MacPro (2010) New GPU only works after PRAM reset.

[matde007]

Hi,

to run my Mac Pro (2010/OSX Sierra) with a 4k monitor I had to replace the original graphic card with a new one.
I've tried several NVIDIA cards and finally decided to buy a used Radeon from Ebay (the computer is basically used for music production, so a real "gamer card" is not necessary).

The card works fine, but only after doing a PRAM reset every time I boot or restart my Mac. So whenever I start my Mac my screen is constantly changing between black and white, after the PRAM reset everything is perfect. Even sleep mode works without any trouble.

I'm not an expert, but first I thought, there might be old drivers (from my "experimenting" with NVIDIA GPUs) left behind, or maybe some "kext"s that cause the problem. I did several hardware checks that say, everything is alright. So it must be somehow "a software thing".

Thanks for your help!

 

[harryb2448]

Sounds like you have installed a PC card and not a Mac version.

PC cards only have the BIOS boot function whereas the Mac version has both BIOS and EFI boot versions. What is the precise card?

Next question why turn the Mac Pro off? Many folk today only boot their computers after software updates requires it.

 

[matde007]

The card is a AMD Radeon HD 7970 3 GB, which should work with all older Mac Pros...I can post more details about the GPU from the "about this Mac" menu tomorrow.
After resetting PRAM I even can see the last 3 oder 4 seconds of the booting-screen.

Why turning it off? Well, I only do that over night...there a re lot of devices (USB, Firewire...) connected to this machine...I don't want to let it all run at nighttime and wate energy, and turning these devices on/off is sometimes not possible because the switches are out of reach.

 

[harryb2448]

Did you use the eight to six pin conversion?

have a look at this:-


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW1Wvz-K3Tw

 

[matde007]

Yes, just like the guy in the video. A 6-pin and an 8-pin cable are connected to the card...if not: would the card work at all?

What confuses me is: what does a PRAM reset actually change, so that afterwards my card is always working?

 

[pm-r]

what does a PRAM reset actually change

Here's one list:
https://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/20...reset-the-pram-smc-on-your-mac/#.tnw_JYqko1Ar


Basically it resets most controlled settings to a default state.
Sound volume, Startup Disk, …. as per list.





- Patrick
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[matde007]

Thanks for the list! Mmh, do you see anything there that could have something to do with my GPU?
Would a log-file be helpful?

 

[pm-r]

Thanks for the list! Mmh, do you see anything there that could have something to do with my GPU?
Would a log-file be helpful?

By all means open Concole.app and have a look at any of the related logs.

Unfortunately one needs to speak and understand Mac computerese language to decipher most of the log's info, but there might be something obvious or understandable.

At least it's working and maybe just not shutdown or reboot your Mac, or maybe make some automator script to do the PRAM reset on boot??? That would be an odd way of making a fix, if it would even work eh??? :Blushing:






- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

Have you tried an SMC reset or Safe mode?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

 

[matde007]

Unfortunately one needs to speak and understand Mac computerese language to decipher most of the log's info, but there might be something obvious or understandable.

At least it's working and maybe just not shutdown or reboot your Mac, or maybe make some automator script to do the PRAM reset on boot??? That would be an odd way of making a fix, if it would even work eh??? :Blushing:

Haha, well, reading log files didn't help me any further, I've tried it already. There's nothing "obvious" in it, but I guess it was worth the try. I like the idea of the automator script!!! ;-)

An SMC reset is afaik just taking the computer off the power. Well, my Mac is connected to a a plug in the wall that I can turn off after shutting down the system....I do that every evening/night....
But I've never tried safe mode...

 

[pigoo3]

I'm not an expert, but first I thought, there might be old drivers (from my "experimenting" with NVIDIA GPUs) left behind, or maybe some "kext"s that cause the problem. I did several hardware checks that say, everything is alright. So it must be somehow "a software thing".

It seems that you've tried a bunch of things so far...a lot of good stuff I would have tried as well.

If you really want to determine if it's a "software thing" (some funky old files confusing things)...on a 2nd hard drive or a new partition on an existing hard drive...do a fresh install of the Mac OS (only the Mac OS and nothing else). Now boot into that new OS install...and see what happens.

- If the issue disappears...great. Then we know there's something on the original HD that's causing the issue.
- If the problem remain's...then it's either a hardware compatibility thing with this non-Mac video card...or maybe a driver thing (don't have the right driver for this Windows card).

Of course remember that the problem could still be a "software thing". The test above may eliminate the "software thing" possibility due to old files, wrong drivers, etc. But a remaining "software thing" could simply be that this specific Windows video card just doesn't work well with the Mac OS.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[matde007]

Thanks, good idea! I'll try it tomorrow.

 

[ferrarr]

Don't forget to unplug from wall, after shut down. Also, do you have and use Onyx? It will run maintenance scripts, that the OS will run when the Mac is not in use. Since you set down every night, those scripts may not have time to be run on your Mac Pro. Make sure to get the correct Onyx version for your Mac OS X/OS X/macOS version.

https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html

 

[lclev]

Has the AMD Radeon HD 7970 had it's firmware flashed to support EFI or is it a straight PC card?

The reason I ask is because I have a 2010 Mac Pro that I had a GTX 780 PC card in. I had all sorts of weird little issues that while not insurmountable, were annoying. I recently upgraded to a GTX 1080 that has had it's firmware flashed giving me EFI and the grey boot screen. A happy side effect is all the little weird issues are gone.

Biggest issues? With the 780 in it would sometimes not go to sleep. And sometimes sleep worked great but when I woke it to do video work, the video would jerk until I restarted the computer. Obviously no boot screen, but I have a GT 120 card and I could switch to it to see it. While using the GT120, I still could not hold down the option key to select another boot drive or boot into recovery or disk first aid. Those were the most annoying but you get the idea.

A card with a flashed card that now has EFI had eliminated the need for the GT120 and I have no boot issues. Also the wake from sleep causing jerky video problem is gone.

Lisa

 

[matde007]

I don't have to unplug from wall. because there's a switch to turn off the wall plug completely....

I made a screenshot from my "About this Mac". Sorry, but it's in German. Nevertheless most of it should be self explaining, if not: please ask me:



Onyx is definitely worth I try. I have totally forgotten about it.

 

[pm-r]

@ferrarr said:

Don't forget to unplug from wall, after shut down.

I'm just curious what the advantages of doing this suggestion would be ferrarr and/or why???






- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

@ferrarr said:



I'm just curious what the advantages of doing this suggestion would be ferrarr and/or why???






- Patrick
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It is mentioned in the SMC reset instructions, that is all.

I didn't realize there was a wall switch used to turn off power to the outlet, which does the same thing.

 

[pm-r]

It is mentioned in the SMC reset instructions, that is all.

Sorry Bob, I just misread or misunderstood your post.






- Patrick
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