The debate about whether it's worth investing in a classic Mac Pro or not has been ongoing for some time now. However, with the release of Catalina and the ability to run the operating system on older hardware, things have changed. In this article, we'll take a closer look at one user's experience of upgrading their 2010 Mac Pro with a Radeon 5700 XT GPU.

According to MediaGary, getting Catalina running on his 12-core Mac Pro was no easy feat. However, after two days of tinkering, he successfully installed the operating system and is now enjoying the benefits of having a modern OS on older hardware.

One of the key factors in making this possible was the addition of a Radeon 5700 XT GPU. This card has proven to be metal capable, allowing for smooth performance in applications such as Resolve. In fact, MediaGary reports that he's been able to get by with a normal (un-flashed) Radeon 5700 XT, which is a significant improvement over his previous setup, which featured a flashed Nvidia GTX 1070.

Another benefit of this upgrade is the ability to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. By replacing the USB3 card with a Titan Ridge TB3, MediaGary's Mac Pro can now connect to modern peripherals and devices, effectively extending its lifespan by several years.

Of course, there are some limitations to consider. For example, if you need to work with H.264/265 files, you may find that your Mac Pro struggles to keep up. However, for general use cases, this upgrade is a significant improvement over previous options.

In conclusion, the ability to run Catalina on older hardware has opened up new possibilities for Mac Pro users. With a metal capable GPU like the Radeon 5700 XT, it's now possible to enjoy modern performance and features without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking to breathe new life into an old machine or simply want to experience the benefits of a modern OS on classic hardware, this upgrade is definitely worth considering.

Mac pro metal capable gpu