Processor upgrade compatability

[jackruston]

Hi everyone

First post - I'm sorry if this is one of those questions that you get asked every day...

I'm trying to upgrade processors in a Mid 2010 2.4 8-Core Westmere. The processors I've bought...which don't work (no boot up, blank screen) are X5680's (3.33 12-Core)

Reading Apples spec I see that the 2.4 8-Core had an option available to ship with the X5670's (2.93 12-Core) but that it then had 1333mHz memory rather than the 1066mHz that the standard 8-Core shipped with (and that mine still has).

So my question is this - If I put 1333mHz ram in with the X5680's, will the machine work? OR did that option require a totally different motherboard and chipset, and thus RAM. OR is it just a question of updating firmware.

I have a friend with a 2010 8 Core Nehalem, with the slower ram that I have, running X5680's quite happily. I also have made contact with a guy who upgraded a 2.4 8-Core Westmere identical to mine with X5690's.

What do I need to do to get this right?

Thanks so much for any advice. I'm sure some of you guys know all about this stuff.

Jack

 

[flowrider]

If you do some research on this forum, you'll find that X5680s should work just fine in a stock 5,1 Mac Pro.

The stock RAM that came in every 5,1 is 1333MHz, but the CPU (i.e. E5620) that came stock in your machine will not run run 1333MHz RAM at full speed so they run at 1066MHz.

The X5680 is capable of running DDR3-800/1066/1333 RAM.

In short, X5680s should work just fine in your Mac Pro and will run the RAM at the full 1333MHz speed.

Lou

 

[jackruston]

Thanks very much for replying. I really appreciate the input.

OK so at least I'm on the right track. SO does anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle this problem. Intel suggested trying one processor at a time in slot 1. And/or just trying a single ram stick and seeing if that's the problem. At least just to get an error rather than a blank screen. Returning the 2.4's to the machine solved all problems immediately, so something is going on. Intel reckon it's VERY unlikely that a processor is faulty. If anyone has any experience of problems with these upgrades I'd appreciate their advice. I don't want to keep dicking around with the 2.4's and heatsinks aimlessly, just in case they suddenly give up the ghost in the process.

J

 

[TruckdriverSean]

Thanks very much for replying. I really appreciate the input.

OK so at least I'm on the right track. SO does anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle this problem. Intel suggested trying one processor at a time in slot 1. And/or just trying a single ram stick and seeing if that's the problem. At least just to get an error rather than a blank screen. Returning the 2.4's to the machine solved all problems immediately, so something is going on. Intel reckon it's VERY unlikely that a processor is faulty. If anyone has any experience of problems with these upgrades I'd appreciate their advice. I don't want to keep dicking around with the 2.4's and heatsinks aimlessly, just in case they suddenly give up the ghost in the process.

J

Yes, trying one CPU in slot A is a good way to test. The machine should boot, then fans will spin up to takeoff thrust until the machine is powered down. That is unless the tested CPU is bad in which case it should fail to boot altogether. You can only test this with "A" as trying this with one CPU in "B" won't work.

But before you do that, take a look at the CPUs and make sure they have the same S-Spec number on top of the IHS. This ensures that the CPUs are of the same stepping version.

It will be different for x5680's but as an example both x5677's I installed in my 4,1 had the S-spec "SLBV9"

Even if they are the same CPU model, they will need to be matched in their stepping version, otherwise, either one will work tested alone, but will fail to boot installed together.


.

 

[jackruston]

Thanks

Thanks very much - I will give it a go. Those numbers are the same.
J