Mac Pro 2010 from QC to 6 Core…

[steveOooo]

Upgraded the cpu, firstly, when removing the heatsink i notice a bend in the bottom left sprocket that holds the heat sink - i bent this back into place> whether i did this or it was already dodgy i don't know. (Its a refurb mac pro from 2011).

Upgrade went ok, everything booted ok but i seem to have the fans kick in quite high for a geek bench task and a render in final cut pro 7.

I stopped the render after 1 minute - the fans became really loud and the core cpu got up to 92c (according to Temperature Monitor).

I have a Intel Xeon Processor X5690 (3.46GHz) (from a QC 2.8Ghz)

Could this be normal? how high can the cpu temp go?

when resting, just web browsing, the cpu is around 50c (44 as i write this) but the fans are still up - similar to when rendering with the quad core…

 

[Inutopia]

That doesn't sound good, much higher and a thermal shutdown is likely.

For a reference the highest I've ever seen by CPUs (in sig) go is 78, and that was during a Prime95 torture test (24 threads running full whack for 1hr)

I think either your thermal paste isn't done right, or your bent heatsink is causing a poor coupling at the CPU.

Edit: Also my CPU is sitting at 38 on one 40 on the other at more or less idle.

 

[steveOooo]

yep you were correct - a pea shape dollop alone was not enough. it looked too small to even my inexperienced eye.

1st attempt = 90c - https://www.flickr.com/photos/114385526@N07/20095299816/in/dateposted-public/

I should have only followed the mac rumours guide by philipma1957 rather than tidbits from youtube.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-2010-quad-2-8-photos-new-cpu-to-use.1122551/

I decided to spread the paste all over using a snipped q tip. Rendering in FCP7 and temp is up to 70c with normal sounding fans.

At least i now you can bend something, bend it back, and everything works ok!

 

[prezasti]

This is a little off topic, but I just purchased a Mid 2010 Mac Pro 2.8 Quad Core and I want to do the 3.33 6 Core upgrade. I know the apple part number for the processor is 661-5711, but I want to know if that is the only version of the 3.33 Xeon that can be installed? On eBay I can get a X5680, which is the standard version of that processor, but with the head spreader shield on it. which is the only difference I can see between it and apples version. The Non-Apple version is only $150.00, where the apple version I can find are over $500.00 for the same processor.

Also, any good links for a good price on these processors?

Thanks for the Forum Link to installation.

 

[ActionableMango]

This is a little off topic, but I just purchased a Mid 2010 Mac Pro 2.8 Quad Core and I want to do the 3.33 6 Core upgrade. I know the apple part number for the processor is 661-5711, but I want to know if that is the only version of the 3.33 Xeon that can be installed? On eBay I can get a X5680, which is the standard version of that processor, but with the head spreader shield on it. which is the only difference I can see between it and apples version. The Non-Apple version is only $150.00, where the apple version I can find are over $500.00 for the same processor.

Also, any good links for a good price on these processors?

Thanks for the Forum Link to installation.

Many Westmere Xeons can be installed. No Apple-variant CPUs are required in the 2010 MP.

I suggest any of the following single-processor hexacore CPUs, which are as fast or faster than the one you picked.

• w3690 3.46 GHz (what I am using now)
• w3680 3.33 GHz

You mention the x5680, which is a CPU meant for dual-processor motherboards. Those will work in a single processor machine and you can install more memory, but they are also typically more expensive than the single-processor equivalent. (On occasion you might find one for the same price, or even cheaper... that's Ebay for you.)

• x5690 3.46 GHz
• x5680 3.33 GHz

Personally, I would stay away from Engineering Samples, but some people are fine using those.

 

[prezasti]

Many Westmere Xeons can be installed. No Apple-variant CPUs are required in the 2010 MP.

I suggest any of the following single-processor hexacore CPUs, which are as fast or faster than the one you picked.

• w3690 3.46 GHz (what I am using now)
• w3680 3.33 GHz

You mention the x5680, which is a CPU meant for dual-processor motherboards. Those will work in a single processor machine and you can install more memory, but they are also typically more expensive than the single-processor equivalent. (On occasion you might find one for the same price, or even cheaper... that's Ebay for you.)

• x5690 3.46 GHz
• x5680 3.33 GHz

Personally, I would stay away from Engineering Samples, but some people are fine using those.

Thanks, thats awesome news! Any idea who a reputable retailer would be and what seems to be the going price on the aftermarket processors, like the x3690 you mentioned?


Also, back on the OP Topic, I did some repairs on an xbox not long ago and I was light on the thermal paste, which resulted in a similar situation with the fans and overheating. I've also replaced CPU's without getting enough thermal paste on them, which always resulted in the fans going crazy. So I hope you don't have any more heat problems now that you corrected the Thermal Paste issue.

 

[DNComputers]

This is a little off topic, but I just purchased a Mid 2010 Mac Pro 2.8 Quad Core and I want to do the 3.33 6 Core upgrade. I know the apple part number for the processor is 661-5711, but I want to know if that is the only version of the 3.33 Xeon that can be installed? On eBay I can get a X5680, which is the standard version of that processor, but with the head spreader shield on it. which is the only difference I can see between it and apples version. The Non-Apple version is only $150.00, where the apple version I can find are over $500.00 for the same processor.

Also, any good links for a good price on these processors?

Thanks for the Forum Link to installation.

Want to echo what ActionableMango said, although, looking at prices, I would buy the X5680. I think the prices for these are a bit lower than they should be, there must have been quite a few of these in servers that were decommissioned. The lowest I see today is $135
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311413610157 (I have purchased from this seller in the past, and everything went fine)

The X3680 seems to be running closer to $150. Either one will work just fine in the single CPU model, without any modifications.

You could look at the X5690 or W3690 which are the best CPU you can get, here the W3690 seems to be the lowest price (about $185)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371399389676
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381336252818

I have purchased from the second seller, and all was good, no experience with the first. Any of these processors should be just fine for the Single CPU Mac Pro

 

[prezasti]

Want to echo what ActionableMango said, although, looking at prices, I would buy the X5680. I think the prices for these are a bit lower than they should be, there must have been quite a few of these in servers that were decommissioned. The lowest I see today is $135
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311413610157 (I have purchased from this seller in the past, and everything went fine)

The X3680 seems to be running closer to $150. Either one will work just fine in the single CPU model, without any modifications.

You could look at the X5690 or W3690 which are the best CPU you can get, here the W3690 seems to be the lowest price (about $185)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371399389676
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381336252818

I have purchased from the second seller, and all was good, no experience with the first. Any of these processors should be just fine for the Single CPU Mac Pro

Thanks a lot guys! This is exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

[steveOooo]

I paid around $160 from server repairs 4u on eBay - just search for x5690. Was around £200 in total I think from Florida to UK.

If I'd known prior, would have gone for a x5675 which uses 30w less power / slight less noise. Its also around £100 cheaper.

And yes one day on my mp is the same as with the quad core, except its a bit snappier.

You only need to follow the mr guide, using a q tip to evenly spread the paste. Also be careful not to bend anything!