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3.33GHz Xeon (Server CPU) Transplant in a 2009 Quad
- Thread starter AppleWorking
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I just wanted to let everyone know the second CPU has found a new home. If you asked about it, thank you. 
Hey Appleworking!
Could you give me the exact processor you used in your upgrade or better yet a link to one on the net. Sorry I missed yours but am looking to do this in about a month or two. Is there a good source for this chip?
Also, could you explain how you upgraded the memory? Did you use any that came with the Macpro or did you replace with a different faster kind of memory?
Thanks
Could you give me the exact processor you used in your upgrade or better yet a link to one on the net. Sorry I missed yours but am looking to do this in about a month or two. Is there a good source for this chip?
Also, could you explain how you upgraded the memory? Did you use any that came with the Macpro or did you replace with a different faster kind of memory?
Thanks
Here are a couple of links:
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80601...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1252876086&sr=8-1
$1,159.14
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117220&Tpk=W3580
$1,069.99
There is actually a funny story behind how I came to acquire two of these lovely CPUs. I paid about $1,150 for the first processor. Was playing poker with friends and relatives and one works in the industry (He got me my GeForce GTX285 for Mac for $60). Anyway, long story short I won a new retail (not engineering sample) Xeon W3580 from him. I lost about $200 that night before I hit it big. So I sold the first retail 3.33GHz CPU and the 2.66GHz stock CPU which pretty much made it a wash in terms of recouping my initial $1,150. In the end I paid about $200 for a retail W3580. Pretty happy about the whole thing.
About the memory, I plan to go 1333 ECC memory soon, but for right now I'm using this (same as stock Apple memory):
http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=4BBBD53EA5CA7304
No problems at all, and ECC is functioning perfectly. Except for the huge increase in speed, the MP runs exactly as it did with the 2.66GHz. Everything is as if it was manufactured directly from Apple this way like a BTO would be. Every time I boot it up I'm always shocked by how well it runs. Good luck with your project.
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Please start a new thread, and let the forum know what the results are.
I think there's a few that would appreciate it.
I thought it had been proven out in another thread or two that using the 1333 ECC memory does nothing - the Pro's are capped at the lower speed and using the higher speed RAM doesn't unfortunately make them run at that higher speed.
That's quit a situation that netted you that first chip! Heck, *I* work in the "industry" but I can't get a GTX285/Mac for $60 - does your friend work *for* Nvidia??
That's quit a situation that netted you that first chip! Heck, *I* work in the "industry" but I can't get a GTX285/Mac for $60 - does your friend work *for* Nvidia??
I thought it had been proven out in another thread or two that using the 1333 ECC memory does nothing - the Pro's are capped at the lower speed and using the higher speed RAM doesn't unfortunately make them run at that higher speed.
Right you are - on all counts.
Either I missed it or don't remember, so if you can easily find a link, I'd appreciate it.
I'll search for it in the mean time.
Relative, yes.Heck, *I* work in the "industry" but I can't get a GTX285/Mac for $60 - does your friend work *for* Nvidia??
I also would like to see these threads. Take a look at post #20 & #21 of this thread. It's the only one I know of.
Either I missed it or don't remember, so if you can easily find a link, I'd appreciate it.
I'll search for it in the mean time.
Here's my ECC oriented comment links. There's other folks too tho:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8072868/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8073153/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8074609/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8080322/ ***
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/7808289/
I guess there's more from me than just those threads but that's a start and probably the most noteworthy. And there's more from some others too I believe. I'll let them step up if they like.
On the memory speed issue it was cmair or whatever his name is (The lawyer with a CS doctorates who worked for AMD) and several other people pointing it out as well. The evidence given was compelling, mathematical in nature, and I believe with links to Intel's site directly.
Here's my ECC oriented comment links. There's other folks too tho:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8072868/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8073153/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8074609/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8080322/ ***
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/7808289/
I guess there's more from me than just those threads but that's a start and probably the most noteworthy. And there's more from some others too I believe. I'll let them step up if they like.
On the memory speed issue it was cmair or whatever his name is (The lawyer with a CS doctorates who worked for AMD) and several other people pointing it out as well. The evidence given was compelling, mathematical in nature, and I believe with links to Intel's site directly.
LOL Too funny... Honest to god Tess, sometimes I wonder if you have all your marbles. That's not the question we were asking. All you did is give us links to your anti-apple propaganda...
LOL Too funny... Honest to god Tess, sometimes I wonder if you have all your marbles. That's not the question we were asking. All you did is give us links to your anti-apple propaganda...
I think your browser is busted or something. Those are pretty much dictionary definitions of what ECC is. It's not pro nor anti anything and has nothing to do with Apple.
Are you feeling ill?
Will do.Please start a new thread, and let the forum know what the results are.
I think there's a few that would appreciate it.
Without the specific JEDEC SPD programming for 1333 we'll never really know until I try.I don't know what may or may not cause memory errors, but I do know that I've had many servers with ECC memory flag dimms as having errors because it's able to detect them. Sometimes it finds correctable memory errors, sometimes it logs them as uncorrectable. It's nice to be able to let my server stay up all day if the memory errors are correctable and know that my data is intact and not have to impact users during the day. Of course, if it's flagging uncorrectable memory errors, it's nice to know that there is bad memory and I need to get it out asap as to not cause any corruption down the line.
I appreciate your reply and I agree with you, but we don't want to egg on Tessee because he easily becomes an opinionated freight train that cannot be stopped once started.
We merely want to find out if 1333 memory will be recognized as such in the new MPs that either have a CPU that supports it or have had one transplanted in there. I'm pretty sure it will be recognized so I'm contemplating the upgrade. Even if I'm wrong, I'm sure it'll help others by saving them the trouble of unnecessarily wasting their money.
Interesting. Everyone has been talking how going with sets of 3 vs sets of 4 degrades performance. Sounds like more ram is better than working for the triple channel approach, vs. the dual channel approach you were running with.
Are you sure you took out the right ones? Nehalem's memory controller is very sensitive as to what modules are installed where.
I believe you have to install 3 in each set of slots, and they must be arranged in a specific way as well to take advantage of triple channel. Either the 3 closest to the CPU, or the 3 farthest from the CPU.
I have a i7-975 @ 3.33Hgz en route. It will be interesting to see how my numbers compare as the 975 does not officially support ECC ram...
Hey Tutor, would you happen to know if the 1600MHz RAM that you tried had the JEDEC SPD programming for 1333MHz?
Anyway, I contacted a supplier online and they will most likely conduct the test with 1333MHz memory in the MP's that should support it. It's all I really care about, since ECC versus non-ECC is a personal preference...some want it there, some don't - fine either way.
Thanks for confirming that!
That's what I've been trying to say in a few threads. Oh well let's hope they can believe it now since the father of the cpu transplant has said it.
Hey Tutor,
Did I read correctly that you will be over-clocking the Xeons in your 8-core Mac Pro? If so, I think we will all be interested to know how this works out for you and would love to see a step-by-step tutorial. I for one would love to OC my quad, I'm so jealous of what the PC folks are doing with their Xeons and Core i7 CPUs.
Did I read correctly that you will be over-clocking the Xeons in your 8-core Mac Pro? If so, I think we will all be interested to know how this works out for you and would love to see a step-by-step tutorial. I for one would love to OC my quad, I'm so jealous of what the PC folks are doing with their Xeons and Core i7 CPUs.