MP 1,1-5,1 Mac pro 2008.... Try to upgrade it or? Repurpose?

[j2048b]

So i have an older 2008 mac pro sitting around, do i try to push the upgrades in these forums so i can hopefully run the newest os's or repurpose it for windows and linux?

Whats the consensus say??

 

[duanepatrick]

I would personally say upgrade.

The latest OS offers tons of benefits and security features.

Edit: is buying a new one not an option?

 

[ifrit05]

I would personally say upgrade.

Same. Mine has been upgraded to a 2x X5680, 64GB RAM, (sidestepped) to a Radeon Pro WX 4100, NVMe boot drive, and a TB3 Titan-Ridge Card. Yeah, it may not be as fast as the new MP7,1 but damn for a lot less money it can still run the newest OS like a champ, even if Apple doesn't think it can/should.

Next upgrade will be a Wi-Fi/BT upgrade. I don't use Wi-Fi with my desktops but I would like to have a newer revision BT chip.
After that I need to get a 10G network card so I can have a fast network connection to my UNRAID server in the basmenent and to my main gaming PC. On the fence about getting either an SFP+ card (all my 10G network equipment runs with SFP+) or just get a cheaper 10GbE card with an adapter).

 

[KeesMacPro]

Same. Mine has been upgraded to a 2x X5680, 64GB RAM, (sidestepped) to a Radeon Pro WX 4100, NVMe boot drive, and a TB3 Titan-Ridge Card.

IINM the OP is referring to a MP 3,1 (2008).

I would not dedicate much time and invest money in upgrades on a MP 3,1, but use it as a data server or for general purposes the state it is in now.

 

[randy85]

This is unlikely to make me popular here, but I'd avoid sinking further money into these in case some parts start to go that can't be easily replaced.

This entire Wikipedia page could easily be about upgrading old Mac Pros lol - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost

 

[Macschrauber]

I'd invest into a 2010 or 2012 MP5,1 if it has to be a cheese grater

The 2008 MP3,1 are really end of life now, even though I run one with Mojave. It's just because I can.

Logic Boards and PSU begin to tend to fail, it should be repasted and the power draw of that beast is high compared to newer machines of the Mac Pro line.

 

[j2048b]

I would personally say upgrade.

The latest OS offers tons of benefits and security features.

Edit: is buying a new one not an option?

No at the price and not being a video or sound tech and a typical home user, not a chance ill ever spend that much on a computer ever again

 

[j2048b]

Thanks everyone, maybe linux/windows machine perhaps? I mean the memory is maxed, the cou's could be upgraded but no need tbh,

Might just try to slipstream the new os's onto it snd see how it runs,

 

[ifrit05]

Thanks everyone, maybe linux/windows machine perhaps? I mean the memory is maxed, the cou's could be upgraded but no need tbh,

Might just try to slipstream the new os's onto it snd see how it runs,

Any modern Linux distro would run great. I would use a USB drive for rEFInd(Plus) for easier booting as Apple's EFI implementation can be a bit dodgy with alternate OSes.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Sell on eBay and put coins towards a M1 machine.

 

[j2048b]

Sell on eBay and put coins towards a M1 machine.

Yeah ive thought about this as well

 

[ashleykaryl]

My guess is that when the M1X comes out any discussion about upgrading these older Mac Pros will become a footnote in history.

 

[rpmurray]

My guess is that when the M1X comes out any discussion about upgrading these older Mac Pros will become a footnote in history.

Depends on if the M(whatever) Mac Pro will be north of $5000.

 

[ashleykaryl]

Depends on if the M(whatever) Mac Pro will be north of $5000.

No doubt the new silicon Mac Pro will be serious money, though I wonder in practice how many will need them. From reports I have seen the current M1 is often faster than the 2019 Mac Pro, so I figure an M1X mini with more ports and more importantly 5+ years of system compatibility without hacks will make these older Mac Pros look completely obsolete in the very near future.