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Could use some advise on memory for Mac Pro 3,1 (2008)

O

omvs

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 15, 2011
495
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An inlaw has a 2008 Mac Pro and has been debating a machine upgrade. However, to eek some more life out of the current machine, I suggested dropping in a SSD, new video card, and some more ram. I managed to prep a PC card using my 2009 MacPro4,1, which I thought was going to be the hard part -- I'm used to dealing with standard DDR3 dimms and had good luck with whatever I threw at my machine.

So I found a 32g FBDIMM kit on amazon - it was only 667MHZ, but for $150 I figured the speed degradation was worth it. Unfortunately it caused all sorts of hassles - we couldn't get the system to recognize all 32G, and even with a reduced setthe system seems to run much, much hotter with the new memory - both the CPU temps and the DIMM temps look about 30-40deg F higher, and the system fans end up maxing out when photoshop is running. With the old memory, the temps stay much more reasonable and the fan doesn't kick into high gear.

I had her try using just a few sticks of the new memory, and while it helps, running photoshop still kicks the CPU_MEM and EXHAUST fans >2000rpm.

I did see info online mentioning that some FBDIMMs use smaller heat spreaders than Apple ones do, though these seemed the same size as the memory already in the machine. Also, I don't understand why the CPU temp is going up so much with the memory - at first we thought maybe the heatsinks on the CPUS were clogged with dust, but then switching back to the old memory fixed everything - seems like if it was just adequate heat spreaders only the DIMM's would be running hot.

So we're going to return that ram, and look for something else. A crucial kit would seem to be the safe bet, but their prices for FBDIMM's are exorbitant IMAO. Can anyone recommend a 'affordable' 8g or 16g kit that works well in this model?
 

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Hi,

Most, if not all the third party offers will run much hotter but
it should not affect the CPU temp.

I've had good luck with the OWC ram but had to quick the exhaust
fan an extra 200 rpm.

And yea, the prices now on these is insane.
 
Amazon has 4 x 4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM for $228.00:

16GB (4X4GB) NEMIX RAM Memory APPLE MAC PRO 2008 3,1 (2.8 3.0 3.2) (DDR2 800MHz PC2-6400 ECC FBDIMM)

I purchased the DDR2 667MHz version of this memory (Nemix) for my Mac Pro 1,1 and I was very pleased with it.
 
flowrider said:
My RAM Supplier:

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/ap...-2-8ghz-ma970ll/a-early-2008-memory-upgrades/

I have used these folks since 1985. They are Mac Specialists and their stuff is guaranteed for life. I have never received a bad RAM stick from them. There are more and more posts on this forum from folks trying to skimp on RAM, and IMHO, it's just not worth the hassle. Get quality stuff that's priced right at DMS.

Lou
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I will definitely keep DMS in mind. Question: Other than the fact that their RAM modules clearly cost less than OWC's, how would you rate them in comparison to OWC RAM? Just curious because at some point I'll be upgrading RAM in my cMP and would much rather pay less for comparable quality and performance.
 
^^^^IMHO, OWC is overpriced and their stuff is not well engineered. I just went through an SSD change on my MBA:

flowrider said:
My Review of the Transcend JetDrive 520 480GB SSD in a 2012 11" MBA.

My Review also includes a comparison of the JetDrive with the OWC Aura Pro Drive.

I ordered the OWC Aura Pro Drive the day before the Transcend Drives were announced. Before I received the drive, I called OWC to see if they would price match, and the answer was no. So, I thought Shame on Me. OWC's pricing was $449. for a bare drive and $475. for one that included tools and an enclosure for the old SSD. (OWC's pricing has since been reduced to $398. and $419. respectively) I opted for the bare drive. I installed the drive, and as others have noticed, the vertical dimension of the circuit board the components are mounted on is a millimeter or 2 larger than the stock SSD. Others have cut the board, I didn't, I applied a little pressure and it snapped into place. OWCs installation video is, IMO, far better than the Transcend video. Once set up, the SSD seemed to work fine, for awhile, but less than a day later, the drive started giving me problems. I tried repairing it with both Disk utility and Tech Tool Pro, both to no avail. Two days later it happened again. I called OWC and asked for an RMA. They agreed but said I would have to pay a restocking fee and pay for return shipment. I challenged that, saying this was not a capricious return, that the unit was defective and I expected OWC to pay for shipping and refund the full amount. They agreed, and sent me a UPS label.

When ordering the Transcend JetDrive I was quoted a delivery time of from 2 to 4 weeks. The unit was shipped 3 days after the order was placed and I received it one day later, that's 4 days after order placement! The price of the JetDrive 480 GB SSD from Amazon was $350. + Sales Tax (OWC charges no tax in Arizona). If I could have waited longer, I could have bought it from my memory Supplier, Data Memory Systems and not paid Sales Tax, but Transcend has not yet supplied it's distributers with this product.

Upon receipt of the JetDrive, yesterday, the first thing that jumped out at me was the packaging. The OWC SSD came packed in an anti-static bag enclosed in a thin gauge blister packed piece of cardboard with blue printing. It looked the packaging used by Ace Combs. The Transcend packaging on the other hand was impressive. A heavy gauge white slide out box with a full color picture of the SSD. The box was multi layered and contained the drive, the enclosure for the OEM drive, and the tools necessary for installation. Each layer was a plastic bed with depressions sized to fit the associated parts. It also contained an instruction booklet and warranty information. The instructions are, IMHO, inadequate, and only two pages apply, the other 26 pages being written for other languages.

The tools worked very well, and installation was a breeze. the form factor of the circuit board is the same as apple's so no undue pressure was needed for installation. My old SSD fit into the supplied enclosure with no issues.

