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sertrincia

macrumors newbie
Jan 7, 2021
12
1
Ofc I tried with both GPUs. I noticed that just after i press the power button a led on the cpu/memory daughterboard blinks, but i found nothing online. It's the one labelled L5I510 in the photo


led.png
 

tsialex

Contributor
Jun 13, 2016
13,454
13,601
Ofc I tried with both GPUs. I noticed that just after i press the power button a led on the cpu/memory daughterboard blinks, but i found nothing online. It's the one labelled L5I510 in the photo


View attachment 1712901
Normal behaviour.

Maybe your problem is a corrupted NVRAM/SPI flash memory failing. The KP report changes the date/time when you re-open?
 
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LightBulbFun

macrumors 68030
Nov 17, 2013
2,900
3,195
London UK
pleased to report that 64GB of RAM works in a MacPro1,1 without having to flash its firmware to MacPro2,1 firmware

this is something I have been wanting to test for a few years since it was discovered 64GB works with the 2,1 firmware, as I dont actually recall anyone actually tested the 8GB 2Rx4 sticks on a stock MacPro1,1 but for some reason it says in the Wiki on the first post/page that you need the MP2,1 firmware

a friend of mine did test 64GB of RAM in a MacPro1,1 for me a couple years ago when buying the RAM for his MacPro2,1s but he was not able to do in depth testing

but I finally got/found 8 2Rx4 8GB FB-DIMMs for cheap and I am pleased to report they do indeed work in a stock MacPro1,1 :)

View attachment 1712767

curiously older OS X versions like snow leopard will show 64GB in about this mac but only have 32GB usable (have to wonder if its a limit of the 32bit kernel mode SL runs in when running on a MP1,1), OS X El Cap has no problem using all 64GB as demonstrated above

and windows 10 64bit also saw all the RAM http://valid.x86.fr/229gxw

I also own an Xserve1,1 and I hope to test the 64GB of RAM in that machine as well :)

continuing on from this

im pleased to report the Intel Celeron 445 CPU works in a MacPro1,1, LOL, I had known about this CPU for many years now, and had always been curious if it would work in a Mac Pro, its a weird single Core Socket 771 Celeron, but is based on the same Arch as the Xeons used in the MP1,1/2,1 so I wondered if it would work, well recently I finally got my mits on one and can confirm and indeed it does indeed work, with all 64GB of RAM too, hows that for unbalanced LOL

1610990084258.png


it shows up as a Core 2 Solo in about this mac, because the MacPro1,1 Firmware does not know what this CPU is, so does not set an appropriate cpu-type number in firmware on boot (which is how OS X's about this mac figures out what CPU name to display)

now normally this would result in an an "Unknown" in about this Mac, exactly like Quad Core CPUs in a MP1,1 on stock firmware, but for the earliest of Core 2 based CPUs about this mac will actually try and guess what the CPU is even without the cpu-type value from the firmware

it is curious that Core 2 Solo is string about this Mac has since no Mac shipped with a Core 2 Solo, as a side note there is also a "Single-Core Intel Xeon" string in about this mac again curious that it is there since no mac shipped with a single core intel Xeon, I wonder if I flash this MacPro1,1 with MacPro2,1 firmware if it will report a Single Core Xeon cpu-type value instead (which I will try at some point) the Core 2 Solo/Single-Core Intel Xeon strings might also be from back in the day when you used to use CHUD tools to disabled CPU cores, which sometimes would change what about this mac would report


heres what windows/CPU-Z etc make of it for those curious

1610990718392.png


 
Last edited:

LightBulbFun

macrumors 68030
Nov 17, 2013
2,900
3,195
London UK
I wonder if I flash this MacPro1,1 with MacPro2,1 firmware if it will report a Single Core Xeon cpu-type value instead

looks like I was right on the money, flashed the machine to MacPro2,1 firmware and now indeed a cpu-type is reported and it is the Single-Core Intel Xeon Value

this is on the MacPro1,1 firmware
1611005513459.png


and this is on the MacPro2,1 firmware :) (note the extra cpu-type string, which as above tells About This Mac what to display)

1611005536056.png



1611005550249.png



and for those curious heres a Geekbench 4 run (done while still on MP1,1 firmware)

 

thenightflyer

macrumors newbie
Feb 18, 2021
6
1
Italy
A question about cpu upgrade on 7.1 MacPro. I found on ebay two different kind of Xeon for an upgrade of my actual 8 cores cpu. There is an Intel Xeon w-3275m 2.50 GHz 28-Core srffk and same CPU QS version. The price is very different, the QS version costs less (about 1000 EUR). So my question is simple.....are QS version reliable for an upgrade of my actual 8 core cpu? What is the difference with other CPU version?
 

