MP 1,1-5,1 How can I make my mac Pro a current computer?

[milohywel]

Hey folks,

I'm gonna try to cover this as quick as possible as it could be a question which is asked often.

I've just purchased the most recent Macbook Pro, which is running the latest OS and is running it smooooth. At home I also have a Mac Pro (Mid 2010 tower), which cannot update past High Sierra, and is generally just very slow. It also lacks an "AVX compatible CPU", which is apparently something which I'll need (I am a music producer).

I'm basically asking, is there a cheapish way for me to fix up my Mac Pro, to make it as efficient and up to date as my Macbook, so that i can use the two in tandem? I've attached my specs to the thread - let me know if anything else is needed.

Any help is deeply appreciated, there's no way i can afford the new Mac Pro models...

Thanks!

 

[tsialex]

Hey folks,

I'm gonna try to cover this as quick as possible as it could be a question which is asked often.

I've just purchased the most recent Macbook Pro, which is running the latest OS and is running it smooooth. At home I also have a Mac Pro (Mid 2010 tower), which cannot update past High Sierra, and is generally just very slow. It also lacks an "AVX compatible CPU", which is apparently something which I'll need (I am a music producer).

I'm basically asking, is there a cheapish way for me to fix up my Mac Pro, to make it as efficient and up to date as my Macbook, so that i can use the two in tandem? I've attached my specs to the thread - let me know if anything else is needed.

Any help is deeply appreciated, there's no way i can afford the new Mac Pro models...

Thanks!

You can update the CPU to a lot faster hex-core (like X5680 or X5690), add more memory, GPU to a current one that have Mojave support, but you can't update to a processor that have AVX support.

First Mac Pro that have AVX support is late-2013 Mac Pro.

MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)

Please fully read this first post, you will probably find that you have one or more problems described into the various notes below. Mojave will only install if you have upgraded your BootROM to the current release and your Mac Pro have a Metal capable GPU*. If you are trying to install Mojave...

forums.macrumors.com

cMP {classicMacPro}{4,1 & 5,1} - Upgrade Guide Sticky Discussion

Hey Folks, Lets start a discussion and collect everything relevant for cMP upgraders out there. Topics to consider: CPU Upgrades Compatibility chart CPU Delid / standoffs 4,1 to 5,1 firmware upgrade Memory Compatibility and Upgrades UDIMM Model Numbers RDIMM Model Numbers RAM...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Plutonius]

I don't believe that you are able to get around the requirement of a "AVX compatible CPU" so performance updates will not help.

That being said, you could easily add more RAM and replace your hard drive with an SSD to improve your performance.

 

[flowrider]

I also have a Mac Pro (Mid 2010 tower), which cannot update past High Sierra,

The 5,1 cMP can run Mojave 10.14.6.

Lou

 

[Zwhaler]

In order of impact vs price/hassle
1. SSD boot drive. Mine's SATA and it's fine. It'll blow a spinning disk out of the water and make the single biggest performance improvement of all of these.
2. RAM. 7GB is low. I would recommend at least 24GB at 1333MHz ECC. Triple channel for max memory bandwidth. (8GBx3 or 16GBx3 recommended).
3. GPU: grab a Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB for under $200 and it'll dramatically improve your performance.
4. CPU upgrade to a fast hex like 3.46 or 3.06 was the fastest Apple shipped for the mid-2012 (it's 95W TDP whereas 3.33 and 3.46 are higher around 130W). Just make sure your heat sink is big enough. Idk if they use the same heat sink for the base 2.8 vs the 2.93 and 3.06s.

These upgrades will transform your performance!

 

[Chips Stephens]

Native instrument me thinks...
They have the 5,1 music community in an uproar right now.

Many studios still run the 5,1.
Glad I don’t use NI.

 

[tsialex]

Native instrument me thinks...
They have the 5,1 music community in an uproar right now.

Many studios still run the 5,1.
Glad I don’t use NI.

It's a really dumb take to require AVX and don't offer any version that still works with MP5,1s. People with MP5,1 will first look at alternatives for the app/plug-in than to upgrade to a newer Mac Pro.

I'm moving to anything that don't enforces AVX or, when possible, using AVX software with my other Macs that support it. For sure, I'm not upgrading any of my personal Macs until the ARM transition path is very clear.

 

[ctrlzone]

there is plenty of room to improve your mac pro, and the difference from 2.8 to the six core is huge, but cheapish, not sure.
you gonna have to invest something around $500- $600 to get to Mojave, CPU, RAM, SSD. still no AVX, and the Cheesegrater is showing its age, at least in Audio.

do you have the 16" ? because then i would just use the Macbook as desktop and buy a nice Monitor, TB-dock, keyboard, mouse, backup drives, etc. you can connect everything with just 1 cable + charging, pretty sleek.

the mac mini could be an option too, its excellent for Audio, for the price, for a mac.
with peripherals certainly a bigger investment.

WWDC is just around the corner, maybe the new iMac is an option.