Mac Pro 2008-2012 GPU Upgrade Guide (3,1 4,1 2009, 5,1 2010)

Hey, it's the video everyone wanted me to make that I avoided recording. There's quite a bit jammed in these 17 minutes; this will serve as the primer to get to your upgrades. You will learn about GPU considerations for the classic Mac Pros and why I need to invest in a gimbal.

Because of the GPU crisis, GPUs recommended here aren't really based on current price trends. Right now, RX 580s can be had for about $250~ depending on your region making them my current default recommendation as they're good enough to drive multiple 4k displays, provide a bit of acceleration for editing and do 1080p gaming in Windows and when things become sane again will retain more value. It's hard for me to recommend spending $700~ for a Vega 56 for about 30% better performance overall, or the $1700 for a VII.


Time Stamps

0:00 Intro
0:43 Interlude
1:22 Hardware Overview
3:58 A brief history of Apple and GPU upgrades
6:16 Apple and Nvidia
7:30 Bootscreens and why you won't have one
9:16 OpenCore Solves your problems
9:46 Powering GPUs
11:56 Recap
13:12 Bad News - Big Sur 11.3
13:58 What GPU should you get?
15:21 Other OSes
15:49 Mac Pro 3,1 2008 Notes
16:15 Outro and Closing
16:37 :(..

Even though I sold my 5,1s, as promised, I'm still making some more classic Mac Pro Upgrade guide content. The GPU crisis has hit Mac Pro upgraders especially hard. In a sane world, I'd expect an RX 5700 XT to be all of roughly $200 at this point in time. Also, the Big Sur 11.3 PCIe callback causes the Mac Pros to crash that needs to be addressed if we're ever going to see 6800-6900 XT support. If you can get your hands on a VII or 5700 XT, the Mac Pro 5,1 is quite capable as a video editing box and especially as an inexpensive Windows gaming PC, (yes really).


Video is still a weird format for me as a written word guy, let me know if I didn't explain anything clearly. Anyone wanna send me a Mac Pro 2013 Trash Can to make videos about? :)

Links

The Definitive Classic Mac Pro (2006-2012) Upgrade Guide
http://blog.greggant.com/posts/2018/05/07/definitive-mac-pro-upgrade-guide.html


Complete Aftermarket GPUs List
http://blog.greggant.com/posts/2018/05/07/definitive-mac-pro-upgrade-guide.html#aftermarket-gpus

The Classic Mac Pro Is Over: My thoughts on the end of the line for the Mac Pro 2008-2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSgSaaVVcgM

Joerg Henninges (Open Core) YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/JoergHenningesWelcome2MyWorld/featured

House of Moth Pixlas Mod (Power Supply Mod, written and video guide)
https://thehouseofmoth.com/mac-pro-pixlas-mod/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhFg1Xcv9E4

6 Pin Mini PCIe to PCIe Power Cable
https://www.newegg.com/p/284-005T-00052
https://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-Express-6-pin-Video-Power/dp/B00OSLGBIC
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142413916098
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32841552995.html

8 Pin Mini PCIe to PCIe Power Cable
https://www.newegg.com/p/0DS-01N8-001H5
https://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-Express-6-pin-8-pin-Video/dp/B00OSLGQGE
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-6-pin-to-8-pin-PCIe-PCI-e-Video-Card-Power-Cable-for-Apple-Mac-Pro-Tower-/131328854534
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002476194864.html

Flashing a Vega 56 to Vega 64 firmware
https://youtu.be/Rolv20QKyRk


Beer Consumed: Deschutes Black Butte Cubed 2019 (Cocoa) - A personal favorite of mine. Deschutes is one of the breweries large enough to have its own distillery. This gives them a vertical stacking ability to use their own whiskey barrels to age their beer in. They use Black Butte Whiskey barrels and age, Black Butte Porter, in them. This particular brew has more barrel character than the Black Butte Anniversary editions and fewer adjuncts. The Cocoa nibs are present and accounted for giving a sharper dark chocolate bite without being hamfisted or upping the sweetness. It's refined beer and a wonderful classic take.
https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/beer/black-butte-cubed/

Recorded on em5 mkIII, iPhone 12 Pro, Rode Go Wireless Mics (when it sounds bad), FocusRite Clarett + Cloudlifter + Shure sm7b (when it sounds good) in Cubase.
Edited in FCPX, Motion, Pixelmator Pro, Sketch on my Mac Pro 7,1.
Music by me (except sad robot music since I felt lazy).