MP All Models Mac Pro CPU Compatibility List

[h9826790]

Are the Mac Pro firmware images signed or is it possible to try to edit them to switch support from (for example) X5677 to the X5687 or add support to the dual core X5698.

Has anyone looked into this before?

From memory, when we looking for NVMe solution, a member here claim that he has a project (for study) to add NVMe support at the firmware level to the cMP (make it bootable). So, may be it's not signed. But who dare to mod that and risk to brick their own cMP? It's really not something that a normal users willing to do.

 

[eksu]

From memory, when we looking for NVMe solution, a member here claim that he has a project (for study) to add NVMe support at the firmware level to the cMP (make it bootable). So, may be it's not signed. But who dare to mod that and risk to brick their own cMP? It's really not something that a normal users willing to do.

In the next few months I'll be buying a dual tray for my new Mac 4,1 (got it for $200 with single tray) and when I do I'd be happy to play around with flashing my single tray board.

Obviously I'm hoping it's as easy as switching the CPU-ID's in the blob but I can tinker more than that. It's not worth it for the slightly faster quad core, but I think having 2x4.4ghz dual cores would be very interesting. Or maybe even with the single tray I could get one of the classified chips that goes higher (4.66ghz?) http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/intel-ships-a-4-4ghz-xeon-x5698.html

Alternately, firmware editing could open the door for overclocking on a specific chip via flashes.

Can you link me to that user's comments on modding NVMe support?

 

[h9826790]

In the next few months I'll be buying a dual tray for my new Mac 4,1 (got it for $200 with single tray) and when I do I'd be happy to play around with flashing my single tray board.

Obviously I'm hoping it's as easy as switching the CPU-ID's in the blob but I can tinker more than that. It's not worth it for the slightly faster quad core, but I think having 2x4.4ghz dual cores would be very interesting. Or maybe even with the single tray I could get one of the classified chips that goes higher (4.66ghz?) http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/intel-ships-a-4-4ghz-xeon-x5698.html

Alternately, firmware editing could open the door for overclocking on a specific chip via flashes.

Can you link me to that user's comments on modding NVMe support?

May be you will intereted in this post

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nvme-for-mac-pro-5-1.1919972/page-8#post-22370210

 

[ActionableMango]

Updated 3,1 section to indicate that you can easily upgrade from single-proc to dual-proc.

 

[bax2003]

I successfully upgraded MP 4.1 8c 2.26 to 5.1 12c 2.26. Multi CPU score jumped from 13800 to 25600.
I recommend "vice only" delidding method - surprisingly easy with good stable vice.

 

[simon lefisch]

Hey guys,

I have a question about using a dual Xeon in a single 5,1 Mac Pro.

I read in the first post that

Installing a single "Dual Xeon" processor into a single-processor Mac Pro works fine, and actually increases it's maximum RAM from 56 to 64GB.

Can someone clarify what that means? Are the X56xx processors linked by default? I see a bunch of single processors on eBay. Would one of those increase the RAM, or should I have to buy the dual processor kit?

Forgive the noob question. I recently purchased a Mac Pro 5,1 and am trying to understand how they work best. I have built PC towers and have a MBP so I'm versed in the OS and PC hardware but Mac towers are a different breed.

 

[flowrider]

X56xx CPUs will operate in a single or dual configuration. W36xx CPUs will operate only in a single processor configuration. The X56xx series will handle more RAM in a cMP (4,1 or 5,1) than an W36xx series.

Lou

 

[simon lefisch]

X56xx CPUs will operate in a single or dual configuration. W36xx CPUs will operate only in a single processor configuration. The X56xx series will handle more RAM in a cMP (4,1 or 5,1) than an W36xx series.

Lou

But I don't need to buy a dual-Xeon set, correct? Just purchasing a single X56xx CPU will do.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Yes!

I hope this doesn't confuse anyone, but I wrote this 3 years ago:

Intel's Part Number Descriptions Explained here:

Intel has changed what the leading Alpha means. The change happened when going from the 35XX (55XX) to the 36XX (56XX) series.

In the older series it meant:

E = Enterprise and CPUs with a TDP of 80 Watts
X = Accelerated and CPUs with a TDP of 95 Watts
W = Workstation and CPUs with a TDP of 130 Watts

and in every case the leading numeric after the alpha meant:

3 = for single CPU use only (1 x I/O Bus)
5 = for dual CPU use, but will work in single CPU applications (2 x I/O Bus)

the the later series, the above nomenclature rules stayed constant EXCEPT - The "X" prefix means accelerated (95 or 130 watt TDP) and is only used on CPUs with a 2 x I/O bus. The "W" prefix is now used only in the single CPU series (1 X I/O Bus).