Macbookprodude

Suspended
Jan 1, 2018
3,306
898
Who cares at this point when Apple already made obsolete the Mac Pro we loved and still love, to be replaced by a trash can and then in 2019 with an overpriced toaster - and with the end of Intel coming for M1, those who spent 60,000 or less on the 2019 mac pro will be in for a rude awakening when nothing will work on it.
 

flowrider

macrumors 604
Nov 23, 2012
7,321
3,003
A question about cpu upgrade on 7.1 MacPro. I found on ebay two different kind of Xeon for an upgrade of my actual 8 cores cpu. There is an Intel Xeon w-3275m 2.50 GHz 28-Core srffk and same CPU QS version. The price is very different, the QS version costs less (about 1000 EUR). So my question is simple.....are QS version reliable for an upgrade of my actual 8 core cpu? What is the difference with other CPU version?



You don't want engineering samples.

Lou
 
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zzzachi

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2012
231
111
interesting, i always thought the difference between M and non-M ist just how much ram can be used,
but it seems the non-M versions are also quite! a bit slower and have only ~65% of the performance?
if that is true an 16-core M might give you almost the same performance as an 28-core non-M (?)
 
Last edited:

MacManInt

macrumors newbie
Feb 14, 2021
4
0
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.

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

Notes:
  • Any and all information here may be incorrect. Use at your own risk.
  • 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. People have literally been arrested for selling Intel ES processors on Ebay.

KeyDescription
-Not compatible
xCompatible
x*Compatible, but see notes about firmware update
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Mac Pro 7,1
  • 1TB or 2TB maximum RAM depending on processor

ArchitectureCoresGradeCPU-ModelGHzTurboRAMWattMax RAM
Cascade Lake28 coreXeon WW-3275M2.54.42933205W2TB
Cascade Lake28 coreXeon WW-32752.54.42933205W1TB
Cascade Lake24 coreXeon WW-3265M2.74.42933205W2TB
Cascade Lake24 coreXeon WW-32652.74.42933205W1TB
Cascade Lake16 coreXeon WW-3245M3.24.42933205W2TB
Cascade Lake16 coreXeon WW-32453.24.42933205W1TB
Cascade Lake12 coreXeon WW-32353.34.42933180W1TB
Cascade Lake8 coreXeon WW-32253.74.32666160W1TB
Cascade Lake8 coreXeon WW-32233.54.02666160W1TB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Mac Pro 6,1
  • 128GB maximum RAM (reduced speed)
  • 64GB maximum RAM (full speed)

ArchitectureCoresGradeCPU-ModelGHzTurboRAMWatt
Ivy-Bridge12 coreDual XeonE5-2697 V22.73.51866130W
Ivy-Bridge12 coreDual XeonE5-2696 V22.53.31866130W
Ivy-Bridge12 coreDual XeonE5-2695 V22.43.21866115W
Ivy-Bridge10 coreDual XeonE5-2690 V23.03.61866130W
Ivy-Bridge10 coreDual XeonE5-2680 V22.83.61866115W
Ivy-Bridge8 coreDual XeonE5-2687W V23.44.01866150W
Ivy-Bridge8 coreDual XeonE5-2667 V23.34.01866130W
Ivy-Bridge8 coreDual XeonE5-2673 V23.34.01866110W
Ivy-Bridge8 coreXeonE5-1680 V23.03.91866130W
Ivy-Bridge6 coreXeonE5-1660 V23.74.01866130W
Ivy-Bridge6 coreXeonE5-1650 V23.53.91866130W
Ivy-Bridge4 coreXeonE5-1620 V23.73.91866130W
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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-processorMac 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.

