MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 2008 8 core as a gift from a friend

[KeesMacPro]

Yosemite is now installed but i will install el capitan.

When you're going to install El Capitan and wants to install the GTX960 , I would do the following steps:

1) install El Capitan
2) reboot and update El Capitan to the latest version
3) download and install the web driver (see link ) corresponding with the exact OS version and build number
4) shutdown the mac, disconnect power mains cable, remove old GPU, install GTX960 with the 8pin power cable

Note that the Nvidia webdriver is for a specific OS version and build number.
So in case of installing a different OS in the future , you may have to reinstall the old GPU (the gtx960 will not work without web driver), install new OS , install/update Nvidia web driver and reinstall the GTX 960.

This is the link for the Nvidia web drivers (CUDA driver is only necessary for certain applications) :

Drivers

In order to get the most out of your new MacVidCards GPU you may need to install new drivers for your current version of OS X. Please note that AMD GPUs do not require additional drivers; they are...

www.macvidcards.com

 

[Augustots]

Thanks for your advice I will light up as you say, how would I do without your advice on this forum, are you kind I can know what country you write from, where are you from?
thank you

 

[KeesMacPro]

Sono tipo latino....

 

[Augustots]

? grazie

 

[Augustots]

I did not understand one thing, as you can see in the attachment I have the RAM with 4 modules of 2gb each, I would like to increase the ram, in the empty places I can put 4 modules of 4gb each in order to have a total of 24 GB of ram?
Or must all modules have the same gb size the same for all? that is, all the modules of 2gb or all of 4gb or all of 8gb?
thank you

 

[AlexMaximus]

I did not understand one thing, as you can see in the attachment I have the RAM with 4 modules of 2gb each, I would like to increase the ram, in the empty places I can put 4 modules of 4gb each in order to have a total of 24 GB of ram?
Or must all modules have the same gb size the same for all? that is, all the modules of 2gb or all of 4gb or all of 8gb?
thank you

As far as I remember, you can mix different sizes of Ram. But usually there are certain configuration that are more desirable than others configured. Maybe someone else can chip in with a 3.1, I only know the 5.1 real good.

By the way, the MP3.1 is known to run its RAM very hot. Back in the day there was one famous cooling mod available. I found it again, you may want to know about it, see below.

maxupgrades.com: max_flow for 800 MHz FB DIMMs for Mac Pro System 2008 [Models Model ID: 3,1]

default site description goes here

www.maxupgrades.com

And the SSD sleds from this brand are actually nice as well.

 

[KeesMacPro]

Mac Pro 3,1 RAM configuration

I need some advice on RAM configuration for a Mac Pro 3,1. Does anyone knows if there is any disadvantage in mixing 8GB (4GBx2) of memory with 4GB (1GBx4) for a total of 12GB? The 4GB sticks would be placed on different risers and the remaining 1GB sticks two on each, giving 6GB per riser. Is...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Augustots]

thank you very kind, but the RAM on the site that links me is expensive, also I don't have paypal or credit card to pay unfortunately.
Do you think this RAM below can fit my 2008 8 core mac pro?

Kit di memoria RAM 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR2 800 MHz PC2-6400 240-pin ECC completamente buffed (FBDIMM) compatibile con Mac Pro (inizio 2008)

Global Memory Il kit RAM di memoria ECC Fully Buffered (FBDIMM) da 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) a 240 pin è progettato per overclocking ad alte prestazioni. Forma sottile, design elegante e prestazioni superiori con basso consumo energetico. Migliora la reattività del sistema, esegui app più velocemente e mul...

www.amazon.it

 

[Augustots]

At this point then I would do it this way.
I delete the 4 bars of 2gb installed, I buy 2 bars of 4gb each and I install them and then another 2 bars of 4gb each and so on until I have a total of 32 GB of ram, is that right?
Also because I think the ram must be all of the same brand, am I right?
thank you.

 

[Augustots]

Mac Pro 3,1 RAM configuration

I need some advice on RAM configuration for a Mac Pro 3,1. Does anyone knows if there is any disadvantage in mixing 8GB (4GBx2) of memory with 4GB (1GBx4) for a total of 12GB? The 4GB sticks would be placed on different risers and the remaining 1GB sticks two on each, giving 6GB per riser. Is...

forums.macrumors.com

Ho letto grazie.

