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ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Original poster
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
Thanks for this but currently my Mac Pro has been taken apart so can't get to the software end of things. I do know it's a Mac Pro 2009-2012 model.

2009-2012 covers two different models, so that is not enough information. Look at the sticker on the back just below the PCIe slots, and then look up the model number.
 

majus

Contributor
Mar 25, 2004
485
433
Oklahoma City, OK
Thanks for this but currently my Mac Pro has been taken apart so can't get to the software end of things. I do know it's a Mac Pro 2009-2012 model.
You can look it up by serial number or Apple ID No., here:
 
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Snow Tiger

macrumors 6502a
Dec 18, 2019
854
634
I updated the maximum RAM shown for the 7,1 CPUs, because as usual, Apple has understated the maximum RAM possible.

Someone should do a comprehensive memory bandwidth test with various of the slots populated in a MP7,1 .

While it is possible to get 1 TB recognized on processors that Apple say support only 768 GB , I'm willing to bet the installed configuration would have to be 12 x 128 GB ( 1 TB max recognized due to CPU limitation ) in order to maximize the memory bandwidth . If 8 x 128 GB ( 1 TB ) is installed , we should be at only 68 percent of maximum memory bandwidth . That would drag down the performance of the whole System .

I did a lot of research when I built the PC version ( one Cascade Lake Xeon and 12 memory slots ) of the Mac Pro 7,1 and since the memory controllers are on the Xeons , the same performance rules should apply to both PCs and Macs .

 
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h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,587
Hong Kong
Someone should do a comprehensive memory bandwidth test with various of the slots populated in a MP7,1 .

While it is possible to get 1 TB recognized on processors that Apple say support only 768 GB , I'm willing to bet the installed configuration would have to be 12 x 128 GB ( 1 TB max recognized due to CPU limitation ) in order to maximize the memory bandwidth . If 8 x 128 GB ( 1 TB ) is installed , we should be at only 68 percent of maximum memory bandwidth . That would drag down the performance of the whole System .

I did a lot of research when I built the PC version ( one Cascade Lake Xeon and 12 memory slots ) of the Mac Pro 7,1 and since the memory controllers are on the Xeons , the same performance rules should apply to both PCs and Macs .


In fact, even Intel may understate the limitation.

e.g. My W3690 only support up to 24GB officially from Intel. And now I am running 48GB.

So, that 1TB CPU max may not be a real max either.
 

LightBulbFun

macrumors 68030
Nov 17, 2013
2,900
3,195
London UK
did a bit of digging, as I suspected the MacPro7,1 only contains cascade lake microcodes in its firmware

a good indication of CPU support, but sadly I dont think any skylake CPUs will work (I know a couple people wanted to try the W-3175X but I dont think that will wrok)

(but it is worth noting that skylake and cascade lake share the same Major CPUID only differing on the stepping side of things, so there's a small chance skylake will still work but id not bank on it)

there are some cascade lake ES steppings micro codes in there (50655 and 50656 are ES steppings, with 50657 being the production/QS stepping)

1577537752893.png


theres actually a GB result of I think a Prototype MacPro7,1 because its a CPU that did not end up shipping in the MP7,1, but its also a ES stepping

 
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Snow Tiger

macrumors 6502a
Dec 18, 2019
854
634
did a bit of digging, as I suspected the MacPro7,1 only contains cascade lake microcodes in its firmware

a good indication of CPU support, but sadly I dont think any skylake CPUs will work (I know a couple people wanted to try the W-3175X but I dont think that will wrok)

(but it is worth noting that skylake and cascade lake share the same Major CPUID only differing on the stepping side of things, so there's a small chance skylake will still work but id not bank on it)

there are some cascade lake ES steppings micro codes in there (50655 and 50656 are ES steppings, with 50657 being the production/QS stepping)

View attachment 885177

theres actually a GB result of I think a Prototype MacPro7,1 because its a CPU that did not end up shipping in the MP7,1, but its also a ES stepping


excellent work .

Any supported ES chips that have production versions should work fine .

