MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 2009 install Lidded CPU

[caliguy1965]

I picked up a 2009 Mac Pro with 2x 3.46Ghz 6-Core processors and when I removed the heatsinks (I could hear some rattling noise, when I took out the CPU Tray) I realized that the previous owner did not de-lid the processors or add washers & Thermal tape on order to use the lided CPU's.
So do I need to add washers & thermal tape or can I just put it back together.
Thank you for any response in advance.

 

[reader50]

My 2009 had been upgraded by the previous owner, and they used lidded CPUs. If memory serves, some hardware for delidded use was missing - I chose to upgrade further with lidded rather than revert to delidded.

It took spacer washers and thermal paste - I didn't use any tape. For a time afterwards, I had a RAM slot that didn't always register, which I attribute to the pins having been bent slightly by the previous work. I got my spacer washers even, so my heat sinks are definitely level.

It's worked reliably for years since, and the one RAM slot gradually became reliable again on its own. I'd definitely fuss about a loose rattle until it was fixed - rattling is not normal.

 

[Macschrauber]

Imo lidded CPUs in a 2009 dual CPU board is no way good. And this is the diplomatic version…

Keep it as close as it was from factory and it works well. Delidd, polish the die. Keep the spacer, remove all remains of the silicon glue.

If I think of the voltage regulator circuits without proper contact to the heat sink, I wonder those machines survived.

Counting turns of the heat sink screws… oh my, oh my… and with luck almost all memory slots work, or not, or after turning the screws a bit. Or never, cause the processor pressure damaged the socket pins.

Its quite some work, to do it properly.

 

[reader50]

I remember it being a pain in the butt, and took several tries to dial in. But my factory spacers were missing, removed by the previous upgrader. So my options were limited.

 

[caliguy1965]

I picked up a used 2010 for next to nothing and decided to put the 2x x5690 CPU's in there since the 2010 CPU's are lidded.
Unfortunately, something didn't go quite right and the system will not boot or any chimes etc ......to see if it's a CPU issue I put in a 2009 CPU tray with 2x 2.26 quad core and it booted into OS but as expected the fans went crazy.
The 2010 had 2x 2.66 6-core CPU's which I swapped out for the x5690's.
So what could have I done wrong?
Did I miss something that needs doing?

 

[reader50]

Any action from the diagnostic LEDs when you try to boot?

Try swapping the x5690 CPUs. If the one in socket A were bad (or not making contact on all pins), the system would play dead. Swap them, and see if it boots. If it does, see if CPU B is seen.

Also, make sure there's at least one RAM stick in each bank of RAM slots. If one CPU isn't making contact on all pins, the system won't see RAM in those four slots. If there were no sticks in the other bank, the MP will not boot - no RAM visible.