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Mac Pro 5.1 (4.1) with CPU upgrade - overheating

empezar

empezar

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 14, 2006
144
1
Hello!

I upgraded my Mac Pro 5.1 (which is actually a firmware-upgraded 4.1) with 2x Intel Xeon X5690.

The processors are now getting quite hot when I do cpu intensive tasks (85-100 depending on how long the run), and I'm wondering exactly what I can do to prevent this.

Can I lower the voltage? How? I have only seen MacBook Pro "voltage apps" so far.

Can I replace the cooling? Are there water cooling solutions available? What socket should the cooler support?
 
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1) How you measure the temperature?

2) NO, you cannot lower the voltage

3) If you do everything correctly, no need to replace the heatsink. Just use MacsFanControl to spin up the fan is good enough.
 
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h9826790 said:
1) How you measure the temperature?

2) NO, you cannot lower the voltage

3) If you do everything correctly, no need to replace the heatsink. Just use MacsFanControl to spin up the fan is good enough.
Click to expand...
Hi, sorry just to ask here, my macpro 5,1(4,1) running 3.33ghz 6 core would like to upgrade to dual processor tray, should i get a 2009 dual proc tray or 2010 processor tray ? since my firmware been upgraded to 2010 5,1 firmware

ebay for 4,1 tray http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-App...mory-/272366256497?roken=cUgayN&soutkn=QOJH10

ebay for 5,1 tray http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-App...mory-/272366237319?roken=cUgayN&soutkn=clfonj
 
vailance88 said:
Hi, sorry just to ask here, my macpro 5,1(4,1) running 3.33ghz 6 core would like to upgrade to dual processor tray, should i get a 2009 dual proc tray or 2010 processor tray ? since my firmware been upgraded to 2010 5,1 firmware

ebay for 4,1 tray http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-App...mory-/272366256497?roken=cUgayN&soutkn=QOJH10

ebay for 5,1 tray http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-App...mory-/272366237319?roken=cUgayN&soutkn=clfonj
Click to expand...

You MUST use the 4,1 tray regardless of firmware version.
 
h9826790 said:
1) How you measure the temperature?

2) NO, you cannot lower the voltage

3) If you do everything correctly, no need to replace the heatsink. Just use MacsFanControl to spin up the fan is good enough.
Click to expand...

Thanks! MacsFanControl did solve the issue.

I'm in Windows currently and the temperatures were from the program Core Temp. The temperatures dropped 20 degrees when I turned on sensor based cooling.
[doublepost=1479738826][/doublepost]I am currently running Folding@Home at 100% load on both cpus. The first CPU is 76-84 C warm, while the other cpu is 60-64 C warm. Can I draw the conclusion that CPU 1 should get reapplied thermal paste?
[doublepost=1479738886][/doublepost]
upload_2016-11-21_15-34-38.png
 
empezar said:
Can I draw the conclusion that CPU 1 should get reapplied thermal paste?
Click to expand...

I don't know which CPU is 0 and which is 1, but the CPU in the back of the case will normally run hotter because it is being cooled in part by the warm air from the CPU in front.
 
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Just as a footnote to the above, the X5680 and X5690 have a TDP figure of 130Watts I believe, ( whereas the 5670 and 5660 are 95W). That extra 35W per CPU can translate into quite a lot of extra heat under intensive tasks. I notice this with 3D rendering (Cinema 4D). I've found (like advice above), that using MacsFanControl to set the minimum spin speed (idle speed) of the inlet and exhaust fans at 1500/1600 rpm (rather than 1200) did help keep the temps down without making the machine unduly noisy.
The rear CPU always seems to run hotter by some 6 to 10'C.

TAMM
 
ActionableMango said:
I don't know which CPU is 0 and which is 1, but the CPU in the back of the case will normally run hotter because it is being cooled in part by the warm air from the CPU in front.
Click to expand...

Nonsense!

CPU A always runs hotter than CPU B, because CPU A is cooling the Northbridge chip too!
Under load usually around 10C difference.
 
carpsafari said:
Nonsense!

CPU A always runs hotter than CPU B, because CPU A is cooling the Northbridge chip too!
Under load usually around 10C difference.
Click to expand...

Mine seems to be more than 10c difference, swapped the processor and it is the same. I can even see that CPU A is drawing a higher current. So that seat is powering more than just the processor.
 
I said 'around 10c' difference, 12-15c I've seen often.

You might try re'applying the Northbridge chip cooling paste, I had succes with several MP's.
Not so easy to describe, but when the heatsink is of CPU A, try to 'wiggle' the NB chip, you should be able to feel the difference between dried up paste and paste as it should be.
 
empezar said:
Hello!

I upgraded my Mac Pro 5.1 (which is actually a firmware-upgraded 4.1) with 2x Intel Xeon X5690.

The processors are now getting quite hot when I do cpu intensive tasks (85-100 depending on how long the run), and I'm wondering exactly what I can do to prevent this.

Can I lower the voltage? How? I have only seen MacBook Pro "voltage apps" so far.

Can I replace the cooling? Are there water cooling solutions available? What socket should the cooler support?
Click to expand...


THanks for this thread. I am having the exact same problem.
[doublepost=1555209557][/doublepost]
empezar said:
Thanks! MacsFanControl did solve the issue.

I'm in Windows currently and the temperatures were from the program Core Temp. The temperatures dropped 20 degrees when I turned on sensor based cooling.
[doublepost=1479738826][/doublepost]I am currently running Folding@Home at 100% load on both cpus. The first CPU is 76-84 C warm, while the other cpu is 60-64 C warm. Can I draw the conclusion that CPU 1 should get reapplied thermal paste?
[doublepost=1479738886][/doublepost]View attachment 673810
Click to expand...

Which settings did you use for sensor-based cooling? For example:

Temperature that fan speed will start to increase from: 24 degrees
Maximum Temperature: 40 degrees
 
Since this thread is being revived and I had overheating problems after upgrading to the X5690, I needed to lap the die more and revising my thermal compound choice after delidding because the heatsink base wasn't sitting flat on the die.

Make sure the heatsink is actually touching the processors. Also for some reason liquid metal didn't work very well (My guess is liquid metal was too thin for the uneven surface between the heatsink and delidding processors). I ended up using graphite thermal pads.
 
I am working on a 4.1 (5.1 firmware updated) with major heat issues, I have SMC fan control installed and even then it only lasts a few moments before shutting down. Should I change out the thermal paste?
 
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