MP All Models Mac Pro CPU Compatibility List

[ActionableMango]

Any chance for new processors to fit in 2013 nMacPro (6,1). The 6.1 list is fairly short and the options that actually bump up the speed over stock are slim. Unless you are upgrading from a 4 core cpu to a 6, 8, 10 or 12 core it doesn't look like it is a good investment at 2 grand for a new chip.

I think it is a general truism that when you are already near the top for processor performance, an upgrade to the absolute top doesn't gain you much and can be quite costly. (You might be able to lower the effective cost if there is demand for your current processor and you sell it.)

We have seen in the past that newer processors became available for the 1,1 and the 4,1 via unofficial firmware updates to 2,1 and 5,1. However, those were for socket-compatible processors. I don't see how the same scenario could possibly play out for the 6,1. Even if the 7,1 Mac Pro is released tomorrow, it will undoubtedly use a different socket and have an incompatible firmware.

 

[rjtiedeman]

My 5,1, 2010, 6 core has now been up and running for 7 years. When you compare the cMP structure (case) to the new nMP, it was a terrific deal at $3500. The fact that I have been able to upgrade the machine to almost new has been a terrific help. $6 grand plus for the 6,1 nMP is hard to justify in today's business climate. I was thinking of upgrading to an old nMP 6,1 and then update the processor to todays tech. I guess I may as well wait until my cMP will no longer works.

 

[zebradreams07]

Can someone help me out with an upgrade question? My hardware knowledge is minimal. I have an old Mac Pro 1,1 that I'm trying to squeeze a few more years out of. Have some RAM on the way but I'm looking at a processor upgrade as well, from the 5160 to X5365. Does anyone know of a good source to buy one? Does it have to be specifically labeled for Mac, or is any with that model number compatible? I've only been able to find ones marked for Macs on eBay, which is not my first choice. They're mostly marked as used rather than refurb too. Also I assume I need to order two separate units, since it's 2x quad core, correct? (I could probably answer that by cracking my case to look, but this is easier lol.)

 

[raymanster]

Can someone help me out with an upgrade question? My hardware knowledge is minimal. I have an old Mac Pro 1,1 that I'm trying to squeeze a few more years out of. Have some RAM on the way but I'm looking at a processor upgrade as well, from the 5160 to X5365. Does anyone know of a good source to buy one? Does it have to be specifically labeled for Mac, or is any with that model number compatible? I've only been able to find ones marked for Macs on eBay, which is not my first choice. They're mostly marked as used rather than refurb too. Also I assume I need to order two separate units, since it's 2x quad core, correct? (I could probably answer that by cracking my case to look, but this is easier lol.)

I've not had first hand experience upgrading a 1,1 but I have upgraded a 3,1 (quite similar to a 1,1) and two 4,1's. All the CPUs I used are server pulls/used, I've had no issues. They will have been taken from existing servers (HP, Dell, IBM etc) that might have been in a server farm/production environment etc. As these types of processors are quite old now you'll be unlikely to find brand new ones. I wouldn't worry about it too much, as long as the seller has a good rating and a return policy you'll be fine. And yes you'll need two.

 

[orph]

@zebradreams07 most people get the cpu's from ebay, there just normal pc parts so ignore the "for mac' stuff as that tends to just be a way to charge more.
dont know if you can get them cheeper but there seems to be a bunch on sale as a pair of cpu's

also there super old now so worth asking if the seller will drop the price worth a try

also looks like the X5355 is a lot cheaper ^^ if you dont mind being a tad slower

 

[ActionableMango]

I'm looking at a processor upgrade as well, from the 5160 to X5365.

Keep in mind that the 5160 and x5365 CPUs are the same speed. You won't see any increase in single core performance, so most software won't be affected. Only a very small handful of software will be able to make use of more than the 4 cores you already have. So unless you are using software that applies, you will likely see no noticeable increase in speed at all.

