What's the better Mac- 8 Core 2.93 or 6 Core 3.33 - Page 2

khollister · 19th November 2011

YOu do not have to update the EFI on a 2010 MP. THe RAM will run at 1333 (assuming you have 1333 parts) automagically.

The EFI update hack is to allow 2009 SP models to accept the Westmere hex cores.

Ray Sigmond · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcschild

yes it works..

you may have to update the EFI (bios) highly recommend you do that period

you can actually put in DDR3 1600 ram (none ECC) hynix or Samsung.
up to 3x8gig.
(FYI the 3 x 8 i used were ECC as they were the only ones out that had 8 gig sticks at the time.)

pretty sure they run @ 1333 regardless.
and no the motherboard is the same for all single proc.
Scott
ADK

Scott, would this the correct CPU to get
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Intel/BX80601W3680/

khollister · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

Scott, would this the correct CPU to get
Intel ITLBX80601W3680 Xeon W3680 Four Core 3.33GHz Processor... at OWC

I'm not Scott, but ...

Right processor, wrong price ...

Amazon.com: Intel Xeon W3680 Processor: Electronics

Not sure what happened, but these were regularly available for $615 to $650 a couple weeks ago. Seems like the street price has gone up $100. I got mine from Buy.com for $615 - they are now something like $745.

And I was feeling a little guilty for not waiting to see if the price went down some more

Ray Sigmond · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by khollister

I'm not Scott, but ...

Right processor, wrong price ...

Amazon.com: Intel Xeon W3680 Processor: Electronics

Not sure what happened, but these were regularly available for $615 to $650 a couple weeks ago. Seems like the street price has gone up $100. I got mine from Buy.com for $615 - they are now something like $745.

And I was feeling a little guilty for not waiting to see if the price went down some more

I see them here on Buy.com for $799.49
Buy.com - Intel Xeon UP W3680 3.33 GHz Processor - Hexa-core

khollister · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

I see them here on Buy.com for $799.49
Buy.com - Intel Xeon UP W3680 3.33 GHz Processor - Hexa-core

Geez - they're increasing my the minute. I could have sworn I checked 5 minutes ago as I was replying and they were less than that.

khollister · 19th November 2011

Odd - the part number is deactivated on Newegg. I did see some for $705 or thereabouts on Ebay. I wonder what is going on?

Ray Sigmond · 19th November 2011

Total Computer Cost $2,918.49

Total Price with 24GB RAM $3,263.48

Refurb Mac Pro $2,119
Refurbished Mac Pro 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon - Apple Store (U.S.)

Intel Xeon 3680 $799.49
Buy.com - Intel Xeon UP W3680 3.33 GHz Processor - Hexa-core

OWC 24GB $344.99
OWC 1333D3X8M24K 24GB (3x8GB) DDR3 ECC PC10600... in stock at OWC

(I've seen the Mac Pro 2.8GHz going for around $1,500 on eBay)

khollister · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

Total Computer Cost $2,918.49

Total Price with 24GB RAM $3,263.48

Refurb Mac Pro $2,119
Refurbished Mac Pro 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon - Apple Store (U.S.)

Intel Xeon 3680 $799.49
Buy.com - Intel Xeon UP W3680 3.33 GHz Processor - Hexa-core

OWC 24GB $344.99
OWC 1333D3X8M24K 24GB (3x8GB) DDR3 ECC PC10600... in stock at OWC

(I've seen the Mac Pro 2.8GHz going for around $1,500 on eBay)

They don't have any right now, but I'm guessing a 3.33 hex refurb would be about $3200-3300. The $200 price jump on the CPU, takes a bit of the bargain out of this deal.

I just looked my receipt up on Buy - I paid $638 with 2-day shipping back on 2 Nov.

Ray Sigmond · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by khollister

They don't have any right now, but I'm guessing a 3.33 hex refurb would be about $3200-3300. The $200 price jump on the CPU, takes a bit of the bargain out of this deal.

