- #Mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade install#
- #Mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade update#
- #Mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade upgrade#
#Mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade update#
* Update (11 October 2014) Another reader has pointed out that the links in the original post are broken again. Running Geekbench again under Mavericks yields a result of 9841. * Update (19 December 2013) I’ve installed OS X Mavericks using the target disk mode method. With regards to the machine itself it is still running perfectly. The original article covering the CPU injector Kext can by found at the Internet Archive. I have therefore hosted the CPU Injector Kext and the Kext Help B7 utility myself and updated the links. * Update (08 December 2013) Following John’s post in the comments section below I returned to find some of the links in the original post broken. Despite very hot ambient temperatures here presently, the Mac Pro remains whisper quiet.
#Mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade upgrade#
* More than 12 months have now passed since this upgrade and I’m pleased to report the machine is still running smoothly. I recently installed Windows 7 and have been enjoying a number of games, the machine remains stable and reliable. * After three months of running smoothly the CPU temperatures under light load are now averaging around 32☌ so clearly the thermal compound has bedded in well and I’ve been able to leave the fans running at factory settings.
#Mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade install#
Or you can do what I did which was download the CPU injector Kext from here (updated with new link, see original article here) and install it with a kext utility, I used Kext Helper b7 here (updated with new link.) There are a couple of solutions to this, you can try upgrading the 1,1 firmware to 2,1 using this utility. There is one last issue that needed resolving, when you perform this upgrade and click on About This Mac you’re likely to get a processor unknown reading although System Report will show the correct number of cores. I decided to download SMC Fan Control and crank the systems fans up by a couple of hundred RPM just to be on the safe side, they are still whisper quiet. Also a considerable upswing in the ambient temperature that has coincided with the upgrade must be taken into account. Considering there are twice as many cores and that the thermal compound has not broken in yet this seems pretty reasonable to me. This is showing the cores running at an average of about 40☌ under light load* which is around 30% higher than the previous processors. A couple of points I would make are firstly many who have performed the upgrade refer to issues removing the memory cage screws, I had no such problems but did use a small jeweller’s screwdriver which allowed vertical orientation and full purchase with the screw head. I won’t go into the full procedure here as others have already documented it well. Optional extras are a can of compressed air for cleaning out any dust build up and an anti-static wrist strap.
![mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0350/0883/9820/products/IMG_7983_dab7d213-a029-4520-909e-9034880976fb_800x.jpg)
You’ll also need something to clean the old thermal paste off of the heat sinks, isopropyl alcohol is ideal, anything else risks leaving residue which will negatively impact on the heat transfer between CPU and heat sink.
![mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade mac pro 4 1 processor upgrade](https://www.macobserver.com/imgs/MGG_Jim/lidless_cpu.jpg)
All you need are the new processors, some good thermal paste, a couple of Phillips screwdrivers and a 3mm Allen/Hex key which needs to ideally be at least 6″ long. There are a multitude of videos available on Youtube detailing the relatively simple procedure of removing the old Xeons and replacing them.