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HyperX · Sep 25, 2008, 09:14 PM

I have a Mac Pro Xeon duo processor (2 processors running at 3 gigahertz). If I buy the E5450 processors (the quad with 12 meg cache) will it just work in the Mac Pro? Anyone did this upgrade?

Thanks!

bearcatrp · Sep 25, 2008, 09:22 PM

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2832&p=6

mduell · Sep 25, 2008, 10:28 PM

You can upgrade to the 5300 series quads (as anandtech did)... there's evidence to suggest the 5400s may or may not work, but I haven't heard from anyone who has actually tried them.

HyperX · 12:09 PM

I will keep you guys posted. I ordered the two CPUs today. Will let you know. If this works, We will upgrade the rest of our workstations at work.

Now you may ask me why?

We are using proprietary software specifically designed for trading applications. The new XEON processors (we bought a test workstation)are about 80% faster over same speed dual core Xeons. This upgrade will save us a lot of cash.

mduell · Sep 26, 2008, 02:39 PM

Which CPUs did you order?

phobos · Sep 27, 2008, 11:45 PM

Please do let us know.

bearcatrp · Sep 28, 2008, 09:42 AM

Where did you order them from and how much for the processors? I've been watching the prices at newegg and there running 1200 a pop for 3Ghz quads. I can get a refurb octo for the price of 2 of these processors.

mduell · Sep 28, 2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by bearcatrp

Where did you order them from and how much for the processors? I've been watching the prices at newegg and there running 1200 a pop for 3Ghz quads. I can get a refurb octo for the price of 2 of these processors.

Sure, but drop 333Mhz and you save $400 per; a pair of 2.33Ghz 5335 quads is only $700. If the 5400 series work, you can step up to 2.5Ghz for the same price.

HyperX · Sep 28, 2008, 12:08 PM

XEON E5450 QC LGA771 3 0G 12MB
Mfr.: INTEL PROCESSORS
Item #: 8223989
Mfr. Part #: EU80574KJ080N
Backordered 2 $1,074.43 $2,148.86

These are the ones, from PCConnection. Back ordered. Not sure when I will get them. My rep says 1 week.

bearcatrp · Sep 28, 2008, 01:02 PM

What generation is your mac pro? If its 1st generation, your upgrade will not work as the 1st gen uses 65nm processors. The ones you ordered are 45nm. Unless i'm missing something here, I don't see them working. BTW, newegg has them for $899.99.

HyperX · Sep 28, 2008, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by bearcatrp

What generation is your mac pro? If its 1st generation, your upgrade will not work as the 1st gen uses 65nm processors. The ones you ordered are 45nm. Unless i'm missing something here, I don't see them working. BTW, newegg has them for $899.99.

Really? That sucks! I thought I would be good to go. I can still cancel/return order. Do they have 65nm 4 core ones? How did anand tech do it then?

BTW - yes my Mac Pro is first gen (2006/2007)

bearcatrp · Sep 28, 2008, 04:07 PM

As far as I know, only clovertown processors will be compatible. Go here.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ame=Clovertown . I've been researching this for a while and unless some else knows better, this is the only option. The price of the quad core clovertown is high right now. You could actually buy a refurb octo for about the same price as two 3ghz processors from new egg. Yeah, the 2.66 ones are cheaper but figure might as well max it out while i'm in there. Don't know why the 45nm ones are cheaper than the 65nm.

bearcatrp · Sep 28, 2008, 04:26 PM

Unless you really need this upgrade, you might wait for the new mac pro's coming within the next few months. The new processors (nehalem), from what I have read so far, will have a significant speed boost. I am holding out until the new pro's come out before deciding whether to upgrade processors or get another pro.

mduell · Sep 28, 2008, 09:52 PM

The 5300 series (Clovertown, 65nm) Xeons are known to work in the first gen Mac Pros. The 5400 series (Harpertown, 45nm) may work (they do work in other systems with the same chipset as the first gen Mac Pros), but I haven't heard from anyone that has tried them.

Simon · Sep 29, 2008, 04:21 AM

I think bearcatrp is right on the money.

A while back we tried to get two Harpertowns (IIRC we took two Xeon X5450; I think they now go by the name Xeon E5450) and put them into a first-generation MP. We couldn't get it to boot. We didn't play around with it for long, but we concluded that even though there are some reports of people getting Harpertowns to run on that chipset, Clovertown (for example the Xeon X5365) is the best you can do on a first-generation MP. It's quite likely that this has to do with the firmware Apple used on the MP. It's a shame though because Clovertowns are quite expensive. In many cases it will probably be more economical to sell of the older MP and replace it with a new one (which comes with other benefits) instead of upgrading it to expensive Clovertowns — especially now that Gainestown (the first DP server variant of Nehalem) MPs are about to arrive. I guess it depends mainly on what kind of stuff you installed into an older MP and how much of it you can transfer to a newer box.

bearcatrp · Sep 29, 2008, 07:34 AM

If the new mac pro's kept the same box/design, would be nice if apple sold the mobo with processors to swap out. I know that would never happen, just wishful thinking.

HyperX · Sep 29, 2008, 09:06 PM

Thanks for all your help guys! I canceled the order. You are right. You can buy a refurbished eight core mac pro for the price of two processors (or really close). In either way, it doesn't matter that much. Since the banks are going under, a lot of work that was going to the big guys is coming our way. We will be hiring a lot of new people, and we can justify new mac pros!! thanks again...

candykane75 · Oct 23, 2008, 08:20 PM

I found this post bye some guy he upgrades his 2 x 2,66 GHz
to 8 x 2,33GHz using the E5320 (SL9MV).(1,83@2,33GHz)
there is also a nead trick he pulles with taping off a pin to get the 1333Mhz buss working! Its an old article but the cpu's are realy cheap to get second hand now days
orginal article:
http://www.o0o.it/pro/