MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 5,1 with broken backplane board

[macmaker20]

I found a 5,1 Mac Pro near me for $70 with a broken backplane board. I did some research and it appears that the 5,1 boards aren't very cheap. Worst of all is that I can't use a 4,1 board either (because of the 5,1 tray), which is much cheaper. However I came up with an idea: Could I potentially swap both the tray and backplane to 4,1 and then flash to 5,1? I found a dual 4,1 tray (mind you the Mac I'm looking at doesn't have dual CPUs), and a backplane for around $200 together. With the X5680 upgrade and 32 GB of RAM I'll have put around $350 into the computer.

Is there any troubleshooting steps I can take before concluding that the backplane needs to be replaced? Also, is my proposal cost effective? I plan on using the computer primarily for Xcode and other general tasks. I believe this computer could easily run me a couple of years.

If I decide to go the single CPU route, it's around $150 for everything.

 

[tsialex]

I found a 5,1 Mac Pro near me for $70 with a broken backplane board. I did some research and it appears that the 5,1 boards aren't very cheap. Worst of all is that I can't use a 4,1 board either (because of the 5,1 tray), which is much cheaper. However I came up with an idea: Could I potentially swap both the tray and backplane to 4,1 and then flash to 5,1? I found a dual 4,1 tray (mind you the Mac I'm looking at doesn't have dual CPUs), and a backplane for around $200 together. With the X5680 upgrade and 32 GB of RAM I'll have put around $350 into the computer.

Is there any troubleshooting steps I can take before concluding that the backplane needs to be replaced? Also, is my proposal cost effective? I plan on using the computer primarily for Xcode and other general tasks. I believe this computer could easily run me a couple of years.

If I decide to go the single CPU route, it's around $150 for everything.

This is a question that you can answer yourself with the search.

No, you can't use a early-2009 backplane with a mid-2010/mid-2012 tray.

EFI firmware can be flashed on a early-2009, but you can't update the SMC firmware. SMC firmware mismatch makes all fans run at full RPM. You have to replace both the backplane and CPU tray to early-2009, then you have a matching SMC version.

Current Xcode already don't run with Mojave anymore. Mojave is the last officially supported macOS version to run on a MP5,1. While Catalina works, it's a hack. Don't expect 10.16 to run.

 

[tsialex]

Last Xcode release compatible with Mojave is Xcode 11.3.1.

 

[macmaker20]

This is a question that you can answer yourself with the search.

No, you can't use a early-2009 backplane with a mid-2010/mid-2012 tray.

EFI firmware can be flashed on a early-2009, but you can't update the SMC firmware. SMC firmware mismatch makes all fans run at full RPM. You have to replace both the backplane and CPU tray to early-2009, then you have a matching SMC version.

Current Xcode already don't run with Mojave anymore. Mojave is the last officially supported macOS version to run on a MP5,1. While Catalina works, it's a hack. Don't expect 10.16 to run.

I answered the whole 4,1 backplane with 5,1 tray in my original post if you read it. I'm proposing that I buy both a 4,1 backplane and a tray, and then flash it to 5,1.

Will Catalina really run poorly if I decide to use the patcher? If I use a metal supported card like an RX 580, I don't think there should be an issue right?

 

[tsialex]

Will Catalina really run poorly if I decide to use the patcher?

Only you can answer that, I very much dislike any patching and I don't use patched macOS releases at all, but everyone has your own needs.

Btw, with a MP5,1 you can install OpenCore and run Catalina without any patches, but don't expect 10.16 to run with a MP5,1. Apple will probably require AVX support with 10.16 and Westmere Xeons don't support AVX.

Sometime early next year the current Xcode release will stop supporting Catalina, if you need to use the current Xcode release for iOS or macOS support, don't buy a MP5,1, try to find a newer Mac that fits your wallet.

You will have a little less than one year of current macOS/Xcode if you go with a MP5,1.

 

[startergo]

I answered the whole 4,1 backplane with 5,1 tray in my original post if you read it. I'm proposing that I buy both a 4,1 backplane and a tray, and then flash it to 5,1.

Will Catalina really run poorly if I decide to use the patcher? If I use a metal supported card like an RX 580, I don't think there should be an issue right?

