Make my 2009 pro to matching nmp in some area.

[Amethyst]

After nmp price/spec reveal i decide to keep my 8x2.93 for 1 year. (Wait for next gen haswell-e mac pro), so i want to upgrade my pro to match nmp in some area. especially USB3 SATA3 and GPU. Can you guys advice me?

1. SATA3 (As i found it's hard to find pci-e SSD that can booting os x) What card i can booting my mac pro?
2. USB 3.0, Can lacie kext use with 10.9.
3. Except 7950, GTX680 what card is safe bet to flash and get EFI boot screen.

Thank guys.

[UPDATE]

Ok i can confirm your guys that PXHCD from 10.8 Kext can use with 10.9 but can't confirm it can reach USB 3.0 speed as i haven't USB3.0 device now.

 

[Celedral]

I was able to pick up a 2009 Base Mac Pro a week before with a 5770 and 10gb ram for under $600. I knew the New baseline MP will be absurdly pricey, but did not expect it to remain a QUAD. Anyways I will also be upgrading a few things to make it more inline with the current one.

I will primarily be using this for video editing with 4k r3d footage.
So upgrades are

1. CPU 3680 or 3690 Hexacore depending on price
2. Velocity X2 with Samsung 840 pro for Boot - it is easily bootable for 4,1 and 5,1
3. Sonnet Tempo Pro w/ 2x Sandisk 240 Extreme II in raid 0 for 900+MB/s Scratch/media Disk
4. GTX 580/680/770 or 780 from MVC
5. Highpoint/Caldigit USB 3/Sata 6Gcard
6. 2x 2TB in Raid 0 for media
7. 2x3TB for backup
8. 24/32GB Ram and maybe 48GB down the line

Total cost would be around $3200 give or take.

 

[cvelezv]

2009 Mac Pro upgrades

For your number 1. SATA3. I do recommend the ARECA ARC-1880.
I boot OX-X from this card (4 SSDs SATA3 in RAID 0) it has two SAS ports and I added the SAS-SATA cables to use one port. Very fast & reliable. I've been running this configuration for 3 years now, of course I perform a daily backup to a velociraptor.

For number 2. I have the CAlDigit USB3 card a combo USB 3.0 & SATA &G card (on this one I have my external enclosure of 5 1TB disks)

For number 3. Since you don't want a GTX 680. Well that's what I have. a 4GB 680

 

[spaz8]

I think it is going to be more than a year wait for the nMP 7,1.

 

[Amethyst]

Now i decided to bought 7950PC I will flash it with Mac EFI and expecting OpenCL improve from my old flash 5870. (also boot screen on DP too!!!)