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

[RuleBreaker01]

How exactly did you install your HP Z27Q 5 K Monitor ?

Do you use : nv_spanmodepolicy=1 ?

I use no particular boot option other than those mentioned in the original post... There's nothing related to nvidia in there for sure, I did use the radeon deinit option for a while, but it made no apparent difference.

so no, I do not use nv_spanmodepolicy=1.

Mind you, with the 1080Ti that screen works perfectly.

 

[RuleBreaker01]

yep, just check the individual core temps by using iStatMenus...just to be at the save side..

So I monitored it under Windows...
The highest temperature reach was by core 12 and 13 at 78C, all the others reached from 67C to 77C.

Interestingly on Windows, those settings only saved me 30s compilation time (out of 13 minutes), it's bizarre because I can see the processor almost consistently at 4.2GHz which is much better compare to stock config: 3.5GHz

In any case, very safe level of temperatures (and the cores immediately go back to 25C as soon as the task is finished), and in Cinebench I get 3980 compare to 3230 with stock.
20% increase, that's rather significant.

I just received the Seasonic Prime 1000W titanium, so happy with it, the machine is totally silent. PreviousLY I had a CoolerMaster MasterWatt 1200W, it was so loud....

 

[RuleBreaker01]

Do you use any DisplayVendorID for your screen ?

No I do not...

/System/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides contains an entry for this screen.

How the screen is handled appears to depend on which port is used to connect it.

The card has
DP1
DP2
DP3
HDMI1

If connected via DP1/DP2: 2560x1440
If connected via DP1/DP3: 5120x2880-> \o/
If connected via DP2/DP3: 2560x1440

Unfortunately, when I plug my second screen, I only get DP1/DP2 : z27q and DP3: Apple display to work with the 5K at 2560x1440. All the other combinations I get either the HP screen, or the Apple one, never both

With Macpro,1 it doesn't matter which port is used, so long that the DP1 of the screen is in the right order (eg DP1/DP2 works, but DP2/DP1 doesn't)

 

[kubusikan]

Please also note that error prevention C.13) - "npci=0x2000" boot flag requirement in config.plist for Gigabyte mainboards has been already added formerly. What about ASRock and MSI boards?

The ASRock X299E-ITX/ac needs this boot flag.

 

[macjai]

I am a colorist on Resolve 14 and I can confirm the same behavior. On some long form project I have exported prores and done the h264 through another system just to free up my main rig quicker. Seems to be an issue regardless of destination read-write speed.

Just conjecturing some conspiracy, but I would say it seems as though hardware encoding h264 in Resolve with these processors is being throttled by some unknown process/setting/etc.

I think you and I are a minority here. It could be a software issue with Davinci Resolve... but it's frustrating to see my build blaze through h.264 to pro res... but crawl when it's the other way around. Also, the test I presented may not have been enough to see the issue. The issue is more noticeable when you have many h.264 clips in a row on a timeline, with at least up to a minute in length. I've tried everything, including following this guide to the exact wording. Everything works great, minus this one thing.

Maybe a Vega card is what we need to fix this issue. Definitely not an issue with the NVME drive, as I tested this on both SSD and NVME and using both APFS and HFS+ and still got the same results.

EDIT: One other thing I noticed is the power usage throttling up and down during the frame performance drop, with a difference of anywhere between 20 and 40 watts. This only happens in Resolve during h.264 exporting. GPU frames per second performance in istats menu also fluctuates up and down. If only we could just force it to keep the gas pedal down on power!

 

[nachosband]

Hello guys!

After reading this thread for months I finally went for it and built a system based on this guide... And is working perfectly!! I couldn't be happier and I might be speaking too soon but I've been testing with Pro Tools and a Apollo Twin MKII via Thunderbolt all day and is working perfectly, I'll keep testing this thing the upcoming weeks. (I implemented onboard Audio but I don't think I'll ever use it so I might as well remove it)

I went with a i9-7900X as per @kgp suggestion and a Radeon RX Vega 64, everything watercooled. Had some bumps along the way but nothing patience, a little research and carefully re-reading the guide and searching in this thread couldn't fix. I skipped most of the aesthetical fixes (I couldn't wait to start working!) but I might be implementing them slowly when time allows.

Thanks @kgp and everyone else that contributed to this guide, I'm eternally grateful to all of you.

