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MP 1,1-5,1 cMP & nMP {MacPro 4,1 & 5,1} Memory Upgrade Compatibility and FAQ

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Let the benchmarks below speak for themselves. There is no penalty using 4th slot with RDIMMS.

58GB - 16x16x16x8 @1333mhz
https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/8813349

48GB - 16x16x16 @ 1333mhz
https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/8807752

Apple never shipped with R-DIMMS. OWC doesn't sell R-DIMMS. R-DIMMS don't work in 99% of desktop PC's. Why? It was generally too expensive. Ebay is flooded with pulls from decommissioned servers and it's dirt cheap.
 
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handheldgames said:
Let the benchmarks below speak for themselves. There is no penalty using 4th slot with RDIMMS.

58GB - 16x16x16x8 @1333mhz
https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/8813349

48GB - 16x16x16 @ 1333mhz
https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/8807752

Apple never shipped with R-DIMMS. OWC doesn't sell R-DIMMS. R-DIMMS don't work in 99% of desktop PC's. Why? It was generally too expensive. Ebay is flooded with pulls from decommissioned servers and it's dirt cheap.
Click to expand...
Thank you sir, that's exactly the answer I needed (assuming the 4th is a 16gb as well)
Last opinion in this clarification would be do you think I'll actively USE this much for Logic and comparatively light gaming?
Or would 48GB be enough (I find it hard to believe I'm even asking this when 20 years ago I was a showoff with a 4GB Hard Drive! :) ) or just go the 64 anyway because what the hell, it's cheap?
Actually, just found this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-64...sh=item51f897d902:g:aEwAAOSww9xZHsWp#viTabs_0
Yes/No?
 
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KXB17 said:
Thank you sir, that's exactly the answer I needed (assuming the 4th is a 16gb as well)
Last opinion in this clarification would be do you think I'll actively USE this much for Logic and comparatively light gaming?
Or would 48GB be enough (I find it hard to believe I'm even asking this when 20 years ago I was a showoff with a 4GB Hard Drive! :) ) or just go the 64 anyway because what the hell, it's cheap?
Actually, just found this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-64...sh=item51f897d902:g:aEwAAOSww9xZHsWp#viTabs_0
Yes/No?
Click to expand...

You're welcome...
1st off, there is no such thing as too much RAM. Secondly.. I agree - what hell it's cheap. It was only 2 months ago that I replaced 4x8GB of DDR3 ram running @1066 with the 2r4 because I wanted a larger ramdisk and it's damn cheap. lol. I paid $600 for 40MB for an 840av. For the principle alone I had to upgrade - look... no swap.... lol

screenshot7-10-186.20 PM.png
 
handheldgames said:
1st off, there is no such thing as too much RAM or running without virtual memory. Secondly.. I agree - what hell it's cheap. It was only 2 months ago that I replaced 4x8GB of DDR3 ram running @1066 with the 2r4 because I wanted a larger ramdisk and it's damn cheap. lol.

View attachment 769991
Click to expand...
So is the ram in the eBay listing suitable (I'm being VERY cautious here). Cause if it is, I'm buying it now and putting this to rest. Thanks again for all the help
 
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tsialex said:
I like Hynix memory and I have 8x Hynix 8GB RDIMMs on my dual MP. But that auction are 16x 4GB RDIMMs.
Click to expand...
LOL, read that backwards. Teach me to rush in...(probably not :) )
Thanks.
[doublepost=1531275374][/doublepost]
handheldgames said:
This is a good price for buy it now.. $160 FOR 4X16GB

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-4-16GB-HP-647653-081-Samsung-M393B2G70QH0-YH9Q9-2Rx4-PC3L-10600R-09-12-E/223053429219?hash=item33ef0539e3:g:yzgAAOSwL~hbO6aY
Click to expand...
Just pulled the trigger.
Now the waiting game.
Thank you all for the help, hoping this helps others playing this game.
Tried loading my setup as an Avatar but it keeps saying server error.
I'll try it here.
 