ArchitectureCoresGradeCPU-Model GHzTurboRAMWattMP4,1MP5,1XS3,1
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56903.463.731333130Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56803.333.601333130Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56793.203.601066115Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56753.063.46133395Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56702.933.33133395Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56602.803.20133395Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonX56502.663.06133395Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonE56492.532.80133380Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonE56452.402.67133380Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreDual XeonL56392.132.67133360Wx*x-
Gulftown6 coreXeonW36903.463.731333130Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreXeonW36803.333.601333130Wx*x-
Westmere6 coreXeonW36703.203.461066130Wx*x-
Gulftown6 coreConsumeri7 990X3.463.731333130Wx*x-
Gulftown6 coreConsumeri7 980X3.333.601333130Wx*x-
Gulftown6 coreConsumeri7 9703.203.461333130Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonX56873.603.861333130W---
Westmere4 coreDual XeonX56773.463.731333130Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonX56723.203.60133395Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonX56673.063.46133395Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonX56472.933.201066130Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonE56402.662.93106680Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonE56302.532.80106680Wx*x-
Westmere4 coreDual XeonE56202.402.66106680Wx*x-
Westmere2 coreDual XeonX56984.404.541333130W---
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonW55903.333.601333130Wxxx
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonW55803.203.461333130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonX55702.933.33133395Wxxx
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonX55602.803.20133395Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonX55502.663.06133395Wxxx
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonE55402.532.80106680Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonE55302.402.66106680Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreDual XeonE55202.262.53106680Wxxx
Nehalem4 coreXeonW35803.333.601333130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreXeonW35703.203.461333130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreXeonW35653.203.461066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreXeonW35402.933.201066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreXeonW35302.803.061066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreXeonW35202.662.931066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9753.333.601333130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9653.203.461066130Wx**x**-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9603.203.461066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9503.063.331066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9402.933.201066130Wx**x**-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9302.803.061066130Wxx-
Nehalem4 coreConsumeri7 9202.662.931066130Wx**x**-
* Requires 4,1 to 5,1 firmware upgrade



** Some or all steppings of these CPUs don't work with certain newer Mac Pro firmware versions applied by High Sierra 10.13.5 updates and newer. See this thread. The thread also has a method for adding the code back to make the CPUs compatible again.


Note: Reports of GAINESTOWN (Xeon 5500-series) processors in Mojave experiencing audio related issues. See this thread for more information.

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

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.

ArchitectureCoresGradeCPU-ModelsSpecGHzRAMWattMP3,1XS2,1
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonX5482SLANZ3.2800150Wx-
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonX5460SLANP3.16667120Wx-
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonE5472SLANR3.080080Wxx
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonX5472SLASA3.0800120Wx-
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonX5450SLASB3.0667120Wx-
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonE5450SLANQ3.066780Wx-
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonE5440SLANS2.8366780Wx-
Harpertown4 coreDual XeonE5462SLANT2.880080Wxx
Wolfdale2 coreDual XeonX5272SLANH3.4080080Wx-
Wolfdale2 coreDual XeonX5260SLANJ3.3366780Wx-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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

ArchitectureCoresGradeCPU-ModelsSpecSteppingGHzRAMWatt** (TDP)Watt** (idle)MP1,1MP2,1XS1,1
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonX5365SLAC3B33.0667150W50Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonX5365SLAEDG03.0667120W25Wx*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonX5355SLAC4B32.66667120W50Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonX5355SL9YMB32.66667120W50Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonX5355SLAEGG02.66667120W25Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5345SL9YLB32.3366780Wn/ax*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5345SLAC5B32.3366780Wn/ax*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5345SLAEJG02.3366780Wn/ax*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5340SL9MYn/a2.453380W30Wx*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5340n/aG02.466780W25Wx*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonL5335SLAENG02.066750W24Wx*xx
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonL5320SLA4QB31.8653350W24Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonL5320SLAC9B31.8653350W24Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonL5320SLAEPG01.8653350W24Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5320SL9MVB31.8653380W30Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5320SLACBB31.8653380W30Wx*x-
Clovertown4 coreDual XeonE5320SLAEMG01.8653380W30Wx*x-
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5160SL9RTB23.066780Wn/axxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5160SLABSB23.066780Wn/axxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5160SLAG9G03.066765W8Wxxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5150SL9RUB22.6666765W24Wxxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5150SLABMB22.6666765W24Wxxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5150SLAGAG02.6666765W8Wxxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5130SL9RXB22.066765W27Wxxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5130SLABPB22.066765W27Wxxx
Woodcrest2 coreDual Xeon5130SLAGCG02.066765W27Wxxx
* 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.
UPDATE: After putting this same post on the r/Macpro subreddit someone suggested that the spacers at the CPU might not be correct. The original spacers for the heatsink are not allowing the heatsink to apply enough pressure on the CPU to make sufficient contact and that is why it's not booting up??
So did a bit more searching on youtube to see if I can take a better look at other people doing the upgrade and found Brannan Ferguson doing the X5690 upgrade on a 4,1 cMP and he did not re-install the black plastic retaining squares on top of the CPU's, he mentions in the video that if you leave them on it could lead to overheating on the X5690's??
So I tried this, left off the plastic squares and tightened up, exactly the same result, no chime, no bootup, black screen. Someone also suggested that I just try and start it up with two ram sticks in, 1X8GB in slot 1 and 1X8GB in slot 5. I did this and still no joy.

