MP 1,1-5,1 Hex 3.2 update from 2010 quad 2.8 photos new! CPU to use!

X5675

dmylrea said:

Like any of the X56xx series, it will work, but this chip is the same clock speed you already have, so you're really just buying a couple more cores. Most apps you won't see a difference unless the program is heavily threaded.

A X5650 is about $75, a X5670 is about $150 and you get a 10% bump in speed. You're choice, depending on your wallet.

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There's an X5675 now that sits between the X5670 and X5680

X5675 is 3.06 GHz/12MB Cache/6 Core and it's sitting at about $170 and I'm considering this for my W3530/2.80 GHz/Quad-core. I'm assuming this should work.

lfhlaw said:

There's an X5675 now that sits between the X5670 and X5680

X5675 is 3.06 GHz/12MB Cache/6 Core and it's sitting at about $170 and I'm considering this for my W3530/2.80 GHz/Quad-core. I'm assuming this should work.

Click to expand...

That's what I've done with my Mac Pro - replaced the pair of 2.4s with a pair of 3.06 X5675s.

There's a full photo guide a few posts back...

When the 3.46 X5690s get cheap enough then I'll buy a pair of them.

Success!

I've just performed this upgrade. Went from a 4,1 - 2.66 quad 1066 ram to a 3.46 hex 1333 ram (w3690). Geekbench went from 1954/7864 to 2671/15146 and man is it snappy! I can't thank all of the people who made this possible enough.

This is the first processor I've ever replaced and was hesitant to say the least. I can testify, however, that reading up on the process is paramount. Read and reread. It was only until about a week ago I found out (comprehended) that the single processor had integrated heat sinks. I had bought washers and thermal pad, expecting it to be as difficult as the dual processors. It was quite a pleasant surprise to have wasted that money.

All in all, the entire process took about 45 minutes (being slow and cautious) and essentially nailed it (it booted) on my first try. Temps are idling the same, however, when stress tested, reaches a little above my old one. Dips into 86°C after 30 minutes or so. Is this okay operating range?

Again, thanks to all the folks, braver and smarter than I am, for helping me perform this upgrade. Has breathed fresh air into my Mac Pro!

EDIT: If anyone is curious, I snagged the W3690 for $275 used on ebay. Prices seem to be dropping a bit.

With the native Mac Pro 4,1 fan control logic, it's 100% normal to let the fan run at idle until CPU hit around 80C, then the fan speed go up a bit and just enough to keep temperature stay at around 85C. It's safe and normal.

You can type "pmset -g thermlog" in terminal to check if there is any thermal warning. Also, if CPU speed limit shows at there stay at 100, that mean no thermal throttling occur. This command will keep active until you close terminal or press "Ctl + C", if any change in CPU speed limit, it will shows up straight away.

I've test this with my W3690. e.g. Keep handbrake running for 10hours with only native fan control, temperature will stays there, no thermal warning at all, and CPU speed limit stays at 100.

h9826790 said:

With the native Mac Pro 4,1 fan control logic, it's 100% normal to let the fan run at idle until CPU hit around 80C, then the fan speed go up a bit and just enough to keep temperature stay at around 85C. It's safe and normal.

You can type "pmset -g thermlog" in terminal to check if there is any thermal warning. Also, if CPU speed limit shows at there stay at 100, that mean no thermal throttling occur. This command will keep active until you close terminal or press "Ctl + C", if any change in CPU speed limit, it will shows up straight away.

I've test this with my W3690. e.g. Keep handbrake running for 10hours with only native fan control, temperature will stays there, no thermal warning at all, and CPU speed limit stays at 100.

Click to expand...

very informative and helpful - thank you! and my fans are doing exactly as you describe, when it did hit 86C (actually a little before) both the booster and intake/exhaust revved up. i am curious about the throttling and will try this command and keep an eye on it. thanks again!

x5690's are plummeting in price they have new matched pairs on ebay for 599$

h9826790 said:

You can type "pmset -g thermlog" in terminal to check if there is any thermal warning. Also, if CPU speed limit shows at there stay at 100, that mean no thermal throttling occur. This command will keep active until you close terminal or press "Ctl + C", if any change in CPU speed limit, it will shows up straight away.

Click to expand...

I did not know about that terminal command.

Thanks!

Jon…

I plan to do this hex core upgrade soon as I picked up a decent quad core 2010 Mac Pro on eBay and a used W3690.

The ironic thing about hunting via eBay was that I could have theoretically bought a used Dell T-3500 with the W3690 and then swapped processors with the Mac and I would have an additional computer with a Windows 7 license.

I'm seeing some T3500's on eBay with the W3690 chip for not much more than the chip alone.

The orphaned quad core processor from the Mac isn't worth much by itself on eBay.

Hi,

I have a 4,1 8 core Mac Pro. Does anyone know which Xeon was the fastest 8 core upgrade for me?

I'd like to keep it to an 8 core as the single core performance will be faster than going to the 12.

Thanks.

Upgrader said:

I'd like to keep it to an 8 core as the single core performance will be faster than going to the 12.

Click to expand...

Not entirely true, AFAIK, regardless the number of cores, the fastest CPU for old Mac Pro (assuming you flash the firmware to 5,1) are all 3.46GHz (turbo 3.73).

Quad core (single X5677)
Hex core (W3690 or single X5690)
8 core (dual X5677)
12 core (dual X5690)

Great insight, thanks. So essentially after flashing to 5,1 the 3.46 12core could be an option if they aren't too expensive! Good news!

Upgrader said:

Great insight, thanks. So essentially after flashing to 5,1 the 3.46 12core could be an option if they aren't too expensive! Good news!

Click to expand...

Correct, however, upgrade the dual CPU 4,1 most likely will be much harder than you expect (because it use lidless CPU). Please do some study before you take any actions.

