Is MacPro2,1 first or 2nd generation?

Question

Is MacPro2,1 first or 2nd generation?

...and does it take a PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0 graphics card?

Mac Pro 3.0 Quad & HP LP3065 30", Mac OS X (10.5.4), G4 Quicksilver 867 mhz 1.5 GB RAM

Posted on Oct 18, 2008 1:04 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 18, 2008 2:16 PM in response to Steven Shmerler

It's second generation hence the 2,1. The first digit notes the generation model.

You can find specifications at www.apple.com/support/specs/.

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Answer 2

Oct 18, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks. I'm was on the Apple Specs pages and still wasn't clear as NVIDIA and Apple use different terms and I need to get the right graphics card. I need to know is if my Mac Pro uses a PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0 graphics card slot. Apple specs list two versions and I'm not sure where mine fits in. Do you?

Mac Pro (Early 2008) - Technical Specifications - January 8, 2008

or

Mac Pro - Technical Specifications - August 7, 2006

Thanks,
Steven

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 18, 2008 3:23 PM in response to Steven Shmerler

It makes no difference since you have to use an Apple provided graphics card. However, the slots are PCI-Express 1.1.

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Answer 4

Oct 18, 2008 3:34 PM in response to Kappy

No it actually does, because on MacMall's site they offer 2 versions of the Mac NVIDIA 8800 card. It's totally unclear.

"NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro" and "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Graphics Upgrade Kit for 1st Generation Mac Pro."

Now if I'm a 2nd gen then I would without looking closely, get the first one and not the 1st Gen. But... looking closer, their first card is for 2.0 cards. So... apparently their "1st Gen" card is for both 1st and 2nd generation Mac Pros, since as you say, my slots are 1.1.

Very confusing. But I "think" I have it now. I need the 1st Generation NVIDIA 8800 GT card even though I have a 2nd Generation Mac Pro.

Right?

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 18, 2008 4:03 PM in response to Steven Shmerler

The one card is for first generation 2006 Macs. However, even the early 2008 Mac Pros have the PCI-e 1.1 slot according to my information. Has nothing to do with the Mac's actual generation.

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Answer 6

Oct 18, 2008 4:20 PM in response to Kappy

Oh no... I guess I'm still confused. Can you tell which card should I get? the PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0? Here's what my About info says. Thanks very much:

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro2,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP21.007F.B06
SMC Version: 1.15f3

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0393
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: 3008

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 18, 2008 8:07 PM in response to Steven Shmerler

The one you want is this model. The other one is for Early 2008 models.

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Answer 8

Oct 20, 2008 9:10 AM in response to Steven Shmerler

Okay, so you have the 7300 in your system now?
then you have the 2007 8-Core model

The MacPro models are as follows:
2006-2007 4-core models are MacPro1,1
2007 8-Core models are MacPro2,1
2008 8-Core models are MacPro3,1

so you're going to want to get the 8800GT for First Generation (yes i know its 2,1 but its still technically considered apart of the first gen series just because of the support firmware and how the FrontSideBus and the way the Logicboard handles the cards.

so the model you have will need the 8800 Legacy (aka first gen model)

also all PCIe 1.1 and PCIe 2.0 slots are forwards and backwards compatible.

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Answer 9

Oct 20, 2008 3:18 PM in response to Frank Einstein

i tried to edit my post earlier, but the 1,1 and 2,1 are considered first generation...if youre looking for RAM or Videocards specific to First Gen models

*

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Answer 10

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Oct 20, 2008 4:38 PM in response to Steven Shmerler

Apple only made it confusing to tie a graphic card to PCI 2.0 when the 2008s came out, later adding "oh, yes, and 800MHz FBDIMMs" and 1600MHz bus (pre-2008 have 1333 MHz front side bus).

The part number:

MB560Z/A

for 1st generation (ie, PCIe 1.1)

Legacy (that's us, pre-2008):
http://www.barefeats.com/harper15.html

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Answer 11

Oct 20, 2008 9:06 PM in response to Frank Einstein

Thank you. Now I'm clear. Much appreciated!

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