Back to square one for me!! The X5520 quad cores are back in and everything is running perfectly well, but I am none the wiser as to how I am going to get this 4,1 upgraded to a 12 core machine with decent processing power??


This is my 2nd MacRumors post!

Thank you so much to all the dedicated individuals that have provided this information and support.

I have a cMP 4,1 flashed to 5,1 that I bought off eBay with the intention of upgrading it to the max, as per most on this thread and forum.

The specs as I bought it:
2009 cMP 4,1 Flashed to 5,1
Dual 2.26 GHz quad core processors (original)
64 GB of RAM (Will elaborate lower)
Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB GPU
480GB SATA SSD
2X640GB HDD
Fenvi T-919 BT/Wifi card in a PCI slot
USB 3.0 PCI card
Running Mojave 10.14.6

I have already done the WiFi/BT Broadcom upgrade and removed the Fenvi card. This makes a huge difference, Airdrop works perfectly but handoff doesn't work for some reason.

Next step was to upgrade the CPU's, I ordered a pair of X5680's from Korea, for a very good price but damaged one of the tiny bypass capacitors on the one CPU during the de-lidding process (photo attached). After much crying I decided to try them anyway and see if they would work.

Nothing, the machine powers on but does not chime or get to the boot screen, just a black screen. The GPU lights up but the fans don't spin. A red LED lights up on the back plane, just below the optical drive, sort of just behind the power button. After holding down the power button to turn it off, but the power cable was still in, this red LED came back on again?? So I pulled the power cable.

So reinstalled my 2.26GHz Quad cores and everything works perfectly fine. No issues.

I then ordered a pair of used, de-lidded X5690's from a person on eBay (yes, I know the risks).

Long story short they do exactly the same thing, power on GPU lights up fans don't spin. No chime, no boot screen, black screen. This time I noticed that there was a small red LED, between the RAM slots and the heat sink of CPU A that came on, I had not noticed that with the X5680's??

So reinstalled my 2.26GHz Quad cores and everything works perfectly fine. No issues.

This is where I am! No idea what to do now?

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.26 GHz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Number of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache (per Processor): 8 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 64 GB
Boot ROM Version: 144.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 1.39f5
SMC Version (processor tray): 1.39f5

The Ram is a weird one? I have 8X8GB
2X 8GB 2Rx4 PC3L-12800R
6X 8GB 1Rx4 PC3L-12800R 1600MHz

The system recognises all ram sticks and all are running at the 1066MHz of the CPU's.

As seen above it has the latest Boot ROM Version of 144.0.0.0.0

Any ideas?
I know its possible that I bought dud x5690's but the seller on eBay said they would gladly refund me? The x5680's I understand would be dodgy as I damaged the capacitor, but could there be another reason that the system won't recognise these CPU's?

Again thank you to all the wonderful people on this thread and forum for helping numpties like me to work on our old machines!
 

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ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Original poster
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
Back to square one for me!! The X5520 quad cores are back in and everything is running perfectly well, but I am none the wiser as to how I am going to get this 4,1 upgraded to a 12 core machine with decent processing power??
Over the years there have been a dozen or more posts from 4,1 upgraders who had various problems including failure to POST, red lights, some RAM sticks not working, etc. By far the most common solution was slight adjustments to the torque on the heat sink screws. If they are even slightly off, these problems appear.

I'm sorry I don't have time these days to provide more detailed help, but if you search for those posts you can see that just minor adjustments to the screws fixed their problems.

