Upgrading CPU on 5,1 Mac Pro; looking for buying guidance

[mohaukachi]

I just snagged a nice 2.4 8-core 2010 Mac Pro with the intention of upgrading the bananas out of it as a screw you to the price of the nMPs. I've decided on the x5690 for the CPU and I've been reading a lot of posts and trying to soak up some info.

The question I have now is do I buy a new pair off of Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/SLBVX-INTEL-X...?ie=UTF8&qid=1424906190&sr=8-1&keywords=x5690

or used from Ebay?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matching-Pa...407?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234bd9d11f

Since they are within $100 of eachother, it made me hesitate. Can anyone give me some guidance on which of these two would be the best? I'd like to buy the new procs, but the Amazon page is so devoid of information, it makes it feel too good to be true.

Thanks for the help!

 

[xcodeSyn]

Since they are within $100 of eachother, it made me hesitate. Can anyone give me some guidance on which of these two would be the best? I'd like to buy the new procs, but the Amazon page is so devoid of information, it makes it feel too good to be true.

It seems to me that both links provide very similar processors. Normally the used processors were pulled from used servers, but the e-Bay link actually mentioned they were pulled from new servers, while the Amazon link, when you click the new link, also stated "New bulk, Clean Pulls Sealed in Anti-Static Bag. 90 day warranty against DOA parts."

The main difference, to me at least, is that the e-Bay seller does not offer any warranty for a certain period. So it's up to you to decide whether a 90-day warranty is worth the markup. Also you could directly contact both sellers for more info if you prefer.

 

[mohaukachi]

The main difference, to me at least, is that the e-Bay seller does not offer any warranty for a certain period. So it's up to you to decide whether a 90-day warranty is worth the markup. Also you could directly contact both sellers for more info if you prefer.

Indeed. I've already reached out to both and I'm waiting on word back. I'm probably going with Amazon for a few bucks more. Thank you!

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Indeed. I've already reached out to both and I'm waiting on word back. I'm probably going with Amazon for a few bucks more. Thank you!

I would clarify with the Amazon seller what a "90 day DOA warranty" is, because DOA is a condition whereby the item is Dead On Arrival, meaning you take it out of the packaging and install it and it doesn't work, period.

45 days later, having a part fail or be flakey is not considered DOA any longer. Now, it's just failed and/or flakey.

I'd be sure, just in case.

----------

I just snagged a nice 2.4 8-core 2010 Mac Pro with the intention of upgrading the bananas out of it as a screw you to the price of the nMPs. I've decided on the x5690 for the CPU and I've been reading a lot of posts and trying to soak up some info.

The question I have now is do I buy a new pair off of Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/SLBVX-INTEL-X...?ie=UTF8&qid=1424906190&sr=8-1&keywords=x5690

or used from Ebay?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matching-Pa...407?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234bd9d11f

Since they are within $100 of eachother, it made me hesitate. Can anyone give me some guidance on which of these two would be the best? I'd like to buy the new procs, but the Amazon page is so devoid of information, it makes it feel too good to be true.

Thanks for the help!

This past weekend, a pair of x5680's was $280 on ebay. The difference between a x5690 and a x5680 is negligible. You might wait for a good deal again on x5680's. 3.33 vs 3.46 -- you'll never notice the difference.

 

[mohaukachi]

This past weekend, a pair of x5680's was $280 on ebay. The difference between a x5690 and a x5680 is negligible. You might wait for a good deal again on x5680's. 3.33 vs 3.46 -- you'll never notice the difference.

Interesting! I'll look into this a bit more. What type of work do you do with your 3.33s?

 

[mohaukachi]

Boom... ordered two x5690s from ebay for a grand total of $410. At around the same price as the x5680's that were currently up, I'm pretty satisfied with the deal. Now on to SSD, GFX and IO.