Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Fastest CPU Upgrade Possible for 4.1 Mac Pro

X

xav8tor

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 30, 2011
533
36
I know many have flashed 4.1 to 5.1 and installed the W3680 in '09 Pro's replacing CPU's like mine had - the 2.93 quad. A few apps I use have the need for speed, not cores. What's the best option for a CPU upgrade with a high clock/turbo boost when using one core maxed and maybe a 2nd running at 30% or less?

Secondly, is there any way to overclock the CPU when running Win 7 in boot camp? I'd like to hit 4.5 GHz on air if possible. Intel did make a dual core OEM Xeon a couple of years ago stock at 4.4 GHz, but it was for limited release special purpose dual proc machines and the cost was a little high: 44,000 USD for a pair.
 
Hi, in answer to your questions.. The w3690 which is 3.4 ghz 6-core is going to be the fastest for the Quad based 5,1 and 4,1-5,1 firmware converted Mac Pros. PLEASE NOTE: You CANNOT run any w36xx series unless you have applied the 4,1-5,1 firmware. I assume you have NOT applied the firmware at this point to make your 4,1 into a 5,1? For the 4,1 or 2009 Mac Pro, I believe the 3.33 Ghz Quad-core w3580 is the fastest for the 4,1 series. I might have read somewhere there was a w3590 possibly, also at 3.4 Ghz.

If it were me I would future proof for the time being my machine by getting the w3690 or w3680 both take the same 1333 mhz memory and have the same turbo boost up to 3.6 Ghz. As for overclocking, yes.. Under Windows 7 you can download a program called crystalcpuID and there are others too which can be used to overclock the processors, but I wouldn't recommend it as it could shorten the life of the processors. Just realize that OS X will ignore the overclocked frequency.

Hope this all helps you.

xav8tor said:
I know many have flashed 4.1 to 5.1 and installed the W3680 in '09 Pro's replacing CPU's like mine had - the 2.93 quad. A few apps I use have the need for speed, not cores. What's the best option for a CPU upgrade with a high clock/turbo boost when using one core maxed and maybe a 2nd running at 30% or less?

Secondly, is there any way to overclock the CPU when running Win 7 in boot camp? I'd like to hit 4.5 GHz on air if possible. Intel did make a dual core OEM Xeon a couple of years ago stock at 4.4 GHz, but it was for limited release special purpose dual proc machines and the cost was a little high: 44,000 USD for a pair.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
PowerPCMacMan said:
Hi, in answer to your questions.. The w3690 which is 3.4 ghz 6-core is going to be the fastest for the Quad based 5,1 and 4,1-5,1 firmware converted Mac Pros. PLEASE NOTE: You CANNOT run any w36xx series unless you have applied the 4,1-5,1 firmware. I assume you have NOT applied the firmware at this point to make your 4,1 into a 5,1? For the 4,1 or 2009 Mac Pro, I believe the 3.33 Ghz Quad-core w3580 is the fastest for the 4,1 series. I might have read somewhere there was a w3590 possibly, also at 3.4 Ghz.

If it were me I would future proof for the time being my machine by getting the w3690 or w3680 both take the same 1333 mhz memory and have the same turbo boost up to 3.6 Ghz. As for overclocking, yes.. Under Windows 7 you can download a program called crystalcpuID and there are others too which can be used to overclock the processors, but I wouldn't recommend it as it could shorten the life of the processors. Just realize that OS X will ignore the overclocked frequency.

Hope this all helps you.
Click to expand...

Very helpful. Intel never released a W3590, 2009 was a slow year for clock speeds. I haven't flashed to 5.1 yet but have 1333 RAM in anticipation of the upgrade. Turbo was limited on the W35XX but the 36XX looks better and I might find a use for the extra cores. With the same turbo, the 3680 seems like the sweet spot. I'll try the app you cited in BC and see what a half a GHz or so will give me. Your warning is duly noted. I'll try to be careful.

One app I use can't get enough of anything. 5 GHZ would be nice and I really like the specs on the 1620 and 1280/1290 v2' Xeons, especially the latter - 4.1 turbo. I use X-Plane Professional at work and have the need for (clock) speed, and would like to keep the Pro for another two years, rather than going back to M$, especially now that I have a GTX 670 and USB 3.0 card, 1000mw wireless adapter, along with a couple SSD's in it. 10.8 runs all of it well now that I got the drivers and a hack or two up and running. CPU and maybe throughput on the Mobo is the only holdup now.

Will crystalcpuID let me play with the W3540 on 4.1 firmware? Like trying to get 3.5 or so?
 
W3680 6core

I have already upgraded my macpro from 4.1 to 5.1 and have added the W3680 xeon works well .this upgrade also allows me to use standard memory 8gb x 4 total 32gb.i have also added the pci-e ssd card from OWC as the sata drives running at 3gb speed only.It is faster then my standard dual 2.4ghz 5.1 macpro.the upgrade is very easy to do.
 
I'm 99% sure you can't overclock the CPU. I've been searchIng for years on ways to do it.

By all means try it but I doubt you will get anywhere!
 
dongiorgio1959 said:
I have already upgraded my macpro from 4.1 to 5.1 and have added the W3680 xeon works well
Click to expand...

By all means, please tell me wether you used a Stepping D0 or Stepping B1 processor! It need to know because a user named "fairbanx" said that

fairbanx said:
Mac Pro 5,1 supports D0 and B1 stepping, Mac Pro 4,1 does only D0.
Click to expand...

