Hello,
I have a Mac Pro 1,1. It currently has 2 x 2.66GHz dual core processors. I was thinking of ordering a 3.16GHz quad core processor to upgrade one of the CPUs. Is there any reason why I couldn't upgrade just one of the CPUs and keep the other as is? I did some searches, but couldn't find any info on this topic.
Thanks!
Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Mac Pro 1,1 (A1186)
So I tried it. I upgraded one CPU with a Xeon 3.16 GHz quad-core CPU. It did not boot. No Mac sound. Swapped back to the 2.66 GHz dual core. I'm curious about whether the 3.16 quad core would boot with no CPU in the other socket. I may try that later.
Not sure how the quad processor would feel about other channels
being left out of something to do; in so much as one quad, in place
of a dual-core, leaves a lot of missing connections and functions.
You may simply choose to upgrade the firmware so a later OS X
may be able to run; that may be a better bet. And more RAM if
the unit still has less than full upgrade capacity. Also, there are a
few good SSD upgrade units that may allow it to run a lot quicker.
Other upgrades may include graphic cards; however the MacPro1.1
is old enough to wonder if one compatible is still available now. If
not new, there may be something else. And graphics may also see
a firmware update; although I'm not certain about that. The GPU is
an area of performance that could be improved; an upgraded card.
Back to a swap of one CPU upgrade to Quad-core CPU + other one
left a dual-core CPU. ~ I think a CPU swap would be non-compatible.
More than a few technical reasons why come to mind.
Good luck & happy trails! 🙂
I have never heard of this being done and personally don't think it will be possible. Either at best both would run at the slowest speed of the two, or it will fail to start.
The only way to convert to a single CPU system would be to trade-in your dual CPU tray and get a single CPU tray. Since most people prefer a dual CPU tray you might be able to do this and make enough money to pay for a single CPU chip to upgrade the single CPU tray if it came with a slower chip.
In my own case I had a dual CPU tray and upgraded both chips from 2.66GHz quad cores to 3.06GHz hexa cores. (It was however a MacPro5,1 not a 1,1.)
Arguably a MacPro1,1 is so old it is not worth upgrading at all, it will still be a lot slower than newer MacPro models and also unable to run newer versions of OS X.
Mac Pro 1,1 Upgrading One CPU?
