How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

How much ram is sveryone using in their cMP 5,1's?

I've been using 6x8 GB in my 2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz 5,1 for the longest time but thinking of going 6x16gb. Anyone with that config?

Any benifits?

Keeping in mind 6 slots of ram is optimal with the 2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz.

Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

Hmmm, the machine has 8 slots so please educate me on why using 6 is optimal(no sarcasm here, I really would like to know more:D). Without empirical evidence, I would be inclined to fill the last 2 slots for a total of 64GB(but I'm not sure that the 5,1 uses RAM in the same way that my HP z820 did. It also ran 2x XEON 6-cores and the RAM slots were divided so each cpu got half the slots). I ran 64GB(8x8) in that and it was a beast(wish I still had it!):o

Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

Have you upgraded the CPU like I mentioned above? If so read the threads I posted above. Basically 2x 3.46ghz CPUs can only utilise 3 slots per CPU. Read the threads/articles and DYOR. This knowledge has been out there for years. Since people started upgrading their cMP's CPU to the X5690's anyway.

Sorry don't realise I posted those links elsewhere.
https://camerajabber.com/upgrading-your-mac-pro-ram/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads...2099103/page-2


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Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

Not to be obvious but do you find yourself running low on RAM? I ran 32GB max in mine and never hit the limit. I usually see lots of memory usage with composers and video editors / gfx.

Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

Hey Smurf, I'm not sure man. That's the thing. I'm wondering if it will add anything to my sessions. 5.1 & Stereo TV shows mostly.

Will it make the loading time of various things faster? Will it make general performance more 'buttery'?

What does RAM lag feel/look like?

Thanks

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Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

The ram slots are also divided in half between CPUs on the 5,1 Mac Pro too. Those CPUs are designed for triple channel ram. Adding a fourth will increase the amount of ram available to the system, but it comes at the expense of slower ram access by the CPU. Filling all ram slots means almost universally slower CPU performance.

I wouldn't bother adding anymore unless you are running out.... activity monitor and pro tools will reveal if that is the case.

Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

I don't think it would give you much benefit. Unless you're trying to run a lot of memory hogging programs alongside PT. Are you already running all of your drives as SSD or NVME? That and a decent GPU made the difference for me on the 5.1.

Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

Yeah fair enough man.

SSD system drive. M.2 PT projects drive.

Metal GPU.

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Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

When I upgraded to 3.46, I also updated my ram, 1 no warranty on the transint Ram company on the ram I had from them that didn't work so was forced to buy all new ram and just went with 6 X 16 from OWC for the main reason LDS mentioned which has been cited ALL over the net and other forums. However your ram needs are dictated by how much memory PT loads, by having the CPU usage bar in protools, when a session is loaded and you hover your mouse over the ram, it'll show how much PT has loaded. I run large 5.1 sessions and NEVER have they come close to 96GB. at most maybe 40-50'sh. So your needs are really dictated by how much is loaded into protools by using the method I mentioned. Although more is always better of course. I just figured with all of my mods, I should get several more years out of my 2012 5,1 to see where things are heading with the new M1 Macpros once they come out and then another 2 years till al the millions of bugs are sorted out.

Re: How much ram in a 5,1 cMP (2x X5690/2x 3.46ghz)
 

Hahaha. Millions of bugs [emoji23]

Good call man. Cheers.

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