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Success: 2006 Mac Pro upgraded - 2 x Xeon 5355 Quad-cores!
- Thread starter JPamplin
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Wouldn't engineering samples have no upper restriction on clock multiplier?
If so then they can be clocked up right from the terminal window.
With production X5365 SLAED I can only alter their frequency down (within 3.0 - 2.0GHz region.)
Took it all apart over Christmas. I didn't need any fancy screwdrivers after all, a simple long screwdriver with an extendable magnetic pointing wand thingy (bought from Lidl at some point over the past few years) and a screwdriver bit set from Wickes did the job. Had I known how easy it was to take it all apart I probably would have upgraded years ago!
Hey guys, thanks for the information on this thread. I've decided to upgrade my Mac Pro 1.1 with the 2x Quad core clovertown processors mentioned.
I have few questions about this upgrade.
1. What is the BEST, latest graphic card you can install on a 2006 Mac Pro?
Or whatever is reasonable.
2. Is there a way to get really cheap RAM for this machine, and can I upgrade it 32GB? Instead suggested 16GB?
3. I am ditching my Mac Pro's Aluminum casing and replacing it with new. Or make one from scratch. Can you recommend any cases?
4. If I can overclock the CPU's what coolers should I purchase?
5. Do you suppose spending $1000+ on this is more worth it than buying a new 8 core Mac pro?
You don't have to answer all questions alone, 1 question per person is just fine or as you like. I will post up the picture of the modified Mac Pro when it'd done.
I have few questions about this upgrade.
1. What is the BEST, latest graphic card you can install on a 2006 Mac Pro?
Or whatever is reasonable.
2. Is there a way to get really cheap RAM for this machine, and can I upgrade it 32GB? Instead suggested 16GB?
3. I am ditching my Mac Pro's Aluminum casing and replacing it with new. Or make one from scratch. Can you recommend any cases?
4. If I can overclock the CPU's what coolers should I purchase?
5. Do you suppose spending $1000+ on this is more worth it than buying a new 8 core Mac pro?
You don't have to answer all questions alone, 1 question per person is just fine or as you like. I will post up the picture of the modified Mac Pro when it'd done.
1. ATi HD4890
3. Hm, I wouldn't do that.
4. Macs are usually not overclockable.
5. Up to now I have put around 600 into my MacPro1,1 which I bought for 1300. Doesn't hurt as much when it's bit by bit, but you have to consider for yourself what is reasonable.
I can see spending 5 to 600 bucks upgrading but a 1000 plus is not worth it IMHO. I upgraded my 2ghz quad to 2.33 octo for 400 bucks. Nice speed bump. But you can sell your system for a descent price, plus the 1000 or so your planning on using and buy a fairly new system that has the 64 bit EFI. Don't know why the clovertowns are still so expensive. Heck, the harpertowns are even cheaper than the clovertowns. I built a octo pc for around 1300 bucks with harpertowns. Just wish I could put OS X on it.
1st Gen Mac Pro.
2x 3.0ghz Quad Core Clovertown (8 Core)
32GB Ram DDR2 667mhz, FB-DIMM.
ATI HD 4890, 1GB Graphic Card.
(Let's say this costs $2100)
VS
Lastest Gen Mac Pro.
2x 2.26Ghz Nehalem Quad Core (8 Core)
6GB DDR3 1333mhz Ram.
Nvidia Geforce GT 120, 512mb Graphic card.
(Let's say this costs $3300)
My question is:
Just how much faster would the new generation Mac Pro be compared to the old gen Mac Pro with above specs?
Can someone please give me a benchmark number (Or a guess).
And btw, which one would you get?
2x 3.0ghz Quad Core Clovertown (8 Core)
32GB Ram DDR2 667mhz, FB-DIMM.
ATI HD 4890, 1GB Graphic Card.
(Let's say this costs $2100)
VS
Lastest Gen Mac Pro.
2x 2.26Ghz Nehalem Quad Core (8 Core)
6GB DDR3 1333mhz Ram.
Nvidia Geforce GT 120, 512mb Graphic card.
(Let's say this costs $3300)
My question is:
Just how much faster would the new generation Mac Pro be compared to the old gen Mac Pro with above specs?
Can someone please give me a benchmark number (Or a guess).
And btw, which one would you get?
Need your help. Stripped screws
I've started to install the x5355 into my Mac Pro, but I hit a big problem early on.
I followed Hardmac.com's tutorial. On the part where I have to remove the 2nd pair of screws holding the memory cage I stripped both screws, now I have no idea of how to get them out.
Can anyone help? It's very tight in there.
I've started to install the x5355 into my Mac Pro, but I hit a big problem early on.
I followed Hardmac.com's tutorial. On the part where I have to remove the 2nd pair of screws holding the memory cage I stripped both screws, now I have no idea of how to get them out.
Can anyone help? It's very tight in there.
I actually didn't remove the memory cage. I messed around trying to get it out for about 10 minutes then gave up. If I remember correctly though, I did have to remove the screws in order to slide it over to the right. Which screws exactly did you strip? I would say the only thing to do is get them out with a pliers or vice grip now. You might end up having to buy a specialized tool (long needle nose plier or very skinny vice grips) that will get the job done in that cramped space.
That is correct, I'm not trying to 'take it out', but slide the mem cage to the right. And as you point out, those screws have to be removed in order for it to slide.
If you look at the photo in my post, I stripped the ones nearest to me.
You may have to just end up grinding them out with a drill. I had to do something similar with some other screws in my Mac Pro - I used a handheld electric screwdriver with a little drill attachment.
Is that wise? Did it work? I've never drilled anywhere near a computer before!
I googled compact right angle pliers, and nothing small enough came up. I'm open to suggestions if you've seen such a tool.
I think you'd actually be able to angle a small regular plier in there enough to get them out. It'll just take some patience. or, if they aren't completely stripped or if they're stripped out unevenly, you might be able to use a flat-blade screwdriver. with enough downward pressure you could probably finagle them out with that too.
These were different screws but I'd already tried pliers. I just couldn't get needle nose pliers or anything else to grip right. If pliers don't work it really is the only other option. Buy yourself a pair of needle nose pliers and a can of compressed air. If the pliers don't work then you'll probably have to drill the heads off carefully. A vacuum and a blast of compressed air should do the trick afterwards. When I did my screws I didn't actually create that much mess anyway.