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Second hand Apple Mac Pro 5.1 2.8Ghz Quad Core

L

lantree

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 22, 2010
85
136
Hi guys I have the option of picking one of these up in the UK for around £1300, is this still good value for money or a total rip off ? The machine comes with 10 GB ram and the Radeon 5770 graphics card. If go for this option at some point I will be upgrading it's CPU to the hex core, adding a SSD, usb3 card and a better gfx card.

I'm still not 100% sure if this is a good idea, would I be better off waiting to see how the new machine is when it's released or take the plunge now. :confused:
 
lantree said:
Hi guys I have the option of picking one of these up in the UK for around £1300, is this still good value for money or a total rip off ? The machine comes with 10 GB ram and the Radeon 5770 graphics card. If go for this option at some point I will be upgrading it's CPU to the hex core, adding a SSD, usb3 card and a better gfx card.

I'm still not 100% sure if this is a good idea, would I be better off waiting to see how the new machine is when it's released or take the plunge now. :confused:
Click to expand...

Not sure about there, but here in Australia they go for like $1800 still I think that is a fair price but it is a Mac Pro so expect to spend a bit more. Go for it, great for the expandability.
 
That is about 2000 USD. That might be a bit much for a quad-core. The 2.8 was the entry-level processor option, I believe.
It is a 2010 model, which adds to the cost, no doubt.

Perhaps you could look for a 2009 4,1 entry-level (2.66 quad-core). They cost half the money and less. Use the money you'll save to buy your hex-core processor and graphics card straight away.

Just transform it into a 2010 model by flashing the ROM with the firmware utility everyone's been using. You'll need to do that before adding the hex-core cPu.
 
Studio K said:
That is about 2000 USD. That might be a bit much for a quad-core. The 2.8 was the entry-level processor option, I believe.
It is a 2010 model, which adds to the cost, no doubt.

Perhaps you could look for a 2009 4,1 entry-level (2.66 quad-core). They cost half the money and less. Use the money you'll save to buy your hex-core processor and graphics card straight away.

Just transform it into a 2010 model by flashing the ROM with the firmware utility everyone's been using. You'll need to do that before adding the hex-core cPu.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this never though of going this direction, I will let you guys know how it goes over the weekend. :)
 
lantree said:
Thanks for this never though of going this direction, I will let you guys know how it goes over the weekend. :)
Click to expand...

I bought a 2009 4,1 quad-core from eBay just this past April for $900 shipped. That's only 600 pounds. I've seen them for as little as $800 recently (that's the set price---no bidding).

A 6-core w3680 costs around $600, but a 3670 is less.

Converting your 2009 into a 2010 is free of charge. As far as I know, the 2 models share the same hardware.

Best of luck.
 
Just as others have said, it's too expensive and you may as well look for a 2009 model. Probably won't find one much cheaper, but may as well keep your eye out. £1,000 should be the most you pay to get one.

----------
Studio K said:
I bought a 2009 4,1 quad-core from eBay just this past April for $900 shipped. That's only 600 pounds. I've seen them for as little as $800 recently (that's the set price---no bidding).

A 6-core w3680 costs around $600, but a 3670 is less.

Converting your 2009 into a 2010 is free of charge. As far as I know, the 2 models share the same hardware.

Best of luck.
Click to expand...

They were more expensive here (£2000/$3,000) and there are far, far, fewer on the used market so prices are more.
 
Umbongo said:
They were more expensive here (£2000/$3,000) and there are far, far, fewer on the used market so prices are more.
Click to expand...

Do you mean £2000 for a 5,1 Mac pro? Is that new or used?

Sorry, I did not consider the possible pricing differences between the US and UK. But......if he can find a 4,1 at £1000, then that's nicer than paying £1300.
 
Deal done

Managed to get one for just over £900 including free p&p.

