MP 1,1-5,1 advice on upgrading?

[xtempo]

Here are the specs. I've left in this in storage for roughly four years. But now have it out and was wondering what I can or should do to make this mainly play games and final cut. Should I upgrade the memory? and other stuff. Also should I replace the battery that's in there? Also I want to use my gamer live portable with the software which won't run on anything higher than 10.13.

 

[14UG]

Here are the specs. I've left in this in storage for roughly four years. But now have it out and was wondering what I can or should do to make this mainly play games and final cut. Should I upgrade the memory? and other stuff. Also should I replace the battery that's in there? Also I want to use my gamer live portable with the software which won't run on anything higher than 10.13.

You want to replace the RAM for sure. Get 1333MHz DDR3 in case you ever replace the processor. You can go for 64GB (4×16GB) although 48GB (3×16GB) will run marginally faster. eBay is your friend here as new/unused DDR3 sticks are rare these days (but that may depend on which country you are in).

From there you can update to 10.13.6 which will also update your bootROM. If you have a Metal capable graphics card or can borrow one you can use it to run the first boot cycle of the Mojave installer to update your bootROM to 144.0.0.0.0 (full speed PCIe slots, NVMe boot and a few other benefits).

Then you can stop the Mojave install & swap the graphic cards back.

From there it’s a case of pick your upgrade:

• CPU?
• SSD/NVMe?
• GPU?
• USB 3.0?
• Bluetooth/WiFi?
• Quiet fans?

Replace the battery for sure. Other precautionary measures you can take to keep the machine running are replacing the northbridge stays & dumping a copy of your bootROM.

Knock yourself out! https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-5-1-upgrade-guide-sticky-discussion.2099092/

 

[MarkC426]

48gb ram is the true max for a W Xeon cpu.

 

[KeesMacPro]

Your signature (and picture) indicate a MP4,1.
If the BootROM is untouched, first step should be to flash it to a MP5,1.
99% of the possible upgrades will only work with a MP5,1 BootROM.
After flashing it to MP5,1 , you can proceed as described by @14UG

 

[14UG]

Erm, yeah what @MarkC426 and @KeesMacPro said! Multiple eyes over these things is always good!

 

[xtempo]

Ok. I look into the flashing though I didn't want to touch that since I don't want to mess up anything.

Also a question on Graphics card can I connect 2 displays using adapters? I mean I have my main display connected HDMI to DVI. but I have also DisplayPort on the card. would it be possible to run another display from displayport to HDMI for another monitor or is the RAM insufficient and I have to upgrade that as well? It shows 512mb. I am use to the two displays because I use one with my air.

 

[14UG]

The firmware flash is super-straightforward and you can flash it back to the original at any point if you so choose. I'm unaware of any downsides to flashing (although there may be isolated accounts of problems I dunno).

Loads of how-tos online for it too. Here's one: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Upgrade+the+Firmware+of+a+2009+Mac+Pro+41/98985

EDIT: although my signature shows a 5,1 I also have a 4,1 at work and have flashed it. No problems whatsoever. I think I may have flashed it back just to check I could and then flashed it to 5,1 again.

EDIT EDIT: edited signature

 

[14UG]

P.S. the GT120 should do two monitors using two ports. Possibly daisy chaining the mDP too I'm unsure. Can't speak to performance - you won't be editing 4K or doing much in the way of gaming but maybe for general purpose it could be okay.

 

[KeesMacPro]

The firmware flash is super-straightforward and you can flash it back to the original at any point if you so choose. I'm unaware of any downsides to flashing (although there may be isolated accounts of problems I dunno).

Sorry for being a pita but this is not entirely correct.
Once you upgrade the firmware to 144.0.0.0.0 , it is not possible to revert the MP5,1 BootROM back to original 4,1.
If i'm not mistaken the same is the case once updated to MP51.0089.B00 (High Sierra).