In any case in both series, the meaning of leading numeric after the alpha has remained the same. A "3" for CPUs with a 1 x I/O bus and a "5" for CPUs with a 2 X I/O Bus.

I hope this makes sense to you. It took me awhile to figure it out.

Lou

 

[appleakak]

Bokkow and I have created a Mac Pro CPU compatibility list. The intent is to cover all relevant and compatible CPU upgrades for all Mac Pros. These are asked about over and over and over again, so I thought it would be nice to have it all in one place.

Constructive criticism, corrections to errors, pointing out omissions, etc. are all welcome. My intent is, after the content matures, to turn this first post into a wiki so that anyone can maintain it going forward from there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is 2687w v2 compatible with mac pro 2013?

Notes:

• Any and all information here may be incorrect. Use at your own risk.
• This list only includes CPUs that I have found verification for. This includes anything offered by Apple (BTO/CTO), third party upgrade guides and commercial services (such as Barefeats, OWC, or xlr8yourmac), or simply individuals claiming personal success in a forum somewhere (such as MacRumors and Netkas). There are probably many unverified CPUs that work, but these are not listed.
• Memory speed is included in these charts. This is important because in some cases the CPU choice makes a difference.
• Upgrading to a higher TDP (wattage) processor may increase temperatures and/or fan speed at max load. Macs Fan Control is a popular way to control your Mac's fan and it is available for both OS X and Windows, unlike most Mac fan software.
• Some used CPUs for sale on Ebay and elsewhere are Intel Engineering Samples. You can read more about these here, but they are basically "beta" versions of the CPU provided to OEMs for testing. These may or may not work in a Mac Pro. In my research at least one person bought an engineering sample that didn't work. Since Intel only loans them out and never sells them, they can also be considered stolen property.

Key	Description
-	Not compatible
x	Compatible
x*	Compatible, but see notes about firmware update

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mac Pro 6,1

• 128GB maximum RAM

Architecture	Cores	Grade	CPU-Model	GHz	RAM	Watt
Ivy-Bridge	12 core	Dual Xeon	E5-2697 V2	2.7	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	12 core	Dual Xeon	E5-2696 V2	2.5	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	10 core	Dual Xeon	E5-2690 V2	3.0	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	10 core	Dual Xeon	E5-2680 V2	2.8	1866	115W
Ivy-Bridge	8 core	Dual Xeon	E5-2667 V2	3.3	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	8 core	Dual Xeon	E5-2673 V2	3.3	1866	110W
Ivy-Bridge	8 core	Dual Xeon	E5-1680 V2	3.0	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	6 core	Dual Xeon	E5-1660 V2	3.7	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	6 core	Dual Xeon	E5-1650 V2	3.5	1866	130W
Ivy-Bridge	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5-1620 V2	3.7	1866	130W

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mac Pro 5,1 and 4,1
Xserve 3,1

• Maximum RAM:
  • 56GB in a single-processor Mac Pro using a single-processor-capable Xeon
  • 64GB in a single-processor Mac Pro using a dual-processor-capable Xeon
    
  • 160GB in a dual-processor Mac Pro
  • 48GB for a single-processor Xserve
    
  • 96GB in a dual-processor Xserve
• For the 4,1 to use Westmere CPUs and run RAM at 1333, it will need the firmware upgrade to 5,1, found here: http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,852.0.html
• 5,1 Mac Pros shipped with 1333 RAM even when paired with a Nehalem (1066 only) processor. As shipped, the RAM runs at 1066 because of the CPU. However, if you upgrade to a 1333-capable CPU, your RAM will run at 1333 after an NVRAM reset.
• Installing a single "Dual Xeon" processor into a single-processor Mac Pro works fine, and actually increases its maximum RAM from 56 to 64GB.
• Installing just one single-processor-model CPU into a dual-processor Mac Pro technically works, but this causes an error state with the CPU fan going full blast.
• For two CPUs, you must install two "Dual Xeon" processors. You cannot use two i7 or single Xeon processors.
• The X#### CPU's tend to have a slightly higher maximum temperature rating than their W#### equivalents.
  
