2020.3 on Mac Pro 5.1, High Sierra?

[JFreak]

I think it will ask you anyway, but the update is related to NVMe SSD and you need a special PCIe card to use those in a Cheesegrater. High Sierra should install with or without upgrade, and once installed you can verify your Boot ROM Version from Apple Menu / About This Mac / System Report

[Padje]

Considering the firmware update.

I just updated mine.

From High Sierra version 0084 to 0089B

From that point to v 144.0 related to Mojave.

If you are working from an ssd sata III, the firmware updates don't run.

Install a clean HDD with High Sierra in a drive bay or in the second bay for an optical drive.

Run the firmware updaters by installing High Sierra. It will ask you to update the firmware first. When on 0089B, run the Mojave installer WITH a metal GPU. The Mojave installer will not run with a non metal gpu.

It will ask you to update firmware again. Do as asked for.

At this point I have the latest firmware, ready for Mojave. Did not upgrade to Mojave yet. (I've quit the installer after updating the firmware)

Planning my update after finishing a project.

For me the problem was the SSD Sata version that was prohibiting the firmware updates. When running the installers from an "original" HDD. All was like it should be.

Checking your firmware can be done by selecting "about this Mac", then choose for "System Report". You will find "BootROM version" and then a number. That's your firmware version.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by Padje

If you are working from an ssd sata III, the firmware updates don't run.

Wow, haven't heard of this before VERY good info, thanks

[audioluche]

Originally Posted by JFreak

I think it will ask you anyway, but the update is related to NVMe SSD and you need a special PCIe card to use those in a Cheesegrater. High Sierra should install with or without upgrade, and once installed you can verify your Boot ROM Version from Apple Menu / About This Mac / System Report

It just wont let me do the install. In fact, I am on a SSD drive.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by audioluche

It just wont let me do the install. In fact, I am on a SSD drive.

Yes but the FW update is specifically about NVMe hard drives that won't fit in Cheesegrater without a special PCIe catd to host them. What you have is a SATA SSD and it looks you need to find a spinner for your firmware update. Didn't now about that until now.

[audioluche]

Originally Posted by Padje

Considering the firmware update.

I just updated mine.

From High Sierra version 0084 to 0089B

From that point to v 144.0 related to Mojave.

If you are working from an ssd sata III, the firmware updates don't run.

Install a clean HDD with High Sierra in a drive bay or in the second bay for an optical drive.

Run the firmware updaters by installing High Sierra. It will ask you to update the firmware first. When on 0089B, run the Mojave installer WITH a metal GPU. The Mojave installer will not run with a non metal gpu.

It will ask you to update firmware again. Do as asked for.

At this point I have the latest firmware, ready for Mojave. Did not upgrade to Mojave yet. (I've quit the installer after updating the firmware)

Planning my update after finishing a project.

For me the problem was the SSD Sata version that was prohibiting the firmware updates. When running the installers from an "original" HDD. All was like it should be.

Checking your firmware can be done by selecting "about this Mac", then choose for "System Report". You will find "BootROM version" and then a number. That's your firmware version.

Ok, that might be the problem, I try to install it on a SSD drive.
I will try to find a HDD. So you say that you install High Sierra on the HDD, it wont ask for the firmware update.

Then, to install the firmware update, you run the High Sierra installer again on the HDD drive? Thanks!

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by audioluche

I will try to find a HDD. So you say that you install High Sierra on the HDD, it wont ask for the firmware update.

No what he said is the firmware update actually completes as it should

[audioluche]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Yes but the FW update is specifically about NVMe hard drives that won't fit in Cheesegrater without a special PCIe catd to host them. What you have is a SATA SSD and it looks you need to find a spinner for your firmware update. Didn't now about that until now.

Yep.
it's the subsequent step that I am not sure about.

But first, I will try to find an old drive...

[audioluche]

Originally Posted by JFreak

No what he said is the firmware update actually completes as it should

Ok, I see.

Thanks

[Farhoof]

I just installed High Sierra including the firmware update without any issues on a 5.1 mac pro.

SSD installed on a regular sata port, no spinner needed.
GPU is an old Radeon 5770 (non mac gpu's have issues updating the firmware).
High Sierra downloaded from the app store and run from the Applications folder.

All the info you need is here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads...hread.2142418/
Pci-e disks don't work. Raid disks don't work. Non mac gpu's don't work. Installing from a usb boot drive doesn't work. 4K displays don't work. Any old high sierra installer doesn't work. Filevault needs to be turned off. Basically what you need is a configuration as sold by Apple in 2010/2012, though I can confirm an SSD works fine as long as it's connected to the standard sata ports.