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MP 2009 4, upgraded to 5,1

J

Jljon

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 26, 2017
2
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I just upgraded a 2009 4,1 2.93ghz to 5,1. Running Sierra fine. Using w3670 with 1333mhz ram so it runs at 1066. I have the ability to change, for a moderate fee, my w3670 for a w3690, or X5690. Can someone confirm that the 3690 or 5690 would run 1333mhz ram on my upgraded 2009 Mac Pro 5,1. And, would the upgraded processor be a worthwhile improvement over the w3670. Any reason to pick between either the 5690 or the 3690?
Thanks
 
Jljon said:
I just upgraded a 2009 4,1 2.93ghz to 5,1. Running Sierra fine. Using w3670 with 1333mhz ram so it runs at 1066. I have the ability to change, for a moderate fee, my w3670 for a w3690, or X5690. Can someone confirm that the 3690 or 5690 would run 1333mhz ram on my upgraded 2009 Mac Pro 5,1. And, would the upgraded processor be a worthwhile improvement over the w3670. Any reason to pick between either the 5690 or the 3690?
Thanks
Click to expand...
If you look at this, you can see which ones run 1333.
https://ark.intel.com/m/products/52...Hz-6_40-GTs-Intel-QPI#@product/specifications
[doublepost=1485458199][/doublepost]Yes it does.
 
I respectfully disagree... W3670 is only DDR3 800/1066 MHz. Here is the data sheet from Intel:
https://ark.intel.com/products/4791...r-W3670-12M-Cache-3_20-GHz-4_80-GTs-Intel-QPI
[doublepost=1485463158][/doublepost]My 4,1 came with a W3580, and I had installed 1333MHz RAM in it. It ran at 1066. Then I performed the 5,1 firmware update, and suddenly, my RAM ran at 1333MHz, because the W3580 ran up to that speed. It was only the 4,1 firmware that blocked it from running that speed. Then, I swapped the CPU to W3680, and all that changed was quad core to 6-core, and lower temps due to better thermal paste and/or paste application.
 
carpsafari said:
Wrong, W3670 should show 1333Mhz
Click to expand...
Check Intel ARK, W3670 supports 800 and 1066 MHz only.

To the op,
RAM speed 1066 vs 1333 is negligible, you will see the difference only in synthetic benchmark tests. On the other hand, W3680/90 and X5680/90 have much higher BUS speeds, so it might be the only thing to consider.
Is it worthwhile I really don't know... Hope that someone will comment on that.
 
As far as 'is it worth it', that's up to you. You've gone from 4 cores at 2.93 to 6 cores at 3.2GHz. That's a big jump. The W3690 will be another .26GHz CPU speed jump, and the bus goes from 4.8 to 6.4GT/s. That won't feel as big as the jump you made adding two cores, but it will be a little faster for sure.
 
I could install 1333MHz memory in my stock 4,1 (W3520-2.66GHz quad) and it would simply run at the lower 1066MHz speed, correct?

I want to buy the 1333 memory just in case I decide to add a 6-core later.
 
wonderspark said:
Don't forget that you'll need to update your firmware to 5,1 as well.
Click to expand...
wonderspark said:
As far as 'is it worth it', that's up to you. You've gone from 4 cores at 2.93 to 6 cores at 3.2GHz. That's a big jump. The W3690 will be another .26GHz CPU speed jump, and the bus goes from 4.8 to 6.4GT/s. That won't feel as big as the jump you made adding two cores, but it will be a little faster for sure.
Click to expand...
Sounds like I may as well stay where I am now with the 5,1 running a 3670 if the switch to 3690/5690 won't be dramatic, and as the switch from 1066 to 1333 is negligible. Thanks.
 
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