Buying a Mac Pro 2009 - and then swapping processors - a few questions

[GXPvince]

Which Mac Pro 3.1 should I buy if I wanted to just swap out the processors right away?

This will replace my 1,1 for mostly Lightroom 4 and Photoshop work.

[ScottishCaptain]

Don't.

Buy a 2010 unit.

2009 Mac Pros only accept lidless CPUs. These CPUs are impossible to come by because they're a custom part built by Intel for Apple (specifically for the 2009 Mac Pro CPU cards). You can pull the heat spreader off a normal CPU to create a "lidless" CPU, but this task is neither easy nor recommended. Some people have had luck using normal CPUs, but then you have to screw around with washers under the heat sink so the heat sink doesn't crush the LGA socket (since the additional thickness of the CPU heat spreader will force the CPU down into the LGA socket, destroying the board and CPU).

In other words, if you're looking to swap CPUs on a Mac Pro- the 2009 unit is probably the worst possible computer you could buy to do this with. Every other Mac Pro has used normal CPUs (with the stock Intel heat spreader), **except** the 2009 unit. I don't know why Apple did this but it was a stupid design decision that they fixed in the 2010 model.

That being said, I'm not really sure what CPUs that system will take- but the whole thing about them having to be lidless CPUs is going to be a pain in the ass to work around.

-SC

[thekev]

A 3,1 is a 2008 model. Depending on the total cost of configuration, you might be better off just looking at a refurbished model. A 3.2 quad is $2139. A 6 core is $2549. Both include the standard warranty. A used machine would at least need to be cheap enough to be worth it after the cost of the cpu upgrade is tacked on. Up until the middle of this year, the 6 core was around $3800 new or $3400 refurbished. You could find a 2009 for $1500ish and install a $600 W3680. At that point it was worth it, as the amount saved was quite significant. Now I'm not so sure.

Originally Posted by ScottishCaptain

Don't.

Buy a 2010 unit.

2009 Mac Pros only accept lidless CPUs.\

Wasn't the lidless issue one with the dual package models?

[El Awesome]

Originally Posted by ScottishCaptain

Don't.

Buy a 2010 unit.

2009 Mac Pros only accept lidless CPUs. These CPUs are impossible to come by because they're a custom part built by Intel for Apple (specifically for the 2009 Mac Pro CPU cards). You can pull the heat spreader off a normal CPU to create a "lidless" CPU, but this task is neither easy nor recommended. Some people have had luck using normal CPUs, but then you have to screw around with washers under the heat sink so the heat sink doesn't crush the LGA socket (since the additional thickness of the CPU heat spreader will force the CPU down into the LGA socket, destroying the board and CPU).

In other words, if you're looking to swap CPUs on a Mac Pro- the 2009 unit is probably the worst possible computer you could buy to do this with. Every other Mac Pro has used normal CPUs (with the stock Intel heat spreader), **except** the 2009 unit. I don't know why Apple did this but it was a stupid design decision that they fixed in the 2010 model.

That being said, I'm not really sure what CPUs that system will take- but the whole thing about them having to be lidless CPUs is going to be a pain in the ass to work around.

-SC

Just to add: The single-CPU Mac Pro 4.1 uses regular CPUs. Only the Dual-CPU 4.1 has lidless.

[DPUser]

Confirming 2009 Single Processor Macs use regular Xeons (with the "lid"), and the CPU socket includes the clamp that holds the processor in. I put together a 3.33 hex upgrade for $1900 (including the Mac, CPU and 5770 GPU and tax), but have no warranty to rely on. Easy job, though!

[ClassObject]

Although the 2009 duals are lidless, the swap to standard CPUs is pretty simple.

[Concorde Rules]

2.66 Mac Pro 4,1 (2009) or 2.8 5,1 (2010)
W3680 or W3690 (latter if your pockets are deep, former is better value but latter is the fastest).
16GB 1333MHz OWC ram
SSD boot disc
SSD working folder

Done.

[All Taken]

Originally Posted by Concorde Rules

2.66 Mac Pro 4,1 (2009) or 2.8 5,1 (2010)
W3680 or W3690 (latter if your pockets are deep, former is better value but latter is the fastest).
16GB 1333MHz OWC ram
SSD boot disc
SSD working folder

Done.

Why OWC?

[Concorde Rules]

Lifetime warranty tbh.

They work properly with thermal sensors for hassle free upgrades.

This isn't to say others would work too however.

[spoonie1972]

Originally Posted by ClassObject

Although the 2009 duals are lidless, the swap to standard CPUs is pretty simple.

are there any guides with pictures out there, explaining the need for thermal pads etc? many say they dont bother with washers, and just tighten, boot (or not boot), tighten a bit more...

is it the other pieces that surround the CPU that also need cooling?

just sort of terrified of ending up with a lifeless, 45lb door-stop.

[DPUser]

A little more involved with the duals, but clearly not terribly difficult. There are a number of video and photo tutorials, some here at MacRumors... seek and ye shall find!

The SP's do not use lidless CPUs, so SP CPU swap is very simple.

[propower]

2009 quad cores can be found for very good prices...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-MacPro...item257846153d

$850! + $600 for W3680 = $1500 Hex core!

[Tutor]

Originally Posted by GXPvince

Which Mac Pro 3.1 should I buy if I wanted to just swap out the processors right away?

This will replace my 1,1 for mostly Lightroom 4 and Photoshop work.

I'd suggest:


1) You buy a refurbished Mac Pro 2.4GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon
Eligible for OS X Mountain Lion Up-to-Date Program

Originally released August 2010
Two 2.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Westmere" processor
6GB (6 x 1GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC memory
1TB Serial ATA 7200 rpm
18x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB GDDR5 memory

$2,649.00
In Stock
Free Shipping

[ http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC561LL/A ]

2) And swap in two of these:


Intel Xeon Six-Core Processor X5690 3.46GHz 6.4GT/s 1366pin 12MB CPU, OEM
Specifications

Mfr Part Number: AT80614005913AB
Process Type: Intel Xeon Processor X5690
Core Count: 8
Thread Count: 16
Clock Speed: 3.46 GHz
Intel Smart Cache: 12 MB
Intel QPI Speed: 6.4 GT/s
Lithography: 32 nm
Socket: Socket 1366

Part#: XE-X5690
Price: $1588.99
$9.99 Shipping
[ http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=XE-X5690 ] However, you can most likely find a new pair of them on ebay for at least $200 less for the both of them.

3) Then you could sale on ebay: (a) Two 2.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Westmere" processors; (b) 6GB (6 x 1GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC memory and (c) ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB GDDR5 memory from your Apple purchase.

You'd get a much faster system (but you would probably void your warranty) and you could spend the savings and ebay sales proceeds to max out video, 1333 mhz ram and storage as you desire. The cpu swap takes easily less than 30 minutes - I can do it in less than 5 minutes. Do have a tube of Arctic Silver thermal compound on hand. You may want to refer to post #1 here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1333421