FWIW, I delidded two x5690 CPUs and installed mine including the original spacers and everything is fine. The whole point of delidding is to have the same physical dimensions for an OEM-like setup. I wouldn't recommend removing or adding anything, other than the CPUs themselves and the thermal paste.
 
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MacManInt

macrumors newbie
Feb 14, 2021
4
0
Over the years there have been a dozen or more posts from 4,1 upgraders who had various problems including failure to POST, red lights, some RAM sticks not working, etc. By far the most common solution was slight adjustments to the torque on the heat sink screws. If they are even slightly off, these problems appear.

I'm sorry I don't have time these days to provide more detailed help, but if you search for those posts you can see that just minor adjustments to the screws fixed their problems.

FWIW, I delidded two x5690 CPUs and installed mine including the original spacers and everything is fine. The whole point of delidding is to have the same physical dimensions for an OEM-like setup. I wouldn't recommend removing or adding anything, other than the CPUs themselves and the thermal paste.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for your original post with all the information on it.

What does failure to POST mean?
 

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Original poster
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for your original post with all the information on it.

What does failure to POST mean?
POST is "Power On Self Test" which is a hardware check of critical components occurring prior to OS boot-up. Typically on a Mac when the POST is completed, there is the "bong" sound.

So failure to POST indicates that critical hardware didn't pass the test and the computer does not proceed with the rest of the start process.
 
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Macschrauber

macrumors 68030
Dec 27, 2015
2,979
1,487
Germany
Compare the delidded xeons with the original xeons. They need to look 100% identical to be perfect. So no fiddling with torque. The spacers secure the sockets. If youre not sure measure them.

I polish the die and cut all of the black seal off and also polish the remains. And just screw the heat sink down as it was a 5.1.

dont do this if the xeon is too thick, you will bent the socket pins.

Knock on wood I got not a single build with problems. And I did quite a few...
 

MacManInt

macrumors newbie
Feb 14, 2021
4
0
So I finally fixed things!!

I now have a pair of X5680 running in my cMP 4,1->5,1 with their IHS still in place.

After they arrived, I thought I am going to test them with their 'Lids' on and just see if I manage to get them to work before I de-lid them.

They worked!!

I know it was risky business doing this without the washers or the thermal pad. I just did the start up and watched the temperatures on TG Pro, then shut it down immediately. I ordered the M4 washers and 5mm Thermal Pad.

Tonight I finished the install by adding two washers to each screw post, this measured marginally less than the difference between the CPU's:
  1. X5520 (original) = 2.63mm
  2. X5680 with IHS = 4.44mm
So the difference is 1.81mm. The washers were completely inconsistent in thickness, ranging from 0.56mm up to 0.94mm. So I did a mix and match to generally get a two washer thickness of approx. 1.6mm.

I also removed the original thermal pads that were well squashed and replaced them with a 5mm thick thermal pad.

Put it all back together and as @ActionableMango said above I had an immediate issue with the LED's next to CPU B lighting up. Took it out and slacked off the screws a half a turn each on CPU B heatsink. FIXED!!!

It now works perfectly with lidded CPU's as if it were a 2010 model 5,1.

Having said that does anyone know what the the optimum temperature is for an X5680? Mine currently run in the 60-70 deg C range?

Thanks again to all the posters on this forum for the collective intelligence!
 

Stex

macrumors 6502
Jan 18, 2021
280
189
NYC
So I finally fixed things!!

I now have a pair of X5680 running in my cMP 4,1->5,1 with their IHS still in place.

After they arrived, I thought I am going to test them with their 'Lids' on and just see if I manage to get them to work before I de-lid them.

They worked!!

I know it was risky business doing this without the washers or the thermal pad. I just did the start up and watched the temperatures on TG Pro, then shut it down immediately. I ordered the M4 washers and 5mm Thermal Pad.

Tonight I finished the install by adding two washers to each screw post, this measured marginally less than the difference between the CPU's:
  1. X5520 (original) = 2.63mm
  2. X5680 with IHS = 4.44mm
So the difference is 1.81mm. The washers were completely inconsistent in thickness, ranging from 0.56mm up to 0.94mm. So I did a mix and match to generally get a two washer thickness of approx. 1.6mm.

