After reading what hoops I would have to jump though to get my 8 year old Mac Pro 4,1 to run Sierra, I am wondering why Sierra's launch wasn't coordinated more closely with new Apple Desktop launch(s).
I have read that 27" 5K iMac is the best choice to replace my Mac Pro for graphics and video. Is my info correct and when is the new one being released? Any inkling.
Your Mac Pro4,1 can upgrade to Sierra if you update your Mac Pro 4,1 EFI firmware to Mac Pro5,1 one.
About EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Mac computers - Apple Support
Speculation of unreleased products is against the forum rules that we all agreed to. I have asked the moderator to remove this thread.
My mac pro is 3,1
but downloading and attempting to install this http://supportdownload.apple.com/download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Appl e_Software_Updates/Mac_OS_X/downloads/03…
gets this message
(I could not find the firmware restoration CD for Mac Pro 3,1, by the way. Anyway...)
So I tried to install Sierra and got this:
I also tried the MacPro5,1 firmware but it wouldn't install that.
1. MP31.006C.B05 is the correct EFI Firmware for your 3,1 Mac Pro.
see > About EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Mac computers - Apple Support
2. An Early 2008 Mac Pro 3,1 can not be upgraded to OS 10.12.
I thought that was the point of updating the firmware to 5,1 but a call to Apple Support, directly, confirms what you are saying. And there is this from http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-it-possible-to-upgrade-3-1-to-4-1-5-1.182 8107/ :
"No, the 3,1s used the Penryn-based Xeons and the 4,1s/5,1s used the Nehalem and Westmere based Xeons. When they switched processors, Apple redid the layout of the logic board (with the 4,1/5,1 it's really a backplane board). Instead of the processor(s) being mounted directly to the logic board and the RAM being on two risers cards, they moved the processor and RAM to an integrated board which sits as the bottom of the system case and uses a connector for power and data.
With this change, Apple had to completely redo the internal layout of the case. The only parts that I know are interchangeable between the machines are the CD-ROM caddy and side panel (although the RAM replacement instructions on the door would be for the incorrect model).
Now, the firmware can be upgraded in the 4,1 to 5,1 so the user can take advantage of the Westmere CPUs (6/12-core options are the main reason) and faster RAM (1066 vs 1333MHz as long as the CPU supports it).
Basically, the highest amount of cores you can have in a 2008 Mac Pro is 8. In a single processor, non-upgraded 2009 Mac Pro it's 4 cores while in a dual processor machine it's 8 cores. Upgraded 2009 and 2010 single processors can support up to 6-cores, while the dual processor models can support 12 cores."
Sierra not coordinated with new iMac release
