How to build your own iMac Pro [Successful Build/Extended Guide]

[kgp]

Further deceiving news from ASUS US.... :

--------------

Hi,

may i ask what is the actual status of my originating and still open request?
You promised to find a solution for the following issues:

1.) Actually no support of C3 States for i9 processors.
2.) Implementation of manual MSR Lock/Unlock in BIOS
3.) System Reboots and Freezes with CPU Core Ratio set to "sync all cores"
4.) CPU power consumption sensor data erroneous.

Point 3) and 4.) I already solved myself:

ad 3.)
Note that with CPU Core Ratio set to "Sync All Cores", the AVX Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset must be set to "3" and the AVX-512 Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset must be set to "2". Without the correct core ratio offsets, your system might become unstable with CPU Core Ratio set to "Sync All Cores"!

ad 4.)
For the proper display of the CPU Power Consumption in e.g. the Intel(R) Power Gadget, it is absolutely mandatory to enable both /AI Tweaker/CPU SVID Support/ and /Advanced/CPU Configuration/CPU Power Management Configuration/Enhanced Intel Speed Step Technology (EIST).

Point 1.) and 2.) above still remain without solution.

In the meanwhile I further detected the following bugs/errors:

5.) Your microcodes automatically assign too high CPU core voltage to the Skylake-X processor, i.e. ＞1.2V while the letter processors perfectly work with 1.12V under max. load conditions (all cores @ 4.4.Ghz)! A reduction of the CPU core voltage to 1.12V significantly lowers the CPU core temperatures at equal or even improved CPU performance!

6.) BIOS fix for Intel Skylake-X SKZ7 bug yet missing! see: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/processors/core/6th-gen-x-series-spec-update.html
Short Loops Which Use AH/BH/CH/DH Registers May Cause Unpredictable System Behaviour
Under complex micro-architectural conditions, short loops of less than 64 instructions that use AH, BH, CH or DH registers as well as their corresponding wider register (e.g. RAX, EAX or AX for AH) may cause unpredictable system behavior. This can only happen when both logical processors on the same physical processor are active.
All Studio Audio Software Solutions like LOGIC PRO currently show exactly the SKZ-bug issue! Instead of increasing the CPU frequency with increasing number of synth tracks in use, the CPU frequency falls well below the defined CPU IDLE frequency of 1.2 GHz as soon one executes LOGIC PRO.
This is an absolute NO-GO which ASAP requires a SOLUTION.
Please reply on this e-mail as soon as possible! I am desperately waiting on your reply and status update on my case already for several weeks!
Many thanks in advance.

KGP

--------------

Hello KGP,

Thank you for contacting ASUS product support, my name is xxx..

I am grateful for your time and patience as we go through the process of resolving your concern. I have engaged our support staff and we were able to come up with the best course of action given your case.

Please use the latest BIOS Version 1004 and see if the new BIOS solves the issue your facing.

Don't hesitate to let me know if I may be of additional assistance. Thank you for choosing ASUS. Your case number is:N180125170.

Regards,
xxx
ASUS Product Support

--------------

Hello xxx,

I am using BIOS Version 1004 for weeks.

It does not solve any of my described issues!

I am really desperately waiting for adequate solutions yet to be implemented at your side, which are indeed urgently required, not only by myself but by thousands of users!

The Intel SKZ7 bug fix certainly should have highest priority within the remaining issues that I listed in my previous e-mail! Please implement the respective microcodes.

Please do not further ignore my requests but finally act!

Kind regards,

KGP

-------------

 

[mgregrs]

Further deceiving news from ASUS US.... :

--------------

Hi,

may i ask what is the actual status of my originating and still open request?
You promised to find a solution for the following issues:

1.) Actually no support of C3 States for i9 processors.
2.) Implementation of manual MSR Lock/Unlock in BIOS
3.) System Reboots and Freezes with CPU Core Ratio set to "sync all cores"
4.) CPU power consumption sensor data erroneous.

Point 3) and 4.) I already solved myself:

ad 3.)
Note that with CPU Core Ratio set to "Sync All Cores", the AVX Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset must be set to "3" and the AVX-512 Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset must be set to "2". Without the correct core ratio offsets, your system might become unstable with CPU Core Ratio set to "Sync All Cores"!

ad 4.)
For the proper display of the CPU Power Consumption in e.g. the Intel(R) Power Gadget, it is absolutely mandatory to enable both /AI Tweaker/CPU SVID Support/ and /Advanced/CPU Configuration/CPU Power Management Configuration/Enhanced Intel Speed Step Technology (EIST).

Point 1.) and 2.) above still remain without solution.

In the meanwhile I further detected the following bugs/errors:

5.) Your microcodes automatically assign too high CPU core voltage to the Skylake-X processor, i.e. ＞1.2V while the letter processors perfectly work with 1.12V under max. load conditions (all cores @ 4.4.Ghz)! A reduction of the CPU core voltage to 1.12V significantly lowers the CPU core temperatures at equal or even improved CPU performance!