You forget that you cannot upgrade the smc. Remember CPU tray especially dual tray cMP5,1 is much more expensive than a backplane for the same board.
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Apple will probably require AVX support with 10.16 and Westmere Xeons don't support AVX

I really hope the AVX is not forced for usage. With the CPU emulation AVX feature can be emulated in OC.

 

[tsialex]

I really hope the AVX is not forced for usage. With the CPU emulation AVX feature can be emulated in OC.

Writing is on the wall, @Syncretic already analysed how much AVX is being used by 10.15.4 already.

While emulation will probably work down the road, you don't have enough registers to make the register renaming work without performance loss.

 

[Macschrauber]

The ts wants to change both, backplane and cpu board to 4.1

This works

One trap:

Backplane should have already 5.1 Firmware if combining it with a cpu board with Westmere Xeons.

Otherwise you need to downgrade xeons or lend a untouched 4.1 CPU Board for Firmware Upgrade.

Or solder the chip out, read it and construct a 5,1 firmware on your own.

 

[OkiRun]

Isn:t it easier?

APPLE MacPro 4,1 A1289 XEON 2.66GHZ QUAD CORE / 16GB/ 2TB tower
Pre-Owned
JPY 32,010 (~$300)
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking provided

 

[Macsonic]

I answered the whole 4,1 backplane with 5,1 tray in my original post if you read it. I'm proposing that I buy both a 4,1 backplane and a tray, and then flash it to 5,1.

Will Catalina really run poorly if I decide to use the patcher? If I use a metal supported card like an RX 580, I don't think there should be an issue right?

In my opinion, better to just purchase a fully working 4,1 2009 cMac Pro. It’s understandable $70 is cheap, but you never know other hardware parts might also be defective or not working that buying the parts separately might turn out to be more expensive and too much hassle.

Years ago a fellow colleague purchased a 2009 dual processor cMac Pro for $160. The seller said CPU A wasn’t working. He purchased another 4,1 2009 processor tray but the computer still would not turn on and boot. After several days of “headache” trying to find the issue, the power button board section was the problem as it was defective. Second problem is he had a difficult time finding a power button board for sale. He ended up buying an empty enclosure with the power button. He felt he was better off to just get a working cMac Pro.

 

[macmaker20]

In my opinion, better to just purchase a fully working 4,1 2009 cMac Pro. It’s understandable $70 is cheap, but you never know other hardware parts might also be defective or not working that buying the parts separately might turn out to be more expensive and too much hassle.

Years ago a fellow colleague purchased a 2009 dual processor cMac Pro for $160. The seller said CPU A wasn’t working. He purchased another 4,1 2009 processor tray but the computer still would not turn on and boot. After several days of “headache” trying to find the issue, the power button board section was the problem as it was defective. Second problem is he had a difficult time finding a power button board for sale. He ended up buying an empty enclosure with the power button. He felt he was better off to just get a working cMac Pro.

I feel like this may be right. If I can find a fully working 09 for cheap I think that'd be the move.

 

[minifridge1138]

I love my cMP and I have no doubt it will last me several more years, but not with the latest software. I fully expect that my computer will become a snapshot of what software worked ~2021.

It will continue to work great as a home theater PC, an iTunes server for my other macs, video encoding, 3D animation, etc. Then I just have to decide how comfortable I am with an outdated OS browsing the internet.

But Xcode is different because it's a constant moving target. Soon you won't be able to use the latest Xcode. How long will Apple accept binaries that AREN'T built with the latest Xcode?

 

[ScreenSavers]

I love my cMP and I have no doubt it will last me several more years, but not with the latest software. I fully expect that my computer will become a snapshot of what software worked ~2021.

It will continue to work great as a home theater PC, an iTunes server for my other macs, video encoding, 3D animation, etc. Then I just have to decide how comfortable I am with an outdated OS browsing the internet.

But Xcode is different because it's a constant moving target. Soon you won't be able to use the latest Xcode. How long will Apple accept binaries that AREN'T built with the latest Xcode?

Not long, since new frameworks and APIs are required not long after iOS and macOS updates. Right now, my 5,1 is running Catalina perfectly, with no speed issues or any problems. Let's just hope it's possible to patch 10.16... Apple is trying hard to stop the patchers.