 

[zebradreams07]

Keep in mind that the 5160 and x5365 CPUs are the same speed. You won't see any increase in single core performance, so most software won't be affected. Only a very small handful of software will be able to make use of more than the 4 cores you already have. So unless you are using software that applies, you will likely see no noticeable increase in speed at all.

Well, that's disappointing. I don't do anything too intensive but lately Chrome has decided that eating up memory isn't enough and has started chewing on my CPU as well.
[doublepost=1487979108][/doublepost]Would this hold true despite it being two quad cores, rather than a single 8 core unit? I specifically got this model because my ex bought a brand new quad core the year before and it put most of the load on 2 cores, but I usually have good distribution with the two dual cores.

 

[joebclash]

A friend recently bought a 4,1 mac pro with single processor. He is asking me to help him upgrade his cpu because I was able to upgrade my 5, 1 mac pro cpu. I'm alittle hesitant because my 5, 1 was easy because they are not delidded cpu. Do all 4, 1 mac pros have delidded cpu? Some people say all 4, 1 are delidded while others say only the dual cpu trays are delidded. Can someone clear this up for me?

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Well, that's disappointing. I don't do anything too intensive but lately Chrome has decided that eating up memory isn't enough and has started chewing on my CPU as well.

FWIW: I've been troubleshooting my Chrome browser on my Mac Pro 5.1 12c 2.26 with 24 GB RAM / Mac OS X 10.10.5 as well. Not only does it eat up more serious amounts of RAM, but even crashes on me big time lately!

Perhaps again a clean install will do the trick on my side. Never had so much issues with my beloved browser since a few weeks. For sure I know that it's absolutly not related to CPU issues whatsoever.

Cheers

 

[flowrider]

A friend recently bought a 4,1 mac pro with single processor. He is asking me to help him upgrade his cpu because I was able to upgrade my 5, 1 mac pro cpu. I'm alittle hesitant because my 5, 1 was easy because they are not delidded cpu. Do all 4, 1 mac pros have delidded cpu? Some people say all 4, 1 are delidded while others say only the dual cpu trays are delidded. Can someone clear this up for me?

The single CPU 4,1 CPU is NOT delidded. The Dual CPU 4,1 CPUs ARE delidded.

Lou

 

[joebclash]

The single CPU 4,1 CPU is NOT delidded. The Dual CPU 4,1 CPUs ARE delidded.

Lou

Thank you for clearing that up. Do you know why apple delidded the dual cpu 4,1?

 

[orph]

the dual cpu setup is hotter, two cpu's = two times the heat and Intel is know to use cheep out on the lidding setup (even now).
but dont try to delidd it for fun, just stick to keeping it simple.

wow looks like even intels curant gen CPU's still drop 20c when delidded and have the stock thermal gunk relapsed
http://www.eteknix.com/intel-core-i7-7700k-kaby-lake-delidding-analysis-make-difference/4/

but yep :/ dont do it if you dont need to no point, not like you can overclock it.

 

[Stephen Valente]

Do I upgrade my single cpu Mac Pro 4,1 (when firmware updated) to a 3.46GHz single cpu or a dual configuration? Not likely to use much in the way of heavyweight software. Odd bit of photoshop and possibly Final Cut Pro.

I can get a dual tray 2.66GHz with 8 cores for nigh on £500 via a seller in the USA after import duties, or find a single 3.46GHz option in the UK and have some port of call if there's a problem.

I'm thinking that sticking with a single CPU will be the better option, and upgrading the memory to 32Gb as a more effective cost/performance option for my usage. May even find a better graphics card somewhere too.

Any thoughts please?

 

[h9826790]

Do I upgrade my single cpu Mac Pro 4,1 (when firmware updated) to a 3.46GHz single cpu or a dual configuration? Not likely to use much in the way of heavyweight software. Odd bit of photoshop and possibly Final Cut Pro.

I can get a dual tray 2.66GHz with 8 cores for nigh on £500 via a seller in the USA after import duties, or find a single 3.46GHz option in the UK and have some port of call if there's a problem.

