Mac Pro 2006-2007 Firmware Tool Released

[ant0]

I have a good news. I've updated my firmware mp1.1_005D_B00 to mp2.1_007F_B06.0709141354!


I want to explain cleary (... I'll try...) how I did it and also I want give you the patched file too.

The main idea is to modify the MacEfi program to recognize the damn fw version. So I spent one hour to understand how it works 'till figure out how it patch the original EfiUpdaterApp2.efi to deceive the update process.
It works with the "patch" command line and a patch file that contains the modification to apply on EfiUpdaterApp2.efi. I only modified the patch with our (damn) firmware string.
If you want update your fw just download my patched version from this post.

I hope MacEFI does not mind about my mod on his program.
Let me know if it works for you too. Have a good we folks

P.S.This modified version only works on firmware mp11_005D_B00.0709141354. This strange firmware was released in many different dates (mine is 0709141354). So if it doesn't work, please hex-edit the "MacProEFIUpdater2006.patch" file (inside the .app) with your fw release date (you can see it with geekbench on benchmark report screen). However you can find, down this page, a new updater tool version that supports more release dates:
0709141354
0708280936

P.P.S. The last modified program  (working on 0709141354 and 0708280936) should works for downgrade process too (but i never tested it). Remember to reset PR-RAM after the first reboot with your new firmware otherwise the profiler only recognize one processor. (cmd+alt+p+r on boot)

P.P.P.S. I don't know if the fan's behavior was the same before the upgrade but, with new firmware (with native support for my new cpus), on a stress test condition (10 instances of terminal running "yes > /dev/null" command), my E5345 Xeon couple reach 57°C and the cpu fan increase his velocity from 500 rpm (standard) to about 650 rpm. So the SMC behavior (that control the fan's rpm too) seems to be normal.

Antonello

Thanks MACEFIROM, thanks all!

[cimo01]

YeYeee!
Antonello u are the Man!!
Success after 1 month of fighting!
It didn't work for the first time.
I had to change in the MacProEFIUpdater2006.patch file your MP11.88Z.0709141354 to my exact firmware number at two times
And voila!
Thank you all!

[ant0]

YeYeee!
Antonello u are the Man!!
Success after 1 month of fighting!
It didn't work for the first time.
I had to change in the MacProEFIUpdater2006.patch file your MP11.88Z.0709141354 to my exact firmware number at two times
And voila!
Thank you all!

I'm very glad to hear this ...but can you explain me your mod? The file is already patched with the fw version string MP11.88Z.005D.B00.0709141354. Why it doesn't work the first time?

Now we have two new missions:
1) update the SMC too, but maybe it requires more skills...who wanna try?
2) extend the efi to boot 64 bit kernel (so Mountain Lion too) on mp1.1 (now 2.1 ). I'm pretty sure that a 64 bit efi will not fit in ours mac. I think to use rEFIt, instead Chameleon, to extend ours 32 bit efi (http://refit.sourceforge.net/). Maybe I'll send a mail to the developers to reach a solution together.

P.S. I have applied an hardware patch too to solve the "poor bt performance" on MP1.1. I's a very simple UPD....just take the BT connector outside of the mac with an adapter (http://www.ebay.it/itm/370561790940?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1453wt_940).
With my new BT antenna, my magic mouse finally goes perfect! Look at the mod pic.
(Sorry for the OT...)

[cimo01]

Because  it is your specific fw version string, works only with your mac
Mine is different: MP11.88Z.005D.B00.0708280936
After our success next step is the 64bit!!
http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,1123.0.html

[ant0]

Because  it is your specific fw version string, works only with your mac
Mine is different: MP11.88Z.005D.B00.0708280936
After our success next step is the 64bit!!
http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,1123.0.html

So it's the same fw version but with different release date. Hahhaha it's a strange thing, however we done it...
Thanks for the link. It's a good starting point, but I don't trust in chameleon like i trust in rEFIt (it's developed for apple machines). I only hope that rEFIt is and efi extension and not just a boot  interface extension...

P.S. I updated my post with your tip about "different release date". THANKS!

[cimo01]

I found only the netkas chameleon method on the net.
If u find a 64bit method with rEFIt I'm interested in!!

[chromafile]

I have a good news. I've updated my firmware mp1.1_005D_B00 to mp2.1_007F_B06.0709141354!

Unlike other people on this forum (...), I want to explain cleary how I did it and also I want give you the patched file too.

Great work!

Like cimo01, I had to modify the MacProEFIUpdater2006.patch file, I finally updated 1.1 D firmware to 2.1.
There's one problem... I had to re-activate Windows 7 on the bootcamp partition
Other than that, everything's fine.

Thanks!!!

[ant0]

  Great! Would be nice to collect all the release date of the mp1.1_005D_B00. I can update the patch to work with every release date of this fw (5 different release date max due the efiupdater internal structure).
Mine is (was) 0709141354 and cim01's rd was 0708280936.
Up to you  



About yours win7 re-activation, maybe it's normal because win7 activation associates with the firmware of a computer.

[dfireball]

Just thought I'd say "Thank You!". This worked for me, after months of trying and failing I now have a MacPro2,1 and am thrilled!!

[Sicarii]

I also want to say thanks, I bought a Mac Pro refurbed from eBay with upgraded 5355 processors already installed.  They didn't update the firmware and the processors came up as unknown when I installed Lion.  I also had the problem firmware, and my particular machine had exactly the same firmware string as ant0's, so his tool worked for me unmodified.  I am a happy camper now, thanks for the update and the extra work guys.

[jvbfilme]

I have this FW
MP11.88Z.005D.B00.0708280936

but I don´t get it where I can modify the patch with hex edit.

[chromafile]

I have this FW
MP11.88Z.005D.B00.0708280936

but I don´t get it where I can modify the patch with hex edit.

Addresses from 1043 to 1050 and 1C45 to 1C56 in the MacProEFIUpdater2006.patch file

[jvbfilme]

thanks! it worked for me!

[ant0]

Sounds good!
However this is new upgrade tool version for mp1.1-005D-B00 fw, with support for the "release dates" collect 'till now:
Mine is (was) 0709141354
cim01's rd was 0708280936
I can't test it so I hope it will works, otherwise you can download the previous version (up on this page) and patch with your personal release date.
Have a nice day folks!

Antonello (ant0)

[barefootsnake]

Hi everybody,

Maybe someone can help.  The app quits unexpectedly on me.  Could this be because I am trying to run it on Leopard (10.5.8 ) ?  Tried the obvious, reset SMC, PRAM and NVRAM.  I have a MP1188Z.005C.B08.0707021221, which is in the patch files, do not know why it crashes...

Regards,
Robert