2009 4.1 (4) Core Upgraded to a 5.1 (6) Core

[Barry Johns]

Well I just finished upgrading a 2009 MacPro 4.1 (4) Core, to a 5.1 (6) Core. Took me 15 minutes, the (6) Core CPU was $155.00. Went from a Geekbench score of 7100 to now 14,589! I upgraded my previous MacPro 1.1 dual 2.66 to an (8) Core, earlier this year, it went form a 5069 GeekBench to over 10k GeekBench.

I recently purchase the 2009 4.1 for 440.00 with the intention of upgrading to (6) Core, this way I'm good for 64 bit apps as well as HD12 with HDN if I ever decide to go that route, which is doubtful now, but who knows maybe Avid will get their act together and make the upgrade pricing compelling along with new compelling features.

If I could only get my hands on a 2009 (8) Core to upgrade to a (12) Core, as fast as the fastest Trash Can you can buy today. Its a little tricker than doing the (6) Core upgrade, but manageable.

Next is to purchase faster ram, now that my 4.1 is a 5.1, it can use faster RAM, the same RAM that's in the 2010-2012 MacPro's.

PM me if you are interested in doing something similar, I will share what I know!

[Rubicon]

Hi!

I had a very close friend make me a 2010 cheese grater (5.1) with 2-6 core processors clocked at 3.46. 96gb of ram. I recommend having someone very knowledgeable about macs handle the upgrade. The processors were $1300 each. Yes, trashcan speed for half the price including fast PCIe slots.

Ram has to be in the top 6% and one slot in each has to be left blank in order to not hamper the speed.

Also the upgrade was worthless on my TDM system, so tomorrow my HDX-1 with interface arrives...

If you keep throwing money at it, you really can't lose...

Good luck my friend!

Rubicon

[Barry Johns]

There is a local guy on Craigslist selling a 2009 8 core I'm trying to buy, then I can take it to a 12 core!

[Barry Johns]

The instructions below are for the 2009 MacPro 4.1 single CPU computer and not for the 8 Core Dual CPU computer. The 8 Core is trickier, but manageable on your own. Google it and watch the video's for that upgrade.


A few people have asked me how to do the upgrade, I have copy/paste my response here for anyone else who wants more detail.

Do not pay somebody to do it for you. It is so easy to do yourself its ridiculous.


Will take you about 15 minutes or so.


Upgrade the Firmware First. Here is the app to change the firmware that will allow your computer to now be a 5.1 MacPro so you can take advantage of faster RAM as well as use a 6 Core CPU.

If you get this error when running the app (like I did), then download this file and leave it open on your desktop.

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1321?locale=en_US


Read this thread, which close to the bottom you will see a link to this page to download EFI Firmware


http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/...grade.1752143/


Here is a copy/paste from the thread linked above as to what to do once you download that file:


Actually I found the solution on Netkas.org. The site was down for a good portion of today and I wasn't abel to search their archives.

Apparently all you have to do is this:

Download the Mac Pro Firmware update 1.5 (MacProEFIUpdate.dmg) from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1321

With the downloaded .dmg on the desktop, double click to mount the image.

Run the Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool. It will automatically locate the package and proceed to the next phase of reboot and power switch hold until the little light above the power button begins to flash or you hear a long beep.

There is no need to rename or replace anything. The Firmware Tool grabs the package and proceeds with the process with no 5570 error message.

Hope this helps other Mac Pro 2009 users who are attempting this firmware update.


Everything mentioned above takes less than 2 minutes.


Watch this video on how to change out your CPU.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhBfHM4YiDc


FYI, no need to remove the RAM like this guy did. You also do not need to clean off the thermal paste from the CPU you are removing, unless you plan to use it again.


Make sure you use 95% Rubbing Alcohol.


You can also use Coffee Filters to clean off old thermal past from the Heatsink as well as the old CPU, which is faster than using Q-Tips.


Here is a link to a CPU that I bought for mine:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/221842211666...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


You can continue to use your existing RAM in your 4.1 MacPro with the 6 Core CPU if you want, but to get all the benefits, you may want to upgrade your RAM to the faster RAM which is the same RAM that is used in the 2010-1012 6 Core MacPro's:


http://www.macmemory.com/collections...del-5-1-6-core


The site above is just an example, you can buy cheaper RAM elswhere. I just ordered this RAM, and am waiting for it to arrive.


http://www.ramexperts.com/mushkin-97...9-24-1-5v.html


I hope all this helps!

[Table Syrup Records]

It's been a minute since I was looking into the compatible CPU's but I have a note.

There are CPU's which are made to be used solo, and those designed to be used in multiple CPU applications.

If I am not mistaken, the W's are singles.
I think the X's and E's are setup for multiples. (They also run fine as singles)

Point being, when swapping a single CPU model, if you plan to potentially swap in a dual CPU board later, you may want to consider using a CPU capable of running in a dual configuration, so if you make that move later, all you need to do is get one more CPU. The ones made for dual application also run fine by themselves, but the ones made for single do not run (or not right) in dual configuration..... it's just something you could do to save yourself some money in the long run.

I also did a 1.1 swap to dual quads for 8 cores, and maxed out the ram. was a rad machine.

I have a 5.1 (Purchased in 2013) Quad 3.2 with 32 GB RAM. Gonna swap that to a hex before too long. I'll be using the X5680 to start. Just one. 6x 3.33 - then if I go to a dual CPU board, all I need is one more X5680 and I can stick my old W3565 back in the single board as a backup or sell it.

[29CountsNY]

I did the 8 core to 12 core upgrade on a 2009 Mac Pro.
Took me about 20 minutes and the CPU's cost $850 on eBay.
Best $850 I have spent on a computer upgrade.
There is something empowering about seeing 24 cores available in Pro Tools!!

[YYR123]

$850 !!! Whoa

I gulped pretty hard when I laid out $500 for my 6core i7

What are those Xeons?

[29CountsNY]

Originally Posted by YYR123

$850 !!! Whoa

I gulped pretty hard when I laid out $500 for my 6core i7

What are those Xeons?

Yep, 3.46 ghz Xeon X5690's. I got them from a seller on eBay as part of a conversion kit that included the two processors with the integrated heat shields removed, thermal paste, the proper allen wrench and a flash drive with the firmware update on it.
Popped the side, pulled out the tray, removed the heat sinks, popped the new processors in, threw some thermal paste on there, screwed the heat sinks back on, slipped the tray back in and fired it up and have been a happy camper ever since.

Actually here is the link and they are now even cheaper, down to $659.99 for the kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-Pro-2009...item33995b71a4

Looks like one buyer wasn't happy but the other 88 of us were!

[TVPostSound]

Yeah, deildding is touchy.

[29CountsNY]

Originally Posted by TVPostSound

Yeah, deildding is touchy.

I watched a bunch of videos on delidding the processors and I was real hesitant to try it. Finding the processors with the IHS already removed made the decision alot easier.