I'm thinking that sticking with a single CPU will be the better option, and upgrading the memory to 32Gb as a more effective cost/performance option for my usage. May even find a better graphics card somewhere too.

Any thoughts please?

Seems single CPU is good enough for you and a much more reasonable option (by considering the cost to make it dual processor, and you are not gonna able to use those power most of the time).

A good cheap new card e.g. the reference RX460 (require macOS Sierra) can do whatever you throw in. Not very powerful for FCPX, but sure good enough for light video editing.

 

[orph]

i got a 3.33ghz 6c W3680 for something like £70 on ebay in the UK, it's a lot cheaper to just swap the cpu yourself (it was easy and the first time i have touched a CPU.
on ebay UK at the mo i see a bunch of W3680 for 70 + 10 postage, that relay close in speed to the W3690 and a lot less than 500 American.
(maybe £20 for thermal past kit and hex key thing to unscrew the heat sink)

a 3.33ghz chip will be faster in most apps (ie any app that can use the 6 cores) than a 2.66ghz chip.

 

[raymanster]

Do I upgrade my single cpu Mac Pro 4,1 (when firmware updated) to a 3.46GHz single cpu or a dual configuration? Not likely to use much in the way of heavyweight software. Odd bit of photoshop and possibly Final Cut Pro.

I can get a dual tray 2.66GHz with 8 cores for nigh on £500 via a seller in the USA after import duties, or find a single 3.46GHz option in the UK and have some port of call if there's a problem.

I'm thinking that sticking with a single CPU will be the better option, and upgrading the memory to 32Gb as a more effective cost/performance option for my usage. May even find a better graphics card somewhere too.

Any thoughts please?

I have both, a dual cpu (x5677) and a single cpu 4,1 (x5670). I'd say for light or day to day use the single CPU will be fine. As you say get some more RAM and also a SSD if you don't have one already. And as mentioned get a good video card and you will be all set.

 

[Stephen Valente]

I've got a large SSD to install, and it would seem mounting that on a PCI card gives the fastest option. I was thinking about using the larger SSD in one of the drive bays, as the machine I bought came with an adapter sled already, and mounting a smaller one in a PCI adaptor as a boot drive.

I'm tempted just to get a pre-done tray this time round to save me the work, as after I've sourced the 3.46GHz CPU, and extra 32Gb RAM, the cost differential doesn't look that bad for the time I'd have to set aside to do the change at the moment.

Now to hunt around for the best CPU tray and GPU deal.

 

[raymanster]

I've got a large SSD to install, and it would seem mounting that on a PCI card gives the fastest option. I was thinking about using the larger SSD in one of the drive bays, as the machine I bought came with an adapter sled already, and mounting a smaller one in a PCI adaptor as a boot drive.

I'm tempted just to get a pre-done tray this time round to save me the work, as after I've sourced the 3.46GHz CPU, and extra 32Gb RAM, the cost differential doesn't look that bad for the time I'd have to set aside to do the change at the moment.

Now to hunt around for the best CPU tray and GPU deal.

So you mean you're going to get a cpu tray that has already been upgraded for you? You can just do it yourself, it's not really that difficult. It will take you maybe 1 hour. The official Apple technical manual is really good:

http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/macpro/macpro_early2009.pdf

 

[Stephen Valente]

I'm flexible, but if the costings work out favourably enough in the UK, where everything has increased in price because of Brexit (!), I will consider doing it myself, as I've always liked doing that. Concerned about bodging up an expensive part of course.

I've read discussions over getting the 5690 part, 5677, etc. in other threads. From experience, what is the most cost effective part? Think the video I watched on Youtube made it look more difficult, hence my being a tad wary at present.
[doublepost=1488801969][/doublepost]Having just looked at that Official Technical Manual link, it doesn't look that fraught after all. Think the talk of lidded and delidded CPU's added to the confusion!