Full machine specs
Apple Mac Pro Desktop, 2.66 Quad Core, March 2009
640GB 7200 RPM Hard Disk Drive
6GB DDR3 Memory
Nvidia GeForce GT120
Super Drive :cool: (still need this for burning music for the car)
OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.2

When the machine lands I will let you guys know how I'm getting on with it, once again thanks to you guys for your help with this today
 
lantree said:
Managed to get one for just over £900 including free p&p.

Full machine specs
Apple Mac Pro Desktop, 2.66 Quad Core, March 2009
640GB 7200 RPM Hard Disk Drive
6GB DDR3 Memory
Nvidia GeForce GT120
Super Drive :cool: (still need this for burning music for the car)
OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.2
Click to expand...

Fantastic! I'm happy you found one at a better price.

A stock, entry-level 2009 is so easy to transform into a top-of-the-line 2010 hex. And the RAM for these machines is relatively inexpensive, as well.
 
Studio K said:
Do you mean £2000 for a 5,1 Mac pro? Is that new or used?

Sorry, I did not consider the possible pricing differences between the US and UK. But......if he can find a 4,1 at £1000, then that's nicer than paying £1300.
Click to expand...

New price on a Mac Pro 5,1 was £1,999.
 
lantree said:
Managed to get one for just over £900 including free p&p.

Full machine specs
Apple Mac Pro Desktop, 2.66 Quad Core, March 2009
640GB 7200 RPM Hard Disk Drive
6GB DDR3 Memory
Nvidia GeForce GT120
Super Drive :cool: (still need this for burning music for the car)
OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.2

When the machine lands I will let you guys know how I'm getting on with it, once again thanks to you guys for your help with this today
Click to expand...
And now the firmware hack 5,1 and a Intel Xeon Hex 3.33 and you will have a screaming beast.;)
 
Update

Just to let you guys know the machine landed today on my door step, today never expected the size of the box :eek:. After giving a quick clean inside I've updated it's firmware to 5,1 (thanks netkas for this). Added a samsung 250gb SSD as the main drive and turned the old hard drive as an internal time machine. The machines memory has been upgraded 16 gig. When the bank account recovers then it will time time to start looking around for a hex core cpu.

Anyway just posting to say thanks for all the advice you guys have given me in this last week.
 
That was fast. It was only last Saturday you were looking to buy one.
And it's already been flashed. Very exciting. I hope this works out well for you.
Enjoy.
 
lantree said:
Hi guys I have the option of picking one of these up in the UK for around £1300, is this still good value for money or a total rip off ? The machine comes with 10 GB ram and the Radeon 5770 graphics card. If go for this option at some point I will be upgrading it's CPU to the hex core, adding a SSD, usb3 card and a better gfx card.

I'm still not 100% sure if this is a good idea, would I be better off waiting to see how the new machine is when it's released or take the plunge now. :confused:
Click to expand...

In the US, $1300-$1500 is the ballpark for that pro. As far as whether thats worth it, tough to say.
 
lantree said:
Hi guys I have the option of picking one of these up in the UK for around £1300, is this still good value for money or a total rip off ? The machine comes with 10 GB ram and the Radeon 5770 graphics card. If go for this option at some point I will be upgrading it's CPU to the hex core, adding a SSD, usb3 card and a better gfx card.

I'm still not 100% sure if this is a good idea, would I be better off waiting to see how the new machine is when it's released or take the plunge now. :confused:
Click to expand...

Los Angeles Craigslist 700
ebay 1000-1300
refurbished 1800

total parts value like 600
 
lantree said:
Just to let you guys know the machine landed today on my door step, today never expected the size of the box :eek:. After giving a quick clean inside I've updated it's firmware to 5,1 (thanks netkas for this). Added a samsung 250gb SSD as the main drive and turned the old hard drive as an internal time machine. The machines memory has been upgraded 16 gig. When the bank account recovers then it will time time to start looking around for a hex core cpu.

Anyway just posting to say thanks for all the advice you guys have given me in this last week.
Click to expand...

