2010 Mac Pro Processor Upgrade

[fotophil]

I have a 2010 Mac Pro with the stock 2.8 Quad Ghz CPU. I have following the DIY infortmation on installing a six core CPU in the 2010 and it appears to be a project within my reach. The 6 core CPU requires faster memory than my 2.8 CPU. I had hoped that all that was necessary was to replace the existing memory with faster memory but a local Apple Service Technician says that a hardware change is necessary for the computer to use fastger memory. I have not heaed of this situation before in my readings of Mac Pro CPU upgrades so I question the accuracy of the Apple Technician. What has been the practice of those who have made successful upgrades?

Thanks

 

[JohnGrey]

I have a 2010 Mac Pro with the stock 2.8 Quad Ghz CPU. I have following the DIY infortmation on installing a six core CPU in the 2010 and it appears to be a project within my reach. The 6 core CPU requires faster memory than my 2.8 CPU. I had hoped that all that was necessary was to replace the existing memory with faster memory but a local Apple Service Technician says that a hardware change is necessary for the computer to use fastger memory. I have not heaed of this situation before in my readings of Mac Pro CPU upgrades so I question the accuracy of the Apple Technician. What has been the practice of those who have made successful upgrades?

Thanks

Hardware or firmware change?

 

[fotophil]

2010 Mac Pro Upgrade

He was not clear as to the tyoe of change required but he said it would not involve the logic board. In order for him to perform the CPU upgrade work he required that I remove and send him the processor tray from my 2010 Unit. He indicated that he would supply a new processor tray with the 6 core CPU already installed. The new processor tray would have been modified to use the fast memory. He implied that a simpe change of the CPU from a Quad to 6 core would not permit the use of fast memory. I don't know if this info is based on fact or his sales pitch to permote his turnkey upgrade servide. Since there are many folks who have upgrade 2010 Mac Pros to 6 core, I hope they can share their experiences.

Thanks

 

[Studio K]

I had hoped that all that was necessary was to replace the existing memory with faster memory but a local Apple Service Technician says that a hardware change is necessary for the computer to use fastger memory. I have not heaed of this situation before in my readings of Mac Pro CPU upgrades so I question the accuracy of the Apple Technician. What has been the practice of those who have made successful upgrades?

Thanks

I believe the only 'hardware change' required to enable faster 1333 Ram would be adding the new processor. No other changes required. It's a 2010 model, so the firmware is already in place to support faster ram.

Your current CPU (2.8) does not support 1333 Ram. You CAN install and use the faster ram with that CPU but it will only use up to 1066.

As far as I know, the w3680 six-core CPU supports 1333 Ram and 1066 Ram.

My experience is this: I installed a w3570 into a 2009 Mac Pro. I also installed 1333 Ram. After a PRAM reset (and a firmware flash), the faster Ram was recognized and working.

In your case, it's simpler. No firmware flash required.

 

[JohnGrey]

I believe the only 'hardware change' required to enable faster 1333 Ram would be adding the new processor. No other changes required. It's a 2010 model, so the firmware is already in place to support faster ram.

Your current CPU (2.8) does not support 1333 Ram. You CAN install and use the faster ram with that CPU but it will only use up to 1066.

As far as I know, the w3680 six-core CPU supports 1333 Ram and 1066 Ram.

My experience is this: I installed a w3570 into a 2009 Mac Pro. I also installed 1333 Ram. After a PRAM reset (and a firmware flash), the faster Ram was recognized and working.

In your case, it's simpler. No firmware flash required.

Agreed. I have a 2009 Mac Pro that required a firmware flash up to 5,1 but that shouldn't apply to the mid-2010. The processor installation should handle the increased bus speed of the RAM, though that is that fastest clock supported by the recent iterations of the Mac Pro up through 2012.

 

[Studio K]

To summarize succinctly:

Either 1066 or 1333 Ram will work with either CPU (2.8 or 3.33 hex).

The slower CPU (2.8) will use the 1333 ram as if it's 1066, so it does work.

Your current RAM is supported by hex-core CPU, so there is no need to upgrade the ram if you don't want to.

 

[fotophil]

2010 Mac Pro Precessor Upgrade

So this means that my current processor board will work support the faster memory without any modifications. I wonder what the technician is thinking when he said that the memory slots on my existing processor board would not support faster memory. It sort of sounds like he is promoting his upgrade business by discouraging DIY folks with false information. Considering the $1600 cost of his upgrade service he seems that he has a fat profit margin since he keeps the original CPU. Pretty poor value service he is offering!!

