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Mac Pro w/ only 1 CPU?
- Thread starter topgunn
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I've been wondering this as well, and I think it's possible but I'm sure as hell not gonna try it.
Architecturally from the chipset perspective there is no reason you cannot run with one processor.
however they could have designed their firmware to go 'oh crap, i'm broken' when both aren't seen.
however they could have designed their firmware to go 'oh crap, i'm broken' when both aren't seen.
Perhaps some of us want to collect $800 in exchange for power that a small percentage of apps actually take advantage of?Zwhaler said:
The processors that the Mac Pros use cost about $800 each.tipdrill407 said:
So one ripped out of a Mac Pro might get about $750 (just $50 off because of no box/whatever I guess and it's not NIB)
A Mac Pro with one 2.66GHz processor would be faster than a dual processor 2.0GHz machine in 95% of the applications available. So someone can buy a dual 2.66GHz for $2499 ($2299 with edu discount) and get $700 for the unused CPU leaving them with the $1799 ($1599) "consumer" Mac Pro that so many people are clammering for.
Trekkie said:
I work with multi processor Xeon boxes daily and I can see no reason for it not to work other than the great advice given above. As for selling them it might not be as easy as you think. Every tier 1 Xeon box I work with has a specific heat sink for that model of machine, and without the correct heat sink they aren't fitting in anywhere. So even if it does work you may have to drop your price by heaps if Apple use non-standard heatsinks. Which I would assume they do to keep the machine quiet.
Anandtech successfully ran one with only one processor. They also ran it with only one 512 MB FB-DIMM. (Apple officially says memory must be installed in pairs.)
From AnandTech, "The fifth configuration was the dual socket dual core Mac Pro 2.0GHz with one socket disabled, thus running as a dual core Mac Pro 2.0GHz." I take this to mean that they used CHUD to turn the CPU off, essentially. I don't think they physically removed the processor.ehurtley said:
topgunn said:
Ah... Yeah, re-reading it, that does make sense.
Bunsen Burner said:
I know from personal experience that the 5000X chipset will allow the computer to run with only a single processor. For more proof, look at the configurations from HP and Dell. Both sell 5000X-based workstations that are configurable with one or two processors.
Woodcrest isn't pin-compatible with Conroe, is it? If it is, you could take out both the procs, sell them, replace them with a midrange Conroe and end up a $1300 Mac with PCI slots.
I would think that Intel would want a machine like this to keep running if one of the processors was missing or failed. Its another redundant level of redundancy to insure that the machine will not crap out in the middle of a mission critical project. Not that CPU's fail out of the blue but it is still better to be safe than sorry.Bunsen Burner said:
Super Macho Man said:
No, they are not. Woodcrest is a Xeon that uses the Xeon 771-pin socket. Conroe is a 'Core 2' chip that uses the 775-pin socket that had been used for Pentium (4/D/Extreme) processors.
And, of course, neither are compatible with Merom's 479-pin ('Core 1'-compatible) socket.
Super Macho Man said:
Not at all. LGA 771 for Woodcrest, LGA 775 for Conroe.
Oh yeah and they use different RAM too.