4,1 Processor Upgrade install help

[AkuskaUK]

Hey guys, sorry about the late reply... uni is taking its toll at the moment!

Hey, chap!

I need to make a point of grabbing a pint with you more often.

There is nothing but good things to say about Cal(6n), and he clearly has a lot of knowledge on the subject! I'd love to hear about this if you take up his offer... I may well fly out just to see it.

Ild love it if he could help me Pints are very welcome!

I was over in shanklin last year though if I'd packed my tools the missus would have gone nuts lol. I'm near M25 J6 if you're passing and done all bar the 3,1. Work getting a bit crazy thanks to XP popping it's clogs in 67 days though and I'm rarely down Pompey way, you would have to be coming my way.

Though I've stripped plenty of kit over 25 years - for Mac Pro's my CPU upgrade skills I shamelessly leeched from this place - thanks go out to every single one of you people!

I actually live in Portsmouth now, near Eastney (Po4 8LW)

I have to ask, what is the clock speed of your current quad-cores? Will you be doing anything that can actually exploit 12 cores? If not, this could end up being a downgrade for you.

Don't be fooled by flashy Geekbench numbers -- for most tasks, it's that single-threaded performance that really counts. That said, I did this myself for my home Mac Pro and it's a tremendous upgrade (granted I do bioinformatics research, so I need those cores).

I have dual 2.26Ghz, the baseline 8-core Mac Pro so any speed improvement will be appreciated, if it wasn't the 12 cores; i may go for faster quads.

 

[cal6n]

Hey guys, sorry about the late reply... uni is taking its toll at the moment!



Ild love it if he could help me Pints are very welcome!

Feel free to PM me.

I actually live in Portsmouth now, near Eastney (Po4 8LW)

I could probably visit, weather permitting, as long as my petrol (and beer ) costs were covered.

I have dual 2.26Ghz, the baseline 8-core Mac Pro so any speed improvement will be appreciated, if it wasn't the 12 cores; i may go for faster quads.

Faster quads would be a more cost-effective option than slower hexes for most applications.

 

[AkuskaUK]

Feel free to PM me.



I could probably visit, weather permitting, as long as my petrol (and beer ) costs were covered.



Faster quads would be a more cost-effective option than slower hexes for most applications.

Petrol and beer will be paid for I know a great pub! Recommendations for faster quads for a DP setup? Thanks again!

 

[cal6n]

These were the top BTO option for your Mac Pro when it was current:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400618838101?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Cheap as chips...

For a little more, you can go to the highest official clock speed for any Mac Pro 4,1 or 5,1 with a pair of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121260885133?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Either of these will be equally happy with 1333 MHz RAM using the 5,1 firmware upgrade or staying with the 1066 MHz RAM and the stock 4,1 firmware. The equivalent hex cores are well over twice the price, if you can find them.

 

[AkuskaUK]

These were the top BTO option for your Mac Pro when it was current:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400618838101?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Cheap as chips...

For a little more, you can go to the highest official clock speed for any Mac Pro 4,1 or 5,1 with a pair of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121260885133?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Either of these will be equally happy with 1333 MHz RAM using the 5,1 firmware upgrade or staying with the 1066 MHz RAM and the stock 4,1 firmware. The equivalent hex cores are well over twice the price, if you can find them.

The 3.33GHz versions it will be then! I need the Mac for Audio production and some gaming (DayZ, BF3/4, ARMA3), I've not seen them before at that price though :S, if i order two of them... will they work?

 

[cal6n]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/781908/

Should be fine, correctly assembled.

Make sure you read to at least page 3...

*edit* I'd probably be cheaky and offer £250 for a pair.

 

[AkuskaUK]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/781908/

Should be fine, correctly assembled.

Make sure you read to at least page 3...

*edit* I'd probably be cheaky and offer £250 for a pair.

Thank you! I may do that when i have the funds I still may be contacting you for beers and installs though!

 

[cal6n]

Thank you! I may do that when i have the funds I still may be contacting you for beers and installs though!

OK. Just bear in mind that I don't ride that far in the rain.

 

[Thomaspin]

If anyone is interested, here is another source from netkas with some useful info on 2009 DP upgrade. I have to chuckle with his special mention of Thomaspin's blog, pretty good stuff and some useful links provided.

Thank you (I think) for that link. I have written the forum moderator at Netkas and asked that the many libelous statements directed at me for no know reason be removed.

