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MP 7,1 Using Nvidia RTX 5090 FE in MP 7,1
- Thread starter Natalia22
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This isn't news to some.
In my Windows workflow, I primarily use a single Apple Thunderbolt 2.5K monitor connected to a 580X graphics card. This card is used primarily for system and program management, while the 5090 card sits idle and automatically starts rendering when I press the "Run" button.
For benchmarks and gaming, I need to enable the RTX 5090 monitor.
I also use this feature in Mac OS X to distribute the workload between the two graphics cards 5700+6900 by managing the dual monitor connections.
In my Windows workflow, I primarily use a single Apple Thunderbolt 2.5K monitor connected to a 580X graphics card. This card is used primarily for system and program management, while the 5090 card sits idle and automatically starts rendering when I press the "Run" button.
For benchmarks and gaming, I need to enable the RTX 5090 monitor.
I also use this feature in Mac OS X to distribute the workload between the two graphics cards 5700+6900 by managing the dual monitor connections.
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I'll add that after installing the 5090 card, the system still defaulted to the MPX 580x, and Adobe and other programs also automatically picked up the 580х. So, I manually selected the 5090 as the primary GPU in Settings - System - Display - Graphics - Additional Graphics Options.
SDAVE
macrumors 601
This is in Windows? Since macOS can't see the 5090, you shouldn't have any issues there. In Windows you can leave the 580x on and just use the 5090 and select the right GPU in your apps. Or disable 580x in Device Manager. I assume you're using your monitors multiple display inputs to switch between the 5090 and 580x outputs.
Sorry, I was writing that about Windows. There are no problems now; all programs detect the 5090.
I tried disconnecting the 580 and completely removing it from the Mac Pro, but I settled on this setup: 5090 + LG 5k (it's mostly unplugged, since I rarely play games) and 580 + Apple Thunderbolt 2.5k (my primary display, so it's easier to switch between Windows and Mac OS).
That's right, Mac OS X doesn't detect the 5090, and in sleep mode, a kernel panic occurs, causing the system to reboot. The Amphetamine utility prevents Mac OS X from sleeping).
I use MacOS less and less on this Mac Pro; Windows is always on (I have a second Mac Pro for MacOS).
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SDAVE
macrumors 601
Nice work. Afaik these MPs eat 240watts even on idle, but don't quote me on that. It might be lower I don't have a meter. It sucks you can't set it to sleep though in macOS.
Hmm, it's time to think about saving power.
I'm getting used to Windows; it's stable. When I have time, I'll remove the 580. As a last resort, MacOS can boot in Safe Mode without MPX cards.
And on the other Mac, I'll also remove the w5700, leaving only the 6900xt.
I'm getting used to Windows; it's stable. When I have time, I'll remove the 580. As a last resort, MacOS can boot in Safe Mode without MPX cards.
And on the other Mac, I'll also remove the w5700, leaving only the 6900xt.
I remembered I hadn't connected the LG 5K display via a Thunderbolt cable yet. The display settings now show 5K resolution (200% scaling), provided the 580X is always enabled in the system. The LG will now be the primary display, and the 2.5K display will revert to the Mac Pro 2013.
To check, I opened Hogwarts (just a static image). At 5K and ultra settings, the 5090 loads at 75% and the temperature is 70.
Now there's no option to select 4K in the game settings; I guess I need to lower the quality, not ultra.
From my observations, in my work, the 5090 loads the GPU to 100% (3D in Task Manager), and the VRAM to 92%.
If I enable the 580X, the 5090's VRAM loads at 86% and the 5090's temperature drops by 5 degrees. Minimal improvement, well okay, let the 580 stay in the MacPro).
To check, I opened Hogwarts (just a static image). At 5K and ultra settings, the 5090 loads at 75% and the temperature is 70.
Now there's no option to select 4K in the game settings; I guess I need to lower the quality, not ultra.
From my observations, in my work, the 5090 loads the GPU to 100% (3D in Task Manager), and the VRAM to 92%.
If I enable the 580X, the 5090's VRAM loads at 86% and the 5090's temperature drops by 5 degrees. Minimal improvement, well okay, let the 580 stay in the MacPro).
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SDAVE
macrumors 601
Here's a trick, you can use MonitorControl to control your non-Apple display, same with audio if the display has speakers. This is for Mac, but there are Windows versions like the one you're using.
There's a more advanced version of this called BetterDisplay, but I personally still use MonitorControl even with my Dual Studio Displays to control the brightness on both monitors at the same time to match together. And I have it on my MacBook Pro so if I freelance and connect to a non-Apple monitor, I can control it with the keyboards buttons.
Thanks for the helpful tips, they were very helpful. I only have a brightness issue on Windows; I'll install the programs from your links.
I calibrated my monitor a long time ago, but it's no use; the brightness is low and doesn't change.
SDAVE
macrumors 601
Thanks, all the utilities will come in handy in the future. For now, I installed Monitor Control and it works great.