There are no downsides to flashing 4,1>5,1 though, only advantages.

Also a question on Graphics card can I connect 2 displays using adapters?

I would say yes, but TBH the GPU is very weak and , if i were you , this would be one of the first on the list of upgrades.
The GT120 is very practical though, e.g. in case you buy a unflashed GPU , so I'd keep it in a save place .

 

[14UG]

Sorry for being a pita but this is not entirely correct.
Once you upgrade the firmware to 144.0.0.0.0 , it is not possible to revert the MP5,1 BootROM back to original 4,1.
If i'm not mistaken the same is the case once updated to MP51.0089.B00 (High Sierra).

There are no downsides to flashing 4,1>5,1 though, only advantages.

I would say yes, but TBH the GPU is very weak and , if i were you , this would be one of the first on the list of upgrades.
The GT120 is very practical though, e.g. in case you buy a unflashed GPU , so I'd keep it in a save place .

Okay, okay. Not at any point but once you have the machine at 5,1 under 10.11 and before any further bootROM upgrades it can be flashed back to 4,1. For the faint of heart only - there really is no point in going backwards.

 

[xtempo]

so the memory. I started looking I'm confused with this memory type. I am use to the older ones. So am I using server memory in the Mac Pro? I was looking at this https://www.ebay.com/itm/123738963027?hash=item1ccf6abc53:g:k-MAAOSweaFct6OW not sure if that is correct or what.

 

[KeesMacPro]

so the memory. I started looking I'm confused with this memory type. I am use to the older ones. So am I using server memory in the Mac Pro? I was looking at this https://www.ebay.com/itm/123738963027?hash=item1ccf6abc53:g:k-MAAOSweaFct6OW not sure if that is correct or what.

The RAM type for MP 4,1/5,1 is server type , yes.
But looking at your link I noticed that:

- prices are high in the US
- 4x4GB is a waste of money buying it , even for 25,-
- the RAM freq is 1066MHz , i'd recommend 1333MHZ so after upgrading the CPU to Westmere 6-core ,it will run at 1333MHz
- triple channel is the fastest RAM setup so I'd buy 3X8GB minimum or 3x16GB (unless you really need 64GB)

searching on eBay " ram 1333MHz mac pro" :

Apple 48GB (3x16GB) 1333MHz DDR3 ECC Registered Memory 2009/2010 12-core Mac Pro | eBay

Mac Pro model: 4,1 (year 2009). Mac Pro model 5,1 (years 2010+). Compatible List Mac Pro Models.

www.ebay.com

 

[xtempo]

^ thanks for the help I'll keep looking

I got the battery out and noticed it was a BR instead of CR. Will the CR 2032 that I have work or do I need to track down the BR 2032.

thanks for the help everyone.

 

[mikas]

Yes it will do. BR ones are harder to track. A CR2032 might wear sooner than BR2032 because of temperature inside the machine.
I've used CR2032s almost exclusively, because I can't shop BR2032 that easily. Even the battery specialist in town wanted to sell me the CR version because they didn't carry BR versions in shop.

Google found a comparison chart, see pic. That does not necessarily tell us everything, there seems to be a myriad of CR variants too for different usages. You might want to order a BR battery if it was difficult to replace, like in a Mac Mini 2010/2012 you'd have to tear apart the whole machine to replace the battery. And besides that, they do run quite hot.

 

[14UG]

I see a lot of folk in the US saying that the battery was hard to find, but here in the UK the BR2032 was cheap & a next day deliverable item from a major electronics part supplier (RS components).

 

[mikas]

Yes, and that's a strange thing. I wonder what could explain that. Local differencies in some specific appliances or what. Some bizarre environmental legislation locally maybe..
Well, I am trying to find a BR one too, now that I have those three VIIs in this cMP (see sig). My battery is a CR2032, and it's getting pretty hot in there if I stress all of those GPUs simultaneously. I tried with my finger allready.