• 4,1 dual-processor Mac Pro uses a special, "lidless" CPUs (the single-processor models use normal CPUs). This has a different height than the normal CPUs, so if you upgrade a dual-processor 4,1 Mac Pro with different processors, you need to deal with the height difference. There are several ways to do this:
  • Buy CPUs that someone has already de-lidded.
  • Buy normal CPUs and de-lid them yourself. Here is thread about delidding yourself and here is a video. (And here is a post warning against delidding yourself.)
  • Buy normal CPUs and pay for de-lidding service.
  • Keep the lids on, but be extremely careful about not tightening down the heat sink too much. (If you don't remove the lids it is very easy to tighten down the heat sink screws too much on a CPU that's too large, resulting in damage to the socket, CPU, and/or board.)
  • Other people have kept the lids on, but added washer stacks (of equivalent height to the lid difference) to where the tightening screws go--this is intended to prevent the heat sink from overtightening and causing damage. Here is an informational washer stack thread, and here is a really good post with pictures and a step-by-step procedure.
  • If you keep the lids on, the existing heat pad won't reach the heat sink due to the extra height of the lids. You need to make up for this gap by replacing the heat pad with a thicker pad.
• The Xserve 3,1 uses lidless CPUs for both single-CPU and double-CPU models. We don't know if the washer-stack trick will work in Xserves as they are physically different than MP, but the other solutions should work.
• No, the X5687 (3.6GHz quad-core) and the X5698 (4.4GHz dual-core) do not work in Mac Pros. I don't want to list every CPU that doesn't work with a Mac, but these two are asked about often enough to include here, and they've been verified as not working.

Architecture	Cores	Grade	CPU-Model	GHz	RAM	Watt	MP4,1	MP5,1	XS3,1
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5690	3.46	1333	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5680	3.33	1333	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5679	3.2	1066	115W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5675	3.06	1333	95W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5670	2.93	1333	95W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5660	2.8	1333	95W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	X5650	2.66	1333	95W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	E5659	2.53	1333	80W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	E5645	2.4	1333	80W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Dual Xeon	L5639	2.13	1333	60W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Xeon	W3690	3.46	1333	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Xeon	W3680	3.33	1333	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Xeon	W3670	3.2	1066	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Consumer	i7 990X	3.46	1066	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Consumer	i7 980X	3.33	1066	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	6 core	Consumer	i7 970	3.2	1066	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5687	3.6	1333	130W	-	-	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5677	3.46	1333	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5672	3.2	1333	95W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5667	3.06	1333	95W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5647	2.93	1066	130W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5640	2.66	1066	80W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5630	2.53	1066	80W	x*	x	-
Westmere	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5620	2.4	1066	80W	x*	x	-
Westmere	2 core	Dual Xeon	X5698	4.4	1333	130W	-	-	-
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	W5590	3.33	1333	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	W5580	3.2	1333	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5570	2.93	1333	95W	x	x	x
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5560	2.8	1333	95W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5550	2.66	1333	95W	x	x	x
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5540	2.53	1066	80W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5530	2.4	1066	80W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5520	2.26	1066	80W	x	x	x
Nehalem	4 core	Xeon	W3580	3.33	1333	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Xeon	W3570	3.2	1333	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Xeon	W3565	3.2	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Xeon	W3540	2.93	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Xeon	W3530	2.8	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Xeon	W3520	2.66	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 975	3.33	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 965	3.2	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 960	3.2	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 950	3.06	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 940	2.93	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 930	2.8	1066	130W	x	x	-
Nehalem	4 core	Consumer	i7 920	2.66	1066	130W	x	x	-

* Requires 4,1 to 5,1 firmware upgrade

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mac Pro 3,1
Xserve 2,1

• 64GB maximum RAM
• The 3,1 MP is not compatible with all steppings. Processors with a 5-digit sSpec starting with "SLB" do not work. Those that start with "SLA" work. The sSpec is marked on the top of the processor. sSpec numbers listed in this table should work.
• The 3,1 single-processor Mac Pro can be upgraded to dual-processor by adding a second CPU and appropriate heat sink. The CPUs must match including sSpec, so either get a second CPU that matches your existing CPU, or get two matching CPUs.