Thanks

 

[mac666er]

I believe the only 'hardware change' required to enable faster 1333 Ram would be adding the new processor. No other changes required. It's a 2010 model, so the firmware is already in place to support faster ram.

Your current CPU (2.8) does not support 1333 Ram. You CAN install and use the faster ram with that CPU but it will only use up to 1066.

As far as I know, the w3680 six-core CPU supports 1333 Ram and 1066 Ram.

My experience is this: I installed a w3570 into a 2009 Mac Pro. I also installed 1333 Ram. After a PRAM reset (and a firmware flash), the faster Ram was recognized and working.

In your case, it's simpler. No firmware flash required.

Thirded, I do have 1333 MHz RAM. The only change I did to the Mac Pro is put in new processors that took advantage of the speed. No other hardware or software change needed. Plug and play

 

[Studio K]

So this means that my current processor board will work support the faster memory without any modifications. I wonder what the technician is thinking when he said that the memory slots on my existing processor board would not support faster memory. It sort of sounds like he is promoting his upgrade business by discouraging DIY folks with false information. Considering the $1600 cost of his upgrade service he seems that he has a fat profit margin since he keeps the original CPU. Pretty poor value service he is offering!!

Thanks

$1600?!!! Ouch. The CPU costs $600 at the most. The ram far less. The only other expense is thermal paste. That costs EVEN less than the Ram.

Do it yourself for less than half what he's asking. Only takes a couple of hours if you are meticulous.

 

[DPUser]

CPU swap takes 30-45 minutes if you are meticulous. 10-15 if you speed.

I am running 24 gigs of 1066 RAM with my hex 3.33 and it works perfectly. My research suggests nominal performance boost (1-3%) would result from a move to 1333 RAM.

I got my 3680 CPU at ProVantage for under $600 a year ago.

 

[JohnGrey]

So this means that my current processor board will work support the faster memory without any modifications. I wonder what the technician is thinking when he said that the memory slots on my existing processor board would not support faster memory. It sort of sounds like he is promoting his upgrade business by discouraging DIY folks with false information. Considering the $1600 cost of his upgrade service he seems that he has a fat profit margin since he keeps the original CPU. Pretty poor value service he is offering!!

Thanks

Yeah, that guy's a criminal, the kind that preys on first-timers or people that have no inclination to personal hardware upgrades, and they rely on their general lack of knowledge to bilk them out of serious coin. Sadly, both types of people are pretty common.

 

[fotophil]

2010 Mac Pro Upgrade

The $1600 cost is without RAM so the cost is even more excessive but the spreaing of false information is a bigger crime. It sure makes me wonder about the dealer who I thought used to provide value. The real vakue value to Mac Ussers comes from the MacRumors Forum!

Thanks

 

[ticotoo]

Upgrade it yourself

Check out the "Hex 3.2 update from 2010 quad 2.8 photos new! CPU to use!" thread by philipma1957. He went to a lot of work to document the process with photos. I upgraded my 2010 2.8 to a 3.33 hex not problems. I kept my 1066 memory & after the upgrade & reseting the PRAM the memory shows as 1333.
Anybody who quotes a $1600 price for doing the upgrade is ripping you off & I would not deal with them for anything.

 

[jasonvp]

Thirded, I do have 1333 MHz RAM. The only change I did to the Mac Pro is put in new processors that took advantage of the speed.

Yep. I did something similar. I upgraded my 2x2.4GHz 5,1 to 48GB of RAM first, and then upgraded the processors to 2x3.46GHz. The RAM I purchased was 1333MHz, but showed up as 1066MHz with the original Intel chips. As soon as the machine booted with the new chips, the memory showed up faster. See the before and after attachments.

 

[mcnallym]

Reading then this would be your process if you went with the $1600 option.

Release access latch on rear
Release latches on processor tray
Remove processor tray from mac pro

Ship processor tray to local technician
He transfers your ram to a processor tray already fitted with a w3680
He then ships the new processor tray back to you

Place new processor tray in you mac pro
Secure the latches
Reattach side and lock the rear access latch
Boot up mac pro.

Very simple to do, however no way can justify $1600 for that.
Do apple have any reporting system, as this is the sort of thing where apple gets a bad rep for being expensive.

It really isn't that difficult. Hardest part is cleaning off the old thermal paste and then adding the fresh paste evenly. There are certainly enough videos on you tube on how to do that as well.

