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Success: 2006 Mac Pro upgraded - 2 x Xeon 5355 Quad-cores!

X5355 CPUs don't support ECC?

I'm researching this project because I have a dual-core Mac Pro (4 2.66 cores), and would like to upgrade to 8 2.66 cores. In reading about the x5355 cpus, I noticed that they do not support ECC memory, which Mac Pros use. Can anyone comment on this issue? Thank you. Corlissmedia
 
What about ECC memory?

What does your memory profile look like after the upgrade? I'm asking because according to Intel, the cpus don't support ecc memory? Thanks, Corlissmedia
 
Just a quick thank you!

Thanks for the great threads guys. Just wanted to let everyone know. This really gives me the courage to do this upgrade! Will definitely post pics and update once it's running.
 
hueybui said:
Thanks for the great threads guys. Just wanted to let everyone know. This really gives me the courage to do this upgrade! Will definitely post pics and update once it's running.
Click to expand...

It's easy enough to do if you know what you're doing, have fun!
 
Made the upgrade

Hey guys. Sorry for the n00b question, but I'm a little stuck.

I have made the processor upgrade on my 2006 mac pro and I love it!

I'm running two x5355. One is the SL9YM and the other is SLAEG.
I saw in this thread that I had to put the older cpu in socket B to get them to work. I tried this and it WORKED!!!!

Now that my machine sees the 8 cores, I have developed a new problem.

I cannot get Parallels to boot XP. I can reboot into XP no problem, but I cannot get parallels or VMware to start up boot camp.

I have installed/reinstalled Parallels and even reinstalled XP as a last resort. Nothing.

I've read in a few forums that the stepping didn't matter on the processors, but now I wonder. Everything else on my machine works perfectly, and fast I might add.

Does any one have any suggestions other than buying another processor? I'm at a loss and about to put my 5150's back in. I can't wrap my head around why everything works perfectly expect for a virtual machine.

- Jack Knight1979
 
Hi Pro's …

I'm considering this machine due to the ability to upgrade to the Intel Xeon X5355's, over going with a G5 2.0Ghz. The purpose is the replace my 2009 Mac Mini and allow my wife to use this for web hosting directly and to seriously begin editing photos from her high-end Canon camera. She's a great photographer and has an artistic eye and I feel she's wasted this talent over the years raising our wonderful kids.

So I wanted to know how this machine performs using Snow Leopard with Logic Express 9 (myself), Photoshop CS5 Premium Suite, the latest Aperture, and other photo editing suites?
 
Prom1 said:
So I wanted to know how this machine performs using Snow Leopard with Logic Express 9 (myself), Photoshop CS5 Premium Suite, the latest Aperture, and other photo editing suites?
Click to expand...

For above purposes, you don't need to upgrade CPUs. Look for 3.0 GHz 1.1 (Quad) or 2.1 (Octo - this one already has X5365), give it SSD for OS and apps, 3 or 4 HDDs in RAID 0 for storage and 16GB RAM (last one could be expensive). It will handle your software very well.
All depends on how well speced machine you'll be able to find.
 
I actually dove into this pond as well. I sucked it up and found some x5365's for a good price on ebay..

Upgrade went great and I'm speeding along at 3.0ghz with 8 cores.. A lot better performance I had with my 5150's!! Pro Tools sure likes it :D

I'm curious though. I'd like to see what everyone else is getting for temperatures on their new processor upgrades. I use temperature monitor to guage. It seems that my operating temperature of the CPU cores run pretty hot with standard apple cooling methods. My highest temp on the CPU cores ran up to 94c with the CPU heatsink getting up to 62c. I've read other posts and forums that a certain temp should be achieved but it never mentions with which sensor and which component (i.e. - CPU Core or CPU A/B heatsink).

Without the help of SMC I cannot achieve below 65c on the CPU cores. I'm wondering, are any of you getting those temps on the heatsink reading or on any of the CPU cores?

Plus to achieve below 60c on the single cores I have to set the "CPU" fan around 1400rpm. That puts the "CPU heatsink" around 35-38c.
 
Stock cooling, no SMC settings activated my temps run at cpu1 41 cpu2 43 at idel. Handbrake encoding 48 - 51. Temps monitored using istat. Not sure if it is CPU or Heatsink readings.
 
I just upgraded my 2006 MP to an octo (2x 3ghz 5365 chips). the system has 14gb of ram, two massive video cards and a blu-ray writer. Hottest I've seen any of the cores is 65c. I really only use the machine for fcp and aperture.

I'll keep an eye over the next few weeks, I'm sure it will heat up a bit more.
 
Great to hear all these 1,1 upgrade stories! Sounds like folks can still get some good bang out of them....
 
I've been running mine since December / January.

I thought I'd post an update.

I ended up trading out of the processors for a matching CPU. It was fine, but just felt better having a matching set of processors.

