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2009 Mac Pro in hand - unboxing etc.
- Thread starter WonderSausage
- Start date
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HDnut System:
This is my Mac Pro 2 x 2.26 machine: General specs
Number of Cores 8
Memory 12gig
ATI Radeon HD 4870
Well newbie here and I just ran the Cinebench R10 test: Would do a copy and paste but it won't allow me.
Processor : 2 X 2.26
MHz : 2.66
Number of CPUs : 16
Operating System : OS X 32 BIT 10.5.6
Graphics Card : ATI Radeon HD 4870
Resolution : 1920x1200
Color Depth : 32 bit
****************************************************
Rendering (Single CPU): 3340 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU): 20050 CB-CPU
Multiprocessor Speedup: 6.39
Shading (OpenGL Standard) :5778
I just got the machine a few days ago, I use it for CS/Photoshop a lot of HD Rendering using Final Cut pro etc.. The machine has a slight flaw in the metal on top, slight dent so it is going back to be exchanged but I am tempted to go with the 2.66 unit, just not sure if the extra $$ is worth the slight increase in speed, but then again it will be interesting to see what happens when we get Snow Leopard. Suggestions welcome on what unit to go with, as I do a ton of mulit-tasking and rendering. Using 2 24" monitors and I might slap in an extra ATI down the road as well.
Whoa nice. MUCH faster comparing to the older 8 core machine.
Yea I know what you mean, the 2.66GHz looks tempting to get. But then again its only something like 10% at most faster as to the 2.26GHz model while costing $4600.
I think in real world you wont notice that little jump in performance (this is why I'm thinking about the 2.26GHz as well). Also in 3-4 years you can just sell the 2.26GHz (I know the 2.66GHz you can probably sell it for a little more something like a few hundred dollars more in 3-4 years as to the 2.26GHz model) so not really worth it imo.
I mean spend $1200 now and notice little difference in real world performance and when you sell it 4 years later you'll get $200-$300 more. Not worth it.
Very good points and I think your logic is the same as mine!
I think if I add another ATI card this thing should scream even more. Again, it all depends on what your doing, but I think your right on! Hell my last 2006 Quad Core sold for $2200 bucks on ebay, so I was jumping for joy when I had a chance to order one of these.. One would think if the processors ever come down you could most likely update them down the road as well, not sure on this though. Again this machine is going back because of the cosmetic flaw, so I have a week to decided if I really want to spend the money on a tad more speed, although single core applications it looks like the 2.66 does the trick on both ends.
I actually think the 2008 Mac Pro has the best interior. It has no visible wires and the front fan assembly looks more solidly placed.
YAY!!! >>> my 2X2,26Ghz Mac Pro arrived today (it only took 7 days)
First impressions: very fast & very quiet
First impressions: very fast & very quiet
I think the 2008 models look very nice internally but for internal cleaning purposes the 2009 models are so much better.
Thanks!
That's a little faster that the current entry for the 2.26 octad!
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/7270035/
I may replace the one in there now with yours next time I'm in there.
I guess the difference is you RAM. I think the current entry was 3GB.
OPENED UP CPU's to swap parts. BUT . . . . .
problem is, you can't change CPU's like the last version. The new Nehalems for Apple have NO metal cover. So the CPU sits about 1mm too high.
Heatsink goes back without a problem, but there is an edge of heatsink which cools down some capacitors.
Since the heatsink is raised another 1mm, that section of the heatsink isn't cooling down those capacitors.
I guess I'll give it a try and see if it overheats. $5K risk. switching from the stock 2.26GHz to 2.93GHz.
problem is, you can't change CPU's like the last version. The new Nehalems for Apple have NO metal cover. So the CPU sits about 1mm too high.
Heatsink goes back without a problem, but there is an edge of heatsink which cools down some capacitors.
Since the heatsink is raised another 1mm, that section of the heatsink isn't cooling down those capacitors.
I guess I'll give it a try and see if it overheats. $5K risk. switching from the stock 2.26GHz to 2.93GHz.
Attachments
WOW. So are you able to take the aluminum covers off the CPUs? I guess Apple did that to keep the CPUs cooler, since it has direct contact with the die, instead of going from the die, to the aluminum cover, and back to the heatsink.
Apple always does something to try to prevent people from upgrading!
WOW. So are you able to take the aluminum covers off the CPUs? I guess Apple did that to keep the CPUs cooler, since it has direct contact with the die, instead of going from the die, to the aluminum cover, and back to the heatsink.
Apple always does something to try to prevent people from upgrading!
I suggest nobody try what I tried. I think the 2.93's aren't even compatible with the 2.26 chipset.
And the problem is, it wont boot. So I think they also did a firmware change to match the CPU it was built with.
The CPU covers on my 2.93's are glued on like concrete.
Those are called 'heat spreaders'. Those heat spreaders are glued to the chip, and the result of prying it off usually results in pulling the cpu core right off with it. Don't try to pry off the heat spreader.
VERY interesting find. My guess is it's going to be near impossible to find replacement CPU's without the heat spreader. You'd have to probably find them from other Mac Pro's.
And I guess it is possible each board is locked to a specific CPU, too.
This does suck in a way. Apple is now using parts not easily replaceable. I guess we're moving back to the G5 and earlier days. You couldn't just go to Newegg and get some new, faster G5 CPU's.
VERY interesting find. My guess is it's going to be near impossible to find replacement CPU's without the heat spreader. You'd have to probably find them from other Mac Pro's.