 

[levifig]

Getting a crazy amount of kernel panics lately… They are all identical (different processor, and process changes some times)… Here's one of them on brand new clean install, with nothing extra on it:

*** Panic Report ***
Machine-check capabilities: 0x0000000000000c14
family: 6 model: 85 stepping: 4 microcode: 33554490
signature: 0x50654
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7820X CPU @ 3.60GHz
20 error-reporting banks
Processor 13: IA32_MCG_STATUS: 0x0000000000000005
IA32_MC0_STATUS(0x401): 0xf200000000070005

panic(cpu 12 caller 0xffffff800116ed7a): "Double fault at 0xffffff80010019a8, registers:\n" "CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0x00000203bf89bfa8, CR3: 0x00000007578d40de, CR4: 0x00000000003627e0\n" "RAX: 0xffffff8000d06020, RBX: 0x0000000000000012, RCX: 0xffffff80521a7b40, RDX: 0x0000000000000008\n" "RSP: 0x00000203bf89bfb0, RBP: 0x0000000000000000, RSI: 0x000000000000002b, RDI: 0x000002005773bd40\n" "R8: 0x00007fb0201ea180, R9: 0x0000000000000000, R10: 0x000007fb01f27d1e, R11: 0x0000000000000100\n" "R12: 0x00000203bf89bfb0, R13: 0x00007fb0201ea000, R14: 0x00007fb01dc09a68, R15: 0x000002005773bd40\n" "RFL: 0x0000000000010002, RIP: 0xffffff80010019a8, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000000\n" "Error code: 0x0000000000000000\n"@/BuildRoot/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/xnu/xnu-4570.47.16/osfmk/i386/trap_native.c:168

Backtrace (CPU 12), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff8000d52010 : 0xffffff800104f606
0xffffff8000d52060 : 0xffffff800117c744
0xffffff8000d520a0 : 0xffffff800116e159
0xffffff8000d52120 : 0xffffff8001001120
0xffffff8000d52140 : 0xffffff800104f03c
0xffffff8000d52270 : 0xffffff800104edbc
0xffffff8000d522d0 : 0xffffff8001179e08
0xffffff8000d52320 : 0xffffff800104f16a
0xffffff8000d52370 : 0xffffff800117c744
0xffffff8000d523b0 : 0xffffff800116e159
0xffffff8000d52430 : 0xffffff8001001120
0xffffff8000d52450 : 0xffffff800104f03c
0xffffff8000d52580 : 0xffffff800104edbc
0xffffff8000d525e0 : 0xffffff800116ed7a
0xffffff8000d526d0 : 0xffffff80010019dd

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: AppleSpell
Boot args: darkwake=0

Mac OS version:
17D2102

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 17.4.0: Tue Dec 19 10:52:05 PST 2017; root:xnu-4570.47.16~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 29EF1F85-10C5-3F25-AED6-5529E5948D42
Kernel slide: 0x0000000000c00000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8000e00000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff8000d00000
System model name: iMacPro1,1 (Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 48662712797
last loaded kext at 7517152594: com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0 (addr 0xffffff7f83885000, size 45056)