6.) BIOS fix for Intel Skylake-X SKZ7 bug yet missing! see: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/processors/core/6th-gen-x-series-spec-update.html
Short Loops Which Use AH/BH/CH/DH Registers May Cause Unpredictable System Behaviour
Under complex micro-architectural conditions, short loops of less than 64 instructions that use AH, BH, CH or DH registers as well as their corresponding wider register (e.g. RAX, EAX or AX for AH) may cause unpredictable system behavior. This can only happen when both logical processors on the same physical processor are active.
All Studio Audio Software Solutions like LOGIC PRO currently show exactly the SKZ-bug issue! Instead of increasing the CPU frequency with increasing number of synth tracks in use, the CPU frequency falls well below the defined CPU IDLE frequency of 1.2 GHz as soon one executes LOGIC PRO.
This is an absolute NO-GO which ASAP requires a SOLUTION.
Please reply on this e-mail as soon as possible! I am desperately waiting on your reply and status update on my case already for several weeks!
Many thanks in advance.

KGP

--------------

Hello KGP,

Thank you for contacting ASUS product support, my name is xxx..

I am grateful for your time and patience as we go through the process of resolving your concern. I have engaged our support staff and we were able to come up with the best course of action given your case.

Please use the latest BIOS Version 1004 and see if the new BIOS solves the issue your facing.

Don't hesitate to let me know if I may be of additional assistance. Thank you for choosing ASUS. Your case number is:N180125170.

Regards,
xxx
ASUS Product Support

--------------

Hello xxx,

I am using BIOS Version 1004 for weeks.

It does not solve any of my described issues!

I am really desperately waiting for adequate solutions yet to be implemented at your side, which are indeed urgently required, not only by myself but by thousands of users!

The Intel SKZ7 bug fix certainly should have highest priority within the remaining issues that I listed in my previous e-mail! Please implement the respective microcodes.

Please do not further ignore my requests but finally act!

Kind regards,

KGP

-------------

Hi KGP!
Great to see you! (I hope -after BIG rest/relax on the beach etc)
You prepared great email for ASUS
but what is not cool.... their response is a 1st line support
so - people which yesterday sold bananas in call center;
only 1/10 have real experience... so in this case it should go directly to
2nd line support, which can do someting and share ticker further ...

I hope that guy will be OK and will send your ticket/mail further...


//PS: Some"one" with more power really like to delete some messages/posts
especially which are not comfortable....
(he wanted to delete post 3046 but accidentaly he delete my last post/ short info
about new 10.13.3 beta 3 install and benchmarks...)
n/c

Have a great day!
Cheers!

 

[Thireus]

Hi @kgp,

I'm going through your guide (really good stuff!), the EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-020118.zip file was still there yesterday, but now it's gone. Are you going to reupload a new version?

Also you mention in your guide r4366, which is not a stable release. Maybe that should be clarified. In the meantime I'm gonna use Clover_v2.4k_r4359 which is the latest stable.

Keep up the good work! I'll report my success soon (just starting a fresh install now on new x299 hardware).

Edit: I'm just gonna list some issues I found so we can improve the guide.

Some mistakes/concerns about the guide:

#ISSUE01 - Double entries:
---------
- Enable Install RC scripts on target volume
[...]
- Select Install RC scripts on target volume

#ISSUE02 - OsxAptioFixDrv or OsxAptioFixDrv2?
---------
The guide mentions "OsxAptioFixDrv-64" in Clover install options, while you mention that the system is more stable when using "OsxAptioFixDrv2-64" along with "Test2-2016.efi", maybe that should be the default then.

#ISSUE03 - Language
---------
"NVMe conifguration" should be "NVMe configuration"

#ISSUE04 - Missing file
---------
EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-020118.zip is missing from the download section, all links pointing to it are also broken

#ISSUE05 - Confusing Clover release mentioned
---------
Clover r4366 is being mentioned while it's not the latest stable but a release tag that might not become a stable release. At the time of writing the latest stable Clover release is r4359.

Cheers,

Thi.

 

[kgp]

Second Major Guide Upgrade with respect to SMBIOS iMacPro1,1 implementation completed.

Please note that the SMBIOS iMac17,1 system definition is still absolutely mandatory to successfully install or update your macOS High Sierra system, as the 10.13.2 MacOS Installer package has neither the iMacPro BoardID nor iMacPro ModelProperties implemented in the respective PlatformSupport.plists and therefore simply does not work with SMBIOS iMacPro1,1. A modification of the macOS Installer package unfortunately is at odd with the actual board rules.

