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

[kgp]

[MY SYSTEM]

CPU / i7-7820x
M.B / Asus x299 Prime Deluxe
RAM / Samsung 8GB x 4EA
VGA / RX Vega 64 Liquid Cooling

Followed your guide and created install usb. and BIOS setting.
However, it does not boot usb.
I think there is something wrong with the BIOS settings.
Would you like to see the attached photo?

Change following BIOS Settings:

AVX Offset: 3
AVX-512 Offset: 2
CPU Core Ratio: Sync All Cores
CPU SVID Support: Enabled
DRAM Frequency: Put your DRAM Frequency
Max. Core Ratio: 40?

EFI-Folder:

You have the xcpm core scope Kernel Patch disabled in the config.plist! Did you unlock the MSR register in the BIOS? For BIOS Versions <1301 you have to patch the BIOS firmware. For BIOS Version 1301 you have to manually unlock the MSR in the original unpatched BIOS!

If your MSR register is not unlocked, your system won't boot without the xcpm core scope Kernel Patch enabled!

That's all I could figure out at first glance.

Cheers,

KGP

 

[kgp]

I doubt the Gigabyte will run cooler - it's really the same card. But sure, you can try it, it might. Here in the US, the Gigabyte card is not available. So, I have two Asus/Aquatia cards, and they seem fine. As for the Chelsio, yes, someone has tried it, check the post at the 10GBE thread, post #211. However, all of these 10GBE these cards do run hot.....

Allright, I see.

Now to the core

I performed a Blackmagic Disk Speed test of a Samsung EVO 960 1TB on my Broadwell-E/X99 system from my Skylake-X/X299 System.

Both systems are equipped with 1x ASUS XG-C100C each. Both ASUS XG-C100C PCIe adaptors connected with a Netgear ProSave XS508M 8-port 10GBit switch.

I obtain the following Benchmark result:

Which means that the maximum transfer rate achieved with the ASUS XG-C100C is roughly 436 MB/s or 3488 Mbit/s...

That's approx. 34% of the maximal theoretical 10GB bandwidth of 1250MB/s or 10.000 MBit/s, respectively..

Deceiving, isn't it?

 

[izo1]

Quick question if anyone cares to answer...

I got a 960 EVO 1TB and realized few days later 970 EVO is out. Is it worth RMA'ing the 960 EVO and getting the 970 EVO instead?

Or should I just forget about it?

To RMA I have to:

1) Get 970 EVO
2) Clone 960 EVO to 970 EVO
3) Wipe 960 EVO
4) Return 960 EVO.

Worth the trouble?

 

[kgp]

Quick question if anyone cares to answer...

I got a 960 EVO 1TB and realized few days later 970 EVO is out. Is it worth RMA'ing the 960 EVO and getting the 970 EVO instead?

Or should I just forget about it?

To RMA I have to:

1) Get 970 EVO
2) Clone 960 EVO to 970 EVO
3) Wipe 960 EVO
4) Return 960 EVO.

Worth the trouble?

I would directly go for the EVO 970 or even better for the 970 Pro, if already available.. at least with the EVO 960, I witnessed some significant sporadic decrease in respective transfer rates (not related with thermal throttling), which apparently was never observed with a EVO 960 Pro (following the individual user feedback).

 

[izo1]

I would directly go for the EVO 970 or even better for the 970 Pro, if already available.. at least with the EVO 960, I witnessed some significant sporadic decrease in respective transfer rates (not related with thermal throttling), which apparently was never observed with a EVO 960 Pro (following the individual user feedback).

Thanks for that. 970 Pro is a bit too much in terms of my budget right now...If 970 EVO is worth it in the long run, I will go ahead with the RMA.

I got a great deal on the 960 EVO...

 

[kgp]

Thanks for that. 970 Pro is a bit too much in terms of my budget right now...If 970 EVO is worth it in the long run, I will go ahead with the RMA.

I got a great deal on the 960 EVO...

What about an EVO 960 Pro? Would you get an equally good offer?

 

[izo1]

What about an EVO 960 Pro? Would you get an equally good offer?

I have a corporate discount from Samsung, so there's a -20% on most of the things on their site including SSDs.

I think you convinced me to get the 970 Pro (960 Pro doesn't have a discount for me)....So just ordered the 970 Pro 1TB and returning the 960 EVO. It was about a ~$140 difference.

Thanks!

 

[flmmkr]

Thanks for that. 970 Pro is a bit too much in terms of my budget right now...If 970 EVO is worth it in the long run, I will go ahead with the RMA.

I got a great deal on the 960 EVO...

You should be able to find the 970 Pro for the 960 Evo price (or pretty close) right now. Some retailers are discounting them for the launch. Not sure if those prices will remain or if it's temporary.

 

[Attila]

So, I am currently running 10.13.4 with the supplemental update installed. However, I still have a persistent problem.....

First, I have the fix for the Vega fan installed -- works fine. Also, I am using the VegaGraphicsFixup & Lilu kexts as well. Second, I am using a single display -- LG Ultrafine 5K.

The trouble I am having, is that just about every time I boot up, only half of my desktop appears --- the right half of the screen stays black (see attached picture). If I then unplug the thunderbolt cable from the back of the display, and plug it back in, I get the full desktop.......except, OSX does not see the camera or speakers built-in to the display.

I am confident that this is not a problem with my video card or display, as I also run Windows 10 off of a separate boot drive in my machine. When using Windows 10, I have never had this or any kind of display issue.

Any of you guys have any thoughts as to what is going on, and what I might try to fix it? As always, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[flmmkr]

Try a different cable, a higher quality one. With Thunderbolt, the length could make a difference too.