loaded kexts:
com.insanelymac.IntelMausiEthernet 2.3.0
org.netkas.driver.FakeSMC 1448
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0
com.apple.filesystems.ntfs 3.13
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy 3.16.21
com.apple.AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 3.16.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 280.12
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.6.4
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformShim 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHV 1
com.apple.driver.AGPM 110.23.31
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler 2.7.0d0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 280.12
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.5.3
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 6.0.4f1
com.apple.GeForce 10.2.8
com.apple.driver.pmtelemetry 1
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPCHPMC 2.0.1
com.apple.driver.Apple16X50ACPI 3.2
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelSlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleOSXWatchdog 1
com.apple.nvidia.NVDAStartup 10.2.8
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.70
com.apple.driver.AppleFIVRDriver 4.1.0
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHostBillboardDevice 1.0
com.apple.filesystems.apfs 748.47.11
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1
com.apple.filesystems.hfs.kext 407.30.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache 40
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 329
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 183
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8
com.apple.security.quarantine 3
com.apple.IOBufferCopyEngineTest 1
com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.16.21
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 280.12
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 526
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.18d1
com.apple.driver.AppleSSE 1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2 376.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 209.2.2
com.apple.nvidia.driver.NVDAGK100Hal 10.2.8
com.apple.nvidia.driver.NVDAResman 10.2.8
com.apple.AppleGPUWrangler 3.16.2
com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.16.21
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 517.22
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 280.12
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 280.12
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 900.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.14d1
com.apple.driver.Apple16X50Serial 3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 11
com.apple.iokit.IOSlowAdaptiveClockingFamily 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 6.0.0d8
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 517.22
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 6.0.4f1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 6.0.4f1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerTransport 6.0.4f1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 6.0.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBAudio 311.9
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 206.5
com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHostMergeProperties 1.2
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHub 1.2
com.apple.driver.usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice 1.2
com.apple.driver.usb.cdc 5.0.0
com.apple.driver.usb.networking 5.0.0
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHostCompositeDevice 1.2
com.apple.driver.AppleXsanScheme 3
com.apple.iokit.IONVMeFamily 2.1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 301.40.2
com.apple.filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 288
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBXHCIPCI 1.2
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBXHCI 1.2
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHostPacketFilter 1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 900.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.IOBufferCopyEngineFamily 1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 480.30.2
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30
com.apple.driver.AppleEffaceableStorage 1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTDM 439.47.2
com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageDriver 140.30.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 404.30.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 404.30.2
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0
com.apple.driver.KernelRelayHost 1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHostFamily 1.2
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBCommon 1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleBusPowerController 1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSEPManager 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.IOSlaveProcessor 1
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31
com.apple.iokit.IOTimeSyncFamily 653.2
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
com.apple.kec.pthread 1
com.apple.kec.Libm 1
com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0

EOF

Model: iMacPro1,1, BootROM IMP11.0064.B30, 8 processors, 3.6 GHz, 32 GB, SMC 2.41f1
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, PCIe, 2 GB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR4, 3466 MHz, G-Skill, F4-3200C16-8GTZR
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR4, 3466 MHz, G-Skill, F4-3200C16-8GTZR
Memory Module: BANK 2/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR4, 3466 MHz, G-Skill, F4-3200C16-8GTZR
Memory Module: BANK 3/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR4, 3466 MHz, G-Skill, F4-3200C16-8GTZR
Bluetooth: Version 6.0.4f1, 3 services, 27 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en1
PCI Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, Display Controller, PCI Slot 6@101,0,0
PCI Card: pci10de,e0a, Audio Device, PCI Slot 6@101,0,1
Serial ATA Device: KINGSTON SH103S3120G, 120.03 GB
Serial ATA Device: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB, 1 TB
USB Device: USB 3.0 Bus
USB Device: 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub
USB Device: MasterKeys Pro L
USB Device: Gaming Mouse G502
USB Device: 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
USB Device: USB Receiver
USB Device: HD Pro Webcam C920
USB Device: 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
USB Device: BCM920702 Bluetooth 4.0
USB Device: 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
USB Device: BillBoard Device
USB Device: Scarlett 2i2 USB
USB Device: USB 3.1 Bus
USB Device: USB 3.1 Bus
Thunderbolt Bus:

 

[levifig]

BTW, re: BIOS patch, I've done it twice, the output of the patching utility is identical to the one you posted, but after updating the BIOS, I get this output:

0:100 0:000 MSR 0xE2 before patch 00000402
0:100 0:000 MSR 0xCE 00070C2C_F3012400
0:100 0:000 MSR 0x1B0 00000000

It's similar but not identical (`F3012400` on mine vs `F3011A00` on yours). FWIW, I'm using a X299-A PRIME, not the DELUXE… I wonder if that could be causing issues. I'm not using any TSC kexts, the system does boot up fine and work moderately well, apart from the KP I posted about above!

 

[eiriasemrys]

BTW, re: BIOS patch, I've done it twice, the output of the patching utility is identical to the one you posted, but after updating the BIOS, I get this output:



It's similar but not identical (`F3012400` on mine vs `F3011A00` on yours). FWIW, I'm using a X299-A PRIME, not the DELUXE… I wonder if that could be causing issues. I'm not using any TSC kexts, the system does boot up fine and work moderately well, apart from the KP I posted about above!

Are you using any PCI cards?

 

[levifig]

Are you using any PCI cards?

Negative. Only expansion card is the GPU… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