Upgrade from Mac Pro 4-core to 8-core, how smooth?

[CaptSaltyJack]

I'm on a 4-core currently, and will be buying an 8-core next week. Is the transition as easy as just taking out my hard drives and dropping them into the new Mac Pro? Or do I actually have to start with a fresh install of Snow Leopard?

 

[666sheep]

Should work without problems. All needed hardware drivers should be already installed. If you will experiencing any issues, then you will need clean install.

 

[nanofrog]

Depending on the exact logic board, there could be an issue with the chipset drivers. Though I'd presume in the case of the '09 systems, they created a unified driver that works with either the X58 or 5520 (SP and DP system chipsets respectively).

 

[psingh01]

I'd use the migration tool to copy over your apps and data instead of just replacing the drives. That works ok if its just data, but it may cause issues with system drives. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[CaptSaltyJack]

I'm upgrading from a 2007 Mac Pro, so, it's somewhat old. Might be a good idea to do a fresh install, eh?

 

[goodcow]

I've used the Migration Assistant to go from a 32-bit Core Duo MacBook Pro, to a 64-bit Core2Duo MacBook Pro, to my current 8-core MacPro 2009.

No issues.

 

[CaptSaltyJack]

I've used the Migration Assistant to go from a 32-bit Core Duo MacBook Pro, to a 64-bit Core2Duo MacBook Pro, to my current 8-core MacPro 2009.

No issues.

Just to be clear.. so you did a fresh install of the OS, then plugged in the HD from your previous system and used the Migration Assistant to restore your system files & apps & data?

 

[goodcow]

Just to be clear.. so you did a fresh install of the OS, then plugged in the HD from your previous system and used the Migration Assistant to restore your system files & apps & data?

Well, the first two were laptops... so I couldn't put those drives into a MacPro tower.

I was really just praising Migration Assistant, connected via firewire cables.

I also did an in-place upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard along with these three different systems. Everything has migrated smoothly.

So just use Migration Assistant, don't just swap the drive.