Architecture	Cores	Grade	CPU-Model	sSpec	GHz	RAM	Watt	MP3,1	XS2,1
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5482	SLANZ	3.2	800	150W	x	-
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5460	SLANP	3.16	667	120W	x	-
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5472	SLANR	3.0	800	80W	x	x
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5472	SLASA	3.0	800	120W	x	-
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5450	SLASB	3.0	667	120W	x	-
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5440	SLANS	2.83	667	80W	x	-
Harpertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5462	SLANT	2.8	800	80W	x	x

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mac Pro 2,1 and 1,1
Xserve 1,1

• 32GB maximum RAM for 1,1 (increases to 64GB if flashed with 2,1 firmware)
• 64GB maximum RAM for 2,1
• For the 1,1 to use Clovertown CPUs properly, it needs a firmware flashed to 2,1.
• The 1,1 to 2,1 firmware flash requires Snow Leopard (or newer) to run. It can be found here: http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,1094.0.html

Architecture	Cores	Grade	CPU-Model	sSpec	Stepping	GHz	RAM	Watt** (TDP)	Watt** (idle)	MP1,1	MP2,1	XS1,1
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5365	SLAC3	B3	3.0	667	150W	50W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5365	SLAED	G0	3.0	667	120W	25W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5355	SLAC4	B3	2.66	667	120W	50W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5355	SL9YM	B3	2.66	667	120W	50W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	X5355	SLAEG	G0	2.66	667	120W	25W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5345	SL9YL	B3	2.33	667	80W	n/a	x*	x	x
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5345	SLAC5	B3	2.33	667	80W	n/a	x*	x	x
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5345	SLAEJ	G0	2.33	667	80W	n/a	x*	x	x
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5340	SL9MY	n/a	2.4	533	80W	30W	x*	x	x
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5340	n/a	G0	2.4	667	80W	25W	x*	x	x
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	L5335	SLAEN	G0	2.0	667	50W	24W	x*	x	x
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	L5320	SLA4Q	B3	1.86	533	50W	24W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	L5320	SLAC9	B3	1.86	533	50W	24W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	L5320	SLAEP	G0	1.86	533	50W	24W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5320	SL9MV	B3	1.86	533	80W	30W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5320	SLACB	B3	1.86	533	80W	30W	x*	x	-
Clovertown	4 core	Dual Xeon	E5320	SLAEM	G0	1.86	533	80W	30W	x*	x	-
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5160	SL9RT	B2	3.0	667	80W	n/a	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5160	SLABS	B2	3.0	667	80W	n/a	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5160	SLAG9	G0	3.0	667	65W	8W	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5150	SL9RU	B2	2.66	667	65W	24W	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5150	SLABM	B2	2.66	667	65W	24W	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5150	SLAGA	G0	2.66	667	65W	8W	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5130	SL9RX	B2	2.0	667	65W	27W	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5130	SLABP	B2	2.0	667	65W	27W	x	x	x
Woodcrest	2 core	Dual Xeon	5130	SLAGC	G0	2.0	667	65W	27W	x	x	x

* 1,1 to 2,1 firmware upgrade recommended for stepping G0, _strongly_ recommended for earlier steppings.
** Values per CPU (-> x2 in a MP). Upgrade from DualCore to QuadCore CPU's usually requires fan control adjustments prior to stepping G0.

Sources used (among others): Techreport.com, Wikipedia.

​

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Credit

• Thanks to Bokkow for helping with this. The information is formatted and presented nicely due to his work with BBCode tables, and he has contributed with a lot of the data as well.
• Thanks to MacEFIROM and Netkas for creating and providing the firmware updates for Mac Pro. This has enabled countless people to upgrade to a newer generation of CPUs, which wouldn't be possible without the effort made by these two.
• Thanks to everyone who ever upgraded a CPU and took the time to post about it here--there's a chance it was your post I saw that led to a CPU being verified above.
• Thanks to those who took the time, money, and risk to shove more memory in their computer than others said was possible.
• Thanks to everyone who helps to push the limits and usefulness of our computers.
• Thanks to MacRumors and the mods for providing such a great forum for the above to happen in the first place. Especially the mod Arn, for enabling BBCode tables for this.

 

[carpsafari]

^^^^Yes!

I hope this doesn't confuse anyone, but I wrote this 3 years ago:



Lou

But this means these poor sods have to READ it, its so much easier to ask, right?

 

[ActionableMango]

Is 2687w v2 compatible with mac pro 2013?

Yep

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-cpu-150w-tdp-works-in-2013-mac-pro.1855927/

 

[appleakak]

Yep

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-cpu-150w-tdp-works-in-2013-mac-pro.1855927/

I saw that thread too. I was wondering if someone could share their long term experience with that chip. please not that it has 150 TDP so it may work initially but did it gave long term issue because of overheating. Also is this processor really fast (it seems quite fast on paper).

 

[ActionableMango]

I saw that thread too. I was wondering if someone could share their long term experience with that chip. please not that it has 150 TDP so it may work initially but did it gave long term issue because of overheating. Also is this processor really fast (it seems quite fast on paper).

