If you are considering picking up a new computer:
http://pindelski.org/Photography/mac-pro
Lots of good information presented nicely. Video Card upgrade, USB3, CPU swap, memory, Service Guide resources...
Very Good Mac Pro Upgrade Guide
Moderator: James Steele
Re: Very Good Mac Pro Upgrade Guide
Well that was a good long rabbit hole.
Your timing is perfect as I've been researching, planning and pondering on just such an upgrade. Great resource, thanks for posting!
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Your timing is perfect as I've been researching, planning and pondering on just such an upgrade. Great resource, thanks for posting!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
MacPro Nehalem 8core (2x3.33ghz, 64gb RAM, 10.11, Radeon 5770, NVIDIA GT120), DP 9.12
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HCMarkus
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Re: Very Good Mac Pro Upgrade Guide
You are welcome! I did the single-CPU 4,1 to 5,1 upgrade and several of the other things he talks about, and am loving my "5,1" hex Mac Pro.
Re: Very Good Mac Pro Upgrade Guide
How did you do with the whole heat sink thing? Easy enough? I was getting scared off by the problems and voodoo I read about in the forums, but his procedure seems pretty easy and straightforward.
I'm also pleasantly disappointed by the price/power differential between the w5590 x2 and the 12core configs. Less than $500 for almost double the power is a no-brainer!
I wonder if the native 5,1s (which use the standard config processors) could run a couple of Haswells? Maybe I'm just getting greedy and asking for trouble.
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I'm also pleasantly disappointed by the price/power differential between the w5590 x2 and the 12core configs. Less than $500 for almost double the power is a no-brainer!
I wonder if the native 5,1s (which use the standard config processors) could run a couple of Haswells? Maybe I'm just getting greedy and asking for trouble.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
MacPro Nehalem 8core (2x3.33ghz, 64gb RAM, 10.11, Radeon 5770, NVIDIA GT120), DP 9.12
-
HCMarkus
- Posts: 10438
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
- Contact:
Re: Very Good Mac Pro Upgrade Guide
Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge and Haswell won't fit the Mac Pro 4,1 / 5,1 CPU socket... Westmere is the latest you can use in the Mac Pro 4,1 or 5,1.
The single-CPU 4,1 to 5,1 upgrade, from Quad 2.66 to Hex 3.33 gHz was simple, because the single-CPU 4,1 use CPUs with the IHS (metal lid) just like stock Xeons have on 'em, so there are no issues with heat sink torque. The single CPU 4,1s also have a CPU clamp, like the 5,1s do on both single and dual-CPU machines.
Dual-CPU machine upgrades are more challenging, as described in the linked guide. Still very doable, though.
The single-CPU 4,1 to 5,1 upgrade, from Quad 2.66 to Hex 3.33 gHz was simple, because the single-CPU 4,1 use CPUs with the IHS (metal lid) just like stock Xeons have on 'em, so there are no issues with heat sink torque. The single CPU 4,1s also have a CPU clamp, like the 5,1s do on both single and dual-CPU machines.
Dual-CPU machine upgrades are more challenging, as described in the linked guide. Still very doable, though.
Re: Very Good Mac Pro Upgrade Guide
Really? I've seen reports (clearly unconfirmed) of people running later model i7s in their upgraded/hot-rodded native 5,1 machines (not 4,1-5,1 upgrades).
Then again, I read it in a forum. I often forget how spoiled we are here.
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Then again, I read it in a forum. I often forget how spoiled we are here.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
MacPro Nehalem 8core (2x3.33ghz, 64gb RAM, 10.11, Radeon 5770, NVIDIA GT120), DP 9.12