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Can you replace the power supply in a MacPro with a more powerful one?

I

i make movies

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 9, 2007
176
20
If not, why?

I am assuming you can't because all those threads about gtx Titans and 580s frying boards would have at least suggested it.

Thanks.
 
I'm sure it's possible, but it may be better use of resources if you use a 2nd (external) power source to power any cards that can't use the standard source.
 
It isn't the amount of juice the MP power supply puts out, rather it is the ratings of the traces on the boards that carry that power.

A secondary power supply in the spare optical bay is the simplest and best way to feed a new and power-hungry card.
 
DanielCoffey said:
It isn't the amount of juice the MP power supply puts out, rather it is the ratings of the traces on the boards that carry that power.

A secondary power supply in the spare optical bay is the simplest and best way to feed a new and power-hungry card.
Click to expand...

x2, the PSU is powerful, however the weak link is the PCI-E power is routed through traces on the mobo.
 
Not an answer, but, how many watts is the current Mac Pro PSU?

Just curious.
 
I’m pretty sure the Mac Pro power supply is 980 watt PEAK. Continuous is prolly around 800. Notice that nobody builds HD power supplies for the Mac Pro, whereas you can get all sorts of power supplies for PCs; up to 1200 Watt continuous. Some of them even have LEDs and pretty fans.
I would like to build a HD power supply for my 5,1 – not because I need more power (single Radeon 5870). My standard power supply is adequate. BUT, if I had 1000 watts continuous I would be operating at a much lower percentage of the power supply’s capacity, hence more efficiency & less heat. ALSO, a good power supply would likely have less ripple & noise, and tighter tolerances on the DC outputs (tho Apple does not report this data, so who knows?), hence less stress on the components.
Other advantages would include the possibility of dedicated leads for video cards, SATA drives, even Molex connectors for pretty fans.
I think the biggest problem with porting over an ATX power supply has got to be the two temperature sensors for the (separate) fan speed control through the mainboard SMC. Without these temperature signals, the SMC would likely go into ‘panic mode’ & destroy the city.
Any thoughts?
 
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