A couple of quick points to correct the misinformation about my upgrade techniques at Netkas for the benefit of MacRumors readers who may be mislead by them:

The X5680 3.33 GHz 6/12 core CPUs used by Apple in the 2012 MPs have the same 130 watt TDP as the earlier W5590 8-cores I used. The 2009, 2010 and 2012 MPs use identical power supplies. There is no question of the MP's PSU being overloaded with 130 watt TDP CPUs, otherwise Apple would not have used them in the 2012 MPs.

At the time I wrote my original piece on CPU upgrades the W5580 was more attractively priced. Now that the X5650 and X5660 12-cores have come down in price those are what I now recommend. Nothing I offer in my upgrade service is not also set forth in my free articles. Only those truly uncomfortable doing the work themselves use that service and judging from my correspondence dozens, probably hundreds, have followed my writings without any failures reported.

My heat sink fans run faster than stock as I set them to do so, to cool the hot running Northbridge chip, as I explain in one of my pieces. This has nothing to do with the CPU upgrade, as falsely stated by the person at Netkas.

I detail in length why the use of stand-off washers for the heat sinks in the modified 2009 dual CPU MP is not the palliative many believe - first link above. The main bugaboo here is the differing levels of stiction/friction in the fan assembly retaining bolts which make 'feel' a risky proposition. Nowhere do I make the statement - falsely attributed to me by the writer of that scurrilous post - that washers should not be used because they 'rattle'.

So for those questioning my techniques I am only too happy to learn from you, just drop me a line. I will be the first to admit error where I am guilty and will be pleased to update what I have written.

The purpose of this post is to correct libelous statements made about my upgrade techniques stated over at Netkas, thus setting the record straight.

 

[Macsonic]

Thank you (I think) for that link. I have written the forum moderator at Netkas and asked that the many libelous statements directed at me for no know reason be removed.

A couple of quick points to correct the misinformation about my upgrade techniques at Netkas for the benefit of MacRumors readers who may be mislead by them:

The X5680 3.33 GHz 6/12 core CPUs used by Apple in the 2012 MPs have the same 130 watt TDP as the earlier W5590 8-cores I used. The 2009, 2010 and 2012 MPs use identical power supplies. There is no question of the MP's PSU being overloaded with 130 watt TDP CPUs, otherwise Apple would not have used them in the 2012 MPs.

At the time I wrote my original piece on CPU upgrades the W5580 was more attractively priced. Now that the X5650 and X5660 12-cores have come down in price those are what I now recommend. Nothing I offer in my upgrade service is not also set forth in my free articles. Only those truly uncomfortable doing the work themselves use that service and judging from my correspondence dozens, probably hundreds, have followed my writings without any failures reported.

My heat sink fans run faster than stock as I set them to do so, to cool the hot running Northbridge chip, as I explain in one of my pieces. This has nothing to do with the CPU upgrade, as falsely stated by the person at Netkas.

I detail in length why the use of stand-off washers for the heat sinks in the modified 2009 dual CPU MP is not the palliative many believe - first link above. The main bugaboo here is the differing levels of stiction/friction in the fan assembly retaining bolts which make 'feel' a risky proposition. Nowhere do I make the statement - falsely attributed to me by the writer of that scurrilous post - that washers should not be used because they 'rattle'.

So for those questioning my techniques I am only too happy to learn from you, just drop me a line. I will be the first to admit error where I am guilty and will be pleased to update what I have written.

The purpose of this post is to correct libelous statements made about my upgrade techniques stated over at Netkas, thus setting the record straight.

Hi Thomaspin. I think the Newbie guy at Netkas is wrong in making those negative statements about your blog. It's not fair and inappropriate. And he should have contacted you privately to clarify which is more professional. There were many 130watt cpus that have been used in the classic Mac Pros with no problems.

 

[flowrider]

There is no question of the MP's PSU being overloaded with 130 watt TDP CPUs, otherwise Apple would not have used them in the 2012 MPs.

At the time I wrote my original piece on CPU upgrades the W5580 was more attractively priced. Now that the X5650 and X5660 12-cores have come down in price those are what I now recommend.

I believe Thomaspin to be a very valuable member of this forum, in fact his DIY was my inspiration for installing W5590s in my 2010 Mac Pro, and I have praised him often on these forums. However, I do take exception to his statement above.

