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Roman23

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 12, 2010
478
0
I just noticed that the w55xx series chips will fit in the single-quad core mac pro.. what am I losing or benefiting from using the w55xx chips versus the w3580 - which I have yet to receive mine as I just submitted the payment.
 

deconstruct60

macrumors G5
Mar 10, 2009
12,296
3,885
I just noticed that the w55xx series chips will fit in the single-quad core mac pro.. what am I losing or benefiting from using the w55xx chips versus the w3580 - which I have yet to receive mine as I just submitted the payment.

Not sure really can if the single package daughter board has a X58 on it.

In the general 55xx versus 35xx context, you gain ability to add a second Xeon package of same class (if have right support chip). You loose some GHz and have spent more money.

Unless intend on pairing up at some point in the machine's lifecycle, probably should go 35xx. There are some vendors that sell boxes with just one 55xx in them. That is more of a "buy one now, get another one later" box. In part, you are buying opportunity.
 

Umbongo

macrumors 601
Sep 14, 2006
4,934
55
England
I just noticed that the w55xx series chips will fit in the single-quad core mac pro.. what am I losing or benefiting from using the w55xx chips versus the w3580 - which I have yet to receive mine as I just submitted the payment.

In the case of a W5580 vs. W3580 in a single socket Mac Pro: nothing.
 

Roman23

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 12, 2010
478
0
Thats what I thought..

I will stick with the w3580 then.. it would be a waste to get the w5580 since I can't make use of a 2nd processor on this board anyway(processor tray) - the backplane logic board is the same all across the nehalem line of the mac pro.




In the case of a W5580 vs. W3580 in a single socket Mac Pro: nothing.
 

thermodynamic

Suspended
May 3, 2009
1,341
1,192
USA
I will stick with the w3580 then.. it would be a waste to get the w5580 since I can't make use of a 2nd processor on this board anyway(processor tray) - the backplane logic board is the same all across the nehalem line of the mac pro.

Unless you were able to buy a dual-CPU card down the road...
 

Roman23

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 12, 2010
478
0
A, got ya!

Ok.. i understand now.. I saw that the processor trays are like 400 bucks, but you are also right that the processors are really expensive.. yeah, I will just stick with the w3580. Now, is the main logic board the same throughout the board with the 4,1 macs pros? I mean the backpane logic board, not the processor tray.

But its good to know that if I can get my hands on a dual processor tray and down the road dual processors, I can still grow with the nehalem mac pro.. Again, this is probably going to be my LAST MAC as it is getting expensive for me.



Unless you were able to buy a dual-CPU card down the road...
 

AZREOSpecialist

Suspended
Mar 15, 2009
2,354
1,278
Ok.. i understand now.. I saw that the processor trays are like 400 bucks, but you are also right that the processors are really expensive.. yeah, I will just stick with the w3580. Now, is the main logic board the same throughout the board with the 4,1 macs pros? I mean the backpane logic board, not the processor tray.

But its good to know that if I can get my hands on a dual processor tray and down the road dual processors, I can still grow with the nehalem mac pro.. Again, this is probably going to be my LAST MAC as it is getting expensive for me.

Upgrading to dual processors makes little financial sense. The cost of a new processor tray w/ heat sinks is around $700 plus two new W5590 CPUs at a cost of $3,400. That's a total upgrade cost over $4,000. You cannot use the W3580 in a dual processor configuration, so you might be able to sell that on eBay. Upgrading your quad to a 3.33 GHz W3580 will last you a long time. By the time you feel the need to upgrade, you won't be upgrading your existing system for $4,000 - you'll be buying a new Mac Pro that would blow your upgrade out of the water for the same or less.
 

Roman23

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 12, 2010
478
0
w3580 it is..

W3580 upgrade planned as promised.. however as for new mac pro after this one, I am afraid that even with the 3.33 processor and possibly maybe 12GB memory(3 channel is best!).. plus the fact I am on disability and can't make more than 1000/mo, this may be my LAST mac pro unless the trade up value won't exceed over 500 dollars.. thats assuming a part time job will pay me close to the SGA(substantial gainful activity) + under the table pay, then maybe a 2010 or 2011... but as of right now I see the 2009 as my last mac pro with a 3.33 processor.




Upgrading to dual processors makes little financial sense. The cost of a new processor tray w/ heat sinks is around $700 plus two new W5590 CPUs at a cost of $3,400. That's a total upgrade cost over $4,000. You cannot use the W3580 in a dual processor configuration, so you might be able to sell that on eBay. Upgrading your quad to a 3.33 GHz W3580 will last you a long time. By the time you feel the need to upgrade, you won't be upgrading your existing system for $4,000 - you'll be buying a new Mac Pro that would blow your upgrade out of the water for the same or less.
 
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