I just looked my receipt up on Buy - I paid $638 with 2-day shipping back on 2 Nov.

How difficult was it to install the CPU? Is it similar to changing a CPU on a PC?

jcschild · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by khollister

YOu do not have to update the EFI on a 2010 MP. THe RAM will run at 1333 (assuming you have 1333 parts) automagically.

The EFI update hack is to allow 2009 SP models to accept the Westmere hex cores.

ummm what do you think he is doing? he IS adding a 6 core..

jcschild · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by khollister

Odd - the part number is deactivated on Newegg. I did see some for $705 or thereabouts on Ebay. I wonder what is going on?

i can do them for $625

Scott
ADK

Ray Sigmond · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcschild

yes it works..

you may have to update the EFI (bios) highly recommend you do that period

you can actually put in DDR3 1600 ram (none ECC) hynix or Samsung.
up to 3x8gig.
(FYI the 3 x 8 i used were ECC as they were the only ones out that had 8 gig sticks at the time.)

pretty sure they run @ 1333 regardless.
and no the motherboard is the same for all single proc.
Scott
ADK

Scott, where would one obtain the EFI BIOS update, and could that installed under Lion?

khollister · 19th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcschild

ummm what do you think he is doing? he IS adding a 6 core..

Ahem - Ray linked to a 2010 MP refurb on the Apple store. There is absolutely no EFI firmware hack needed to use the W3680 on those machines. Once he has OS X installed, Software Update will download any EFI updates that are appropriate. And the 2010's were originally released with the 6-core CPU's, so it's not like an EFI update is necessary for the CPU to work.

If he was buying a used 2009, that's a different story.

Nice price on the CPU, though. Do you have any idea what happened to the prices lately?

Ray - I would jump on Scott's price for the CPU. That gives you a 3.33 6-core for about $2750 - a $1000 savings over a new one.

UPDATE: It just occurred to me we may be getting our semantics crossed. While it is always good practice to update the EFI to the latest version (although I do not believe any particular version is required on the 2010 logic boards to run a Westmere CPU), I was referring to a hack (http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,852.0.html) to force install a 2010 EFI firmware image onto a 2009 MP to enable it to use Westmere CPU's). This is what I was insisting is not required on a 2010 MP.

avflamenco · 20th November 2011

I did a similar purchase recently: 2.8 Quad Core, then bought the W3680 Six Core from Provantage. I just checked and they are selling the 6-core for: $579.43.
They are slow to ship, but I eventually got mine in a couple of weeks.
Here is the direct link: PROVANTAGE: Intel BX80613W3680 W3680 Xeon 3.33GH 12MB 130W TDP 6.4 GT/S DDR3 1333MHZ

Then I bought 32gb of Hynix ECC Ram off of Ebay from this seller for $70 for each 8gb: 8GB DDR3 1333 PC3-10600 ECC REG HYNIX CHIP SERVER RAM | eBay

Everything assembled and running very smooth!

Then I took the Quad Core processor, and bought a Asus Sabertooth motherboard and 16gb of ram and built a Windows 7 Pro machine to run as a slave with Cubase 5.

I'm pretty happy with this arrangement!
I primarily use Logic Pro 9.

Radiogal · 20th November 2011

FWIW. Sitting with a 6 core 3,33 Ghz in my studio. 64 analog I/O connected to my mixingdesk.
I mix OTB.
Every single track from the Mac to a separate fader on the mixing console.
Most projects are 50+ tracks.
I´ve had this Mac since june 2011.
Biggest project I have done until now on this 6 core had 150 tracks. I´m also using plugins.

This 6 core Mac Pro is a beast.
Using a WD Velociraptor 10.000 RPM as audio HD.

Just my 2 cents.

jazzymike · 24th November 2011

Just installed my W3680
Seems to work just fine, getting instant performance boost in logic, ran the Logic Pro Benchmark at 96k went from 30 tracks at 64buffer to 50+ with overhead and an unused core.

