Are HDs and RAM compatible from old Mac Pro to new Mac Pro?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Are HDs and RAM compatible from old Mac Pro to new Mac Pro?

Hi.

I have an older Mac Pro 1,1 with a graphics card problem. I bought a used card and it's working OK for now, but one of my older Mac Cinema Displays has died. I am thinkiing of buying a new Mac Pro and 2 new Cinema Displays. (Or a single bigger display.)

My question is: Can I use the hard drives and RAM chips from the older Mac Pro in a new Mac Pro? I have a lot of money tied up in the additional HDs and RAM chips and I hope I can save money if they are compatible with a new "very basic" Mac Pro.

I need more current conectivity between a new Mac Pro and new Cinema Displays through the new graphics card, but it would sure help if I can use the RAM and HDs from my older Mac Pro.

Does anybody know if these items are compatible?

Thanks for any helpful answers to this question.

Fredbt

Posted on Nov 22, 2012 8:52 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Nov 22, 2012 8:57 PM in response to fredbt

HDDs, yes. RAM, no. After 2007 Apple changed the type of RAM used a couple of times. So don't count on RAM from 2006 being complatible with newer models. The 2006 model uses DDR2 667 MHz RAM while the newer models are using faster DDR3 RAM.

You can check what changed and when by looking at the tech specs at support.apple.com/specs/.

Reply

Answer 2

fredbt Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 22, 2012 9:37 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks, Kappy. I appreciate the answer even though it's bad news for me. 😟

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 23, 2012 6:51 AM in response to fredbt

fredbt wrote:

Hi.

...My question is: Can I use the hard drives and RAM chips from the older Mac Pro in a new Mac Pro? I have a lot of money tied up in the additional HDs and RAM chips and I hope I can save money if they are compatible with a new "very basic" Mac Pro...

While your HDDs are reusable as Kappy said, be aware that the sleds they are in are not. The new Mac Pros use a different sled design so you'd need to take the drives off the old sleds and install them on the new sleds before you can install them in a new Mac Pro.

Also, you can get some good deals on the RAM you'll need here http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory#1333-memory.

Reply