It is my opinion, that for normal everyday tasks on a Mac Pro, processor speed is more important than the number of cores. The six core X5650 and X5660 are rated at 2.67 GHz and 2.8 GHz respectively, while the four core W5590 is rated at 3.33 GHz. If your just seeking higher GeekBench scores, than no question the two six core chip CPUs will show higher scores, but, again IMO, for the tasks that most of us are doing 2 faster four Core CPUs (Eight Cores Total) will perform better than 2 slower six core (Twelve Cores Total) CPUs.

Look at all the discussion about the number of cores available on the nMP. Most members here seem to agree that the sweet spot for that machine is the six core option.

Lou

 

[AkuskaUK]

I've been reading about i7's in a Mac Pro... Can these be installed in a DP version?

 

[MacUser2525]

I've been reading about i7's in a Mac Pro... Can these be installed in a DP version?

No dual qpi processors only.

 

[rpseguin]

Trust me, there is no danger of stress. It is mathematically inconsequential. Whether you use washers or not will have no effect on the stability or longevity of the system.

Your rant is over the top and totally unwarranted. I would argue that this kind of overreaction is just as egregious as bad advice. If you want to discuss the actual risks of this with a mechanical engineer from a certain renowned Institute, feel free to PM me.

@the OP and others considering this upgrade, if you want to use washers, go ahead. I never said you couldn't or shouldn't. Do it if you're not comfortable. I just said that it is totally unnecessary, which it is. Unless you have Hulk strength and don't know it or don't have feeling in your hands, you'll be fine.

I agree with you.
I just ordered a pair of Xeon X5675 6 core CPUs. They are lidded, so I'm going to just be careful on the re-installation of the MacPro heatsink/fans, but I am curious as to what pads people are using for adjusting the height difference and connecting the heatsink to the temperature sensors.

I'm going to upgrade my 2009 2.26GHz 8 core to a 3.06GHz 12 core. I already flashed it to a 5,1 long ago so that I could benefit from the faster DDR3 I have.
What heat spreader/pad are you using for making contact now that the height will be higher?

Thanks!

 

[Henninges]

im just finished with my upgrade from single cpu 4.1->5.1 to dual cpu.
i use two different cpu's : the one with IHS from my old single board, the other i shoot on ebay for just €20.

i used also the washer method to prevent to much pressure to the cpu socket.

after 4,5 turns on each screw, it looks tight enough and the cooler sits perfectly on the cpu.

the thermal pad i use is a stripe of 5mm thick and 5mm wide, it covers the VR completely.

i also installed the banks 5-8, each with 2gig ecc, but the ram in the banks are not recognized.
when i change to bank 1-4, they are...

any tips ?

 

[ActionableMango]

im just finished with my upgrade from single cpu 4.1->5.1 to dual cpu.
i use two different cpu's : the one with IHS from my old single board, the other i shoot on ebay for just €20.

i used also the washer method to prevent to much pressure to the cpu socket.

after 4,5 turns on each screw, it looks tight enough and the cooler sits perfectly on the cpu.

the thermal pad i use is a stripe of 5mm thick and 5mm wide, it covers the VR completely.

i also installed the banks 5-8, each with 2gig ecc, but the ram in the banks are not recognized.
when i change to bank 1-4, they are...

any tips ?

In the past some people here who have had that problem fixed it by adjusting the pressure on one corner or the other, which suggests that uneven pressure prevents some RAM slots from working.

I've also seen people receive damaged boards in the first place, so hopefully you tested the board before swapping processors.

This is one of the reasons why I chose the delidding method and just tighten down the screws until they shoulder on the stops. (Yes delidding has its own risks too, but so far I haven't seen anyone report wrecking a CPU using the vice method.)

 

[Henninges]

the board looks okay...of course i cant see any little damage.

i see after i post the reply, that the "error" led's on the board a flashing red for these banks...

means, that they are not recognized...so tighten a bit more or loose the screws a little bit more ?

edit : i just loosen one of the screws, now the ram is fully recognized...thanks ActionableMango

new issue : running a short benchmark, the pro suddenly power off...

could it be the power supply ? i have the dual cpu board from another mac pro 4.1, are there differences in the wattage of having the single or dual processor board ?

 

[ActionableMango]

could it be the power supply ? i have the dual cpu board from another mac pro 4.1, are there differences in the wattage of having the single or dual processor board ?

AFAIK, there is no difference in power supply wattage between the single and dual processor models. And you are not the first person to do a single to dual CPU board upgrade.