 

[zedex]

I'd do the following:
CPU: keep tray - upgrade CPU to X5680/W5680 (USD 75)
Cheap, low TPD, performance doubling 4core to 6core upgrade

RAM: Upgrade memory to 64GB 1333MHz (OWC Garage Sale price USD 160)
Stay tuned - I haven't yet verified if I can run 4 sticks and not just 3 as one member above has indicated

GRAPHICS AND STORAGE (BY PCI-E SLOT)
GFX: SLOT 4.. QUADRO K4200 (USD 150)
GFX: SLOT 3.. GT120
Gives you cheap, PSU 'mod-free', native display driver support up to 4K from 10.8 to 10.13

SSD: SLOT 2.. Highpoint RR2740 SAS/SATA/NVME HBA (PCIe 2.0 x16)
SSD: SLOT 1.. Highpoint SSD7101 NVME HBA (PCIe 3.0 x16)
Gives you the ability to install up to 8 SATA III SSDs [m2 form factor] AND 8 PCIe NVMe SSDs [m2 form factor] concurrently.

Also buy 4 SILVERSTONE SPD12 brackets (pic below). Install them in BAYS 1-4 and make new disk connections with Highpoint RR2740 as money permits.

BAY 5: WD GOLD 6TB (USD 160)
BAY 6: WD GOLD 6TB (USD 160)
These are just archive volumes (optional)

That should do it!

 

[xtempo]

for the time being is it possible to switch the GPU to the other x16? I am having trouble trying to get back in the 1 position.

 

[zedex]

Both GPUs I suggested are single slot and can be placed anywhere you choose. I just proposed Slot 3 and 4 because they use so little bandwidth (i.e less than 4 lanes combined)..

 

[xtempo]

when I try to upgrade the graphics card I put it in a different spot. Finally got it in. I do more on the memory and get that here as soon as possible.

 

[zedex]

which graphics card did you choose?

 

[KeesMacPro]

I haven't yet verified if I can run 4 sticks and not just 3 as one member above has indicated

I didn't state that 4 sticks can't run .
If you read my post again, you'll see that i stated that 3 sticks is the fastest setup , but if needed more RAM, install 4 sticks.
All Westmere 6-core (X-series) support 4 sticks of 16GB.

Personally i dont understand why you suggest to buy 2 HighPoints +4 SilverStone + 2 WD Gold + a lot of blades (8 SSDs + 8 NVMe ) , while saving costs on a decent GPU .....
This is a considerable investment (just a couple of thousands, why not?) , if i were the OP , i would adapt the investment to my needs and the kind of usage i'm planning ....

when I try to upgrade the graphics card I put it in a different spot. Finally got it in

for the time being is it possible to switch the GPU to the other x16? I am having trouble trying to get back in the 1 position.

This may sound obvious but you know that there's a button on the PCI fan housing ? when you press it, you can slide the fan housing and the metal bar that locks the PCI cards in towards the front of the MP.
This way it should be very easy to remove the GPU and/or a PCI card....

 

[zedex]

@KeesMacPro - it wasn't your comments that had me treading carefully on RAM..

Look back at the start of the thread..

48gb ram is the true max for a W Xeon cpu

The Highpoint storage options were far more fanciful
Really just a reminder not to waste x16 slots on GPUs if you've already committed to a 'basic' graphics upgrade BECAUSE..

I would say yes, but TBH the GPU is very weak and , if i were you , this would be one of the first on the list of upgrades.

You are 100% right about this!! A 1960s era GT-120 with a multi-monitor setup sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[KeesMacPro]

it wasn't your comments that had me treading carefully on RAM..

Sorry for misunderstanding

 

[zedex]

That's cool.. I'm mostly interested in the apparent anomaly here.. does the Westmere 6-core only 'register' (see) 48GB for some reason? @MarkC426 isn't the first to say it (and no-one has ever come close to explaining why) so it still seems unresolved to me..