My new MP motherboard = prototype ?

So it seems that it's not an error with CPU-Z. Would Apple really name the motherboard "proto1" or did they ship the board "before its time"?

Forgive my ignorance: What is macpros3,1?

Thanks!

Message was edited by: DCIFRTHS

My system (1/12/08) shows the exact same - including the "proto1"

G

How many CPUs are in the machines reporting "proto1"?

So does anyone think that Apple released boards that weren't ready for prime time or that it someone's idea (at Apple) of a bad joke?

Before you field answers to this question, remember this is a hospital ward, and you'll get mostly biased opinions based on those who have had problems, and not the vast majority out there enjoying their new MacPros.

I'd just like to get to the bottom of this discrepancy before I plunk down my $3000.00. It's definitely a strange name for a board!!!

The board hardware may have had no revisions from the prototype meaning they never changed the revision name.

In R&D the number of prototypes is usually small, so seeing many boards with that revision name probably does not indicate they are actual prototypes.

When I attempt to use the apple/mac serial number decoder resources available by searching google, I get some weird results.

The first two characters in my serial number are G8. My machine was shipped from Fremont, California. If it were a Fremont factory item it should start with F based on the info I have found so far. I expect Apple has some new serial number series they are working with now. My machine was acquired using a Mac Developer discount so that could have something to do with it.

The specifics for my machine:
It is a Dual 3.2, came with 2GB memory and the standard 320G drive and ATI 2600. I added 3 Seagate 7200.11 500GB and 16GB memory (2GB x8). I obtained all the add ons from OWC.

I have had ZERO issues with it. It is very quiet, runs fast, etc. I do extensive FCP and Adobe CS3/PR3/Encore3 work with it in addition to multiple VM stuff (I used both VMware and Parallels at various times). Lots of custom code in Virtual Machines for Linux [PHP, C and Java] and in OSX Objective C. I have only crashed it once and that was my fault (bad code in XCode environment).

My gut says the engineers forgot to advance the model series from "proto1" to "production1." I have not gotten a peek at the bottom side of the motherboard but an extensive look at the top side does not suggest any manual wire runs etc.

G

No. It's not a prototype.

The Mac Pro is a vastly legacy free system. On it's own, the Mac Pro runs something called EFI (as opposed to your typical PC BIOS and VESA BIOS on the video card). EFI cannot boot Windows by itself- something called a CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is required by EFI before Windows can properly boot itself.

The CSM provides a layer of hardware and software abstraction between EFI and the legacy OS (Windows in this case), which basically provides the booting OS with what it would otherwise expect to find on a system running a normal BIOS with a normal PC Video Card.

There isn't any emulation or virtualization.

It's simply a layer of glue to allow Windows to boot on a modern day PC such as the Mac Pro.

This layer of glue is likely where the "PROTO1" string is coming from- it's being returned by the CSM sitting in between Windows and the Mac Pro hardware. Likely, Intel or Apple simply forgot to remove it. I doubt very much it's part of the actual hardware- if it is, it's just a mistake overlooked by the Apple engineers.

Actual Apple Prototypes are usually built on a RED PCB- so that they are easily identifiable. Most consumer-friendly Apple products are built on a BLUE PCB- if you're supposed to open it, that is (the newer sealed iMac's have a green PCB- but you're not supposed to dig in that far).

Either way- You'd know if you have a Prototype. If it works like a Mac Pro and it's got a blue PCB, you're fine.

-SC