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Mac Pro Upgrades: What MP is better to use - 2009 or 2012?

Mac Pro as a base for upgrades

  • 2009

    Votes: 4 40.0%

  • 2012

    Votes: 6 60.0%
  • Total voters
    10
the_zee

the_zee

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 5, 2016
12
3
East Coast
I'm new to Mac Pro, but would like to build a powerful enough machine for Lightroom\Photoshop use which will last few more years.

I have laying around 6-core Xeon x5670, ATI 5770 1GB Video Card, 24GB DDR3 RAM and PCIe SSD.

What Mac Pro will be the best to put it in? i.e. 2009 or 2012? Or, for my case/purpose they are the same, and the cheaper I get barebones the better?

Thank you!
 
Once a free firmware flash is performed, the 2009 can be upgraded to the exact same level as the 2010/2012.

The one significant difference is that it is a little harder to upgrade the CPU on the 2009 Dual-CPU models.

There are other differences too, like the GPU they come with, but it sounds like you are changing all that out anyway.
 
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ActionableMango said:
The one significant difference is that it is a little harder to upgrade the CPU on the 2009 Dual-CPU models.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I'm looking for the single CPU model since Photoshop/Lightroom has no use for cores beyond 7th-8th, I should be good here with 6 cores.

ActionableMango said:
There are other differences too, like the GPU they come with, but it sounds like you are changing all that out anyway.
Click to expand...
Is it anything else different, besides GPUs?
 
ActionableMango said:
  • Amount of RAM
  • RAM speed
  • Hard drive size
  • Wi-Fi card as an option (2009) or included by default (2010+)
Your ploy to get me to type it all out worked, lol. ;)
Click to expand...

sorry about that, didn't mean that :) but thanks!

- Amount of RAM - given it defined by the CPU (BTW, Great post about CPU compatibility) - and I have 6 core Westmere, it is 64GB, and this is the same for both
- RAM Speed - defined by CPU, so again 1333MHz for both
- given the scale of the upgrade, it's unlikely anything of original hard drives will stay in :), so same here.
- WiFi - good point, but I'll stick to Ethernet, so basically does not matter.

okay, then they are appear to be created equal.
 
ActionableMango said:
Once a free firmware flash is performed, the 2009 can be upgraded to the exact same level as the 2010/2012.

The one significant difference is that it is a little harder to upgrade the CPU on the 2009 Dual-CPU models.

There are other differences too, like the GPU they come with, but it sounds like you are changing all that out anyway.
Click to expand...

Only the duel processors are harder, the single processors are exactly the same as any other year.
 
For single processor model, they are virtually identical (with firmware upgrade).

Doesn't matter which one, the cheaper the better (assuming similar condition).
 
Last edited:
There is more to consider than just firmware. There is hard to replace hardware, like the PS. My wife's PS in her 2009 MP had to be replaced between Christmas and New Year's. The repair shop, an authorized repair center, wasn't sure they could still get the part because 2009's were considered to be or nearly be EOL'd.

We got lucky and they found a brand spanking new PS and the cost was within reason (I checked online parts and considered doing it myself).

IMHO, having a computer that is 3 years newer would be a benefit.

ActionableMango said:
Once a free firmware flash is performed, the 2009 can be upgraded to the exact same level as the 2010/2012.

The one significant difference is that it is a little harder to upgrade the CPU on the 2009 Dual-CPU models.

There are other differences too, like the GPU they come with, but it sounds like you are changing all that out anyway.
Click to expand...
 
TonyK said:
There is more to consider than just firmware. There is hard to replace hardware, like the PS. My wife's PS in her 2009 MP had to be replaced between Christmas and New Year's. The repair shop, an authorized repair center, wasn't sure they could still get the part because 2009's were considered to be or nearly be EOL'd.

We got lucky and they found a brand spanking new PS and the cost was within reason (I checked online parts and considered doing it myself).

IMHO, having a computer that is 3 years newer would be a benefit.
Click to expand...
Are the power supplies different between the 2009, 2010, and 2012?
 
ITguy2016 said:
Are the power supplies different between the 2009, 2010, and 2012?
Click to expand...

They should be all the same. This is the part number (661-5449) When googling lots of website shows all the models with the same power supply. Even on ebay people listed them as the same.
 
TonyK said:
There is more to consider than just firmware. There is hard to replace hardware, like the PS. My wife's PS in her 2009 MP had to be replaced between Christmas and New Year's. The repair shop, an authorized repair center, wasn't sure they could still get the part because 2009's were considered to be or nearly be EOL'd.

We got lucky and they found a brand spanking new PS and the cost was within reason (I checked online parts and considered doing it myself).

IMHO, having a computer that is 3 years newer would be a benefit.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, the 2009 and 2012 are identical in hardware, just the SMC version is different. So, except the CPU tray, all 2012 hardware parts can be used on the 2009. If can't find a PSU for 2009, you should not able to get the same PSU for 2012 as well.

And newer not necessary better. I thing what you mean is actually "in better condition". A 2012 running 100% 24/7 in a dusty room without cleaning, and the previously owner smoking next to it. And a 2009 only works few hours a week in a clean air conditioner room with proper maintenance. Which one is better?
 
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