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KXB17 said:
Thank you MIKAS, but this isn't what I'm suggesting/considering (unless I'm completely confused)
In short, single cpu @ x5690 allows 64gb ram max @ 1333mhz
General consensus seems to be 3 slot over 4 slot.
So I figure 32gb (Slot 1) + 16gb (Slot 2) + 16GB (Slot 3) = 64GB utilising the 3 slot architecture for speed.
I'm just not sure if there is a 32gb that will work in this configuration.
[doublepost=1531266917][/doublepost]

Thank you Handheldgames, I'm actually using the RAM 0 method on the PCIe SSD's.

So what you're saying is 32gb (Slot 1) + 16gb (Slot 2) + 16GB (Slot 3) = 64GB would be no faster than 4 x 16GB?
Click to expand...

TBH, I am still not sure if 64GB is the real hard limit for single X5690.

Can quite remember if anyone try the 32GB DIMM on the single processor cMP yet.

If it can work, then a single X5690 may able to support 96GB or even more memory on the cMP.
 
h9826790 said:
TBH, I am still not sure if 64GB is the real hard limit for single X5690.

Can quite remember if anyone try the 32GB DIMM on the single processor cMP yet.

If it can work, then a single X5690 may able to support 96GB or even more memory on the cMP.
Click to expand...
That would be awesome!!! Hopefully some other damn fool like me tries it before I look at doing a second one of these for the wife :)

...Or of course I can give her this one and do a dual CPU model... Just sayin'.....
 
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handheldgames said:
This is a good part number to use 'Samsung 16GB 2Rx4 PC3L-10600R' for searching ebay.

This is the specific ones I am using.
Samsung 16GB 2Rx4 PC3L-10600R for 09-10-E1-P1 1333MHZ M393B2G70AH0-YH9

s-l1600.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you for this info. I'm now an owner of a shiny new (to me) 12-core cMP 5,1 (3.06GHz; mid-2012) and I'm looking to up its memory, as it currently has only 20GB in it.

Despite Apple never shipping RDIMMS in the cMP, I'm very, very tempted to go this route due to the price and the fact that I could get matching sets (and thus not incurring any penalty for using RDIMMS).

Before I buy - the above would work OK? I'm assuming so based on everything I've read in the forum to date and prior replies in this thread - just wanting to confirm before I go clicking buttons and Paypal'ing everywhere.

Thanks!
 
EightBitWhit said:
Thank you for this info. I'm now an owner of a shiny new (to me) 12-core cMP 5,1 (3.06GHz; mid-2012) and I'm looking to up its memory, as it currently has only 20GB in it.

Despite Apple never shipping RDIMMS in the cMP, I'm very, very tempted to go this route due to the price and the fact that I could get matching sets (and thus not incurring any penalty for using RDIMMS).

Before I buy - the above would work OK? I'm assuming so based on everything I've read in the forum to date and prior replies in this thread - just wanting to confirm before I go clicking buttons and Paypal'ing everywhere.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you want to wait a little longer, mine have just cleared customs (Australian Politics... @#$%!!!) as soon as they show up, I'll let you know how mine go. Like you, no fear of the upgrade, just fear of wasting time and money on the wrong purchase. Very grateful to this thread.
 
I have no doubt there is no penalty in those scores posted earlier. But the chip in the test machine is i7-990X, which is not capable of using ECC. Could that be the key for better results? I don't know, but I am measuring the shared 3rd and 4th memory channel penalty with my configurations. I've got a X5680 in my every Mac Pro. Recently I have bought some RAM, cause it's not expensive anymore.

Please see attachment, three different configurations tested week ago. 48GB =3x16ECC1333R wins the other two configs 4x16GB =ECC1066R+ECC1333R and 64GB =4xECC1333R.

I have yet to test 96GB versus 128GB with my recent dual 5.1 purchase, but it would give same kind of results, I believe.

The difference is not so big between 48GB vs 64GB if the modules match each other. If they dont match, I saw the drop in megaherz too, and really poor RAM results.

I think what handheldgames has proved, is that there is no penalty with 4xRDIMMs, if ECC is not in use (i7-990X). That is only explanation I can think of here when comparing our GeekBench results. Or am I wrong with my logic?
 

