best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?

[williemyers]

hi all!

I know this has been asked and answered many times over in various threads, but I'm in a bind and will have to make a quick purcahse decision (today or tomorrow) so hopefully you'll forgive me for asking it again?
((btw, if anyone knows of a great thread that discusses this, could you please link?))

Bottom line, my trusty old MacPro 3,1 is dying - quickly - and I want to replace it with a silver tower MacPro (no dustbins, please) that will be cpu-upgradeable, later when I get the funds.
I know there have been many models (4,1's and 5,1's) discussed here as good/great upgradeable candidates, but if you have to pick one today, which one would it be?

many thanks for your answers and time.

[mikehalloran]

The 5.1 has the easiest upgrade path.

[Gravity Jim]

I concur. My 5,1 was a breeze to upgrade. Now it's a 12-core 3.33mhz / 32gb RAM / 2.5Tb of SSD storage fire-breathing dragon of a beast... GeekBench tests show it just about as fast as the best dustbin Mac.

[HCMarkus]

If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive

[buzzsmith]

If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive

That's what I did, thanks to HC and another.

I flashed the firmware from 4,1 to 5,1 and installed a 3.33 hex core.

Also using an SSD for the boot drive and upgraded to 32 gigs of RAM.

(2009 MacPro)

Still on 10.8.5 until I determine which (mostly non-audio) apps will be still functional...and have an opening to actually do it!

Buzzy


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[HCMarkus]

If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive

Unless the reader is a fan of jousting or antique handguns, please interpret "duel" as "dual".

[James Steele]

If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive

Is this just because of the hassle of de-lidding the CPUs or are there other reasons?

[williemyers]

Unless the reader is a fan of jousting or antique handguns,

or early Spielberg films?!

[James Steele]

Cheesegraters at 10 paces!

[HCMarkus]

If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive

Is this just because of the hassle of de-lidding the CPUs?

Yes. Also, nominally, you don't have to flash EFI, and get a better stock GPU