From Hackintosh to Turbo Mac Pro

[GermanyChris]

The heat sinks for the dual processor 2009 Mac Pro, per the Service Manual, are part numbers 076-1329 (CPU A) and 076-1330 (CPU B).

For 2010 and 2012 they were part numbers 076-1367 and 076-1368.

As the 2010 and 2012 use CPUs with the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), it's logical to conclude that the heat sinks were changed to accommodate the required additional 2mm of clearance for the IHS. Further, as only one part number is listed for heatsink A and for heatsink B for 2009, it is further logical to assume that all the disparate CPU versions used in stock 2009 Mac Pros came without an IHS. Were this not the case, more than one part number would have been specified for the heat sinks for the 2009 Mac Pro.

Further support for this reasoning is shown in the fact that the single heat sink for the 2009 single CPU Mac Pro, part number 076-1338, was the same part number used in 2010 and 2012. And the 2009 single CPU Mac Pro uses an IHS CPU, as do the 2010/2012 versions.

Finally, only one processor board is listed for the 2009 Mac Pro, part number 661-4998. That part has no retaining spring or cover for an IHS CPU. By contrast the 2010/2012 processor board, part number 661-5708, clearly shows the retaining spring and cover for an IHS type CPU.

Bottom line? All stock CPUs used in the 2009 Mac Pro came without an IHS fitted, and like precautions should be used for all models when reinstalling the heat sinks when the stock CPUs have been replaced with CPUs with the IHS fitted.

We knew that. There are many a thread in this place regarding the replacement of the lidless 09 CPU's with their lidded counterparts. What lead to that post?

 

[Macing around]

Very good guide. Changed my thinking on the new macpro.

After many years with a Hackintosh I finally returned to the fold and bought a 2009 Mac Pro.

After some tinkering the Mac Pro is now equipped with:

• Xeon W5590 3.33GHz CPUs
• nVidia Zotac GTX660 GPU
• USB3
• 5,1 spec and 1333MHz memory
• Second SSD in the optical drive bay
• Native Airport card
• Three displays
• Blu-Ray

I documented my odyssey with pictures, and the index appears here.

I hope this may be of use to others on the upgrade path. Some of the ideas originated on this forum. Thank you to the many fine contributors here.

Great thread and guide. I was thinking of getting a new macpro but this has changed my mind. Pimped out my 1,1 and will not be putting anymore lipstick on that pig. Will look at the 09 route when the new one is released. Might still upgrade the wife's 08 imac to a Haswell one. Apple hurry up already!!

 

[DPUser]

Just to be clear, the 2009 4,1 single CPU Mac Pros have a CPU clamp. The dual CPU models do not.

 

[RumoredTone]

Thank you all for the IHS follow-up - I appreciate it!

 

[GreenWater]

Nice project and a very compelling read

 

[Chocomonsters]

Thermal pad position

Thomaspin

Question regarding thermal pad position in your blog. 2 mm thermal pad over voltage regulator does not line up with heatsink thermal pad.

What am I missing?

Thanks

 

[grame]

Thomaspin

Question regarding thermal pad position in your blog. 2 mm thermal pad over voltage regulator does not line up with heatsink thermal pad.

What am I missing?

Thanks

I noticed this also - the pink heatsink pad presses against the little silver things rather than the square chips mentioned in the blog. Interesting.

 

[flowrider]

Thanks Thomas for you excellent post and tutorial. Utilizing your guide and this excellent Apple Technician Guide:

http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/macpro/macpro_mid2010.pdf

I upgraded my 2010 5,1 last night:

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17709548#post17709548

Thanks Again

Lou

 

[MacMadness]

Thanks Thomas for you excellent post and tutorial. Utilizing your guide and this excellent Apple Technician Guide:

http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/macpro/macpro_mid2010.pdf

I upgraded my 2010 5,1 last night:

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17709548#post17709548

Thanks Again

Lou

Hey Lou-

Congrats on the new MP upgrade!

You got me curious, so I ran a geekbench on my 2010 6-core.
I win on ram, but you pretty much smoke my machine everywhere else.
(OS X 10.6.8)

I think Photoshop runs a bit better on a 6-core for smaller file sizes
(up to 2 GB) but with 96GB of ram your 12-core would probably pull
way ahead on the bigger 10-15Gb files...And I'd be awfully jealous.

Going to get the 2.93Ghz "Geeked" later,. Curious to see what she does.

My six core is using about 46GB of ram on the big PS files with bridge
and PS both open and cranking and using about 160GB
(out of 480GB on the Accelsior PCI-SSD scratch disk.)

 

[Bah-Bah]

Very interesting read and very informative.

My take aways from reading it are that ultimately, you ended up with a very decent Mac Pro that should serve you well for a long time. That said, it wasn't without its perils and personally I'd rather take my chances with a Hackintosh and off the shelf PC parts than run the risk of breaking the CPUs and circuit board during an upgrade....Not to mention hunting down the parts and a decently priced 2009 model. Seems like there's quite a demand for them at the moment on ebay so it's a sellers market.

Also, I have a 2008 model which should still run Mavericks and is already well kitted out. But fair play to you OP, congrats for sticking to the task and getting the system that you ended up with. If I could pay someone else to do all the work for the same total outlay I would do it.