I have two Mac Pros 2009 and 2010. The 2009 one has CPU with 6 cores and 32 GB RAM but no wifi. 2010 has only 4 cores and 16 GB RAM and but has wifi. Can I swap CPU tray from 2009 Mac into 2010? Has anybody done something like that?
Thanks - Tom
The memory is on the processor tray. If you swap the two trays, you turn one machine into the other machine -- net change: nothing.
If a feature is missing, such as WiFi, you can buy the correct Apple Wi-Fi card for these machines on Amazon and other outlets. Shop carefully to be sure you get the correct one for your series Mac Pro.
The main reason why I wanted to swap CPUs trays was that one machine, the Mac Pro 2010, is at level 5.1 and the other at level 4.1. That, I suspect means that the 2010 model has more live (OS upgrade cycles wise) left in it. At the moment both machines run the lanes version of OS.
Tom
The mac pro 2009 runs firmware version 4,1 -- which was in it when it shipped. The 2010 model runs firmware version 5,1. This firmware is on the tray with the processors, so the net change from swapping trays is nothing.
The Mac Pro 2009 model, with 4,1 firmware, is not allowed to run Sierra. ¿Are you running Sierra on an unmodified Mac Pro 2009? If so, HOW?
It is possible (but Apple does not support it or provide any tools to do this) to use hobbyist tools to install the 5,1 firmware on the Mac Pro that was born in 2009. This makes it possible to run Sierra on it, and hobbyists report no anomalies from doing this.
It will not work properly, at least not without problems (like all fans will run at full speed):
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/dual-4-1-cpu-tray-into-5-1-single-cpu.19841 49/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-pro-4-1-cpu-tray-in-5-1.1870311/
According to Mactracker 2009 model Mac Pro did not come with 6-core option (but 2010 model did). Are you sure about the numbers and models?
You should be able to install the WiFi card in either system.
The memory in the 2010 model is:
4 (Quad-Core) or 8 (8- and 12-Core) - 240-pin PC3-10600E (1333 MHz) DDR3 ECC SDRAM (memory speed for certain configurations is 1066 MHz)
The memory in the 2009 model is:
4 (Quad-Core) or 8 (8-Core) - 240-pin PC3-8500 (1066MHz) DDR3 ECC SDRAM
So think you could use the faster memory in either system, but the slower memory would only work in the 2009 model
Good luck...
When I go to "About This Mac" is tell me that's Early 2009 model but the system report gives this
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Processor Name: 6-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 3.33 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 6
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 12 MB
Memory: 32 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 6.4 GT/s
Boot ROM Version: MP51.007F.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.39f5
SMC Version (processor tray): 1.39f5
I'm not sure what I assumed it was 4.1. Probably because all data I saw was telling me that "Early 2009" should be 4.1. That would explain why I can run Sierra 10.12.4 on it.
I inherited both computers recently so I don't know their full history but it looks like best option would be just to add wifi to 2009 model.
I mostly want it for the universal clipboard. It's the only Mac on my network on which it does not to work which I understand is due to lack of wifi.
Thanks very much everybody for helping me to decide.
It looks like you have a 2009 Mac Pro with upgraded firmware from 4,1 to 5,1 and also a cpu upgrade to Westmere 6-core (this firmware upgrade was required for this new cpu and also Sierra to work - both not supported without this "hack" on genuine 4,1). Still not possible to swap cpu tray with original 5,1 Mac Pro.
In short: you can buy wifi-card to your 2009 Mac Pro (as advised by Grant). Not sure if your 2009 Mac Pro has wifi or not - applying firmware hack to 5,1 could cause malfunctions of some wifi cards in 4,1, so look for wifi supported by 5,1 to work in your 2009 now 5,1 Mac Pro.
Or you can swap not trays, but just CPUs (or use service for this).
Thanks everybody. I was hoping that by swapping CPU tray I would be able to upgrade the newer machine to more powerful spec. But it looks like the best option is to go for a wifi card and try to install it.
Thanks again.
Tom
Can I swap CPY tray between two Macs Pro?