Please have a look using CPU-Z or whatever else and tell us!
 
COINcoin77 said:
Maybe the xeon X5698 - 2 cores 4.4GHz, if you ca find one.
Click to expand...

I found one, sold as a pair, for 44 grand!

Also, anyone know if you do the 4.1 to 5.1 flash, will an X5687 work in a single CPU MP? I know it is made for two chip machines, but I have a bead on one for a great price and it is a fast chip. Does the 2 QPI v 1 QPI (whatever that is) spec matter? I need clock speed not cores.
 
Last edited:
I am not sure those 5689 chips will work, but believe that the 5687's may, although I don't know of any one who has tried either of them. Make sure that you can return them if they don't work because that's a lot of money.
 
Last edited:
Tutor said:
I am not sure those 5689 chips will work, but believe that the 5687's may, although I don't know of any one who has tried either of them. Make sure that you can return them if they don't work because that's a lot of money.
Click to expand...

You are SO right. Anyone else tried an X56XX in a single socket? Also I tried that crystal cpu app and nothing I did changed the speed on the 3540 in Win7. Did I do something wrong or is the Mac 3540 locked even in boot camp?

Thanks guys for the help.
 
Concorde Rules said:
I'm 99% sure you can't overclock the CPU. I've been searchIng for years on ways to do it.

By all means try it but I doubt you will get anywhere!
Click to expand...

Even in Windows via Boot Vamp? There isn't anything on the chip (multiplier, voltage, etc.) I can crank up a notch or two, or more? Is the Xeon totally locked somehow? What if I upgraded the CPU with the i7 equivalent to the Xeon? Could I OC that or is the board stopping me? I an not very savvy on this stuff. I built a Windows machine once with a top of the line Asus board and OC on that thing was easy with the provided software. Somebody on here got a 9XX Extreme running on his Pro after going to 5.1 and sys profiler even called it a Xeon.
 
Well, you can overclock the CPU in both systems. There exists a OC-app for OS X, you have to search for it in the internet.

In Windows, oc'ing the CPU is no problem.
 
xav8tor said:
Even in Windows via Boot Vamp? There isn't anything on the chip (multiplier, voltage, etc.) I can crank up a notch or two, or more? Is the Xeon totally locked somehow? What if I upgraded the CPU with the i7 equivalent to the Xeon? Could I OC that or is the board stopping me? I an not very savvy on this stuff. I built a Windows machine once with a top of the line Asus board and OC on that thing was easy with the provided software. Somebody on here got a 9XX Extreme running on his Pro after going to 5.1 and sys profiler even called it a Xeon.
Click to expand...

El Awesome said:
Well, you can overclock the CPU in both systems. There exists a OC-app for OS X, you have to search for it in the internet.

In Windows, oc'ing the CPU is no problem.
Click to expand...

The OS X app doesn't work for 4,1 or 5,1 or 6,1 Mac Pro's. Period.

You also can't do ANY over clocking in windows. Unless you want to prove otherwise.
 
Concorde Rules said:
The OS X app doesn't work for 4,1 or 5,1 or 6,1 Mac Pro's. Period.

You also can't do ANY over clocking in windows. Unless you want to prove otherwise.
Click to expand...

OS X: I saw that app weeks ago. It was a ZD Net or Cnet or somebody net app released in Germany years ago and nope, it doesn't work on a 4.1 or 5.1.

Win 7: I downloaded the suggested CrystalCPU app and cranked up voltage and multipliers half the night. The clock (CPU speed and time clock, since on a Mac the latter would speed up as well) didn't increase 1/10 of a GHz.

Looks like 3.46 is all I am going to see unless I spring for the X5687, which I read, although intended for dual machines, will work on a single CPU board (in Windows anyway). I'd get almost 3.9 out of it in turbo.

But again, the i7X equivalents aren't locked, so what's stopping us from OCing those on a Mac in Windows?
 
Last edited:
sorry for joining in this thread a little bit late... but my 2.66Ghz Quad Core Mac Pro with 8Gb of RAM is starting to feel really slow, so I was looking for a way to boost it, and found that the best upgrade would be a w3690 CPU but the w3680 would be a better buy...

will i feel a real difference in performance if I upgrade my CPU to a 3.4 W3680 Intel Xeon?

I am planning on putting 32GB of RAM too, if I only upgraded the RAM I would already feel a good boost right? will the CPU upgrade be worthwhile? I work mainly with Logic Pro 9, some 3D Interior design software, and a little of Photoshop and Final Cut... I kno wthat for AUdio the RAM would definitely be the best boost, so I am really wondering if it is worth putting an extra 600$ for the CPU upgrade?

Thanks for your input !
 
demonangel said:
sorry for joining in this thread a little bit late... but my 2.66Ghz Quad Core Mac Pro with 8Gb of RAM is starting to feel really slow, so I was looking for a way to boost it, and found that the best upgrade would be a w3690 CPU but the w3680 would be a better buy...

will i feel a real difference in performance if I upgrade my CPU to a 3.4 W3680 Intel Xeon?

I am planning on putting 32GB of RAM too, if I only upgraded the RAM I would already feel a good boost right? will the CPU upgrade be worthwhile? I work mainly with Logic Pro 9, some 3D Interior design software, and a little of Photoshop and Final Cut... I kno wthat for AUdio the RAM would definitely be the best boost, so I am really wondering if it is worth putting an extra 600$ for the CPU upgrade?

Thanks for your input !
Click to expand...

Read this and this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back