $3000!!

Regarding the GPU, I already have installed the Radeon 7950 and it works like a charm. Boots normally, etc.

1- Would the RX 580 be a justifiable upgrade for a (primarily) photographic workflow? PS, Lightroom, etc. I use Handbrake a lot but that is all CPU from what I can tell. (HB is slightly faster processing video files on my iMac and both the Mac Pro (RX 7950) and iMac (RX 850) use only about 20-25% of the GPU memory).

2- Which RX 580? I realize they all have the boot up issue. OWC sells the RX 580 for about $390. They don't say which flavor. B&H, Newegg, etc have the Pulse version for about $220. Does OWC do something with card that justifies almost double the price? Perhaps its been flashed to a "Mac Edition" and is ready to use as is. They have not gotten back to me on that. I realize the boot up issue would still be there regardless.

The 1TB Samsung 970 EVO (not Plus!) and an Aqua card are on their way and I have plenty of RAM. Just trying to decide on upgrading the GPU or not.

Thanks for your opinions/comments,
macrumors newbie

 

[bsbeamer]

FYI, do not buy an RX580 GPU from OWC unless you want to overpay.

RIGHT NOW the recommended Sapphire Pulse RX580 8GB model is under $200 direct from Amazon. Lowest price I've seen from them. It was over $275 earlier this week and pretty steady around $240 before that.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ6FMF8/

B&H is great but they do not stock currently and would need to wait to ship and more expensive right now. I personally do not shop at Newegg after a terrible experience with a purchase, but they are also more expensive right now.

 

[mavots]

Thank you for that tip Flocarino, looks like a TOP RATED Seller.... I have placed my order now.

Cheers again... have a great weekend...

Anthony, never heard back from you on this thread. Did you end up getting the correct power cable and get the RX 580 to work for you? I'm in the same situation (upgrading GPU) and am curious how your RX 580 experience turned out. Did it work straight away or was something else involved to get your Mac Pro to recognize it? Thanks, Maris

 

[bsbeamer]

What is the concern? The RX580 (specifically Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB) is recommended by APPLE for use with MacPro5,1. It’s an approved card. MANY on this forum are using it, including myself. It’s easily powered via dual mini 6 pin to standard 8 pin cable. Works with High Sierra and Mojave without issue. It’s well documented.