I've applied Arctic Silver 5 using the blob in the middle method as I've heard spreading it manually might create unwanted air bubbles.

Downloaded iStat and my CPU is at 77° idle and 101° at full Benchmark overload, are these OK values?

20th November 2011	#45
Radiogal Gear addict Joined: May 2008 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 494 2 Reviews written	FWIW. Sitting with a 6 core 3,33 Ghz in my studio. 64 analog I/O connected to my mixingdesk. I mix OTB. Every single track from the Mac to a separate fader on the mixing console. Most projects are 50+ tracks. I´ve had this Mac since june 2011. Biggest project I have done until now on this 6 core had 150 tracks. I´m also using plugins. This 6 core Mac Pro is a beast. Using a WD Velociraptor 10.000 RPM as audio HD. Just my 2 cents. __________________ MAC PRO 6 Core 3.33 GHz, 16 GB RAM, OSX 10.6.8, DP 7.24, LogicPro 9.1.5, Wavelab 7, MOTU 24I/O (x2), MOTU 2408 MK3 (2x), WAVES Mercury 8, SSL, Sonnox, Sonalksis, McDSP, UAD2 Quad, DC V.I.P Series. AbbeyRoad, FocusriteLiquidMix, NomadFactory, SoundToys, DSM, EWQL SymphonicOrchestra Gold, EWQL Piano Gold, AcousticLegends, EZDrm, AAS, MOTU ElectricKeys. Mixingdesk: AMEK Big 44, SSL Buss comp, TK BC-1 MK2 Buss comp, GAP PRE73, Lexicon PCM91, TC, FMR RNC. Monitors: Genelec 1031, ADAM A7 >40 mics.

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19th November 2011	#31
khollister Gear interested Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 28	YOu do not have to update the EFI on a 2010 MP. THe RAM will run at 1333 (assuming you have 1333 parts) automagically. The EFI update hack is to allow 2009 SP models to accept the Westmere hex cores.

19th November 2011	#37
Ray Sigmond Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Edison, NJ Posts: 223	Total Computer Cost $2,918.49 Total Price with 24GB RAM $3,263.48 Refurb Mac Pro $2,119 Refurbished Mac Pro 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon - Apple Store (U.S.) Intel Xeon 3680 $799.49 Buy.com - Intel Xeon UP W3680 3.33 GHz Processor - Hexa-core OWC 24GB $344.99 OWC 1333D3X8M24K 24GB (3x8GB) DDR3 ECC PC10600... in stock at OWC (I've seen the Mac Pro 2.8GHz going for around $1,500 on eBay)

20th November 2011	#44
avflamenco Gear Head Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona Posts: 36	I did a similar purchase recently: 2.8 Quad Core, then bought the W3680 Six Core from Provantage. I just checked and they are selling the 6-core for: $579.43. They are slow to ship, but I eventually got mine in a couple of weeks. Here is the direct link: PROVANTAGE: Intel BX80613W3680 W3680 Xeon 3.33GH 12MB 130W TDP 6.4 GT/S DDR3 1333MHZ Then I bought 32gb of Hynix ECC Ram off of Ebay from this seller for $70 for each 8gb: 8GB DDR3 1333 PC3-10600 ECC REG HYNIX CHIP SERVER RAM \| eBay Everything assembled and running very smooth! Then I took the Quad Core processor, and bought a Asus Sabertooth motherboard and 16gb of ram and built a Windows 7 Pro machine to run as a slave with Cubase 5. I'm pretty happy with this arrangement! I primarily use Logic Pro 9.

24th November 2011	#46
jazzymike Gear addict Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 316	Just installed my W3680 Seems to work just fine, getting instant performance boost in logic, ran the Logic Pro Benchmark at 96k went from 30 tracks at 64buffer to 50+ with overhead and an unused core. I've applied Arctic Silver 5 using the blob in the middle method as I've heard spreading it manually might create unwanted air bubbles. Downloaded iStat and my CPU is at 77° idle and 101° at full Benchmark overload, are these OK values?