I found this article.
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/step_by_step_mac_pro_processor_upgrade

Need to read it properly but it looks like the 4,1 pros didn't have the sprung clasps for the proc like the 5,1 mobo's have.

Upgrader said:

I found this article.
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/step_by_step_mac_pro_processor_upgrade

Need to read it properly but it looks like the 4,1 pros didn't have the sprung clasps for the proc like the 5,1 mobo's have.

Click to expand...

yeah we kinda figured that out in 2009

One thing I noticed when I did my upgrade a couple of months ago was that Handbrake didn't get any faster.

I've stuck with the original AppleTV because I like having the movie files stored on the internal ATV1 hard drive. That way, the ATV1 and Mac are independent on each other (ie not interrupted by restarts, etc).

So I spend way too much time converting things to ATV1 format with Handbrake.

However, Handbrake updated a few days ago.

I've just tried to convert a file on my Mac Pro, with the dual 3.06GHz, six core processors. Wow. Fast. Waaaaaayyyyyyyy quicker than before!

It used to seem like no matter how many cores and GHz were available to Handbrake, it would only work at a certain speed.

Just now it did a conversion in 8 minutes that I would normally have expected to take around 30 minutes. The percentage used on each core was vastly higher than previously.

Very pleased.

s-hatland said:

I had bought washers and thermal pad, expecting it to be as difficult as the dual processors. It was quite a pleasant surprise to have wasted that money.

Click to expand...

Hi,

Do you have a link where I can buy these washers/thermal pad? Most guides I’ve seen don’t mention using them. If you can point me in the direction of a guide that shows positioning etc I’d appreciate it.

Cheers.

^^^^IMO, the best guide is here:

https://web.archive.org/web/2013102...Photography/2013/07/08/mac-pro-2009-part-tbd/

Lou

Phildo said:

... Just now it did a conversion in 8 minutes that I would normally have expected to take around 30 minutes. The percentage used on each core was vastly higher than previously.

Very pleased.

Click to expand...

Yep same here with a 4,1 & two X5675, time saving is particularly noticeable in Handbrake

Just converted an old 8.2GB DVD image of Apocalypse Now / Redux to mkv in ~10min. There used to be a Handbrake test for comparisons somewhere in the iMac section but can't find it anymore.

flowrider said:

^^^^IMO, the best guide is here:

https://web.archive.org/web/2013102...Photography/2013/07/08/mac-pro-2009-part-tbd/

Lou

Click to expand...

Lou, that is, without doubt, the best guide I've read on the subject so far. Head and shoulders above the rest. Thank you. It's convinced me to get the 3.46 12 core chips over the quads.

Nice Upgrade!

Thanks to this thread for the instructions on doing this. I recently did this upgrade on my 2010 MacPro, adding two x5690 processors and it flies!

Geekbench score attached.

Hello,

Thinking about upgrading my 3.33 quad to a 3.xx hex from a Dell T-3500.

Quick question for those who know a bit about hackintoshes: could I use those workstations to build a hackintosh with my old w3580 in it?

Thanks

Loa

Screw loose...

So I actually received my 4,1 2009 8 core Mac Pro that I intend to upgrade. Whilst gently inserting a rolled up piece of paper into the heatsink screw shafts to gauge the minimum length of the hex wrench I need, I discovered one of the screws was completely loose on heatsink B! Do I need to be concerned? The machine is functioning and standing up to tests just fine. Geekbench, Cinebench and the Terminal command to max out all processors went without a hitch.

Cheers.

I wouldn't be too worried if everything is functioning correctly.

I upgraded a 4,1 dual 2.26 QC to 5,1 dual 3.06 Hex (x5675). I used those because of the lower power requirements (95W versus 130 for the x5680). My temps are great (around 45C at idle, 65C at full load). Power draw at idle is around 320W, with a 27" ACD and a Dell 1080P display, and peaks around 480W under heavy load. GB3 score is 2625/29122. The x5680's or x5690's could add 70 watts to that. Something to consider.

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Loa said:

Hello,

Thinking about upgrading my 3.33 quad to a 3.xx hex from a Dell T-3500.

Quick question for those who know a bit about hackintoshes: could I use those workstations to build a hackintosh with my old w3580 in it?

Thanks

Loa

Click to expand...

Check tonymacx86.com or insanelymac.com to see if someone else has tried. In my experience, any built in audio or ethernet is usually the biggest hurdle.

tpluth said:

The x5680's or x5690's could add 70 watts to that. Something to consider.

Click to expand...

Thanks. When replacing that screw after upgrading I’ll assume the same number of turns for the other screws on that heatsink.
Will the extra power from the X5690’s be detrimental to my machine or just my electricity bill?

Cheers.

Just how "delicate" are the Mac Pro power supplies?

I have a 5,1 MP upgraded with:
-- a pair of x5680 3.33GHz processors,
-- 48 GB RAM,
-- GeForce GTX 680 GPU with 4GB,
-- 1TB Apple PCI SSD,
-- 500 GB 840 PRO SSD on a DUO x2,
-- CalDigit FASTA-6GU3 Pro eSATA/USB 3.0,
-- 4 ea. 3TB 7200 rpm hard disks in RAID-5

I recently had a major corruption of the RAID-5 array (SoftRAID) which had been running flawlessly for quite some time arranged as 3 logical volumes. With the excellent help from SoftRAID Technical Support (best Tech Support people I have ever worked with!! ), I had narrowed it down to either sleep-eject issues, or power supply loading. I ran a multipass disk certification on the disk drives and they tested good. These were Seagate drives, I replaced them with HGST NAS drives.

Is it possible, that with the upgrades listed above, that I am over-taxing the built in power supply of the Mac Pro 5,1?