Buy cheap Mac Pro 2009 Eight Core and upgrade CPU to 12 cores ?

[Spacedust]

Maybe it will be possible

Just change the CPU's.

A switch from 2.26 8 Core +HT to 2.93 12 core +HT would be nice.

Maybe switch from 2.66 4 Core + HT to 2.93 12 core + HT would be even possible.

We have to find out if Apple have changed the board or just EFI.

 

[jetjaguar]

if it was possible .. those cpus would be extremely expensive .. i would be happy just swapping out my current cpus for 2.93 or 3.33 quads for a decent price .. but doubt it will happen

 

[Hellhammer]

If it could be done, it would have been done already. You would just need an EFI that supports B1 stepping but the '09 Mac Pro doesn't so unless someone flashes the EFI from '10 MP to '09 MP

 

[Inconsequential]

Maybe switch from 2.66 4 Core + HT to 2.93 12 core + HT would be even possible.

Won't be possible. Same situation as the 2009 Mac Pro and the quads only have one CPU socket, so the best your going to get there is a single 6 core CPU.

Personally im upgrading my 2009 MP to either a W3570 or a W3580 depending on what deals I can get.

 

[jetjaguar]

Won't be possible. Same situation as the 2009 Mac Pro and the quads only have one CPU socket, so the best your going to get there is a single 6 core CPU.

Personally im upgrading my 2009 MP to either a W3570 or a W3580 depending on what deals I can get.

i would like to do that as well .. hell even a 2.93 would be better than my 2.26s

 

[Transporteur]

i would like to do that as well .. hell even a 2.93 would be better than my 2.26s

Just check ebay.
There is an auction for 2 W5580s (3.2GHz) for only $1000. You won't get a better price than that!

 

[jetjaguar]

Just check ebay.
There is an auction for 2 W5580s (3.2GHz) for only $1000. You won't get a better price than that!

nice .. hey besides the W5580 what other ones can i use ?

 

[Hellhammer]

nice .. hey besides the W5580 what other ones can i use ?

Any 55xx will work. Oh, BTW it's not W5580, it's X5580. 56xx will not work due different stepping

 

[Transporteur]

Any 55xx will work. Oh, BTW it's not W5580, it's X5580.

No they are indeed called W5580.

The line is X5570, W5580 and W5590.

 

[Hellhammer]

No they are indeed called W5580.

The line is X5570, W5580 and W5590.

My bad, should have looked more carefully Always thought the W is for 3xxx

 

[Transporteur]

The letter in the processor number represents the TDP.

W is for 130W, X for 95W, E for 80W, and L for 60W.

 

[Hellhammer]

The letter in the processor number represents the TDP.

W is for 130W, X for 95W, E for 80W, and L for 60W.

Yeah, that's what I thought. The X5680 is a rule-breaker though, it's 130W, I guess that got me to think it's X in 5500 line as well

 

[nanofrog]

The letter in the processor number represents the TDP.

W is for 130W, X for 95W, E for 80W, and L for 60W.

W = Workstation
X = Xtreme Performance
E = Energy Efficient Desktop Processor
L = Low Power

The TDP's change from series to series, but that's the base Letter meanings.

 

[Transporteur]

Well, good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[jetjaguar]

No they are indeed called W5580.

The line is X5570, W5580 and W5590.

so any of these can be swapped in correct?

 

[nanofrog]

Well, good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

NP.

Sad thing is, even with the letter codes, you still have to look up the power consumption to do certain analysis' (i.e. TCO,...).