Is there a public database of individual chips CPUIDs ? I can't seem to find one .

My 6212U worked and was stable until I reset NVRAM .
 
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Snow Tiger

macrumors 6502a
Dec 18, 2019
854
634
did a bit of digging, as I suspected the MacPro7,1 only contains cascade lake microcodes in its firmware

a good indication of CPU support, but sadly I dont think any skylake CPUs will work (I know a couple people wanted to try the W-3175X but I dont think that will wrok)

(but it is worth noting that skylake and cascade lake share the same Major CPUID only differing on the stepping side of things, so there's a small chance skylake will still work but id not bank on it)

there are some cascade lake ES steppings micro codes in there (50655 and 50656 are ES steppings, with 50657 being the production/QS stepping)

View attachment 885177

theres actually a GB result of I think a Prototype MacPro7,1 because its a CPU that did not end up shipping in the MP7,1, but its also a ES stepping


I Hit Pay Dirt !!!

Just went to the latest Intel Microcode Update Guidance ( updated 11-12-2019 ) and it conveniently lists some Cascade Lake CPUs .


Here's the list for CPUID 50657 :

Intel® Xeon® Platinum Processor 8253, 8256, 8260, 8260L, 8260M, 8260Y, 8268, 8270, 8276, 8276L, 8276M, 8280, 8280L, 8280M, 9220, 9221, 9222, 9242, 9282
Intel® Xeon® Gold Processor 5215, 5215L, 5215M, 5215R, 5217, 5218, 5218B, 5218N, 5218T, 5220, 5220R, 5220S, 5220T, 5222, 6222V, 6226, 6230, 6230N, 6230T, 6234, 6238, 6238L, 6238M, 6238T, 6240, 6240L, 6240M, 6240Y, 6242, 6244, 6246, 6248, 6252, 6252N, 6254, 6262V
Intel® Xeon® Silver Processor 4208, 4208R, 4209T, 4210, 4210R, 4214, 4214C, 4214R, 4214Y, 4215, 4216, 4216R
Intel® Xeon® Bronze Processor 3204, 3206R

Intel® Xeon® Processor W-3275M, W-3275, W-3265M, W-3265, W-3245M, W-3245, W- 3235, W-3225, W-3223, W-2295, W-2275, W- 2265, W-2255, W-2245, W-2235, W-2225, W- 2223

They are all listed as production chips .

My 6212U is not listed at all in the document . Intel has not released its CPUID number .
 
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Snow Tiger

macrumors 6502a
Dec 18, 2019
854
634
check out CPU world as well for CPUID info etc etc

Unfortunately , CPU World doesn't have any CPUID info for the Cascades yet . They desire for me to install a CPU info Windows utility to discover and share that info with them , though . Right now , ironically , my 6212U is no longer installed in my PC workstation and is being prepped again for reinstallation into the MP7,1 .
 
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LightBulbFun

macrumors 68030
Nov 17, 2013
2,900
3,195
London UK
Unfortunately , CPU World doesn't have any CPUID info for the Cascades yet . They desire for me to install a CPU info Windows utility to discover and share that info with them , though . Right now , ironically , my 6212U is no longer installed in my PC workstation and is being prepped again for reinstallation into the MP7,1 .

I highly recommend using CPU-Z and hwinfo64, but it is easily possible to pull CPUID info OS X

infact id quite like some CPU Z shots of the MacPro7,1, specifically the main CPU tab and the motherboard tab, and Memory tab if possible!
 
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Snow Tiger

macrumors 6502a
Dec 18, 2019
854
634
Samsung makes 256 GB DIMMs. You need 4 x 256 GB to reach 2 TB, along with 8 x 128 GB.

Shucks , just hope we can get some 512GB DIMMS soon . Some of the compatible silicon ( e.g. 8280L ) actually supports 4.5TB of DDR4 . We can't max her out with those wimpy 256GB modules 😂 . And some people think Apple's max 1.5TB of main system memory is sooooo impressive . Philistines ! Practically Luddites !
 
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