I know there are a ton of successful 4 core to 6 core, dual processor upgrades for the 2009 MacPro on Youtube, but I'm sad to say that my attempt ended in disappointment.
After ordering and waiting for the CPU's to arrive I set out to do the upgrade. I delidded the CPU's using the vice method and all went very well. Off to a good start. I then took the heatsinks off and removed the old CPU's. I cleaned up the heatsinks and set about preparing the new CPU's. I began by taping off the pad that comes in contact with the heatsink. I first scraped as much off as I could with an old credit card and then used 600grit sandpaper and wet sanded until all the solder was gone. All seemed fine.
Time to put it back together. I put the CPU's in the slots, put on the plastic shield, dropped the heatsink on and began tightening them down. I was meticulous. I bought the MacPro service manual, got an actual inch pound torque wrench, and did everything according to the manual.
Here goes...I put the CPU board back in, crossed my fingers and hit the power button. Light comes on... i wait...I wait...I wait. Nothing. Ugh.
I pull the board back and literally fool with the tightness of the screws for an hour before finally giving up and putting the old CPU's back in. I'm now typing the from that very computer with the old CPU's. I put those in and didn't even bother torquing them but it fired right up, no issues....sigh.
So, somewhere along the way I probably damaged the new CPU's while I was taking the heat spreader off, cleaning off the old solder, or torquing them down. Any number of ways I suppose. Bummer. $75 down the toilet.
But on the positive side. I did upgrade the RAM already to 64GB of 1333 so it's ready if I try again in the future and I already have all the tools I need to try again. But I think in the future, I'll buy delidded CPU's already and save myself a lot of time and trouble.
So, no real reason to post. Didn't have a question or anything, just wanted to let everyone know my experience in case they decide to try. It doesn't always work out, but I learned a few lessons along the way.
David.
After ordering and waiting for the CPU's to arrive I set out to do the upgrade. I delidded the CPU's using the vice method and all went very well. Off to a good start. I then took the heatsinks off and removed the old CPU's. I cleaned up the heatsinks and set about preparing the new CPU's. I began by taping off the pad that comes in contact with the heatsink. I first scraped as much off as I could with an old credit card and then used 600grit sandpaper and wet sanded until all the solder was gone. All seemed fine.
Time to put it back together. I put the CPU's in the slots, put on the plastic shield, dropped the heatsink on and began tightening them down. I was meticulous. I bought the MacPro service manual, got an actual inch pound torque wrench, and did everything according to the manual.
Here goes...I put the CPU board back in, crossed my fingers and hit the power button. Light comes on... i wait...I wait...I wait. Nothing. Ugh.
I pull the board back and literally fool with the tightness of the screws for an hour before finally giving up and putting the old CPU's back in. I'm now typing the from that very computer with the old CPU's. I put those in and didn't even bother torquing them but it fired right up, no issues....sigh.
So, somewhere along the way I probably damaged the new CPU's while I was taking the heat spreader off, cleaning off the old solder, or torquing them down. Any number of ways I suppose. Bummer. $75 down the toilet.
But on the positive side. I did upgrade the RAM already to 64GB of 1333 so it's ready if I try again in the future and I already have all the tools I need to try again. But I think in the future, I'll buy delidded CPU's already and save myself a lot of time and trouble.
So, no real reason to post. Didn't have a question or anything, just wanted to let everyone know my experience in case they decide to try. It doesn't always work out, but I learned a few lessons along the way.
David.