I then cloned the JetDrive using Tech Tool Pro from the external Hybrid Drive I had been using as the main drive for my MBA. I foolishly ordered my MBA with only the 64GB SSD.

No issues. Everything is working as expected. In terms of speed. I have not measured the speed, but it feels very snappy. I believe the OWC and Transcend drives to be equal here. Transcend even supplies software to enable Apple's Trim support, OWC does not. There is however, third party software that enables Trim, Trim Enabler. I use that anyway for the SSD I use in my Mac Pro.

In ending, I would urge anyone installing the JetDrive in a MBA to watch the OWC installation video, again, it is superior to the Transcend video, and will make things more understandable to you.

The JetDrive is by far the superior product, and as of right now is $69. cheaper than the OWC Aura Pro. When I bought the OWC product, it would have cost $125 more than the corresponding Transcend product.

That IMHO is Value.

Currently, Apple charges $500. to go from a 128GB SSD to a 512GB SSD in the MBA. So, $350. for a 480GB SSD AND you get to keep your old drive, you can't beat that.

Edit - The Transcend drive seems to run color than true OWC drive. When feeling the bottom of my MBA where the SSD is mounted, the area while warm, is not as warm as it was with the OWC unit.

Lou
Click to expand...

As I said earlier, DMS's RAM us a top quality product with a Lifetime Warranty. OWC, on the other hand, not so much. You will have no issues if you use DMS RAM.

Lou
 
flowrider said:
^^^^IMHO, OWC is overpriced and their stuff is not well engineered. I just went through an SSD change on my MBA:



As I said earlier, DMS's RAM us a top quality product with a Lifetime Warranty. OWC, on the other hand, not so much. You will have no issues if you use DMS RAM.

Lou
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Just curious: Have there been other times that you've experienced a lack of good engineering in OWC products?
 
macuser453787 said:
Thanks for the tip. I will definitely keep DMS in mind. Question: Other than the fact that their RAM modules clearly cost less than OWC's, how would you rate them in comparison to OWC RAM? Just curious because at some point I'll be upgrading RAM in my cMP and would much rather pay less for comparable quality and performance.
Click to expand...
I would recommend looking into the Nemix memory I mentioned above. The OP would save $48 over DMS, free shipping, no tax, and a lifetime warranty. I was very impressed with the memory for the money.
 
Thanks - going to try some of the Nemix (2x4gb) and see how the machine reacts. While I agree with the sentiments about not cheaping out the ram in general,at some point it makes a lot more sense to get a new machine (or even a 2009/2010 model) and go with DDR3 instead.

I've certainly seen lots of cases of flakey ram and such in my career - just never saw stuff that works, but caused the CPU temperature to sky-rocket. Then again, never had a FBDIMM machine either -- thank goodness.
 
omvs said:
Thanks - going to try some of the Nemix (2x4gb) and see how the machine reacts. While I agree with the sentiments about not cheaping out the ram in general,at some point it makes a lot more sense to get a new machine (or even a 2009/2010 model) and go with DDR3 instead.

I've certainly seen lots of cases of flakey ram and such in my career - just never saw stuff that works, but caused the CPU temperature to sky-rocket. Then again, never had a FBDIMM machine either -- thank goodness.
Click to expand...

The suspect problem isn't bad RAM so much as it is not the correct RAM.
 
reco2011 said:
The suspect problem isn't bad RAM so much as it is not the correct RAM.
Click to expand...

Sure - but I wish I knew what wasn't correct. It was certainly advertised as for the Mac Pro, it had the big-*ss heat spreaders, and its a DDR2-FBDIMM w/ ECC.

If it was just the memory running hot I could understand that. But heating up the CPU's just totally mystifies me -- even if the ram circuitry was screwed up (bad termination) I would think it'd cause the memory controller to heat up, not the CPU.

Unless the ram somehow caused the SMC to get totally confused and started reporting incorrect results. Apparently the exhaust air was not very warm, which might support this. We debated using Mac Fac Control to override the two affected fans, but this seemed too risky long term.
 
omvs said:
Sure - but I wish I knew what wasn't correct. It was certainly advertised as for the Mac Pro, it had the big-*ss heat spreaders, and its a DDR2-FBDIMM w/ ECC.

If it was just the memory running hot I could understand that. But heating up the CPU's just totally mystifies me -- even if the ram circuitry was screwed up (bad termination) I would think it'd cause the memory controller to heat up, not the CPU.

Unless the ram somehow caused the SMC to get totally confused and started reporting incorrect results. Apparently the exhaust air was not very warm, which might support this. We debated using Mac Fac Control to override the two affected fans, but this seemed too risky long term.
Click to expand...

The 3,1 Mac Pro uses 800MHz DDR2 FB-DIMMs. Your OP stated you had installed 667MHz DDR2 FB-DIMMs. Unless you had installed the correct type of memory I wouldn't try to diagnose the problem as it could very well be the wrong memory.
 
reco2011 said:
The 3,1 Mac Pro uses 800MHz DDR2 FB-DIMMs. Your OP stated you had installed 667MHz DDR2 FB-DIMMs. Unless you had installed the correct type of memory I wouldn't try to diagnose the problem as it could very well be the wrong memory.
Click to expand...

If something is wrong with this memory, it isn't certainly the speed, it's rather temp sensors incompatible with MP firmware.
 
666sheep said:
If something is wrong with this memory, it isn't certainly the speed, it's rather temp sensors incompatible with MP firmware.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats what I've concluded too. It'd be nice to know what would work before buying & trying, but at this point I don't see any alternatives.

Thx to all!
 
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