1. Your mac pro shows the Cpu's as unknown is this because they are sample cpus , or because they didn't ship with apple products.
I believe it is because they didn't ship. The only 8 core option that was offered for machines of that vintage was the 3.0ghz. I don't think the 5355 will show up as anything but unknown, regardless of whether they're samples or aftermarket or oem.
2. there is going to be any jumper changes from the original 5150's i had in there i.e. going from 62 watts to 120 watts.
you don't need to change any of that. the mac pro is fully capable of running the two 4 core cpus with no change in any other hardware.
3. There seems to be a lot of discussion about what tools you need to extract the screws from the mac pro's heatsinks could you show me exactly what i need so I can look for it in UK diy shops , it doesn't matter so much if it isn't magnetic as i have extraction tools of my own.
Tools you'll need are covered pretty well in the tutorials that I linked to.Number One Number Two Number Three Basically, all you need is screwdrivers. a #1 size philips head (+) will take care of most of the the disassembly. A short shafted one is most useful to remove the lower screws in the memory cage. You'll need a long one to remove the single screw from the front fan assembly. If you don't have these, I'm sure you know some people who'd be happy to borrow you a few screwdrivers for the day. The important thing to know is that the heatsinks can be a bit of a pain to remove if you don't have the correct tools. what worked for me was a regulare interchangeable head screwdrvie like this.
and added an extension like:
These are pretty standard and can be found almost anywhere hand tools are sold. Just make sure that the extension is of a narrow enough diameter to fit in the small cut-out around the heatsink fins. the heatsinks are held in place with torx (or hexagonal) screws. They are 3mm, and I think that equals a T15 torx bit. a 3mm allen wrench will also got the job done, but it's a tight squeeze to get your hand down in there. I'd recommend the screwdriver.
4. I know I am going to need some thermal paste, what is the solution i will need to remove the existing paste from my heatsinks.
I used this kit from amazon.com. It worked great. I think that this would be readily available from any brick & mortar or online electronics store you prefer
5. Did the terminal commands atchally work to change the name in about mac or is it not worth doing.
The terminal commands did eventually work to change the name... sort of. I had to mess with a bunch of the system permissions, and it eventually hosed me, and I had to reinstall the OS. The permission were screwed up that even a time machine backup wouldn't work. My recommendation to you would be to not mess around with this. For me it was kind of a vanity thing, and it wore off pretty quick. Just don't do it. Not worth the hassle.
6. Do I have to change the SMC fan settings or is this non essential.
I don't think it's essential at all. I like to keep my system nice and cool. I keep the fans at around 900rpm and the CPUs run at about 32 degrees Celsius during internet use and heat up to 40-45 degrees when under a heavier load. Compared with my macbook in which the CPU gets up to close to 70 degrees at times. So, no worries about temps.
7. After you have done this cpu upgrade procedure have you run into any long term issues ?
I haven't experienced a single negative issue, aside from the self-inflicted pain I caused by messing with the terminal and permissions. It's been great, and I couldn't be happier with this upgrade.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
edit: A couple of tips -
1. Remove all the HD's and the video card first to give yourself more room to work.
2. I don't know for sure whether the heatsinks are identical or if there is a top and bottom. Take care which one came from where. Be careful to make sure the foamrubber bumpers don't fall off.
3. One of the tutorials tells you how to do the upgrade by taking out the memory cage completely. I didn't do this. It is snapped into place pretty well, and I didn't want to break it. If you have the extendable screwdriver, removing the memory cage is completely unnecessary.
4. The most difficult part of the upgrade for me was plugging the heatsink leads back into the logic board. Be careful and patient when you do this. This is a vital step.
