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nMP CPU Upgrade Possibilities!

chfilm

chfilm

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 15, 2012
3,467
2,262
Berlin
Hi,

so since the big news is out, I thought a little thread about this topic might come in handy.

I will start the discussion by my (naive?) chain of thoughts:

So basically one get the 4 core base model with a d500 or d700 and the 512gb ssd.

Then, buy the Intel Xeon E5-2697v2 12 core somewhere for around 2100 €
Then buy the 64gb Ram kit at OWC for 850 $ = 650 €

Get the d500, 12 core, 512gb, 64gb Mac Pro with edu discount for:
6150 €

Would that be doable?? Is the cpu upgrade doable for someone who has only once upgraded the cpu back in his pentium 4 tower? Of course we have to take into consideration that you'll loose warranty...

Here is the list of CPUs that would be worth getting for a 2013 Mac Pro processor upgrade


So let's wait until some bloggers try it out!
 
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This is definitely making me regret purchasing a BTO. I'd be happy with the D300 4-core and just drop in an 8 or 10 core for a LOT cheaper. And it could have been on my doorstep already :(

This is big news!
 
Here is a nice chart from Intel, which strangely enough doesn't include the 8-core 1680 chip for some reason. You can sort by core count, speed, etc.
 
Thessman said:
The E5-2687 v2 probably won't work as it has a max TDP of 150W
Click to expand...

I'm sure it'll work just fine. As I've pointed out to many, the 5,1 Mac Pros weren't configurable with 2 130W TDB chips, and yet several of us have done it without any trouble whatsoever. I can almost guarantee that Apple left some wiggle room in the thermal design of the case.
 
jasonvp said:
I'm sure it'll work just fine. As I've pointed out to many, the 5,1 Mac Pros weren't configurable with 2 130W TDB chips, and yet several of us have done it without any trouble whatsoever. I can almost guarantee that Apple left some wiggle room in the thermal design of the case.
Click to expand...
You may be right, but don't the thermal and power tolerances generally shrink as the device shrinks? Plus the oMP was designed to allow for many different configurations with all the internal bays and expansion slots, the nMP not so much, no?

Either way, it would be cool if it worked and, like always, just takes an adventurous soul or two.
 
After checking the available CPU's this seems like the sweet spot (for me): E5-2667 v2.

8 core, with 3.3 GHz base clock and 4.0 GHz turbo boost. Also the TDP is 130W so it should make a good fit. Still quite expensive, but cheaper than configuring an 8-core as BTO (and faster). Also, it's nice to get the nMP now and get the CPU upgrade in a few month, when the price hopefully has gone down too.
 
Stingray454 said:
After checking the available CPU's this seems like the sweet spot (for me): E5-2667 v2.

8 core, with 3.3 GHz base clock and 4.0 GHz turbo boost. Also the TDP is 130W so it should make a good fit. Still quite expensive, but cheaper than configuring an 8-core as BTO (and faster). Also, it's nice to get the nMP now and get the CPU upgrade in a few month, when the price hopefully has gone down too.
Click to expand...

Yea,
I was considering the same, but I'm uncertain if it would be good to void the warranty so early..
 
jasonvp said:
I'm sure it'll work just fine. As I've pointed out to many, the 5,1 Mac Pros weren't configurable with 2 130W TDB chips, and yet several of us have done it without any trouble whatsoever. I can almost guarantee that Apple left some wiggle room in the thermal design of the case.
Click to expand...

Probably, but not for sure. If this German site test in Luxmark was performed with GPU+CPU option and the thing draws 438W under such load, 150W CPU would exceed a bit 450W specs of the PSU. I guess that some throttling would occur then.
 
666sheep said:
Probably, but not for sure. If this German site test in Luxmark was performed with GPU+CPU option and the thing draws 438W under such load, 150W CPU would exceed a bit 450W sustained output of the PSU. I guess that some throttling would occur then.
Click to expand...
Actually exceeding the output of the PSU could damage the PSU or cause it to shutdown.

And who knows how it would affect cooling.
 
chfilm said:
Yea,
I was considering the same, but I'm uncertain if it would be good to void the warranty so early..
Click to expand...

Yes, very true. I can't say the teardown pictures available are very good, I'm eagerly awaiting the iFixit teardown to get a better idea how hard it is to swap the processor (ie, can you access it from just opening the case and removing the CPU "clamp" or do you need to remove the PSU, logic board, GPU's and such to access it). If it looks easy enough I think I'll go for that solution.
 
chfilm said:
Yea,
I was considering the same, but I'm uncertain if it would be good to void the warranty so early..
Click to expand...

What country are you in? in a lot of countries Apple would have to prove the CPU change was related to any issue you took it in for. Keeping your old CPU, even though you could get a reasonable sum for it, would avoid this as you could reinstall it before taking it to Apple.
 
Umbongo said:
What country are you in? in a lot of countries Apple would have to prove the CPU change was related to any issue you took it in for. Keeping your old CPU, even though you could get a reasonable sum for it, would avoid this as you could reinstall it before taking it to Apple.
Click to expand...
Keeping the original CPU is actually a rather good idea, If Apple decides to replace your system, you will want to put the original CPU back in.
 