And I guess it is possible each board is locked to a specific CPU, too.
This does suck in a way. Apple is now using parts not easily replaceable. I guess we're moving back to the G5 and earlier days. You couldn't just go to Newegg and get some new, faster G5 CPU's.
No heat spreaders?!?! That's definitely not user serviceable then. The chance of damaging the chip by doing this kind of operation increase dramatically and as someone else pointed out, finding replacement CPU's will be impossible unless from another machine.It's a bizarre decision to be sure... the incremental gains in cooling without a heat spreader are usually not worth the risks.
On a normal CPU, the heat spreader is soldered on... not glued. They can be removed but it's extremely tricky and involves a lot of high heat.
I'm curious, what's that other small, low profile heat-sink poking out from under one of the CPU towers in the above photo... is that the Tylersburg chipset on there?
Excellent information! Thanks!
So basically, NO NEW MACS are upgradable at all.
This is really very bad news indeed. I'm sad.
This can be solved using a 1mm copper plate between capacitors and heatsink (+ thermal paste).
...you tried with your 2.93? It's a Xeon MP? Did you tried to reset everything that's resetable?
P.S. nice job anyway, it's really important for the comunity!
P.P.S. anybody know if the Single-CPU / Quad-Core Mac Pro 09 comes with a single or dual cpu socket?
Very nice machine my friend!
I have a question - i know the firewire on the back is likely to be a TI chip, but can you see what chip is providing the firewire on the front ports??
TI across the board.
Two things:
1. They aren't capacitors they will be MOSFETS; a type of transistor through which power is supplied to the CPUs and yes, they do get hot.
2. Something that is often done by extreme water cooling types is removal of the heat spreader by slow and steady wet'n'dry sanding. Basically wet'n'dry attached to a piece of glass, for good flat hard surface, and holding the CPU in hand slowly grind down the heat spreader until the core is exposed. Do a little research on a forum like xtremesystems (note they are down at present as they are being upgraded) and you'll see what I mean. Pretty much the same technique used for heat sink lapping just applied to the CPU instead.
All in all despite the apparent set back I've got to give it to Apple, that is a very efficient cooling design they have there. It's just a pity about the embedded screamer fan :/
By the way thanks a bunch for these pictures. I am currently tossing up whether to do a custom water cooling job on mine once I have it and these pictures answer a few questions I had. Now if only there were similar pictures of an Apple 4870 stripped down I would be set
Two things:
1. They aren't capacitors they will be MOSFETS; a type of transistor through which power is supplied to the CPUs and yes, they do get hot.
2. Something that is often done by extreme water cooling types is removal of the heat spreader by slow and steady wet'n'dry sanding. Basically wet'n'dry attached to a piece of glass, for good flat hard surface, and holding the CPU in hand slowly grind down the heat spreader until the core is exposed. Do a little research on a forum like xtremesystems (note they are down at present as they are being upgraded) and you'll see what I mean. Pretty much the same technique used for heat sink lapping just applied to the CPU instead.
All in all despite the apparent set back I've got to give it to Apple, that is a very efficient cooling design they have there. It's just a pity about the embedded screamer fan :/
By the way thanks a bunch for these pictures. I am currently tossing up whether to do a custom water cooling job on mine once I have it and these pictures answer a few questions I had. Now if only there were similar pictures of an Apple 4870 stripped down I would be set
great info. thanks. seems like it's best just to order the higher CPU version.
No Heatspreaders? Me thinks it is an Apple-installed deterrent
Wow, using up to two Xeon processors with NO heatspreader.... Risky indeed.
Reason for the heatspreaders (in theory anyway) was/is to provide uniform cooling over the processor and also prevent the core from being crushed from the stock or aftermarket CPU coolers. There IS a way to remove the heatspreaders. You'll have to Google that.
In the PC world the closet I came was lapping the heatspraders with sandpaper. I was never brave enough to remove the heatspreaders. But I do know it can, has, and will be done. A lot of enthusiasts out there do it, and refer to it as "going naked". So if you see someone posting on a forum saying they're "running a 2.4 Core2 naked", it doesn't mean they are running around naked with a processor in their hand..
Wow, using up to two Xeon processors with NO heatspreader.... Risky indeed.
Reason for the heatspreaders (in theory anyway) was/is to provide uniform cooling over the processor and also prevent the core from being crushed from the stock or aftermarket CPU coolers. There IS a way to remove the heatspreaders. You'll have to Google that.
In the PC world the closet I came was lapping the heatspraders with sandpaper. I was never brave enough to remove the heatspreaders. But I do know it can, has, and will be done. A lot of enthusiasts out there do it, and refer to it as "going naked". So if you see someone posting on a forum saying they're "running a 2.4 Core2 naked", it doesn't mean they are running around naked with a processor in their hand..
Wow, using up to two Xeon processors with NO heatspreader.... Risky indeed.
Reason for the heatspreaders (in theory anyway) was/is to provide uniform cooling over the processor and also prevent the core from being crushed from the stock or aftermarket CPU coolers. There IS a way to remove the heatspreaders. You'll have to Google that.
In the PC world the closet I came was lapping the heatspraders with sandpaper. I was never brave enough to remove the heatspreaders. But I do know it can, has, and will be done. A lot of enthusiasts out there do it, and refer to it as "going naked". So if you see someone posting on a forum saying they're "running a 2.4 Core2 naked", it doesn't mean they are running around naked with a processor in their hand..
The heat spreader is a fairly recent tech. AMD didnt start using them till the A64s. Its perfectly fine.