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

Thanks flowrider. I am aware of the de-lidding process, but from everything I've been reading, people are saying that instead of de-lidding, just don't screw down the heatsink as tight.

Perhaps it would just be easier to be the kit from this guy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-Pro-200...012?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33995b71a4

Then it seems I have nothing to worry about and I get the faster Westmere procs.

^^^^I know nothing of the seller, but that's certainly the correct stuff you need, and by the verbiage the seller seems to know what he's talking about.

And everything is there for the correct upgrade for a dual CPU 4,1 Mac Pro.

Lou

kittonian said:

I've read through most of this thread but wanted to confirm before making a purchase. We use Cinema 4D and are in desperate need of some seriously powerful machines.

I have the ability to purchase two of the following machines for $800/ea and wanted to ensure that they could be upgraded to a 12-core 3.33 X5680 with the faster DDR3 memory.

The machines are:
2009 Mac Pro 8x 2.26Ghz, 24GB ram, GT 120

The link I was going to use to purchase the CPUs is:
http://www.amazon.com/3-33GHz-Intel-Socket-LGA1366-SLBV5/dp/B004EET1LM/ref=pd_cp_pc_0
Then I was going to purchase the faster mid-2010 12-core compatible RAM from OWC and do 24GB per system:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/1333D3W8M24K/

Is there anything I should be aware of before making the purchase? Will the components I listed work without issue?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

You could get the RAM and CPU's for less on eBay. The RAM is PC3-10600R and I see a listing for 12 X 4GB chips for less than 1/2 of the OWC price and you could go with X5690's for the same price.

Otherwise, I did about the same, only with X5675's.

Good luck!

Just a quick confirmation...

I have a Mac Pro 5,1 in single processor configuration (2.8GHz Quadcore).

I'd like to upgrade my processor and since the prices are going down I found some suitable replacement on ebay....

The prices are similar, should i buy:

Xeon W3690 3.46GHz

or

Xeon X5690 3,46 GHz (this is for multiple processors but, AFAIK, it can be used also in single processor configurations)


Then i see that the CPU have different "steppings" (SLBVX or SLBW2 or SLBV8)....which is the correct ones/ones for Mac Pro.

If you may use up to 64G RAM, get the X5690, otherwise, W3690 is good enough. Same speed anyway.

h9826790 said:

If you may use up to 64G RAM, get the X5690, otherwise, W3690 is good enough. Same speed anyway.

Click to expand...

If the price is similar, I'd go with the X5690. Just in case you ever decide to go DUAL CPU (buy a used dual MP or tray), you already have one of the CPU's and just need to buy another. With the W3690, you're stuck having to buy two more CPU's.

Are the stepping codes of the CPUs indifferent?

ugru said:

Are the stepping codes of the CPUs indifferent?

Click to expand...

Each XEON has only one stepping. That last one you referenced, SLBV8, is not for the X5690 or W3690. If you saw it in a listing, it is probably an error.

ugru said:

Then i see that the CPU have different "steppings" (SLBVX or SLBW2 or SLBV8)....which is the correct ones/ones for Mac Pro.

Click to expand...

You really can ignore any reference to stepping, just make sure the Model Number is correct (W3690 or X5690, your preferences) and that it is a production model not a pre-production sample. Selection is really pretty simple. Also make sure the seller has a solid reputation.

Lou

Looking to upgrade my QC 2.8, 2010 MP

I hear the X5690 is compatible with a single processor tray.

Apart from being able to upgrade to a dual core later down the line, what other benefits does having a X5690 installed vs a w3690 (just a check list before i buy)

X5690 - Can handle greater heat, so theoretically, it will run cooler, quieter fans?
12GB more ram - 64GB vs 52 of the w3690

I've also hear the X5680 uses less power than the X5690 - is this true? Would i save a few pence per year running it? Less electricity / less heat would be good.

Presently im fine with the QC but would like to upgrade before they become impossible to get

steveOooo said:

Looking to upgrade my QC 2.8, 2010 MP

I hear the X5690 is compatible with a single processor tray.

Apart from being able to upgrade to a dual core later down the line, what other benefits does having a X5690 installed vs a w3690 (just a check list before i buy)

X5690 - Can handle greater heat, so theoretically, it will run cooler, quieter fans?
12GB more ram - 64GB vs 52 of the w3690

I've also hear the X5680 uses less power than the X5690 - is this true? Would i save a few pence per year running it? Less electricity / less heat would be good.

Presently im fine with the QC but would like to upgrade before they become impossible to get

Click to expand...

I think the differences between all the flavors of XEON you mentioned are so small, it's not really worth the effort to be concerned. It would all come down to PRICE. A while back, there was a great deal on X5690's from some seller that made it an easy choice to choose the top-tier CPU. Normally, the X5680's would be the better choice, as the speed difference with the X5690 isn't really noticeable, but the price difference can be!

Unless you score a screaming deal on a W3690 and you think you will never upgrade your tray to a dual, I'd pass on that one. But, basically, for me it would be whichever XEON is the least expensive.

The biggest difference between them on a single CPU machine may be the RAM they can handle. 64G for X5690 ATM (may be more later), 56G for W3690 (which is already excess the factory limit).

Other than that, they should perform almost exactly the same. And AFAIK, the Mac Pro's fan speed is related to the actual temperature, but not the temperature limit. So the difference in T-case max should makes no difference on the fan noise. And of course, it won't run cooler.

Last year I upgraded the processors in my dual processor Mac Pro from the standard 2.4GHz (4 cores each) to a pair of X5675 3.06GHz (6 core) processors.