For the highest chance of a response, I suggest you PM the author of that thread. He might not randomly see your posts and I suspect that this particular CPU is an extremely rare CPU replacement choice for Mac Pros.

 

[flowrider]

I saw that thread too. I was wondering if someone could share their long term experience with that chip. please not that it has 150 TDP so it may work initially but did it gave long term issue because of overheating. Also is this processor really fast (it seems quite fast on paper).

Looks like your question got answered

Lou

 

[ActionableMango]

Added E5-2687W V2.

 

[LightBulbFun]

Just posted this in another thread But i figured id post it here as well, I was able to upgrade the CPUs in my Mac Pro 4,1 running the latest High Sierra firmware without any issues, and my ram was recognised as 1333Mhz without having to reset anything (I upgraded from Dual X5570s to dual X5677s the X5570s where apple lidless ones the X5677s I got for a good price pre-delided from ebay) im glad I upgraded to westmere CPUs as VMWare Fusion 10 requires Westmere or newer CPUs (as well as Apples built in Hypervisor, I wonder if VMWare fusion 10 is using apples Hypervisor now...) edit: heres a geekbench score https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/4234967 another edit: heres a picture of the CPUs part way through installation

 

[Neodym]

^^^^Yes!

I hope this doesn't confuse anyone, but I wrote this 3 years ago:
[...]
Lou

Nice read, Lou, many thanks! Maybe you could add that info to the first post in this thread as well, so it'd be visible at first glance.

 

[marione67]

Hi there, sometimes i see on ebay a pair of X56xx at a very good price "pulled out from a server" etc...without saying that works for a mac pro 5.1 or 4.1.
Now the question is, the xeon X56xx is only 1 type or there are ( firmware maybe? ) differences that make it compatible with a Mac or a Server PC?
Thanks! sorry my english

 

[Joseph Z]

Hello ActionableMango,bokkow and members in this thread,thanks for your nice work.I have got much inspiration here,and would like to share my practice,Intel Xeon L5630 runs fine in Mac Pro 5,1 with the latest EFI and High Sierra. L5630(2.13GHz, 4 cores 8 threads) is the fastest in the series of Westmere EP 40W TDP CPU,only 10W TDP per core.

 

[h9826790]

Hi there, sometimes i see on ebay a pair of X56xx at a very good price "pulled out from a server" etc...without saying that works for a mac pro 5.1 or 4.1.
Now the question is, the xeon X56xx is only 1 type or there are ( firmware maybe? ) differences that make it compatible with a Mac or a Server PC?
Thanks! sorry my english

Only one type, if that’s really pulled from server, then it should not be Engineering Sample (which also means good to go).

 

[carpsafari]

Intel Xeon L5630 runs fine in Mac Pro 5,1 with the latest EFI and High Sierra. L5630(2.13GHz, 4 cores 8 threads) is the fastest in the series of Westmere EP 40W TDP CPU,only 10W TDP per core.

And why?
You try to put down the lowest score possible?
Bravo....

 

[marione67]

Only one type, if that’s really pulled from server, then it should not be Engineering Sample (which also means good to go).

Thanks, this is good

 

[h9826790]

Hello ActionableMango,bokkow and members in this thread,thanks for your nice work.I have got much inspiration here,and would like to share my practice,Intel Xeon L5630 runs fine in Mac Pro 5,1 with the latest EFI and High Sierra. L5630(2.13GHz, 4 cores 8 threads) is the fastest in the series of Westmere EP 40W TDP CPU,only 10W TDP per core.

View attachment 724137

Nice, good to know there is a 40W CPU option for 5,1. Thanks for the testing.

To bad that the fans still have to keep at least equals to the stock idle setting for the north bridge cooling. Otherwise, it may be a good option to make the cMP a very quiet computer (if high CPU raw power is not required).

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Great thread, and I really appreciate the advice. I bought a single CPU 4,1 for dirt cheap not long ago after reading about the possibilities of the 4,1 to 5,1 mod. This thread helped me decide on what to do for a CPU upgrade, as I had the base W3520. I went with the X5670 (lower TDP, a few extra cores, higher clocks), which I got for $35 on eBay, and it increased Handbrake by ~50%! I already had an SSD installed, and I dropped in a non-EFI 7870 for another boost. Couldn't be happier for what I've paid.

I'm still rocking 16GB of 1066, but I may go with 1333 eventually. From what I'm gathering from this thread, I can use 8GB or possibly even 16GB DIMMs, right? I'm thinking I'll just go 3 x 8GB 1333 to maximize performance and still get a small bump in overall RAM. Any flaws in that logic?