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KXB17 said:
If you want to wait a little longer, mine have just cleared customs (Australian Politics... @#$%!!!) as soon as they show up, I'll let you know how mine go. Like you, no fear of the upgrade, just fear of wasting time and money on the wrong purchase. Very grateful to this thread.
Click to expand...

I'll certainly be interested to see what your testing reveals. I'm in a position where I have some eBay gift cards + a buyer+seller incentive (additional discount and 10% eBay Bucks offer that expire tonight) and I can get the RAM down to a net of approx. $130 for 128GB after it's all said and done (!!). The seller offers 30-day returns, so it's worth the shot.

For reference, this is what I purchased - https://www.ebay.com/itm/332717010902

mikas said:
I have no doubt there is no penalty in those scores posted earlier. But the chip in the test machine is i7-990X, which is not capable of using ECC. Could that be the key for better results? I don't know, but I am measuring the shared 3rd and 4th memory channel penalty with my configurations. I've got a X5680 in my every Mac Pro. Recently I have bought some RAM, cause it's not expensive anymore.

Please see attachment, three different configurations tested week ago. 48GB =3x16ECC1333R wins the other two configs 4x16GB =ECC1066R+ECC1333R and 64GB =4xECC1333R.

I have yet to test 96GB versus 128GB with my recent dual 5.1 purchase, but it would give same kind of results, I believe.

The difference is not so big between 48GB vs 64GB if the modules match each other. If they dont match, I saw the drop in megaherz too, and really poor RAM results.

I think what handheldgames has proved, is that there is no penalty with 4xRDIMMs, if ECC is not in use (i7-990X). That is only explanation I can think of here when comparing our GeekBench results. Or am I wrong with my logic?
Click to expand...

I don't think your logic is wrong at all - it's more a case (at least to me) as to what penalty I'll actually see by populating all DIMM slots with registered, ECC memory. It's at a point now where I can swing 128GB price-wise, so I'm going to make the purchase and then test 32/64/96/128GB configurations and see what I get.

I'll post the Geekbench results back to this thread once I have everything compiled.
 
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mikas said:
I have no doubt there is no penalty in those scores posted earlier. But the chip in the test machine is i7-990X, which is not capable of using ECC. Could that be the key for better results? I don't know, but I am measuring the shared 3rd and 4th memory channel penalty with my configurations. I've got a X5680 in my every Mac Pro. Recently I have bought some RAM, cause it's not expensive anymore.

Please see attachment, three different configurations tested week ago. 48GB =3x16ECC1333R wins the other two configs 4x16GB =ECC1066R+ECC1333R and 64GB =4xECC1333R.

I have yet to test 96GB versus 128GB with my recent dual 5.1 purchase, but it would give same kind of results, I believe.

The difference is not so big between 48GB vs 64GB if the modules match each other. If they dont match, I saw the drop in megaherz too, and really poor RAM results.

I think what handheldgames has proved, is that there is no penalty with 4xRDIMMs, if ECC is not in use (i7-990X). That is only explanation I can think of here when comparing our GeekBench results. Or am I wrong with my logic?
Click to expand...

Your logic is sound. Although without ECC, with 16x16x16x8, there was no observable penalty with mixed RDIMM sizes.

In theory, the slowdown kicks in with the 2nd CPU. Perhaps due to each CPU having an independent memory controller that’s linked with the other CPU that is coordinated for a unified memory model.

Any slowdown from ECC with a single cpu should be exposed with a X56xx cpu in a x58 based tray using rdimms. With an inbound $28 x5677 and a $10 IC Solutions thermal pad, I’m planning to put a spare CPU tray with the same RDIMMS. This should deliver a definitive answer as to the effect of ECC vs non ECC on RDIMM performance.

While using 4 sticks of RAM increases the startup chime by 8 seconds, compared to a single 16gb stick, the runtime performance boost from a lack of Virtual Memory is worth every additional second.
 
