Used MacPro model identification

[NoNameBrand]

There's a used Mac Pro for sale locally. The ad says it's a quad 2.8 with 2 GB of RAM, an ATI 2600, a 320GB hard drive, and Leopard.

So far so good, right? sounds like a non-upgraded single proc Early 2008 Mac Pro. The seller claims in the ad to have bought it in 2006, though.

I emailed him asking him if he meant 2008 or 2006, and if the latter, what it really was, and he says he just copied down the info from the invoice, but that he did buy it in 2006.

The price is good (but not low enough to send off warning signals), so I'm going to have a look at it - I assume the model number on the case will be the easiest way to tell what it really is - anything else I should pay attention to?

I know About This Mac can be easily changed, but is System Profiler (either gui or from the Terminal) be so easily fooled?

 

[revisionA]

About this Mac... should be accurate.

However 2006, first gen Mac Pro, would not be the same speed or type of processor or memory.

2008 are penryn, and bus speed moved to 1.6ghz with ddr2800 fb-dimms.

Maybe a more technical mac user can give you the model numbers to confirm your purchase.

 

[osx-linux]

There's a used Mac Pro for sale locally.

I know About This Mac can be easily changed, but is System Profiler (either gui or from the Terminal) be so easily fooled?

Open terminal, and type:

sysctl -n hw.model

and

sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string



This will show you the macpro model numbers and CPU brand strings.

model: (1,1) is 1st revision macpro
model: (2,1) is 2nd...
model: (3,1) is 3rd...
etc...


CPU string should give you the model number of the CPU installed.

 

[NoNameBrand]

Thanks Mr. -linux!

About this Mac... should be accurate.

The text is stored in a plist somewhere. Easy to change.

 

[Abidubi]

The price is good (but not low enough to send off warning signals), so I'm going to have a look at it - I assume the model number on the case will be the easiest way to tell what it really is - anything else I should pay attention to?

I know About This Mac can be easily changed, but is System Profiler (either gui or from the Terminal) be so easily fooled?

At least on Power Mac G5s, if you remove the side door and look along the bottom where it slides in, there is a little plaque that says exactly what the computer shipped with.

Mine reads:

Serial number Ethernet ID
Power Usage CPU/RAM/HD/Optical Drive/Video Card/Extra options