Upgrading dual CPUs - is stepping important?

[swechsler]

I'm planning on upgrading a 2010 dual quad-core Mac Pro to dual six-core CPUs (x5675). I remember back in the old days of dual CPUs (think Pentium), you had to have the same stepping in both CPUs in order for the machine to be able to boot. Is this still the case? Have their even been multiple steppings of this CPU? I can find CPUs in matched pairs, but it's sometimes cheaper to buy them individually.

Thanks!
[doublepost=1461198118][/doublepost]I'm answering my own question (should have done this first, I guess): According to their web page, Intel has only released a single stepping (B1) for this CPU, so I should be OK.

 

[scott.n]

Stepping is important, but I believe that all 3500/5500/5600-series processors that could be used in a dual-processor 4,1 or 5,1 were only ever available in a single stepping.

I suppose there might be some benefit in a pair of processors with the same provenance (amount of use, etc), but otherwise, no reason to pay more for a "matched pair".

 

[ActionableMango]

I'm planning on upgrading a 2010 dual quad-core Mac Pro to dual six-core CPUs (x5675). I remember back in the old days of dual CPUs (think Pentium), you had to have the same stepping in both CPUs in order for the machine to be able to boot. Is this still the case? Have their even been multiple steppings of this CPU? I can find CPUs in matched pairs, but it's sometimes cheaper to buy them individually.

Thanks!
[doublepost=1461198118][/doublepost]I'm answering my own question (should have done this first, I guess): According to their web page, Intel has only released a single stepping (B1) for this CPU, so I should be OK.

I do remember someone mentioning he had problems with dual CPUs and different steppings. One was a low voltage stepping and the other normal. But as you and Scott have already mentioned, this is moot for x5675.