MP 1,1-5,1 Hex 3.2 update from 2010 quad 2.8 photos new! CPU to use!

[InuNacho]

This whole thread changed my Pro buying plan.
Originally I was going to get a refurb base 2010 when the 2011 comes out but now and upgrading the CPU within a year or so. Now I'll get a used base 2009 for a lot less and upgrade it with that neato EFI hack almost as soon as I get a good priced one.
Thanks to everyone that posted.

 

[ronburgundy]

Ive had a mac pro 4.1 for a couple of years now already done a few upgrades since. im looking to upgrade the 2.93 quad to something other than a server processor is possible to run a 960 or 990x i7? heres a link to what i was looking at..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5765907&CatId=4074

 

[blunti]

Ive had a mac pro 4.1 for a couple of years now already done a few upgrades since. im looking to upgrade the 2.93 quad to something other than a server processor is possible to run a 960 or 990x i7? heres a link to what i was looking at..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5765907&CatId=4074

definitely not! you can only use nehalem/westmere cpu in your MP.

 

[fairbanx]

Ive had a mac pro 4.1 for a couple of years now already done a few upgrades since. im looking to upgrade the 2.93 quad to something other than a server processor is possible to run a 960 or 990x i7? heres a link to what i was looking at..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5765907&CatId=4074

yes, u can! please search here for a while. it has been done before (i.e. handheldgames). you may start here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/808557/

 

[ActionableMango]

definitely not! you can only use nehalem/westmere cpu in your MP.

Those are Nehalem and Westemere CPUs.

Generally speaking though the Xeon equivalents are roughly the same price anyway, so I don't see any reason to not get the Xeon.

 

[lewdvig]

Amazing guide! Thanks for putting this all together!

 

[Mr Ski 73]

Hi. Anyone tried this in the UK and if so what is the best way to source the chip?

 

[thekev]

I have a non-Apple workstation, and under load my CPUs (quad-core W5560s,) can reach 95 C even with the fans going full bore.

In case you're still following the thread may I ask which one so that I never buy the same model ? I've seen issues with mac pro airflow too but none that allowed the processors to get that hot. For the most part you do gain better stability from a system that isn't running at the highest possible temperatures.

 

[philipma1957]

Hi. Anyone tried this in the UK and if so what is the best way to source the chip?

pm me I may be able to help you. get a w3680 chip

 

[gyorgy]

Hi Philip,

Did the hex-upgrade (w3680) for my 2.8 quad core (5.1) a few hours ago using your incredible helpful guide and everything went smooth and without any troubles. At the moment I am running Lion OS X 10.7.2. So far so good.

Temperature idles at 32° celsius (CPU A; don't know what the difference is with CPU 1) measured with iStat Menus. Ambient is about four to five degrees lower at 28°. The CPU temp. is almost 10° lower than the original w3530!
I suppose the difference has much to do with applying the new thermal compound evenly over the surface of the CPU to obtain optimal mating between heatsink and CPU.
I advise everyone to use a latex glove (with pointing finger) to spread the grease (as Philip did).

Further upgrade: will replace next week the original Hynix memory (3 GB) with the Micron 24 GB kit (3x8) from Crucial.

Thank you so much for starting this excellent thread.

 

[BigJohno]

Hi Philip,

Did the hex-upgrade (w3680) for my 2.8 quad core (5.1) a few hours ago using your incredible helpful guide and everything went smooth and without any troubles. At the moment I am running Lion OS X 10.7.2. So far so good.

Temperature idles at 32° celsius (CPU A; don't know what the difference is with CPU 1) measured with iStat Menus. Ambient is about four to five degrees lower at 28°. The CPU temp. is almost 10° lower than the original w3530!
I suppose the difference has much to do with applying the new thermal compound evenly over the surface of the CPU to obtain optimal mating between heatsink and CPU.
I advise everyone to use a latex glove (with pointing finger) to spread the grease (as Philip did).

Further upgrade: will replace next week the original Hynix memory (3 GB) with the Micron 24 GB kit (3x8) from Crucial.

Thank you so much for starting this excellent thread.

Are you going to replace the current mem with 1333mhz?

 

[gyorgy]

Are you going to replace the current mem with 1333mhz?

Yes I do. Have a look here.

