"This is a brief, preliminary report on a CPU upgrade in a MacPro1,1.
Originally a dual dual-core "Woodcrest" at 2.66 GHz, I had wanted to put a pair of "Clovertown" CPUs in there for quite a while, but the cost was always ridiculous. I saw some 3 GHz Clovertown's listed on eBay with a "buy it now" price of $200 each; they were listed as "Intel Confidential" engineering sample Clovertowns with an unlocked CPU multiplier. I had seen a report on AnandTech where they had dropped a pair of pre-release Clovertowns into a MacPro1,1 and it worked fine, so I took a chance.

As has been mentioned before, get a long 3mm hex wrench; At first, I got out my long-handled Mac Classic case cracker, but that isn't the right size... But I didn't find any of the disassembly too hard. That being said, pulling out the fan assembly in front of the CPU heat sinks requires quite a bit of force (take the screw out first!), and unplugging/replugging the wires from the bottom heat sink is not easy, because of where it's placed, but that's it for the gotchas.

Again, this is preliminary, but the CPUs are in & working; the OS (10.6.4) sees them correctly - 3.0GHz, 8 cores, 8MB L2 cache, 1333 MHz FSB - but as "unknown". (FYI - one earlier report here (July 10, 2009 post, before 10.6 was released) included a FYI and download link ("AboutThisMac") for that, but IIRC some didn't mention that.-Mike). I don't have benchmarks with the old CPU, but will likely run some fractal tests, maybe a couple others, after I've run it for a while. I have Marcel Bresink's Temperature Monitor installed, and will be monitoring things that way for a while to make sure the chips stay reasonably cool. (Previous reports noted no issues with CPU temperatures.)

I'd rate this highly, maybe a 9, given the inexpensive cost & relative ease. But more than anything, I just wanted folks to know that "intel Confidential" or "engineering sample" chips appear to be a fine alternative to $700+ each for "retail" 3 GHz Clovertowns.
Regards, Andrew"

Most previous reports noted getting used CPUs for a good price (usually ebay). One reader even bough a used HP server and swapped the CPUs out (then reselling the server w/original mac pro cpus installed).

On-the-Go Solutions qualify for Prosoft Drive Genius 3 special offer - as low as $39 (60% off retail).

"...I did the unthinkable and I wanted to present in vivid proof that after I bought for 300 dollars (250 for the 2010 backplane board, and 50 for the processor board) [These prices are NOT list, see below for updates/replies on P/Ns and cost.-Mike) - I converted my 2009 mac pro into a 2010 mac pro...
I am sending you a screen shot of my mac pro's system profiler showing 5,1 and the 2010 firmware proof that this is now a 2010 mac pro. (sent later - see below)
Also, along with the upgrade I also said goodbye to my Radeon 4870 HD. Although the card does work in the 2010 mac pros and 2009's with 2010 parts, the fans went wild and the problem was due to a high (very high) sensor reading that the 2010's firmware couldn't take. Its no wonder why the 5770 works so much better and is cooler than the 4870 which was always running at high temperatures.
(He later wrote)
Here's the (trimmed) ASP screenshot:

Please also notice I am using the w3580 3.33GHz processor currently, and although I don't have 1333mhz memory, 1333 memory DOES post and that is because the 2010's firmware allows this for the following single qpi processors: w3570, w3580. (and also with some MP CPUs like the X5650 and X5670. Noted in the CPU/memory options table in our July 27th news page info on 2010 Mac Pros)
-Nadav"

Odd about the 4870/fans issue (doesn't make sense to me) - if anyone else with a 2010 mac pro has tried a 4870 in it, send a note. I doubt many 2010 mac pro owners have a 4870 though but curious if anyone else has seen that problem. (I wrote an ATI contact who said he'd have their mac support guy try to check this.)
( Last spring I posted an article with some pix of the 2009 Mac Pro's processor tray, etc. That was a dual CPU model - I thought the MP (Dual) processor tray board alone was over $200 last year but I could be wrong.)
Update: A reader reply to the above regarding part costs/PNs:

"Hi, I'm not sure how he got those parts that cheap. I work for a AASP and those parts for me cost a lot more:

661-5707 Board, Processor, Single (without processor), Version 3 $399.00

661-5706 Board, Backplane, with Bluetooth Card $349.00

Also the real test would be if you could just swap out the processor trays from a 2009 with a 2010 without installing a upgraded a new backplane. I have both at work and I was considering it, but would hate to kill two Mac Pros'. I'm not sure why he expected this not to work. He basically swapped out the main components in the machine.
Thanks for your time,Jason"

I also wondered about the backplane - unless they changed the connector (for the processor tray) my guess may be it has a rom on it. (And if so would it work if mixed with a later version processor tray.)
Update (again, Oct. 5th - Replies from Nadav regarding his low parts cost, etc.

"661-5706 was 300.00 actually.. it was 250.00 - again, Apple's cost. As far as revision, I didn't know there was a revision or version 3 of the processor board. All I know is that AMA was able to order the parts for me at cost.. However, the normal pricing I have seen for the backplane was 250-300 dollars.. the processor board usually 249.00 but never EVER got close to 400.. let alone over 300.00.. 249.00 Applecomponents.com has it for.. the backplane they have for around 300.00 I think.. maybe it was 340.00.

As for the "real test" (I think he's referring to the question if the 2010 backplane was required with the 2010 processor tray.-Mike) - this has already been tried and FAILED.. You CANNOT expect the 2010 to properly work unless both 2010 parts are in place.. I have tried using the same backplane from the 09 and just getting the 2010 processor tray.. but you run into the following:

• SMC version for backplane 09: 1.39/f5
• SMC version for Processor board 2010: 1.39/f11

BOTH SMC'S (SMC is short for System Management Controller and the versions listed are the SMC firmware version.) HAVE TO MATCH!!! In order for this to work, both have to match.. there is no other way around it.. UNLESS one has successfully gotten ahold of the firmware as a file and used a flash utility to flash the firmware to the existing 09 boards.. From what I gather, this has not been done and I don't think it is even available.

I don't know where Jason works at, but those prices for the boards are WAY OFF... The single processor board I have seen for a max price of: 249.00, while the backplane board has a min price of 250.00, I have seen others have it for 295.00.. and one place I saw had it for like 349.00 - Applecomponents.com possibly has it for 300.00 or maybe it was 349.00.

I knew that the only way this would work is if and only if the 2010 parts were present.. the 2010 wouldn't post at all if you had the 2009 backplane and just the 2010 processor board, as the EFI FIRMWARE is on the backplane board along with the SMC version which has to match with the SMC version on the processor board of the 2010.

It would have been nice if the EFI ROM was on the processor tray, but it wasn't. (that was my guess originally - that unless the connector/pinout had changed, that it was due to a rom on the backplane (having to match with the processor tray version). But it would have been nice to have all this info included in the original post. My fault for not asking earlier.-Mike) It was on the backplane board of the 2010.
(and another mail sent right after the above)
Also, I want to add that the connector did NOT change.. all parts are similar and identical to the 09.. as I said, the only thing that really changed which makes the 2010 somewhat different is the new firmware and new graphics cards.. if you want to add the dual processor board - the change from lidless processors to normal OEM Integrated heatsink based ones.
Those are the only things different that changed.. the 09 is identical to the 10.. with regards to the case fans, case itself, architecture of the design.. etc
-Nadav"

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