Nice to know other people are doing the same. I recently built a 2009 Mac pro using a Core i7 950 and corsair memory, i got all my parts, except the case from www.applecomponents.com. It only cost me $1100 since i already owned the cpu and memory.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Build a Mac Pro with replacement parts?!
- Thread starter fairbanx
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I actually abandoned my project ideas. living in germany, the effective costs (shipping form us and tax included) were at the end not attractive enough.
But: I recently bought from Amazon (France) the last two Mac Pro (early 2009) they had in stock for 1.540 /each. This was a nice deal, because Apple (Germany) still sell them refurbished at a 1.950 price tag. Selling one of my purchased Mac Pro's will make the other one even more affordable. I also think about selling both, and order the 2010 model with a 12% student discount.
But one problem remains: I can't convince my wife, neither to keep one 2009 model, nor order the 2010 model
. That's because of other needed investments.
Actually, I look at two Mac Pro in my living room, but still can't use one of them. That's what I'm really struggling with.
But: I recently bought from Amazon (France) the last two Mac Pro (early 2009) they had in stock for 1.540 /each. This was a nice deal, because Apple (Germany) still sell them refurbished at a 1.950 price tag. Selling one of my purchased Mac Pro's will make the other one even more affordable. I also think about selling both, and order the 2010 model with a 12% student discount.
But one problem remains: I can't convince my wife, neither to keep one 2009 model, nor order the 2010 model
. That's because of other needed investments.Actually, I look at two Mac Pro in my living room, but still can't use one of them. That's what I'm really struggling with.
I don't think the project is viable because you wouldn't have any warranty on the motherboard and stuff. You certainly won't get any support from Apple since you don't have serial number.
It's fun, but that's it. I had disassemble rebuild my Mac Pro. Very easy, but I don't think I would have done it, if I have to procure all the parts myself.
If you can't convince your wife then return them?
Or you could lie and tell her the one you want isn't returnable… I don't know about the long term effects on that.
It's fun, but that's it. I had disassemble rebuild my Mac Pro. Very easy, but I don't think I would have done it, if I have to procure all the parts myself.
I actually abandoned my project ideas. living in germany, the effective costs (shipping form us and tax included) were at the end not attractive enough.
But: I recently bought from Amazon (France) the last two Mac Pro (early 2009) they had in stock for 1.540 €/each. This was a nice deal, because Apple (Germany) still sell them refurbished at a 1.950 € price tag. Selling one of my purchased Mac Pro's will make the other one even more affordable. I also think about selling both, and order the 2010 model with a 12% student discount.
But one problem remains: I can't convince my wife, neither to keep one 2009 model, nor order the 2010 model
Actually, I look at two Mac Pro in my living room, but still can't use one of them. That's what I'm really struggling with.
If you can't convince your wife then return them?
Or you could lie and tell her the one you want isn't returnable… I don't know about the long term effects on that.
Wow, I had no idea. Do you have to replace the ECC ram with non-ECC? Can you plop an i7 into a 2010 MP base model? (2.8 quad Xeon Nehalem I think).
I always see stories of people replacing their Xeons with server-pulled Xeons and engineering sample Xeons, and all the trouble associated with that (hard to find, also the affixed heatsinks). I didn't know you could just drop a retail i7 in there.
OT: I'm just looking for buyers. I bought them cheap to sell them, but then thought about to keep one; to return them is not an option, likewise to lie isn't.
Maybe, I'll find a solution...So can someone please 100% confirm a few things about the Quad upgrades on Quad 2009 Mac Pro's please.
1. On a Quad 2.66GHz 2009 Mac Pro can I drop in an i7 975 3.33GHz Retail chip
2. If above works will I then need to put in non-ECC Ram due to the i7 not properly running with ECC ram (or at least stable)?
3. Will the profiler on the Mac register it as a Xeon or i7?
If you have performed the above (or any i7 for that matter!) please confirm in reply.
Thanks.
1. On a Quad 2.66GHz 2009 Mac Pro can I drop in an i7 975 3.33GHz Retail chip
2. If above works will I then need to put in non-ECC Ram due to the i7 not properly running with ECC ram (or at least stable)?
3. Will the profiler on the Mac register it as a Xeon or i7?
If you have performed the above (or any i7 for that matter!) please confirm in reply.
Thanks.
Yes.