 

[raymanster]

I'm flexible, but if the costings work out favourably enough in the UK, where everything has increased in price because of Brexit (!), I will consider doing it myself, as I've always liked doing that. Concerned about bodging up an expensive part of course.

I've read discussions over getting the 5690 part, 5677, etc. in other threads. From experience, what is the most cost effective part? Think the video I watched on Youtube made it look more difficult, hence my being a tad wary at present.
[doublepost=1488801969][/doublepost]Having just looked at that Official Technical Manual link, it doesn't look that fraught after all. Think the talk of lidded and delidded CPU's added to the confusion!

Yes no need to worry about de-lidding, you can simply use a lidded CPU as you have a single CPU 4,1. Only the dual CPU 4,1 needs de-lidded CPUs.

For my single CPU 4,1 I upgraded it to a X5670 which is 6 cores running at 2.93Ghz. More cores would be better for things such as video conversion. The x5670 is fairly cheap at £60 on eBay UK right now.

On my dual CPU 4,1 I upgraded to x5677 which are quad core CPUs running at 3.46Ghz. As mentioned these are cheap, I bought mine for about £40 each last year. Although at the moment they are priced about the same as the x5670 on eBay.

As you can see looking at Geekbench 3 scores aren't too different between both.

x5677:
https://browser.primatelabs.com/gee...q=macpro5,1+x5677+64-bit&sort=multicore_score

x5670:
https://browser.primatelabs.com/gee...q=macpro5,1+x5670+64-bit&sort=multicore_score

Personally given the choice between the x5677 and x5670 for a single cpu upgrade, I'd probably go for the x5670. It gives the advantage of 2 more cores while not being that much slower then the x5677.

 

[fhturner]

Please forgive me if this has already been asked and answered elsewhere, but I'm curious...what prevents any Xeon E5 v3 or later chips from being used in nMP? Is it firmware? Would it physically fit? I see the E5-4669v3 18-core, for example, uses an FCLGA2011 socket, just like the 12-core Mac Pro's E5-2697v2. But I think we would've heard a good bit about it if there were an 18-core nMP...

Thx,
Fred

 

[Stephen Valente]

I got a tray with the X5690 and 32Gb memory in the UK for around $450 equivalent for my 4,1 (not installed yet, as need to setup new area to plug everything into before doing the upgrade). Trying to sell my 2.66GHz single tray with 16Gb memory at the moment.

Have a chance to buy a half working dual CPU tray with 2x 2.93GHz CPU's on board. I was thinking that evening if I can't fix the faulty CPU B socket, the processors, heatsinks and tray are worth the eBay cost of around £120, as the parts would cost more than that. Seems a replacement CPU board will run to about £400 via the cheapest source I've found online, so could end up with a dual CPU tray for around £520!

 

[ActionableMango]

Would it physically fit? I see the E5-4669v3 18-core, for example, uses an FCLGA2011 socket, just like the 12-core Mac Pro's E5-2697v2.

The sockets have similar names but are not compatible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_2011

 

[fhturner]

The sockets have similar names but are not compatible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_2011

Okay, but I still don't quite see the difference. I'm looking at Intel's ARK, and both the E5-v2 Xeons like what's in the nMP and the E5-v3 both show the same socket: FCLGA2011

18-core 2.1GHz E5-4669v3: https://ark.intel.com/products/85766/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-4669-v3-45M-Cache-2_10-GHz

12-core 2.7GHz E5-2697v2 [Mac Pro top config]: https://ark.intel.com/products/75283/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-2697-v2-30M-Cache-2_70-GHz

Now, the E5-v4 chips show a different "FCLGA2011-3" socket, such as for this 22-core monster: https://ark.intel.com/products/93805/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-4669-v4-55M-Cache-2_20-GHz

So obviously that's different. But what am I missing? Is the ARK incomplete/inaccurate regarding socket type/name? Did they leave off a "-2" or something on the v3 chip?

Thx,
FT

 

[ActionableMango]

So obviously that's different. But what am I missing? Is the ARK incomplete/inaccurate regarding socket type/name?

Yep