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Xeon W3690

teeck2000 said:
… . Has anyone gotten used ones from china off ebay or specifically this seller?
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Yes, but not that particular model. No problem with mine, but mine were Sandy Bridges Xeons that can be overclocked at most 1.075x. See post no. 871 and particularly my caveats in my "Observation" here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1333421/ .

teeck2000 said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...sor-/350952404920?pt=CPUs&hash=item51b664b7b8

… .
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That core stepping is final release. http://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SLBW2.html .
 
teeck2000 said:
I just got a great deal on a Mac Pro 3.2ghz 5,1 and would like to upgrade the processor to the W3690. There are these used ones listed on ebay from Hong Kong with a good price but I am a bit hesitant to get them. Has anyone gotten used ones from china off ebay or specifically this seller?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...sor-/350952404920?pt=CPUs&hash=item51b664b7b8

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Yes that is where I got my 3680 from it was a no problems at all transaction that arrived rather quickly at my door. Also I have seen many cpus from them on Ebay they always seem to have the best prices available at the time of sale.
 
Thanks for all the feedback appreciate it, pulled the trigger! I will let you guys know how it goes! Excited to be back to a real mac after the hackintosh...
 
I am about to retire my 5 year old 3.1 (well hand it down to my son).

Am going to buy an old 4.1 2.66 quad and then do the firmware update to 5.1 + SSD + GPU upgrades etc.

Does anyone know if that W3690 from China will definitely work in a 4.1 machine, I am sure I read somewhere that someone had a problem with this processor in a 4.1 machine (presumably even after they did the 5.1 firmware upgrade).

I would be grateful if anyone with a 4.1 (upgraded to 5.1) could confirm that W3690 from China will work please.

Thanks
 
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^^^^A 4,1 Mac Pro once firmware updated to a 5,1 will handle a W36XX series processor just fine. It will fit and work great:D

The only problems on 4,1 Mac Pros involve Dual CPU models. They use lidless CPUs, unlike the single processor 4,1 or all the 5,1 that use standard lidded CPUs.

Lou
 
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flowrider said:
^^^^A 4,1 Mac Pro once firmware updated to a 5,1 will handle a W36XX series processor just fine. It will fit and work great:D

The only problems on 4,1 Mac Pros involve Dual CPU models. They use lidless CPUs, unlike the single processor 4,1 or all the 5,1 that use standard lidded CPUs.

Lou
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That and you lose the second network port on a 4,1 flashed to 5,1 or at least that is what happened to me on the single cpu model I tried it on.
 
I was kind of regretting getting a display model from frys for the 3.2ghz 2012 MacPro, but I don't have to worry about flashing to 4,1 to 5,1 and it has apple care. I got it for $1444 which is pretty good I think. Should I keep the 5770 and the original processor if it ever gives out when taking it into apple care? Should I even care about apple care extended? I kind of want to sell them to recoup some of the money I spent on upgrades and what not.

My last MacPro was a 3,1 which was a perfect machine, then switched to aHackintosh cause the proc was aging. The first hack was 100% working with everything after that it wen't downhill trying to upgrade the processor. These days I'm sick of tinkering and having some stuff not work perfectly and going through like 4-5 motherboards upgrading and tinkering, blehh.
 
teeck2000 said:
I was kind of regretting getting a display model from frys for the 3.2ghz 2012 MacPro, but I don't have to worry about flashing to 4,1 to 5,1 and it has apple care. I got it for $1444 which is pretty good I think. Should I keep the 5770 and the original processor if it ever gives out when taking it into apple care? Should I even care about apple care extended? I kind of want to sell them to recoup some of the money I spent on upgrades and what not.
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Yes keep the originals they will want the machine as it was delivered/sold to you when testing it. Quick tip on the extended Apple Care search Ebay on MD008LL/A or whatever it tells you in the Apple Store it is for your model I got mine for under $100 on there it applied without problems.
My last MacPro was a 3,1 which was a perfect machine, then switched to aHackintosh cause the proc was aging. The first hack was 100% working with everything after that it wen't downhill trying to upgrade the processor. These days I'm sick of tinkering and having some stuff not work perfectly and going through like 4-5 motherboards upgrading and tinkering, blehh.
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Yes can be a hassle I started with hackintosh for the first three years I ran OS X full time then moved on to Mac Pro. Right now debating on upgrading my dual 4,1 or going socket 2011 hackintosh..
 
MacUser2525 said:
Yes can be a hassle I started with hackintosh for the first three years I ran OS X full time then moved on to Mac Pro. Right now debating on upgrading my dual 4,1 or going socket 2011 hackintosh..
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Yeah but there is no power management at all, which I didn't care for before but it's a waste of power honestly and some stuff doesn't work correctly without it.
 
teeck2000 said:
Yeah but there is no power management at all, which I didn't care for before but it's a waste of power honestly and some stuff doesn't work correctly without it.
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Yes I have seen that in doing my "research" on it in anticipation of the possibility. Once the new boxes hit the streets that is likely to change. Give it a month or two I'm in no rush if I end up finding good deal on some 6 core chips then that is going out the window in favour of 4,1 upgrade anyways...
 
