2010 MacPro upgrade option

[Bug-Creator]

So there is this 2010 2.8GHz quadcore I just bought (will pick it up later this evening) and while it should be sufficient for some year to come I'd still like to push it in some corners.

- USB3, just buy any PCIe card or do I need something specific ?
- it's only 1 CPU and I can't really upgrade to a 2nd (making it 8 or 12core) ?
- RAM is limited to 48GB (16GB allready installed so not really a current issue) ?

I also have a 60GB SSD I might want to put to use here. Can I somehow merge it with the installed 1TB HDD to a fusion drive ?
If not whats yout opion and Seagate's Hyprid drives (have a smaller/older one in the G5 but that ain't used for OSX) ?

 

[flowrider]

All your questions are answered in this forum in spades. The Search Function works GREAT. You should learn how to use it.

This is a good place to start for your first question:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-3-x-pcie-cards-for-classic-mac-pro.1501482/

Lou

 

[owbp]

You should browse the topics, since every other is about upgrading 4,1-5,1 Mac Pro, but these are the things i can help you with:
- USB3, Inateck KT4004 is basic and cheap plug & play option that most of us have;
- You can upgrade it but it involves changing the daughterboard on your MP, you'll have to buy one with dual CPU slots;
- regarding RAM, max is 64GB if you're using a dual-processor-capable Xeon (X56xx) or 56GB if you're using single-processor-capable Xeon (W36xx). If you buy dual processor daughterboard, max RAM is 128GB.

I can't help you with fusion drives, since i never used one, but you'll find plenty of topics on that if you search "diy fusion drive" here or on the www.

 

[Andy2k]

You can use any standard SATA SSD as your primary boot drive. The only caveat is it's built for 3.5" SATA drive. You'll have to buy an additional drive tray that fits a 2.5" SATA drive. You can find them at Amazon or eBay for pretty cheap. I have a 500 GB PNY SSD as my primary boot drive and an 1 TB HDD for extra storage in my 2010 MP. I can't recommend a hybrid drive. I have a computer with one and I can't tell the difference between it and a standard HDD. Just go with an SSD you won't be disappointed and you can get a 240 GB SSD for about $60.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Allready created a Fusion drive with the 60GB SSD and a 1TB HD, SSD mounted wth the normal 3.5 bay. Stable enough for a stationery computer.

As for the hybrid drives, guess they just don't work woth an OS bigger thme the SSD cache and swapping.

 

[CapnDavey]

A friend of mine has one of those seagate hybrid drives in his I Mac he says it works great

 

[flowrider]

^^^^I have one, it's definitely faster than my other WD Black HDD. But no where near as fast as any of my 5 SSDs. 2 of which are mounted in the HDD bays.

Lou