Now I can recalibrate the display.
There's a kext file someone made in another post here on MacRumors, that can be used to help prevent the kernel panics in macOS if an Nvidia or non-supported AMD card are installed.
You have to disable SIP to use it though, so I've always been hesitant. Someone should email Tim about one last gift to 2019 MP owners and just allowing macOS to have a very basic kext to prevent this, but we all know that Apple doesn't give a crap about it.
Great, thanks for the info about the kext file. I'll look for it on the forum. So, there's a programmatic solution to this problem. I'll definitely contact support; I don't want to disable SIP.
SDAVE
macrumors 601
Download Win11 ISO, use Rufus, turn off "TPM2.0" and make a USB boot drive. Hold down Option at the Apple boot menu to boot off the disk (Make sure if you use a wireless Apple Keyboard it's connected directly to the back of the computer (not the top panel) to be able to boot.
Yes, this is the most convenient method, but for some reason, using Alt and selecting the flash drive wouldn't start the Windows installation at all.
Then I took a different approach: Windows 10 with all the Bootcamp drivers was installed on the Apple SSD. I used Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 11.
Since I wanted Windows on an external drive, I disabled Secure Boot and enabled access from external drives.
About Startup Security Utility on a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip - Apple Support
Use Startup Security Utility to make sure that your Mac always starts up from your designated startup disk, and always from a legitimate, trusted operating system.
Then, I cloned it from Windows 10 to the external SSD using WintoUSB. I logged into the cloned Windows 10, opened the bootable USB drive in File Explorer, and ran the Windows 11 .exe file.
SDAVE
macrumors 601
Yes, this is the most convenient method, but for some reason, using Alt and selecting the flash drive wouldn't start the Windows installation at all.
Then I took a different approach: Windows 10 with all the Bootcamp drivers was installed on the Apple SSD. I used Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 11.
Since I wanted Windows on an external drive, I disabled Secure Boot and enabled access from external drives.
About Startup Security Utility on a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip - Apple Support
Use Startup Security Utility to make sure that your Mac always starts up from your designated startup disk, and always from a legitimate, trusted operating system.support.apple.com
Then, I cloned it from Windows 10 to the external SSD using WintoUSB. I logged into the cloned Windows 10, opened the bootable USB drive in File Explorer, and ran the Windows 11 .exe file.
You should be able to make a Win11 boot disk with a Virtual Machine, or if someone here can make an ISO for the user.
Another method that I found extremely easy to get Windows 11 on my 7,1 is to use the switch /server when launching the setup. This does not install the server version of Windows 11 but bypasses the hardware checks.
Here are the details - https://www.ghacks.net/2023/10/10/this-single-command-bypasses-windows-11-hardware-checks/
Here are the details - https://www.ghacks.net/2023/10/10/this-single-command-bypasses-windows-11-hardware-checks/
BetraySoul
macrumors newbie
You have to disable Secure Boot in Recovery Mode if you do it this way,
If you want Secure Boot enabled, the workaround I used was to install Windows 10 using Boot Camp Assistant while Secure Boot was enabled in macOS. The newly installed Windows 10 should then be signed and trusted.
In Windows 10, create a Windows 11 USB using Rufus. Once that's done, run the .exe file from the USB. I recommend using the clean install option ("Keep nothing").
Your newly installed Windows 11 should have Secure Boot enabled. Before reinstalling the Boot Camp drivers, make sure to turn off all settings under Windows Security → Device security → Core isolation, since some drivers are outdated and Windows 11 may block their installation.
SDAVE
macrumors 601
Good point forgot about that. Can just set it to Not Security or Medium Security (I forgot if this will allow Windows booting, but it should) and then set external boot to "Allow booting"
However the way I personally did it was I had Windows 10 already and just upgraded to Win11 (without TPM2.0 enabled) all worked fine.
Technically Win11 is not supported because Bootcamp drivers haven't been updated in ages.
Thanks, guys! It's great that there are several different ways to install Windows on a Mac Pro with its T2 chip. Now no one should have any installation issues.
I'm missing Time Machine on Windows. I'm using a restore point for now, but I don't know how reliable it is, as I'm not very experienced with Windows. Just in case, I also made a backup of the Windows drive with all the settings and programs on another SSD.
In the meantime, I've added more RAM; 96GB isn't enough. Now I have 192GB (12x16GB), and it's currently only 70% full. In the future, if I expand my workload, even that won't be enough. I like the Mac Pro because you can upgrade it as needed.
I'm missing Time Machine on Windows. I'm using a restore point for now, but I don't know how reliable it is, as I'm not very experienced with Windows. Just in case, I also made a backup of the Windows drive with all the settings and programs on another SSD.
In the meantime, I've added more RAM; 96GB isn't enough. Now I have 192GB (12x16GB), and it's currently only 70% full. In the future, if I expand my workload, even that won't be enough. I like the Mac Pro because you can upgrade it as needed.