MacUser2525 said:
Yes keep the originals they will want the machine as it was delivered/sold to you when testing it. Quick tip on the extended Apple Care search Ebay on MD008LL/A or whatever it tells you in the Apple Store it is for your model I got mine for under $100 on there it applied without problems.


Yes can be a hassle I started with hackintosh for the first three years I ran OS X full time then moved on to Mac Pro. Right now debating on upgrading my dual 4,1 or going socket 2011 hackintosh..
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Following my very recent amazingly hassle free experience setting up two systems with the Quo haswell motherboard I wouldn't consider the 2011 hacktintosh option until they offer a mobo to host the faster i7 and xeon chips which is probably 6-9 months away at least. Go for used hex core chips for your 4,1 instead IMHO.
 
teeck2000 said:
I just got a great deal on a Mac Pro 3.2ghz 5,1 and would like to upgrade the processor to the W3690. There are these used ones listed on ebay from Hong Kong with a good price but I am a bit hesitant to get them. Has anyone gotten used ones from china off ebay or specifically this seller?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...sor-/350952404920?pt=CPUs&hash=item51b664b7b8

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I bought a W3670 from the same seller recently (one month ago) and it was delivered quickly and was in perfect shape. I would trust this seller.

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MacUser2525 said:
That and you lose the second network port on a 4,1 flashed to 5,1 or at least that is what happened to me on the single cpu model I tried it on.
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That's not supposed to happen. I upgraded my 4,1 to 5,1 via flash and added a W3670 XEON and both ports work great.
 
Gav Mack said:
Go for used hex core chips for your 4,1 instead IMHO.
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That is the option I am heavily leaning towards not only is it cheaper if I am going to be messing around with a computer it may as well be a Mac I'm doing it with.

bplein said:
That's not supposed to happen. I upgraded my 4,1 to 5,1 via flash and added a W3670 XEON and both ports work great.
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Well it did flashed it back and both resumed working.
 
Just to chime in on upgrading a 4,1 to a 5,1 W3690 system.

I have precisely done this exact upgrade. It works perfectly.
 
I updated my firmware to 5,1... I think? It's still showing 4,1 in the system profiler. I don't have an EFI GPU to see the gray screen if it's updating or not :(

I shutdown/restart and hold the power button like suggested until I hear the tone/rapid blinking light. It starts up with a black screen(No EFI) and I let it sit there for a few minutes supposedly it's updating. It restarts on it's own like it's supposed to. I tried it twice now and it shows it's still on 4,1. The update utility doesn't show the downgrade to 4,1 option either so it's definitely not flashed to 5,1.
 
OrangeSVTguy said:
I updated my firmware to 5,1... I think? It's still showing 4,1 in the system profiler. I don't have an EFI GPU to see the gray screen if it's updating or not :(1.
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I re-installed my Apple factory 4870 GPU just for the firmware flash. I did not want to try doing it blind.

Did you get rid of your Apple graphics card? They can be useful on occasions such as this.
 
Studio K said:
I re-installed my Apple factory 4870 GPU just for the firmware flash. I did not want to try doing it blind.

Did you get rid of your Apple graphics card? They can be useful on occasions such as this.
Click to expand...

I think I remember seeing someone in the marketplace selling a GT120. I might have to buy that and see what's going on. Should be able to do it blind, no? There's no confirmation buttons you have to click on? I've done everything it said when flashing.
 
OrangeSVTguy said:
I updated my firmware to 5,1... I think? It's still showing 4,1 in the system profiler. I don't have an EFI GPU to see the gray screen if it's updating or not :( .
Click to expand...
Try the following procedure: Use a USB Keyboard. Reset your PRAM. Boot into OSX, install the 5.1 Firmware.
Resetting the PRAM solved the problem for me and several other people.
System profiler should show you:
Boot-ROM-Version: MP51.007F.B03
after the upgrade.
 
Donar said:
Try the following procedure: Use a USB Keyboard. Reset your PRAM. Boot into OSX, install the 5.1 Firmware.
Resetting the PRAM solved the problem for me and several other people.
System profiler should show you:
Boot-ROM-Version: MP51.007F.B03
after the upgrade.
Click to expand...

Awesome. Thanks. I searched and couldn't find anything. I was thinking of resetting the PRAM. I haven't in a while anyways since my USB apple keyboard broke and I don't have another one. I'll try and find a USB keyboard locally.
 
Reset PRAM a few times and ran the utility again a few times and still no luck getting the firmware flashed to 5,1 :( I have the MP41.0081.B07 boot rom so it's not the refurbed one with different firmware.

I hate looking at this 3690 that's sitting on my desk doing nothing lol.
 
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