MP 1,1-5,1 cMP 2009 Single to Dual CPU Upgrade

[s.m.t.]

I just purchased a dual CPU tray to upgrade my single X5690. I am planning on purchasing a second X5690. I see the two methods available to me is to have them de-lidded or to use spacers and a thicker thermal pad.

If I go the de-lid route, who is the best service to have the work done. I don't plan to attempt it myself...

Which is the safest, most reliable path?

 

[majus]

You can buy them already de-lidded on eBay.

 

[s.m.t.]

You can buy them already de-lidded on eBay.

I found a seller who sells them delidded in pairs... Thing is I already have one, but maybe reselling my single CPU tray with a X5690 would be more desirable...

 

[majus]

I found a seller who sells them delidded in pairs... Thing is I already have one, but maybe reselling my single CPU tray with a X5690 would be more desirable...

It definitely would add the value.

 

[s.m.t.]

Think I will do that then, I want o resell the single CPU tray to recover some expense...

Do you know, when I put the dual socket tray in, will I have to reflash the 5,1 firmware?

 

[tsialex]

Think I will do that then, I want o resell the single CPU tray to recover some expense...

Do you know, when I put the dual socket tray in, will I have to reflash the 5,1 firmware?

No, Mac Pro firmware, the BootROM, is stored only in the SPI flash of the backplane.

SMC is divided, both on the backplane and tray, but we can't update it, only Apple and they never did it.

 

[s.m.t.]

No, Mac Pro firmware, the BootROM, is stored only in the SPI flash of the backplane.

SMC is divided, both on the backplane and tray, but we can't update it, only Apple and they never did it.

Great! Thanks, should be plug and pray then.

 

[Macschrauber]

Keep the single processor boad until all is working decently. When finished you will get a good price for the board, or stock it as a spare part.
[doublepost=1567195493][/doublepost]

You can buy them already de-lidded on eBay.

I have seen delidded xeons what were really bad done. Glue is not cut on the outside. Even just Xeons with ripped off heatspreader and no polishing of the remaining heat plate.

 

[s.m.t.]

Keep the single processor boad until all is working decently. When finished you will get a good price for the board, or stock it as a spare part.
[doublepost=1567195493][/doublepost]

I have seen delidded xeons what were really bad done. Glue is not cut on the outside. Even just Xeons with ripped off heatspreader and no polishing of the remaining heat plate.

Thats a good point going this route I can swap them with out touching my current CPU and be sure all is well.

I purchased from here:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/163833133519

 

[Macschrauber]

The heat plate looks good. But you should cut the glue if they make contact to the square plastic spacer.

 

[Slash-2CPU]

Not putting the plastic spacers back doesn’t matter unless you put the heatsink on in a very un-level way.

I delidded mine using a vice. It’s very important to get all the solder off the CPU die. You can leave the glue alone, but putting the plastic spacers on top of the glue will absolutely damage the socket and/or the CPU. Just can’t leave glue and use spacers.

 

[s.m.t.]

I haven't seen a dual socket tray yet in person. I guess it will make sense when I see it, but there is a spacer that goes over the cpu around the die?

 

[Slash-2CPU]

I haven't seen a dual socket tray yet in person. I guess it will make sense when I see it, but there is a spacer that goes over the cpu around the die?

Yep. See here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrading-mac-pro-4-1-to-2-x-3-46ghz-x5690.2118941/

If you put the spacer on top of glue, it sits too tall. When u tighten down the heatsink, it will crush the socket.

 

[s.m.t.]

Gotcha, thanks for the link! The one of the sellers pictures shows it being pretty flush, but will see when I get them...

 

[tpivette89]

Yep. See here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrading-mac-pro-4-1-to-2-x-3-46ghz-x5690.2118941/

If you put the spacer on top of glue, it sits too tall. When u tighten down the heatsink, it will crush the socket.

This is not true. I have installed 4 different CPUs (X5690, X5677, X5650, X5675) in a dual tray 4,1 and never removed the "glue" on the delidded CPU. Never had any issues or ran into that problem.

 

[Slash-2CPU]

This is not true. I have installed 4 different CPUs (X5690, X5677, X5650, X5675) in a dual tray 4,1 and never removed the "glue" on the delidded CPU. Never had any issues or ran into that problem.

Clearly you didn’t install the plastic spacer or read the whole post. Glue is ok. Spacer is ok. Glue+spacer is not ok.

 

[tpivette89]

Clearly you didn’t install the plastic spacer or read the whole post. Glue is ok. Spacer is ok. Glue+spacer is not ok.

I read it in its entirety. I have PERSONALLY installed 4 different delidded CPUs in my own Mac Pro 4,1 dual CPU tray with BOTH the glue present and the spacer installed. Never crushed the sockets. In fact, the dual X5677s that currently reside in my 4,1 are running as such.

 

[Slash-2CPU]

I read it in its entirety. I have PERSONALLY installed 4 different delidded CPUs in my own Mac Pro 4,1 dual CPU tray with BOTH the glue present and the spacer installed. Never crushed the sockets. In fact, the dual X5677s that currently reside in my 4,1 are running as such.

At the very least, the additional height around the CPU die causes poor contact between die and heatsink. Not good for temperatures.

 

[s.m.t.]

CPUs arrived... They look really good judging from other pictures I have seen, no raised glue so I should be good there...

Just waiting on the tray to arrive now...

 

[s.m.t.]

Got my dual cpu board in... CPUs installed without a hitch... Now to stress test...

 

[s.m.t.]

Temps look great after 15min of running prime95...

 

[s.m.t.]

For anyone else who might be on the fence about going from single to dual CPUs, time to render 2400 previews in Capture One dropped from ~2 hours to ~1 hour...

I got the board with 2.26GHz CPUs for $200 and paid $275 for a pair of delidded X5690s... Hope to be able to sell my single board with a X5690 to recoup some of the cost, but so far I would say it was well worth the upgrade...