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Level 1

5 points

Upgrading Mac Pro (2006) to 8-core Processor?

Hello i just purchased a Mac Pro locally for $775, and it has 2 x 2.66 intel xeon duo processors, making it a quad-core machine. I've read that you can upgrade the quad core setup to an 8-core setup. Is this true? And if it is, would this be something that would be difficult to do?

I read that the Intel Xeon x5355 quad processors (code name: "clovertown")are plug and play. Would these processors be able to sit right in the original heatsink? I know you could configure the Mac Pros to 8-cores, and I assume the MOBO is the same on all Mac Pros from the 2006 line. If so, would I have to buy new heatsinks for the quad-processors, or would the original heatsinks work just fine?

Thanks guys!

Power Mac G5 (2.0ghz dual/320gb HD/1gb RAM/802.11n wifi/bluetooth), Mac OS X (10.5.8), original iPhone (16gb)/500gb Time Capsule/Logitech MX Mouse & wireless keyboard

Posted on Jan 26, 2011 9:38 AM

Best reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,753 points

Posted on Jan 26, 2011 11:42 AM

Xeon 5355s are drop in replacements for the 5150s in the '06 MP. You will find more info here:

Hardmac.com - Le "Macbidouille" in English - Upgrading CPUs of a Mac Pro to Quad Core Xeons;
Apple's Mac Pro - Upgrading CPUs, Memory & Running XP - AnandTech -- Your Source for Hardware Analys…

A Google search will also help you find some videos. The task is not trivial and involves quite a bit of disassembly plus the need for special tools.

On eBay the 5355s are selling for around $290 each for refurbs. Altogether the tools will run around $50-70 if you don't have any of what's needed. If you also upgrade your RAM from 667 MHz modules to 800 MHz modules that will cost close to $250 for eight 1 GB modules.

You may also want a better video card depending on what you currently have installed. The ATI 5770 from Apple is about $250.00 or you can go with the less expensive ATI 4870. There's no real difference in performance since the old MP only has a PCIe 1.0 slot.

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18 replies

Jul 14, 2011 11:09 AM in response to Kappy

Kappy,

OK, just ordered dual x5365 3GHz Quad Core's on my 2006 Mac Pro 1,1. Of course I have 16GB of DDR2 667MHz ECC RAM, but you indicated that DDR2 800MHz ECC RAM would work. Do I need to do anything else to make the system operate at a higher bus frequency? 20% gains in speed sounds like a justifiable upgrade.

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jul 14, 2011 12:26 PM in response to Techblast

the 800MHz won't do anything for you, you'd need to change the front side bus too to 1600MHz from the 1333MHz your Mac uses.

(June 2011) Latest of several reader reports on low-cost 8-Core (Dual Quad-Core) CPU Upgrades to earlier Mac Pro models.

(Also Includes links to several other Mac Pro CPU Upgrade reports from 2011.)

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems.html

Jul 14, 2011 12:47 PM in response to The hatter

Is it possible to change this front side bus speed or is this hard wired into the Motherboard?

Upgrading Mac Pro (2006) to 8-core Processor?