Using Pro Tools HDX Or Native Cards In The New Mac Pro - You Need To Read This
Avid has recently revised their advice on which slots to use for Pro Tools HDX and HD Native cards in the new Apple 7,1 Mac Pro 2019 computers. We have all the details…
Avid Supported Apple Mac Pro 7,1 Computers For Pro Tools
2019 MacPro7,1 8-Core Intel Xeon W 3.5 GHz
2019 MacPro7,1 12-Core Intel Xeon W 3.3 GHz
2019 MacPro7,1 16-Core Intel Xeon W 3.2 GHz
2019 MacPro7,1 24-Core Intel Xeon W 2.7 GHz (see note below)
2019 MacPro7,1 28-Core Intel Xeon W 2.5 GHz (see note below)
Note: Using the lowest buffer sizes may cause CPU errors when using HD Native or HD Native Thunderbolt with 24-Core or 28-Core models.
HDX 1-3 Configuration (Note that HDX 4-6 Systems Are Not Yet Supported)
Notes On Using Slots 2 to 4
Avid says that here are a number of possible configurations when using Pro Tools HDX or HD Native cards with the Mac Pro 7,1 Pro Tools computer. While HDX 1-3 configurations can be installed starting in slot 2, 3, 4 or 5, Avid only tested and have qualified the specific configurations listed above. They acknowledge that other configurations may work fine, but that these are the configurations that they have tested and approved.
Other things to be aware of when installing HDX cards in slot 2, 3 and 4, is that an additional 8-pin to dual 6-pin PCle auxiliary power cable is required. This is because the triple 4-pin to 6-pin power cable included with the HDX package is not long enough for HDX cards installed in these slots. In addition, a 10" (or longer) SATA III 6.0 Gbps cable will be required for the 2nd and 3rd HDX card in slot 3 and 4. This is because the standard HDX TDM cable included with the HDX package isn’t long enough to bridge double-wide slots.
Notes on Using A Graphics Card In Slot 2
Be aware that if you choose to use AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, AMD Radeon Pro Vega II or AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics cards, the configuration requires an installation starting in slot 3, 4 or 5, as slot 2 will be used by the graphics card.
For further info about installing additional cards in the PCIe expansion slots, you can read this article for Apple.