I'd like to ask a favor. When you've got time....if you would please run some stress-tests on your CPU. I'd like to know what kind of temperatures you'll see. 'Temperature Monitor' is a good free app to use for viewing your cpu diode and core temps.
To stress-test the CPU, launch the Terminal and enter the following: yes > /dev/null &

Do several of these....about 6 instances. That should nearly max out your cores. And watch your temps in Temperature Monitor.
I want to compare what I'm seeing on my 2009 (flashed to 5,1) with someone elses machine.

To stop the stress test, type......killall yes (in Terminal).

Thanks.
 
Studio K said:
I'd like to ask a favor. When you've got time....if you would please run some stress-tests on your CPU. I'd like to know what kind of temperatures you'll see. 'Temperature Monitor' is a good free app to use for viewing your cpu diode and core temps.
To stress-test the CPU, launch the Terminal and enter the following: yes > /dev/null &

Do several of these....about 6 instances. That should nearly max out your cores. And watch your temps in Temperature Monitor.
I want to compare what I'm seeing on my 2009 (flashed to 5,1) with someone elses machine.

To stop the stress test, type......killall yes (in Terminal).

Thanks.
Click to expand...



Hope this is a help to you
 
lantree said:
Hope this is a help to you
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting that. It was very helpful. You are getting the same temperatures that I am getting.
I assume that you are still using the original 2.66 cpu that came with the machine. I never tested mine with the 2.66---only monitored the temps after replacing it with the 3.2 cpu.
But your results look similar to mine: Tdiode in the low-to-mid 80's and cores in the 90's.
This indicates that this might be the way these machines were intended to operate. It seems a bit hot to me, but the fans just refuse to speed up until the cores reach the mid-upper 90's. Then they just try to hold the temps a few degrees below 100C.
I believe the 2010's use a modified SMC version that provides better cooling/lower temps. Flashing a 2009 to 2010 does not change the SMC, though. So we still operate with 2009 temperatures.
If you feel like it, watch your fan speeds when pushing the CPU. The Intake, Exhaust, and BOOST should begin to rise at some point.
 
Studio K said:
At what temperature does your CPU diode and cores show when idling?

I am showing 42C at idle.
Click to expand...

Mine holds around 40C at idle, I gave the machine a little test today by loading in my old starcraft 2 / diablo 3 games thinking lets see if I can get this machine to fall over. The CPU went up to around 53C and levelled off there, these machines are built like bricks and they do deserve there Pro title.
 
Studio K said:
That is about 2000 USD. That might be a bit much for a quad-core. The 2.8 was the entry-level processor option, I believe.
It is a 2010 model, which adds to the cost, no doubt.

Perhaps you could look for a 2009 4,1 entry-level (2.66 quad-core). They cost half the money and less. Use the money you'll save to buy your hex-core processor and graphics card straight away.

Just transform it into a 2010 model by flashing the ROM with the firmware utility everyone's been using. You'll need to do that before adding the hex-core cPu.
Click to expand...

About a year ago I picked up an '09 2.6 quad core w/4GB RAM (using it now) for around $1000 on eBay. A few scratches and abrasions where it was mounted. (Flashed it to 5,1 and upgraded it with boot SSD and 32GB RAM. It's fast.) I'd say unless prices have risen on used Mac Pros since then your price may have been a little steep. But it depends on a lot of variables- RAM, cosmetics, HD, keyboard and mouse included, usage, installed OS and disks.
 
where is this firmware utility that has been mentioned a million times in a million threads but no-one says exactly what and where it is.
 
drayon said:
where is this firmware utility that has been mentioned a million times in a million threads but no-one says exactly what and where it is.
Click to expand...

To find it.....just Google 'Netkas Firmware'. Select the first thing that comes up.

Then Register to join the forum. Choose a 'complicated' password or else you may not hear back from them with the registration link.

Once registered and signed in, you can download the utility.....it's located at the first post on that page you came to when googling 'netkas firmware'.
 
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