 

[philipma1957]

Hi Philip,

Did the hex-upgrade (w3680) for my 2.8 quad core (5.1) a few hours ago using your incredible helpful guide and everything went smooth and without any troubles. At the moment I am running Lion OS X 10.7.2. So far so good.

Temperature idles at 32° celsius (CPU A; don't know what the difference is with CPU 1) measured with iStat Menus. Ambient is about four to five degrees lower at 28°. The CPU temp. is almost 10° lower than the original w3530!
I suppose the difference has much to do with applying the new thermal compound evenly over the surface of the CPU to obtain optimal mating between heatsink and CPU.
I advise everyone to use a latex glove (with pointing finger) to spread the grease (as Philip did).

Further upgrade: will replace next week the original Hynix memory (3 GB) with the Micron 24 GB kit (3x8) from Crucial.

Thank you so much for starting this excellent thread.

This upgrade was nice when the 3.2 hex was 600 and the 3.33 hex was 1000. not that the 3.33 hex has dropped to 620 or so it is a better bargain , I was happy to do this.

I hope that next spring after I sell the 3.2 hex I will do this with the 2012 mac pro. Knowing that apple does not let a good upgrade at a good price happen often it may not be possible only time will tell. PS you are welcome.

 

[Jon-PDX]

This is a fantastic thred....thanks for starting it!

I've been building PC's since there were PC's back in the early 80's so changing a cpu is nothing new to me. But having just added a MacPro to my computer collection, and wishing I had not been so impulsive by just buying what my local store had in stock instead of ording a hex, I was doubting my purchase because I figured (assumed) I was going to have to live with my decision.

After reading though this entire thread I'm very pleased to know I can upgrade my cpu to the 3.33 Hex if I feel the 2.8GHz cpu is not going to make me happy.

I do have one question though..........

I know for sure I will need more ram but I can't remember, and don't feel like reading back though this thread to find out, if the 1333 ram will work ok with my current 2.8 GHz configuration.

Can I just buy the 1333 MHz ram now?

Thanks again for a great thread and the pictures to go with it!

Jon...

 

[johnnymg]

This is a fantastic thred....thanks for starting it!

I've been building PC's since there were PC's back in the early 80's so changing a cpu is nothing new to me. But having just added a MacPro to my computer collection, and wishing I had not been so impulsive by just buying what my local store had in stock instead of ording a hex, I was doubting my purchase because I figured (assumed) I was going to have to live with my decision.

After reading though this entire thread I'm very pleased to know I can upgrade my cpu to the 3.33 Hex if I feel the 2.8GHz cpu is not going to make me happy.

I do have one question though..........

I know for sure I will need more ram but I can't remember, and don't feel like reading back though this thread to find out, if the 1333 ram will work ok with my current 2.8 GHz configuration.

Can I just buy the 1333 MHz ram now?

Thanks again for a great thread and the pictures to go with it!

Jon...

1333 RAM will work in your MP.

 

[Jon-PDX]

Excellent!

I'll get the 1333 stuff when I place my order.

Thanks,

Jon...

 

[khollister]

Another successful upgrade here, too. Put a W3680 ($615 at Buy.com) and 24GB of 1333 RAM ($349 at OWC) in my 201 3.2 quad yesterday afternoon and I'm cruising nicely now.

Am curious about Geekbench, though. With everything closed in the dock (except Finder), I am getting about 15300 in 64bit (10.7.2). I have seen references in this thread to 16000+ scores for the same config - what gives?

I have a boot SSD (not that I would expect that to matter) and the ATI 5770 graphics card, and the RAM is confirmed at 1333. Are folks turning off TM. Spotlight, networking, iStat, etc to get those kind of scores? Looking at the Mac model summary on Geekbench, my score of 15250 is pretty close.

 

[rondobloodcanno]

Success!

Phillip,

Thank you so much for this tutorial. It's been two months since I upgraded and have yet to have a problem, my machine absolutely sings!