I've ran this thing hard since I've installed with ZERO problems. Nothing slows it down. Best decision I've ever made with a computer.

I'm curious about temps now that we're hitting summer. I have SMCFanControl running and I've pumped them up 15 - 20% (fans) to compensate for the warmer weather.

I get mid 90F for temps now. Seems fine to me. Not one problem.
 
Tutorial Video

Hello all,

I just posted part 1 of a 2 part video tutorial on how to swap the CPU in the 1st gen Mac Pro here:

http://youtu.be/wmz7gPw31L0

I should have part 2 up this week-end, but this will give you a good idea on the basics of what's involved and what to purchase before getting started.

Enjoy!
 
nightfly13 said:
The problem with the power cuts is that they're random. 3-4 outages per day, between 5 minutes and 2 hours in duration and no rhyme or reason. Also, share the laptop with my wife.. in fact, unless we're traveling or I take it to work to teach off of, the laptop is her machine. I've spent the money and sporadically replace batteries (around $200 a pop - I have 6 over 2 systems) so it's sustainable for me to run on the UPS... I just turn off the 2nd or third monitor :)

I have 2x 12k BTU split ACs in the room (they're old and don't perform great), basically one runs almost all day long just to take the edge off the heat the Pro creates, and when I have a group in there for movies or whatever, I fire up the second one and the temp actually drops down to 25-26 (77-79F). Porting the heat into the next room is something I've considered. I have a laser thermometer, so I'll try to investigate how much heat comes from the Mac Pro vs the 3 LCDs and my 7.1 receiver that's always pretty toasty to touch. (the ACs don't run on the batteries!)
Click to expand...
OT: do you have shades above the windows, any sunlight on the glass will lift the room temperature. I was in Brazil recently and saw a lot of new builds going on, saw very little direct sun protection. It's entirely possible to get interior temps down to around 80F with passive cooling only...
 
I too have an antique MacPro 1,1 with 2 x 2.66 dual core Xeons and bog standard 3GB of 667Mhz of FB ram.

I am contemplating upgrading this in place of getting a newer Mac Mini to drive my 30" ACD.

The FB ram seems to be prohibitively expensive these days, is there any way to swap the memory trays out to fit newer/cheaper ram modules in this model MP 1,1?
 
808? said:
I too have an antique MacPro 1,1 with 2 x 2.66 dual core Xeons and bog standard 3GB of 667Mhz of FB ram.

I am contemplating upgrading this in place of getting a newer Mac Mini to drive my 30" ACD.

The FB ram seems to be prohibitively expensive these days, is there any way to swap the memory trays out to fit newer/cheaper ram modules in this model MP 1,1?
Click to expand...

Nope.
 
Finally took the plunge

Found a pair of X5365's on ebay, paid a little too much ($650), but all went well with the upgrade. The heatsink cover was a tough one to get off.

When I bring the Mac out of the sleep mode, the temp of the CPU Cores don't all show up right away. 4 cores may show 38°C and 4 will be blank. But it's never the same 4. After a little while all 8 cores will show a temp. And they are usually pretty close, right now at 42-48°.

Any link to programs that work with all 8 cores? I use Handbrake, and it appears Aperture 3 works all 8 when doing adjustments, although not all cores are maxed out like Handbrake does.

Decided to do the upgrade since this machine has been rock solid since day one, and it has 16GB of RAM (8 x 2GB OWC 800Mhz), Four 1TB drives, and the Radeon 4870 card.

Thanks for all the ideas guys!
 
Last edited:
Silicon Sam said:
16GB of RAM (8 x 2GB OWC 800Mhz)/QUOTE]
Not directly answering your question, just as a sidenote: With FB-DIMM's you should not populate more than 4 slots in your MP 1,1. There has been a thorough test on that matter, but i can't find it at the moment.

From the top of my head the problem was that with more than 4 slots populated (2 in upper, 2 in lower riser card), you'll run into latency issues which will effectively give you a penalty on Ram speed due to how FB-DIMM's work. The article stated that the difference would not only be meaurable, but also noticeable (iirc).
Click to expand...
 
Neodym said:
Silicon Sam said:
16GB of RAM (8 x 2GB OWC 800Mhz)/QUOTE]
Not directly answering your question, just as a sidenote: With FB-DIMM's you should not populate more than 4 slots in your MP 1,1. There has been a thorough test on that matter, but i can't find it at the moment.

From the top of my head the problem was that with more than 4 slots populated (2 in upper, 2 in lower riser card), you'll run into latency issues which will effectively give you a penalty on Ram speed due to how FB-DIMM's work. The article stated that the difference would not only be meaurable, but also noticeable (iirc).
Click to expand...

This link says that the configuration I have is among the fastest. All 8 DIMMS match identically. With memory prices the way they are, I'll just leave well enough alone.

http://eshop.macsales.com/Reviews/Framework.cfm?page=/Benchmarks/macproearly08ram/article.html
Click to expand...
 
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