I also removed the original thermal pads that were well squashed and replaced them with a 5mm thick thermal pad.

Put it all back together and as @ActionableMango said above I had an immediate issue with the LED's next to CPU B lighting up. Took it out and slacked off the screws a half a turn each on CPU B heatsink. FIXED!!!

It now works perfectly with lidded CPU's as if it were a 2010 model 5,1.

Having said that does anyone know what the the optimum temperature is for an X5680? Mine currently run in the 60-70 deg C range?

Thanks again to all the posters on this forum for the collective intelligence!
congrats on your progress with this CPU upgrade. As far as you temp question, there several threads worth reading with lots of good info such as this recent one where several members (including me) asked for guidance on CPU and NB temps.

i also had similar problems as you did when i upgraded my dual 4,1 with X5680. it took lots of tries to understand what the problem was, and in my case it was the heatsink connectors not making proper contact/locking when screwing the heatsink backl the way i was able to make it work was by breaking the plastic tab that keeps the connectors fixed to the heatsink and the carefully pushing/locking the connectors after the heatsinks where in place. after that everything worked fine, oh btw i did put the plastic spacers back as originally intended. So far i onky have so,e temps issues on one cpu but it should be relatively easy to fix with a tiny tightening or new repaste.
 
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nemike

macrumors newbie
May 11, 2021
6
0
Does anyone know if the Intel Xeon W-2295 will work in the 2019 Mac Pro?

I see there was a post that mentioned the Intel Xeon W-2295 but I can't tell if that post meant it would work or not.

Thanks, Mike
 

tsialex

Contributor
Jun 13, 2016
13,454
13,601
Does anyone know if the Intel Xeon W-2295 will work in the 2019 Mac Pro?

I see there was a post that mentioned the Intel Xeon W-2295 but I can't tell if that post meant it would work or not.

Thanks, Mike
Not even the same socket, W-2295 is a FCLGA2066 Xeon while Mac Pro have a FCLGA3647 CPU socket.
 

nemike

macrumors newbie
May 11, 2021
6
0
Not even the same socket, W-2295 is a FCLGA2066 Xeon while Mac Pro have a FCLGA3647 CPU socket.
Oh geez, thanks I didn't even see they changed the socket, I didn't know Intel changed the socket in the same family, geez!!!!
 

tsialex

Contributor
Jun 13, 2016
13,454
13,601
Oh geez, thanks I didn't even see they changed the socket, I didn't know Intel changed the socket in the same family, geez!!!!
It's not just the socket that needs to be the same, but also the quantity of PCIe lanes available. 2019 Mac Pro only works with 64 lanes Xeons.
 
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mayuka

macrumors 6502a
Feb 15, 2009
610
66
I have a stupid question. There are quite a few listings on ebay which claim that they are NOT selling ES/QS versions of Xeon processors. Is there any way to tell them apart from "real" ones like serial number, markings, ...?
 
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robretoimperdible

macrumors newbie
May 15, 2019
12
1
Spain
Hi, I have changed the 2 processors in my Mac Pro 5.1, from the 2 Intel Xeon x5620 at 2.4 GHz, to 2 Intel Xeon x5680 at 3.33 GHz. They work perfectly, what I noticed is that the temperature has risen about 6 ° C on average. Now they are over 50ºC and with the old processors over 40ºC. Is this normal? Is it ok that they are over 50ºC or do I have to put thermal paste on them again? Thank you very much and greetings!

2x Intel Xeon x5620 2,40 GHz Quad Core.jpg
2x Intel Xeon x5680 3,33 GHz Six Core.jpg
 
Last edited:

TomMuc

macrumors member
Oct 22, 2019
43
27
Munich, Bavaria
Hi, I have changed the 2 processors in my Mac Pro 5.1, from the 2 Intel Xeon x5620 at 2.4 GHz, to 2 Intel Xeon x5680 at 3.33 GHz. They work perfectly, what I noticed is that the temperature has risen about 6 ° C on average. Now they are over 50ºC and with the old processors over 40ºC. Is this normal? Is it ok that they are over 50ºC or do I have to put thermal paste on them again? Thank you very much and greetings!

View attachment 1880449 View attachment 1880451
you have chosen the processors with the highest current consumption (tdp 130w), therefore they will get warmer than the old ones (tdp 80w). your temperature is however not critical.
 
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