User profile for user: Nav99
Nav99 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Can I update my mac to latest OS; having dual monitor issues (spec included)

I've using my Mac Pro happily since 2011 with no majors issues.

However, yesterday one of my dual monitors (left screen) just randomly switched off.

I thought the fuse had gone so replaced it. It didn't switch on.

I swapped the cables around and the monitor worked fine on the right side, so it wasn't the fuse and the monitor works fine.

I unplugged and replugged everything, reset PRAM and nothing changed.

Then out of nowhere both monitors came back on again. After a little while the left one switches off again. Then after a few minutes it came back on to two monitors working.

I have no idea why this is happening. Any ideas?


I was thinking of finally updating the OS. However, when I do the auto update it says no new software available.

I've never updated because all my apps work fine; video editing, music etc.

But maybe it's time to update. Can I update on this 2010/2011 hardware ? And how?


10.6.8 Snow Leopard


Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro5,1

Processor Name: 6-Core Intel Xeon

Processor Speed: 2.93 GHz

Number Of Processors: 2

Total Number Of Cores: 12

L2 Cache (per core): 256 KB

L3 Cache (per processor): 12 MB

Memory: 16 GB

Processor Interconnect Speed: 6.4 GT/s



ATI Radeon HD 5770:


Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 5770

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

Slot: Slot-1

PCIe Lane Width: x16

VRAM (Total): 1024 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x68b8

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-C0160C-155

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.436

Displays:


LED Cinema Display:

Resolution: 2560 x 1440

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Display Serial Number: 2A0408CE6JL

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Connection Type: DisplayPort

LED Cinema Display:

Resolution: 2560 x 1440

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Display Serial Number: 2A0408C36JL

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Connection Type: DisplayPort

Mac Pro

Posted on Feb 14, 2020 4:05 AM

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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,656 points

Posted on Feb 14, 2020 7:48 AM

Sounds like the monitor is on its way out, if that is the case then upgrading your software won't improve matters.

could be the graphics card, perhaps one of the Displayport connections has developed a fault


The App Store Updates page only informs you of updates available for the OS you are currently running.

As you are running an older system then you are probably up to date on that system.


If you want to install a newer OS that is called an Upgrade. 

for your MacPro to upgrade to High sierra or Mojave you need to install El Capitan First.


How to upgrade to macOS Mojave - Apple Support

How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support

How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


To run Mojave you need to have a 'Metal' capable graphics card, in the How To... above it

has a supplement for MacPros, Install macOS 10.14 Mojave on Mac Pro (Mid 2010) and Mac Pro (Mid 2012) – Apple Support


As the MacPro has 4 internal hard drive bays you would be wise to keep Snow Leopard on one and install the OS you want to upgrade to on another Disk/ Partition, this will give you time to adjust to the differences in the OS's. You can then boot between the two if you find that some of the software you use now has not got an equivalent for the new OS.

You will probably find that Apple apps you use now on Snow Leopard are better than the latest releases as Apple have dumbed down their apps quite a lot. The versions of apps you are using on Snow Leopard are almost certainly not going to run on any of the newer OS's so you will need to upgrade and pay for them. So take a measured approach to upgrading and keep that version of Snow Leopard running, it is your insurance against upgrading and regretting it.

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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,656 points

Feb 14, 2020 7:48 AM in response to Nav99

Sounds like the monitor is on its way out, if that is the case then upgrading your software won't improve matters.

could be the graphics card, perhaps one of the Displayport connections has developed a fault


The App Store Updates page only informs you of updates available for the OS you are currently running.

As you are running an older system then you are probably up to date on that system.


If you want to install a newer OS that is called an Upgrade. 

for your MacPro to upgrade to High sierra or Mojave you need to install El Capitan First.


How to upgrade to macOS Mojave - Apple Support

How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support

How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


To run Mojave you need to have a 'Metal' capable graphics card, in the How To... above it

has a supplement for MacPros, Install macOS 10.14 Mojave on Mac Pro (Mid 2010) and Mac Pro (Mid 2012) – Apple Support


As the MacPro has 4 internal hard drive bays you would be wise to keep Snow Leopard on one and install the OS you want to upgrade to on another Disk/ Partition, this will give you time to adjust to the differences in the OS's. You can then boot between the two if you find that some of the software you use now has not got an equivalent for the new OS.

You will probably find that Apple apps you use now on Snow Leopard are better than the latest releases as Apple have dumbed down their apps quite a lot. The versions of apps you are using on Snow Leopard are almost certainly not going to run on any of the newer OS's so you will need to upgrade and pay for them. So take a measured approach to upgrading and keep that version of Snow Leopard running, it is your insurance against upgrading and regretting it.

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User profile for user: Grant Bennet-Alder
Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10
140,255 points

Feb 14, 2020 7:28 AM in response to Nav99

It sounds like one of the ports on your graphics card is becoming flaky. I suggest you find a similar or identical working card to substitute.


Updating to a later version of MacOS rarely solves problems like the one you are describing.


You could upgrade to El Capitan and get some more modern features, including Internet Access. But some of your software would likely be obsolete and need to be replaced or updated.


The latest MacOS available for your Mac is Mojave. Installing that version requires a Metal-compatible graphics card, which is more expensive, and getting it to work can be more complex than an ordinary upgrade.



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Can I update my mac to latest OS; having dual monitor issues (spec included)

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