 

[Studio K]

I believe that the 45 minutes it will take for you to swap the CPUs is worth the $1000 you'll save by doing it yourself.

 

[rabidz7]

I haven't upgraded mac pros, but from amd systems it takes 15min to pop out the CPU, put rum on the top, take off the thermal paste, stick it back in the socket, it should be the exact same on a Pro.

 

[fotophil]

2010 Mac Pro Upgrade

Thanks for the input and it sure seems that I should check in to doing my own upgrade. Does anyone know if Apple Care is valid after such a CPU Upgrade?
Perhaps keeping the old CPU is a good idea so the Mac Pro can be converted back to factory stock condition if Apple Service is required. When shopping for the new CPU is the proper identification "W3680 Xeon 3.33GH" sufficient or are there additional specifications? Provantage currently lists the processor for $585.83

Thanks again and I although in the past I have purchased most of my Mac supplies from this dealer, I need to re-evaluate him for future purchases and certainly avoid his Turnkey Mac Pro Processor Upgrade Program.

 

[jasonvp]

I haven't upgraded mac pros, but from amd systems it takes 15min to pop out the CPU, put rum on the top, take off the thermal paste, stick it back in the socket, it should be the exact same on a Pro.

It takes longer. The recessed hex bolts holding the heat sink/fan unit in the CPU take a bit of time to remove. It's not difficult at all, just a bit time consuming.

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Thanks for the input and it sure seems that I should check in to doing my own upgrade. Does anyone know if Apple Care is valid after such a CPU Upgrade?

Almost assuredly null and void after you do the upgrade. If you're digging into CPU swaps and whatnot, what's the concern re: Apple Care? Just fix whatever breaks yourself? ...

 

[Macsonic]

Thanks for the input and it sure seems that I should check in to doing my own upgrade. Does anyone know if Apple Care is valid after such a CPU Upgrade?

Maybe another option is wait for your Applecare to expire then do the upgrade on your processor. Normally, for repairs Apple always does a MRI on the machine and they may detect if your CPUs have been changed. An Apple service center told me Apple changed their repair policies and now requires MRI performed per repair.

 

[G-Mo]

Maybe another option is wait for your Applecare to expire then do the upgrade on your processor. Normally, for repairs Apple always does a MRI on the machine and they may detect if your CPUs have been changed. An Apple service center told me Apple changed their repair policies and now requires MRI performed per repair.

MRI must be performed before all repairs (unless machine does not boot, then it must be documented), and MRI run again after all repairs. Other diagnostics (NAD, Storage, Trackpad, etc) as required.

Upgrading the CPU will definitely void your AppleCare, and any RAM upgrades will be warrantied by the manufacturer, not Apple.

 

[fotophil]

2010 Mac Pro Upgrade

The Apple Care would be invalid no matter who did the CPU changeout but if I reinstalled my old 2,8 GZ CPU would th Apple MIR test be able to detect the difference? I would love to find a 2010 6 core Mac Pro in the Apple Refurb Program but there have been a couple 2012 Units but no 2010 Units. I need a 2010 Mac Pro because I need to run 10.6.8 to support my RIP Program.

 

[MacUser2525]

The Apple Care would be invalid no matter who did the CPU changeout but if I reinstalled my old 2,8 GZ CPU would th Apple MIR test be able to detect the difference?

Highly doubt it mine where I have done the swap is still under warranty for another 2 years if it ever dies in that time frame I am going to put back in the old cpu, ram and video card if still dead then back to Apple it goes.

 

[G-Mo]

The Apple Care would be invalid no matter who did the CPU changeout but if I reinstalled my old 2,8 GZ CPU would th Apple MIR test be able to detect the difference? I would love to find a 2010 6 core Mac Pro in the Apple Refurb Program but there have been a couple 2012 Units but no 2010 Units. I need a 2010 Mac Pro because I need to run 10.6.8 to support my RIP Program.

MRI won't detect it, but, if they were determined to find out, visual inspection and/or OS logs would reveal it.

 

[fotophil]

2010 Mac Pro Upgrade

Keeping the stock CPU, RAM, etc sounds like a good plan for a visit to the Apple Service Center. Do you suppose Apple could look at the thermal paste in the re-installed CPU and determine that it wasn't a factory installation? Are there any factory specs covering the torque of the bolts holding the heat sink that they could measure?
Thanks again