 

[Draeconis]

the one you pick is not ecc but has b1 steppings for timing


http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=47932


ORDERING AND SPEC INFORMATION
Ordering and Spec Information
Boxed Intel® Core™ i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition (12M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI) FC-LGA10
Socket Step Step TDP Ordering Code Spec Code Halogen Free VT-x
FCLGA1366 B1 130 Watts BX80613I7980X SLBUZ Yes Yes
Intel® Core™ i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition (12M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI) FC-LGA10, Tray
Socket Step Step TDP Ordering Code Spec Code Halogen Free VT-x
FCLGA1366 B1 130



below is the w3670 proven and tested by dozens of us price is about the same. supports ecc is just a bit slower maybe 97 or 98 percent the speed of your pick. I have a memory that someone got your pick to work but I am not sure.

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=47918



ORDERING AND SPEC INFORMATION
Ordering and Spec Information
Intel® Xeon® Processor W3670 (12M Cache, 3.20 GHz, 4.80 GT/s Intel® QPI) FC-LGA10, Tray
Socket Step Step TDP Ordering Code Spec Code Halogen Free VT-x
FCLGA1366 B1 130 Watts AT80613005490AC SLBVE Yes


As an aside I have been told by 10.7.x users that the 3.2 hex does work without problems. Still if you are a 3.2 hex or a 3.46 hex modder keep copies of 10.6.x just in case of a problem when you switch to 10.7.x

Hey man, thanks once more for this thread, really interesting.

I'm looking at getting a W3680 for my 5,1, does the stepping matter? I'm in the UK and can only find B1 steppings, but no D0 ones. Does that matter?

Cheers

 

[fairbanx]

Hey man, thanks once more for this thread, really interesting.

I'm looking at getting a W3680 for my 5,1, does the stepping matter? I'm in the UK and can only find B1 steppings, but no D0 ones. Does that matter?

Cheers

Mac Pro 5,1 supports D0 and B1 stepping, Mac Pro 4,1 does only D0.

 

[Draeconis]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

Ooh, awesome Cheers guys

 

[philipma1957]

Another successful upgrade here, too. Put a W3680 ($615 at Buy.com) and 24GB of 1333 RAM ($349 at OWC) in my 201 3.2 quad yesterday afternoon and I'm cruising nicely now.

Am curious about Geekbench, though. With everything closed in the dock (except Finder), I am getting about 15300 in 64bit (10.7.2). I have seen references in this thread to 16000+ scores for the same config - what gives?

I have a boot SSD (not that I would expect that to matter) and the ATI 5770 graphics card, and the RAM is confirmed at 1333. Are folks turning off TM. Spotlight, networking, iStat, etc to get those kind of scores? Looking at the Mac model summary on Geekbench, my score of 15250 is pretty close.

my scores used the better gpu and they used snow leopard. I have found lion can lower scores a bit and I would think the lessor gpu that you have will also lower the score a bit. I had a lot of fun with the mac pro it sold last week the new owner is happy and for now I am back to mac minis. I do miss the pro oh well wait til next year!

 

[khollister]

my scores used the better gpu and they used snow leopard. I have found lion can lower scores a bit and I would think the lessor gpu that you have will also lower the score a bit. I had a lot of fun with the mac pro it sold last week the new owner is happy and for now I am back to mac minis. I do miss the pro oh well wait til next year!

Ah - missed that you had the 5870. Makes sense.

What kind of CPU temps are you seeing in your Mini Server? Thinking about picking one up to use with VEPro for Hollywood Strings, but I'm a little concerned about the temps I've read about. May wait for Ivy Bridge versions

 

[philipma1957]

as I type temps are 130 f to 160 f with fan set at 2300. I am doing a super duper copy and lite net. i use istats menu 3 for manual fan control .I set the mini at 2300 and most of the time I am fine of course when doing handbrake higher fan settings are need. I never needed the mac pro but want to play with it for a year or so. these new minis are good if you run a lot of cpu . I have it with 16gb samsung ram and a quad cpu. the only problem I have is I like snow much more then lion. the mac pro was cool many for easy triple boot windows 7 lion or snow.

 

[Hey Jude]

I literally just finished upgrading my base MP to 3.3ghz six core, and even though it didn't go quite as smoothly as I would have liked, I am very pleased with the end result (hopefully, I didn't fry anything)

Much thanks to OP for undertaking this task and posting the pictures. I don't think that I would have had the nerve to attempt this upgrade without this thread, and probably would have coughed up the money to Apple for the six core in the first place.