Bear said:
Keeping the original CPU is actually a rather good idea, If Apple decides to replace your system, you will want to put the original CPU back in.
Click to expand...

if it'S doable by just clicking it in and not having to smudge around with heat paste and stuff like we used to in the old days... :D
well I'm out of the DIY Business since i own imacs..

I'm in germany btw.
 
Only for someone as cheap as the Bad Man - Tutor

chfilm said:
Hi,

so since the big news is out, I thought a little thread about this topic might come in handy.

I will start the discussion by my (naive?) chain of thoughts:

So basically one get the 4 core base model with a d500 or d700 and the 512gb ssd.

Then, buy the Intel Xeon E5-2697v2 12 core somewhere for around 2100 €
Then buy the 64gb Ram kit at OWC for 850 $ = 650 €

Get the d500, 12 core, 512gb, 64gb Mac Pro with edu discount for:
6150 €

Would that be doable?? Is the cpu upgrade doable for someone who has only once upgraded the cpu back in his pentium 4 tower? Of course we have to take into consideration that you'll loose warranty...

Here is the list of CPUs that would be worth getting for a 2013 Mac Pro processor upgrade


So let's wait until some bloggers try it out!
Click to expand...

It'd be great if an E5-4650 QBED V1 (Google it) would work. This gem is clocked for Turbo at 3.5 GHz vs. 3.3 GHz for the final production. It's the equivalent in performance to an 8-core E5-2680 V1. Sure, the E5-2680 V1 is a Sandy, not an Ivy. But I generally see these CPUs offered for < $500 on ebay. While it may not be every bit as fast as the 8-core Ivy, having kept $1,500 in my pocket would seal the deal.

PS - I've seen them running in 1P, 2P and 4P systems, but whether they'll run in the real deal MP is for the adventuresome only.
 
Tutor said:
It'd be great if an E5-4650 QBED V1 (Google it) would work. This gem is clocked for Turbo at 3.5 GHz vs. 3.3 GHz for the final production. It's the equivalent in performance to an 8-core E5-2680 V1. Sure, the E5-2680 V1 is a Sandy, not an Ivy. But I generally see these CPUs offered for < $500 on ebay. While it may not be every bit as fast as the 8-core Ivy, having kept $1,500 in my pocket would seal the deal.

PS - I've seen them running in 1P, 2P and 4P systems, but whether they'll run in the real deal MP is for the adventuresome only.
Click to expand...

Neat, think it would work?
 
Stingray454 said:
After checking the available CPU's this seems like the sweet spot (for me): E5-2667 v2.

8 core, with 3.3 GHz base clock and 4.0 GHz turbo boost. Also the TDP is 130W so it should make a good fit. Still quite expensive, but cheaper than configuring an 8-core as BTO (and faster). Also, it's nice to get the nMP now and get the CPU upgrade in a few month, when the price hopefully has gone down too.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The 8-core E5-2667 v2 is the one I would go for. I do actually regret getting the hex core slightly.
 
Now we just need ifixit to write a little how to!:) I think I will hold my horses until February, it's not gonna get divered any earlier anyways and until then hopefully there's more info available.. The aforementioned 8core seems to be my sweet spot as well though!

----------
Tutor said:
It works for me in 1P, 2P and 4P self-builds. Although I believe that it should work in the nMP, the way Apple does things does give me some pause - only trying it will suffice.
Click to expand...

Are you gonna try it out yourself?;)
 
theSeb said:
Agreed. The 8-core E5-2667 v2 is the one I would go for. I do actually regret getting the hex core slightly.
Click to expand...

me too will be looking at this solution..just get the base model will do...

that why when I see the delivery is Feb, I just say forget about ordering now. Hold and wait for tear down to get clearer picture, which indeed worth the wait.

Now the question will be SSD and GPU..

SSD is replaceable but will OWC make one... still unclear...
 
chfilm said:
Now we just need ifixit to write a little how to!:) I think I will hold my horses until February, it's not gonna get divered any earlier anyways and until then hopefully there's more info available.. The aforementioned 8core seems to be my sweet spot as well though!

----------



Are you gonna try it out yourself?;)
Click to expand...

If I get a refurb 2013 MP, definitely. I might not mind paying about $3k for a refurb baseline nMP, including an 8-core CPU, plus using that removed 4-core in another build (thus keeping that CPU on hand, but not idle) if I really needed tasks acoomplished at which the nMP excels, but my other systems didn't. That'd be consistent with my goal of maximizing CPU related performance and $$$'s. Otherwise, I won't be getting a 2013 MP. The E5-1620 v2 that comes in the base 2013 MP retails for about $300 and if I were to buy an 8-core 2013 MP I'd pay about $2,000 extra for it ($4,999). That 8-core is a E5-1680 v2 that retails for $1.725k to $1.8k. Paying about $2k just for that processing power isn't worth it to me, nor is paying $5k for the nMP with that option worth it to me. I'm cheap and watch my pennies.
 
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CPU upgrade?

So the new Mac Pro has socketed CPU. Does that mean I can buy the base model quad core model and swap in a 12 core to save some $?
 
In theory has.

What has not been confirmed is if there are and restrictions in the motherboard bios.
 
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