 

[Augustots]

Mac Pro 3,1 RAM configuration

I need some advice on RAM configuration for a Mac Pro 3,1. Does anyone knows if there is any disadvantage in mixing 8GB (4GBx2) of memory with 4GB (1GBx4) for a total of 12GB? The 4GB sticks would be placed on different risers and the remaining 1GB sticks two on each, giving 6GB per riser. Is...

forums.macrumors.com

In this way it would be right to insert the new ram?

 

[Augustots]

Or maybe better, throw in the trash and delete the 4 existing 2gb bars, and insert the 2 new 4gb bars in the same way as attached, is it a better system?

 

[Augustots]

I have seen that some 2008 mac pro's have 667mhz ram instead of 800mhz like my mac pro, so if I wanted I could replace my 800c ram with a 667 one?
because I saw that the cost is very low, below for example 32gb from 667 mhz at a very good price.
Does it suit me? (ps. my mac pro none from 2.8ghz but from 3.2 ghz does something change for the ram?)

32GB (8x4GB) DDR2 PC2-5300F 2Rx4 667MHz Memory RAM Apple Mac Pro 2006 2008 | eBay

Le migliori offerte per 32GB (8x4GB) DDR2 PC2-5300F 2Rx4 667MHz Memory RAM Apple Mac Pro 2006 2008 sono su eBay ✓ Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati ✓ Molti articoli con consegna gratis!

www.ebay.it

 

[mikas]

Isn't that from UK?
Nowadays after the brexit you have to take customs and added VAT into consideration when ordering from UK to Europe.
At least in Finland we have to pay VAT over 22€ orders. That's why I have used european sellers allmost only now.

Maybe you have more liberal customs procedures in Italy, don't know ?

I've got 48 GB of 667 MHz FB DIMMs in my 3,1. Like those in your link and similar to those in the link below.
32GB FB DIMM 667

 

[Augustots]

Ok for customs taxes I ask the seller, but apart from this you can confirm that I can also install 667mhz ram instead of 800mhz, the only problem is that from 667mhz it will be a little slower but the difference on 32gb of ram not even noticeable I suppose, am I right?
thank you.

 

[mikas]

I did not perform any speed tests going from 800 to 667, sorry.

I could have managed with 16GB or at least with 32 GB easily, but I like that ample amount of memory, just in case, and at that ridiculous price I did not need to think twice.

 

[Augustots]

I did not perform any speed tests going from 800 to 667, sorry.

I could have managed with 16GB or at least with 32 GB easily, but I like that ample amount of memory, just in case, and at that ridiculous price I did not need to think twice.

ok thanks for your advice, the important thing is that the 667mhz ram is fully functional on my mac pro 2008, precisely the price is low and therefore I do not want to miss the opportunity to take advantage of the offer.

 

[mikas]

Ok I checked, and I actually did run Geekbench 4 at the time of purchase a couple of years a go (2018 it was). It was with 6Gb of 800MHz RAM. And just ran GB 4 again, see pic.

So there is a performance hit of course. But it's like 2 percent in overall score, and 10 percent in memory score alone. The megahertz difference would suggest 16,7 percent hit if calculated by the difference between those megahertz numbers.

I personally don't mind that much about it.

I arranged the dimms like:

 

[Augustots]

Thanks for your test, after all the difference is not so much so I have chosen and ordered now on ebay from an Italian seller (Florence) 32 gb ram of 667mhz for 60 euros including shipping.
I can't wait for it to arrive to install and try it out.

 

[AlexMaximus]

ok thanks for your advice, the important thing is that the 667mhz ram is fully functional on my mac pro 2008, precisely the price is low and therefore I do not want to miss the opportunity to take advantage of the offer.

Hi Augustus,

sure you can go this route and equip your Mac Pro with 667 MHz moduls. Hopefully they work out, since you have ordered already.

 

[Augustots]

Hi Augustus,

sure you can go this route and equip your Mac Pro with 667 MHz moduls. Hopefully they work out, since you have ordered already.

Yes, I ordered on ebay but not on that English site as I had put in the link above, I ordered on another Italian site where they assure me that they are original for mac pro 2008, I asked the seller for info.
thanks.