We therefore have to use the EFI-Folder contained in EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-iMac17,1-060118.zip with the SMBIOS iMac17,1 System definition for the macOS Clean Install or MacOS Update described in Section D.) and finally implement SMBIOS iMacPro1,1 during the Post-Installation Process at the beginning of Section E.) by means of the EFI-Folder contained in EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-iMacPro1,1-060118.zip.


EFI-Folder related modifications:

• New EFI-Folders EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-iMac17,1-060118.zip (with the SMBIOS iMac17,1) and EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-iMacPro1,1-060118.zip (with the SMBIOS iMacPro1,1) are attached at the bottom of the originating post/guide and are once more attached here below. Apart from deviating SMBIOS definitions, both files are else identical.

Guide Related Modifications:

• Update of Introduction

• Update of Section C.) - "Error Prevention"

• Removal of C.15)

• Update of Sections D.), D.1), D.2) and D.3) - "macOS High Sierra Clean Install / Update"

• Update at beginning of Section E.) - "SMBIOS iMacPro1,1 Implementation"

• Update of Section E.1) - "XCPM Configuration"

• Update of Section E.9), E.9.1), E.9.2) - "ASUS Prime X299 Deluxe PCI Device Implementation"

• Attachment and Implementation of a revised SSDT-X299-iMacPro.aml

Enjoy and have fun

 

[kgp]

Hi @kgp,

I'm going through your guide (really good stuff!), the EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-020118.zip file was still there yesterday, but now it's gone. Are you going to reupload a new version?

Also you mention in your guide r4366, which is not a stable release. Maybe that should be clarified. In the meantime I'm gonna use Clover_v2.4k_r4359 which is the latest stable.

Keep up the good work! I'll report my success soon (just starting a fresh install now on new x299 hardware).

Edit: I'm just gonna list some issues I found so we can improve the guide.

Some mistakes/concerns about the guide:

#ISSUE01 - Double entries:
---------
- Enable Install RC scripts on target volume
[...]
- Select Install RC scripts on target volume

#ISSUE02 - OsxAptioFixDrv or OsxAptioFixDrv2?
---------
The guide mentions "OsxAptioFixDrv-64" in Clover install options, while you mention that the system is more stable when using "OsxAptioFixDrv2-64" along with "Test2-2016.efi", maybe that should be the default then.

#ISSUE03 - Language
---------
"NVMe conifguration" should be "NVMe configuration"

#ISSUE04 - Missing file
---------
EFI-X299-10.13.2-Release-020118.zip is missing from the download section, all links pointing to it are also broken

#ISSUE05 - Confusing Clover release mentioned
---------
Clover r4366 is being mentioned while it's not the latest stable but a release tag that might not become a stable release. At the time of writing the latest stable Clover release is r4359.

Cheers,

Thi.

Issue 1: I guess you referred to D.1.4.b) and D.2.4.b)- Fixed now!
Issue 2: I guess your referred to C.1) - Fixed now!
Issue 3: I guess you referred to title of Section E.6) - Fixed now!
Issue 4: see post #3058! The file was missing due to an update of my guide in parallel to your activities.
Issue 5: Clover r4366 supports SMBIOS iMacPro1,1 features, earlier Clover Versions don't. Up to my knowledge, r4366 is absolutely stable.

Cheers,

KGP

 

[shael]

Welcome back @kgp, i know i missed you!!!!

 

[kgp]

Welcome back @kgp, i know i missed you!!!!

Really, you missed me?

You know where to complain for my absence..

Cheers,

KGP

 

[shael]

i missed your knowledge!

in your guide you still have
"c.) AVX-512 Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset: "4" [optional "Auto", see important notification below!]"

but asus responded with a value of 2 instead of 4. is this because your testing shows greater performance or an error in the updated guide?

ad 3.)
Note that with CPU Core Ratio set to "Sync All Cores", the AVX Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset must be set to "3" and the AVX-512 Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset must be set to "2". Without the correct core ratio offsets, your system might become unstable with CPU Core Ratio set to "Sync All Cores"!

 

[kgp]

i missed your knowledge!

in your guide you still have
"c.) AVX-512 Instruction Core Ratio Negative Offset: "4" [optional "Auto", see important notification below!]"

but asus responded with a value of 2 instead of 4. is this because your testing shows greater performance or an error in the updated guide?

Thanks for the reminder! Fixed at all respective positions..

 

[kgp]

Hi kgp!! I'm wondering if you can give me an image of your installation disk? I have almost the same exact configuration as yours.

Intel i9 7900X
GTX 1080 Ti
MSI X299 Raider
some HDDs

I'm stuck on the error message "does printf work??" when booting into the installer, and I can't find anything on how to fix it. I tried slide=0 and it did not work.

Help!!!

1.) An image of my installation disk? What does this mean? You have my EFI-Folder, what more do you need..
2.) You system totally differs from mine...
3.) Use OsxAptioFixDrv-64.efi + Test2-2016.efi as implemented in my EFI-Folder and the "does printf work??" will be gone!