Sharing some interesting results from the single cpu test bench...

x5677 Geekbench 4 64-bit single core - 2009 - x58 chipset
16x16x16 - 8.82 GB/s memory copy 13.7 GB/sec bandwidth
16x16x16x16 7.2 GB/sec memory copy 12.2 GB/sec bandwidth
16x16x16x8 5.67 GB/sec memory copy 8.0 GB/Sec bandwidth

990x Geekbench 4 64-bit single core - 2009 - x58 chipset
16x16x16 - 8.0 GB/sec memory copy 13.3 GB/sec bandwidth
16x16x16x8 7.97 GB/sec memory copy 13.2GB/sec bandwidth
16x16x16x16 - n/a

  • x5677 memory copy performance drops 19% adding a 4th RDIMM. 36% with mixed sizes. memory bandwidth drops 11%, a 42% drop with mixed sizes.
  • 990x memory performance drops 0.5% adding a 4th RDIMM with mixed sizes. memory bandwidth drops 1%
  • with 3 sticks of RDIMMS, x5677 memory copy performance is 10% faster than the 990X, memory bandwidth is 3% faster
  • with 4 sticks of mixed RDIMMS, the 990x memory copy performance is 29% faster than the x5677, Memory bandwidth with the 990x is also 40% faster than the x5677

​
 
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Mac Pro 2009, 4,1 -> 5,1 , Single X5675 CPU.
RAM: Samsung MT36JSZF1G72PZ-1G4D1DD, 2RX4, PC3-10600R-9-10-J, 16GB (2*8GB)

Works just fine for me, pretty cheap and simple upgrade from the default W3520. I don't notice much of performance difference, but I mostly just play games and don't do anything too serious. Just wanted the extra cores in case I ever get around to doing some VM stuff. I'll post some benchmarks if I have time this week.
 
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I upgraded my cMP 5,1 from 3.33ghz 6 core to 3.33ghz 12 core Xeon X5680.

The current ram totals 32gb (2 x 8gb, 6 x 4gb) and over the years I bought it all from OWC and so it is - and OWC has confirmed this - unregistered. Recently I bought another 32gb (4x 8gb) from ebay which turned out to be registered and wouldn't work with the existing OWC ram so I had to return it though it worked fine on its own.

My goal is to put the existing ram into the old 6 core processor so I can sell it and then replace it in the new 12 core processor with 4 x 16 gb 64GB (4X 16GB) DDR3-1333 PC3-10600 Memory RAM for APPLE MAC PRO 5,1 Westmere 609713841506 | eBay

Good value and it will still leave four slots for more ram and since most ram seems to be registered I won't have the same problem I have now mixing with the OWC ram. A few questions:
1. Is this Ebay ram good enough - 64gb would be handy for our editing in Premiere Pro, Resolve, FCP etc?
2. I've seen some ram around that's unbuffered but don't understand what that means
3. How can you tell on Ebay or wherever if RAM is unregistered?
 
EightBitWhit said:
I'll certainly be interested to see what your testing reveals. I'm in a position where I have some eBay gift cards + a buyer+seller incentive (additional discount and 10% eBay Bucks offer that expire tonight) and I can get the RAM down to a net of approx. $130 for 128GB after it's all said and done (!!). The seller offers 30-day returns, so it's worth the shot.

For reference, this is what I purchased - https://www.ebay.com/itm/332717010902

I'll post the Geekbench results back to this thread once I have everything compiled.
Click to expand...

FYI by way of (partial) follow-up on my post above. I did get in the 128GB of RAM from the e-bay auction/seller I noted above, and had a chance this past weekend to get it installed. My cMP (as purchased) had 20GB (2/2/2/4 and 2/2/4/2) total RAM @ 1066, so I was looking forward to the upgrade.

I can confirm that the 128GB does work and is recognized properly (attached pictures).

FYI that I did do Geekbench (4.3.2) on each configuration, and will sort through those and post the relevant summary, as the numbers were pretty interesting.
 

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Just for the record. . .

The stock standard ( not flashed to 5,1 ) 2.93 Ghz Dual Quad 4,1 Mac Pro can run 1333 Mhz RAM natively.
 
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