Mac Pro 2009 CPU upgrade: W or X

[ShawnF]

Hi all

Just a simple question. I have a Mac Pro 2009 2.66GHZ Quad. I plan to upgrade to a hexacore and I have flashed the desktop to 5.1 in preparation for the purchase. I was planning to get the Xeon W3680 But now I am seeing multiple threads about how the W Xeons like the W3680 and W3690 can only run with RAM in 3 banks instead of 4.

I am using my system primarily for Final Cut Pro X and Lightroom. And I have all 4 RAM banks filled (20GB - 8+8+2+2) with ECC RAM running at 1066MHz. I'd like to keep it this way.

So quick and straight answer - which hexacore CPU should I go for?

Thanks!

 

[h9826790]

Unless you need anything more than 56G of RAM, otherwise, the W36xx will be fine. You can install 3x16 + 1x8 (total 56G RAM) with the W36xx. However, if you need 4x16G (total 64G RAM), then only the X56xx can do.

 

[ShawnF]

Unless you need anything more than 56G of RAM, otherwise, the W36xx will be fine. You can install 3x16 + 1x8 (total 56G RAM) with the W36xx. However, if you need 4x16G (total 64G RAM), then only the X56xx can do.

Thanks! Good to know. Is that the only advantage of the X56xx Xeon CPUs? Any other advantage of the W Xeon variants?

Also 3.33GHz is W3680 for the W series. Which X56xx CPU has a similar clock speed and is compatible on a 5.1 flashed Mac Pro?

 

[ShawnF]

And does anyone know if the Xeon X5675 can run in solo CPU config on a Mac Pro 5.1 flashed?

http://ark.intel.com/products/52577/Intel-Xeon-Processor-X5675-12M-Cache-3_06-GHz-6_40-GTs-Intel-QPI

I know Apple sells them in dual CPU config Mac Pros but the prices seem quite affordable for me in Singapore compared to the W3680 so am considering it too.

 

[h9826790]

X5680 has the same speed as the W3680.

X5675 can run in single CPU config.

 

[ShawnF]

X5680 has the same speed as the W3680.

X5675 can run in single CPU config.

Ah! Thanks!