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iMac Pro X299 - Live the Future now with macOS 10.14 Mojave [Successful Build/Extended Guide]

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Well, keep in mind that the 10GbE card/chip on that board will be very hard to get to work on macOS.....our 10GbE thread shows you how, but no one has ever gotten a raw Aquantia to work without going through that process.

This is the current card that is the 10GbE card of choice: Syba 10 GbE card (Amazon)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2DV9K2/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Although it is based on an Aquantia, it's also been modified. Why do I say that? Because it requires no hacks, modification or drivers whatsoever to work on macOS. It also requires no special drivers on Windows. Literally, it's plug'n'play and it supports WOL as well.

So far, we've had three users try it and all report it works just as advertised....this is the most promising 10 GbE card that works natively in macOS we've come across.

Any dual port cards you could recommend? Either Base-T or SFP+?
 
Well now, that depends.....I have an Intel dual port T540 that I got off e-Bay. Its dual RJ45, and it was new. It cost me about $140. I do have to use the Small Tree drivers for it to work properly.

To work on macOS, it has to programmed. @kgp outlined this procedure on the very first post of his High Sierra and on the very first post of this thread - and I'm pretty sure the card he programmed was a dual port. It's not terribly hard, but it requires installing Ubuntu on a USB or DVD. I did it on a DVD.

However, there's no support and no warranty on that kind of card - one that's been re-programmed. That card also requires a driver, and that would be the Smalltree 10GbE driver. It works great, but now you know the caveats.

The Chelsio is an Intel based card, and that means a driver is required. Chelsio makes their own drivers. They are a good company, but I'm not sure if they make a dual port card for the Mac. If they do, that's what I think you should buy. Good reports on tech support (e-mail only, but very responsive).

Sonnet has some dual port cards, just don't know if they work on the Mac. I would worry about their quality, and after my experience with their card, I cannot recommend them.

And of course, there's Small tree - not cheap, but then you would be buying a card with a pretty good company, who is probably number one in terms of 10GbE on Macs. They're not bad on 1Gb, either.

One final note: The Intel cards (Chelsio, Small Tree, and most of what you can buy on e-Bay) really should be run on a x8 slot, not an x4 slot. It may not damage the card if you run it on a x4 slot, but chances are you won't have a motherboard with a x8 slot. That means to use the Intel cards properly that means you would probably be allocating a spare x16 slot for any Intel based card.
 
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May be worth taking a look at, I have not tried any of these and am researching myself. I have some experience with 10GbE (BASE-T) on the Windows side, but not macOS.

Note the Intel T line runs really hot, especially if you use both ports...so there should be a good amount of cool air hitting it. Also remember SFP+ runs cooler and the gear is cheaper on eBay (network cards and cables and switches) are dumped on eBay all the time by big companies who are upgrading their networks.

These seem to have full Mac drivers
https://www.akitio.com/adapters/10g-nbase-t-pcie-network-card
https://www.sonnettech.com/product/presto10gbaset.html
https://www.small-tree.com/products/278/p2e10g-2-t-10gbe-two-port-10gbase-t
https://www.cspi.com/ethernet-products/adapters/c-class/
https://www.macgurus.com/Item/M10G-PCIE2-2T
https://www.atto.com/products/ethernet-adapters/10gbe-and-10gbase-t-nics/10gbase-t/FFRM-NT12-000

A lot of these you can look on eBay for much cheaper.
 
I guess that one, right?

View attachment 377140

https://www.alphacool.com/shop/graf...xos-gpx-amd-rx-vega-m05-mit-backplate-schwarz

Not very fancy though.. apparently does not feature any RGB LEDs.. But certainly faster and less problematic delivery here in Germany when compared with the water block of Aliexpress.
Hi @kgp

yes that's the one and yes alphacool does not seem (yet?) to have jumped completely on the RGB train.
I have started water-cooling with the alphacool "AIO" Eisbär as I was not confident enough to do a open loop myself.
By now the system got modified several times and the next time I am in Germany I am. going to order the M05.

All the Best
Frank
 
May be worth taking a look at, I have not tried any of these and am researching myself. I have some experience with 10GbE (BASE-T) on the Windows side, but not macOS.

Note the Intel T line runs really hot, especially if you use both ports...so there should be a good amount of cool air hitting it. Also remember SFP+ runs cooler and the gear is cheaper on eBay (network cards and cables and switches) are dumped on eBay all the time by big companies who are upgrading their networks.

These seem to have full Mac drivers
https://www.akitio.com/adapters/10g-nbase-t-pcie-network-card
https://www.sonnettech.com/product/presto10gbaset.html
https://www.small-tree.com/products/278/p2e10g-2-t-10gbe-two-port-10gbase-t
https://www.cspi.com/ethernet-products/adapters/c-class/
https://www.macgurus.com/Item/M10G-PCIE2-2T
https://www.atto.com/products/ethernet-adapters/10gbe-and-10gbase-t-nics/10gbase-t/FFRM-NT12-000

A lot of these you can look on eBay for much cheaper.

Thanks @izo1 and @mm2margaret ! I might order a few options on eBay and do some tests. Reliability is key of course :)
 
Just did fresh install on Samsung 970 EVO (500GB) that arrived today. This is basic install - have not completed the subsequent fine-tuning instructions by @kgp in OP. Ran Geekbench 4 (latest), and notice something curious on the initial report: Only showed 24GB of DDR4...yet I have 32GB (4x8) installed in machine. Checked system report to see this:
Memory.png

Maybe THIS was the root cause of all the problems I was having - doesn't memory need to work in pairs? Regardless, going to power down, remove & re-install to see if I can get things back to 32GB. :)
 
Just did fresh install on Samsung 970 EVO (500GB) that arrived today. This is basic install - have not completed the subsequent fine-tuning instructions by @kgp in OP. Ran Geekbench 4 (latest), and notice something curious on the initial report: Only showed 24GB of DDR4...yet I have 32GB (4x8) installed in machine. Checked system report to see this:
View attachment 377669

Maybe THIS was the root cause of all the problems I was having - doesn't memory need to work in pairs? Regardless, going to power down, remove & re-install to see if I can get things back to 32GB. :)

Hmm....you might have a flaky/bad memory slot. Hope after re-seating you can get it back.....
 
Hmm....you might have a flaky/bad memory slot. Hope after re-seating you can get it back.....
I'm HOPING that it's just a bad memory module (and not the mobo). Just removed & reseated all modules - same result.

I'm using the user guide's recommended installation for 4 modules - I may try & switch all the DIMMS to all slots currently open now to troubleshoot whether it's the mobo, or the DIMM... stay tuned! :)
 
Will this work for the ASRock X299e-itx board? I have a system with the ncase m1 and the 7980xe and I'd like to try Hackintosh on it.
 
Will be moving the iMac Pro clone from the Meshify C into an Evolv X in the upcoming weeks.

And getting a second Vega FE for a dual setup.

Also moving into an EK-MLC 360mm + 280mm rads (I want to avoid custom loops for now).

Also will be moving to a 9980XE.

I would like to max this thing out so it can last me for years to come so I don't have to deal with "upgrades".

Will post pics soon :thumbup:

PH-ES518ETG-3z.jpg
 
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