Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Mac Pro upgrade path

M

mcfx

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 14, 2013
55
0
US
Hi All,

My friend is selling his two Mac Pros, a MC560LL/A with 1x 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” and a MC561LL/A with 2x 2.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Westmere” CPUs.

I am planning to get the cheaper one and swap the CPUs with my two X5690 (Westmere) Xeons I have in my server (PC). Will the upgrade work if I buy his Quad-Core Nehalem Mac Pro or should I buy the Quad Core Westmere?

They are both from Mid 2010 - per apple's support website both SKUs allow ugprading to the 6-core Westmere Xeon (http://support.apple.com/kb/sp589)

What do you think?
 
Wouldn't both MC560LL/A and MC561LL/A come with a tray though?
I thought the CPUs are mounted on a tray anyway since the motherboard doesn't have sockets.
 
The Dual CPU system comes with a tray that holds 2 cpus.
The Single CPU system comes with a tray that holds 1 cpu.

So you can make a Single CPU into a Dual CPU only if you also have a dual CPU daughter board, heatsinks, etc....
 
Single CPU

Lou
 

Attachments

  • macpro_westmere2010.jpg
    macpro_westmere2010.jpg
    42.6 KB · Views: 1,756
Piggy-Backing on this thread --

I just purchased a dual 6-core 2.4Ghz Mac Pro 5,1 Mid-2012

When I save up more, can I upgrade the CPU's to the 3.06Ghz's at a later date?
 
willgreene99 said:
Piggy-Backing on this thread --

I just purchased a dual 6-core 2.4Ghz Mac Pro 5,1 Mid-2012

When I save up more, can I upgrade the CPU's to the 3.06Ghz's at a later date?
Click to expand...

Yes you can upgrade this to 3.06ghz or you can also upgrade this to a higher 3.33ghz at 12 cores, that would be the Xeon 5680 Westmere. There was a member here who upgraded his 2012 2.4ghz 12core to a 3.33ghz 12 core. Maybe by next year prices of the Westmere may go down and might be a good time to upgrade.
 
I also have 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC from my server, will it work in the Mac Pro or do I need Apple approved memory?

I don't know how it is with the Mac Pros but I was able to use my "pc memory" to upgrade my MacBook Pro.
 
I took the plunge and bought a Mid 2010 Mac Pro with 2x 2.66 six core CPUs that I'm going to replace with my X5690. The cost of the dual CPU tray ($650), heatsinks ($280 each) and hassle to get my X5690 working on a 2009 Mac Pro would have not justified IMO. At least I can sell the stock CPUs and memory :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back