Use Single processor QPI1 in dp mac pro (2010)

[redarc]

hi all , again here to make some question to the guru of this excellent forum.. what i would ask is :

i have 8 core 2,4 ghz E5620 that is bottlenecking my crossfire 5870 under windows 7...

1 )i have read that is possible take any 5500 or 5600 series , and if u dont have money take 1.... replace socket A.. and leave the socket B empty, this would work. Right?

2) what if i take any i7 or any xeon 1366 socket.. that doesn t have interlan QPI 2 and leave socket B empy forever? would it work? is it never been tested ? i know ecc ram would not work if i don t use xeon for example.. but i don't mind...... i hope you can help me with this.

thank you

 

[Umbongo]

1. Yes.

2. I don't know that any one has tried it in a Mac Pro to say for certain you can't. I do know on other dual socket boards people have tried and it will not work as the 5520 chipset firmware was never intended for it to.

I guess if you don't have a 5770 graphics card spare it's even more awkward to sell your system and buy another, either used 2009/2010 and pop in a W3680 or wait for the new models, although by then your resale will likely have lowered a fair bit.

Other option would be to buy the daughter board, heatsink and a W3680. If you sell your parts too you should break even on that switch. You might find someone who will swap their daughter board and heat sink for yours if they want to upgrade to dual processors.