There are photos of this job here: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=19955322#post19955322

My previous 2.8GHz single processor 2010 Mac Pro had been sitting in the corner for ages, so it was time that I sold it. Before I bought the dual processor Mac Pro I had already bought a W3680 processor and 32Gb RAM to use in that Mac. I found a buyer, who wants the processor and RAM.

I started by removing the processor and RAM tray.



The heat sink is attached with five bolts, which are removed with a 3mm allen key. There are four bolts around the processor and the fifth one is on the far left.



I used ArctiClean to clean off the old heatsink thermal paste, but as flowrider previously covered, regular isopropyl alcohol will do the same job.



Once I had removed the majority of the thermal paste I finished cleaning it off with a micro-fibre cloth.



I then removed the old 2.8GHz processor.



I put the replacement W3680 processor in place and put some new thermal paste on.



I had previously used a cotton stick to spread the thermal paste around, but this time I wanted to try something plastic. The only thing that I could find was the plastic stalk of a cotton stick. I cut the end off so that I could use it to roll around and spread the paste.



I had applied too much thermal paste, so rolling the plastic stalk around was good for removing some of it.



Then I was ready to put the heatsink back on. In this photo it looks like there’s too much paste but it was actually a thin layer.



I put the heat sink back on, which involved carefully pushing down on each bolt with the allen key to get the end of each bolt to reach the threads on the board.



I put in the two spare 16Gb RAM sticks that I had (Samsung M393B2G70BH0-YH9). Much to my delight, the Mac Pro started up properly the first time.

Just like last time, I was nervous about doing this. But it was all done and finished so quickly that it was an anti-climax. I could do the whole job again in a few minutes if I had to.

For anyone who’s considered this but hasn’t done so yet… do it!

Phildo said:

to a pair of W5675 3.33GHz (6 core) processors.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, but if you could correct the W5675 into a X5675 in your post, it would prevent confusion...

Loa

philipma1957 said:

Glad to see this thread still gets action. I have been busy with Bitcoins for quite a while.

How many people did this upgrade? 100 plus? I would really love for people to post here it they did this upgrade and this thread helped inspired them to do it.

Click to expand...

Yup, going well four years later.

I changed the processors in my dual-processor Mac Pro last year, and changed the processor in a single-processor Mac Pro a couple of weeks ago.

When I find a good deal on a pair of X5690 processors then I'll be upgrading my Mac Pro again.

That makes it three times for me.

philipma1957 said:

Glad to see this thread still gets action. I have been busy with Bitcoins for quite a while.

How many people did this upgrade? 100 plus? I would really love for people to post here it they did this upgrade and this thread helped inspired them to do it.

Click to expand...

Yep, this thread made it possible for me alongside your excellent guide and all the other really helpful people on here too. Machine has been running flawlessly from day one after booting first time after the swap. Next step is to upgrade my OWC boot drive to an Apple/Samsung to get native trim. I got a great sense of achievement after doing all the research and sucessfully doing the swap - also the satisfaction of getting 90% of the performance of the nMP for about 30% of the price, I think that's the main winner for me, especially as now all the hard work is just a memory whereas the day to day performance I enjoy is a constant.
A big thank you from me.

I am planning to buy a 2010 Mac Pro but I have a question about the compatibility of RAM. The machine I am planning to buy is
dual 2.4 GHz Quad Core "westmere"

I already own PC3 DDR3 1600 Mhz RAM. Would this RAM be compatible with the 2010 Mac Pro mentioned above?

Babyboi said:

I am planning to buy a 2010 Mac Pro but I have a question about the compatibility of RAM. The machine I am planning to buy is
dual 2.4 GHz Quad Core "westmere"

I already own PC3 DDR3 1600 Mhz RAM. Would this RAM be compatible with the 2010 Mac Pro mentioned above?

Click to expand...

Your RAM will probably work, but it will run at 1333Mhz and you won't have ECC.

Phildo said:

Image

Then it was time to put the heat sinks back on.

Click to expand...

AHHHH, to much termal paste, more don't help more

Ignore the people whos talking, look how much is needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB0NlPTj8Q4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bskhQRqV12Q

or this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjF5jabXRCY

philipma1957 said:

Glad to see this thread still gets action. I have been busy with Bitcoins for quite a while.

How many people did this upgrade? 100 plus? I would really love for people to post here it they did this upgrade and this thread helped inspired them to do it.

Click to expand...

Although yours was not the only resource I used, it was one of the inspirations for my 4,1>5,1 quad >hex upgrade almost three years ago. Since then, I have encouraged other studio owner/musicians to do the upgrade, and am aware of at least 12 others who have done so, with universally positive results.

It is hard to argue against an upgrade that takes a dual CPU 4,1 or 5,1 to a performance level just short of parity with the most powerful 6,1, especially now that Xeon X5680/90 CPUs are available used for under $200.

So, yes, Thank You for the guide philipma!

SDAVE said:

Your RAM will probably work, but it will run at 1333Mhz and you won't have ECC.

Click to expand...

understood, thanks!

philipma1957 said:

Glad to see this thread still gets action. I have been busy with Bitcoins for quite a while.

How many people did this upgrade? 100 plus? I would really love for people to post here it they did this upgrade and this thread helped inspired them to do it.

Click to expand...

I performed this upgrade with a W3690 this past Thanksgiving on a 2010 Mac Pro which I bought at the same time. I splurged for the 5,1 on eBay since I didn't want to deal with de-lidded cpu's.

The used Intel W3690 was $277 shipped at the time and prices have dropped a lot since then on eBay.

It was an awesome upgrade as hyper threading is what is it all about for me. (Previously using an upgraded Dual X5355 2006 Mac Pro.) I can actually edit 4K video on Final Cut Pro X with good performance.