Yes. i7 does not support ECC RAM thus you need to replace your RAm with non-ECC RAM
I think it would be recognized as i7 because it's i7. That can be changed by modifying a file
I would get Xeon instead. It costs little more but when you add the price of new RAM, it shouldn't be much more
Great to see other people are building their own Mac Pro from parts. Because I am about to attempt this feat. I will be building a Mac Pro4,1 (early 2009) and will document the experience online. Never done anything like this before...in fact I've been terrified to open my present computer for fear of messing it up. . I will leave a link to where I will keep my progress. (Link to come shortly.) I would very much to hear feedback from people who have done this in the past with tips or tricks and what to do's and what not to do's. Wish me luck! I just very well be nuts!
metcalfe
. I will leave a link to where I will keep my progress. (Link to come shortly.) I would very much to hear feedback from people who have done this in the past with tips or tricks and what to do's and what not to do's. Wish me luck! I just very well be nuts!metcalfe
Great to see other people are building their own Mac Pro from parts. Because I am about to attempt this feat. I will be building a Mac Pro4,1 (early 2009) and will document the experience online. Never done anything like this before...in fact I've been terrified to open my present computer for fear of messing it up.
metcalfe
You may head to here to have a look on the detail and FYI i've completed the project by assembly a full working MacPro 4.1 (2009) Octo with Retail version of OEM intel Xeon W5590 3.33Ghz i've even had the whole process on FB just read through the thread and there are link for it.
Have fun.
You may head to here to have a look on the detail and FYI i've completed the project by assembly a full working MacPro 4.1 (2009) Octo with Retail version of OEM intel Xeon W5590 3.33Ghz i've even had the whole process on FB just read through the thread and there are link for it.
Have fun.
Do, you have a link for your FB build?
You can head here for my Mac Pro 2009 project.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26683&id=100000988159185
Beautiful build!!!
Can you help me understand a few things. Why did you have to use washers to add height and why did you have to redo the thermal pads? Is it because of the type of processors you used? If I use x5570 2.93s will I have to add spacers and a new pad? Thanks!
Also, where did you get all your screws and nuts from?
fairbanx: Thanks
I've include the washers so that i wont be over tighten and damage the socket 1366 pins. The retail Intel Xeon have the IHS which increased the original height of the processor about 1.7mm-2mm as the Apple Processor doesn't come with IHS.
Here are a picture from AnandTech Mac Pro 2009 CPU upgrade project.
The 2mm Thermal Pad use because of the increased in height from the Washer.
Yes if you use retail Intel Processor you have to use Washer and extra Thermal Pad.
Here is the original Apple Processor and the Intel Retail.
Apple Custom Processor 
Intel retail Processor
On the screw and nuts its come together with the parts.
I've include the washers so that i wont be over tighten and damage the socket 1366 pins. The retail Intel Xeon have the IHS which increased the original height of the processor about 1.7mm-2mm as the Apple Processor doesn't come with IHS.
Here are a picture from AnandTech Mac Pro 2009 CPU upgrade project.
The 2mm Thermal Pad use because of the increased in height from the Washer.
Yes if you use retail Intel Processor you have to use Washer and extra Thermal Pad.
Here is the original Apple Processor and the Intel Retail.
Apple Custom Processor Intel retail ProcessorOn the screw and nuts its come together with the parts.
Last edited:
fairbanx: Thanks
I've include the washers so that i wont be over tighten and damage the socket 1366 pins. The retail Intel Xeon have the IHS which increased the original height of the processor about 1.7mm-2mm as the Apple Processor doesn't come with IHS.
Here are a picture from AnandTech Mac Pro 2009 CPU upgrade project.
View attachment 266608
The 2mm Thermal Pad use because of the increased in height from the Washer.
Yes if you use retail Intel Processor you have to use Washer and extra Thermal Pad.
Here is the original Apple Processor and the Intel Retail.
View attachment 266609Apple Custom Processor View attachment 266610Intel retail Processor
On the screw and nuts its come together with the parts.
Thanks for the quick reply. I am going for the exact same build as yours so you are a huge help! Are the W5590s crazy fast? Would you notice a difference versus the X5570s?
Sorry if this question is basic, but do I have to use thermal pads AND thermal paste for the W5590s? And where did you buy your thermal pads and your W5590s from?
So far this is what I have and what I have spent:
2009 Chasis with power supply and fans (ebay $190 NEW)
2009 8 core processor daughter board 661-4998 (ebay $299 NEW)
076-1329 Heatsink A & 076-1330 Heatsink B (ebay $300 both NEW)
early 2009 Apple Service Manual (found it free online)
--------------------------------------------------
total so far: ($789)
things still needed:
076-1344 Processor Tray (see one on ebay for $24 NEW)
661-4996 Backplane Board (found for sale for $295 NEW)
922-9006 Blutooth Card
Airport Card
24GB Ram from OWC
HardDrives not sure yet
Optical Drives not sure yet...might look into bluray option
Power Cord
Mac Pro Restore Disks
HD5870 ATI Video Card (haven't looked at prices yet)
and finally the heart of project...cpus either X5570s or W5590s (wasn't aware of the W5590s option until I saw feins build.
Making good progress so far, but I need to find a good deal on the processors and I have been reading a little about d0 stepping (still not sure what that is) and Engineering Samples, and the nightmares they cause people. So I am a little intimidated, but that's the last thing I will buy because people have warned me that I need to be able to test the processors as soon are you get them so I know if they work.
Is this even cost effective doing for the dual processor versions? I understand using an i7 would be cheaper for the single cpu, but how much savings are we talking with the dual cpus?