Building a MacPro, Yes, a MacPro not a Hackintosh Options

[digitalperformer]

you guys are the F**king BEST!!! You guys can break bread with me anytime! Nagal, anyway to patch the firmware if that's the case?

[nagal]

you guys are the F**king BEST!!! You guys can break bread with me anytime! Nagal, anyway to patch the firmware if that's the case?

I am sure there is but it is WAY beyond my skills as I found out with my 1st logic board that came with an Apple Development Firmware.

[newtech]

My on-going research is dissecting SMC firmware and bootROM and their installers. Sadly my progress is slow and has turned up little helpful info so far, reading undocumented source code is like trying to read japanese when you don't speak it.

[digitalperformer]

I have a silly question, what's the difference between LGA 771 and Socket 771? Compatible? Newegg has Clovertown Xeons, however, they're socket 771.

According to wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_socket

socket J is the type for both...

[nagal]

Socket 771 and LGA 771 are the same thing for the most part. I believe in correct usage LGA 771 refers to the actually CPU while Socket 771 refers to the socket type of the motherboard or in our case logic board. You are fine as long as you stay 771 but note that Intel does make LGA 775 Xeons which are super inexpensive but won't work for us.

Firmware Update:I just tried the Mac Pro EFI Update and got the message saying you do not need this update instead of the message that use to say update not for this product or something like that. So, I am finally really recognized as a Mac Pro

Interesting note is the current EFI update gives a firmware of MP21.007F.B06 for MacPro 2,1. The firmware on my logic board is MP21.007F.B08. Looks like I got a slightly newer firmware than whats available. Makes me feel special

I also "fixed" my About this Mac and System Profiler to show data more appealing to me. I could have put in anything but I just wanted it to reflect the truth





It would be nice to actually have 3.0 Ghz but looks like my ES must have been bottom of the barrel due to the clock speed only being 8x instead of 9x. If digitalperformers Harpertown experiment works, I will probably start saving up for those. For now 8 x 2.4 GHz is working well for me. Running Logic last night on a new song with some pretty heavy VI and Effects, computer did not even break a sweat.

[aqua-mac]

Hey nagal, you could also fix the serial if you wanted with an edit to system profiler (SPPlatform Reporter).

"System Serial#"="M3405946578";

Or whatever number is on your board.

[newtech]

I have a silly question, what's the difference between LGA 771 and Socket 771? Compatible? Newegg has Clovertown Xeons, however, they're socket 771.

According to wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_socket

socket J is the type for both...

The Xeon connection is called Socket J the physical contacts are a Land Grid Array (of) 771(contacts), the contacts are called lands as opposed to pins on earlier package types. The switch form pins to lands accomplished a few things, first eliminated the posibility of bent or broken pins. Second provided a more reliable Zero Insertion Force to be used to install the CPU. Third, lands can accept a higher current density reducing the number of connections required to carry power.

The better solution on the serial number would be Blank Board Serializer, should you be able to find or get a copy.

[digitalperformer]

Nagal and NEWTECH!!! thank you for the clarification; it certainly helps. As you can tell I'm a Digital Performer advocate.. I love it to death. I also like logic but DP has been my faithful squeeze, never let me down... If Apple implements user correctable pitch correction I might consider using logic more often. I heard next DP release will have distributive network processing... DROOLLLLLL..

ApplePalace called me to confirm shipment has been made; now the wait game.... Nagal, applepalace's rep told me that he spoke to another person who was doing the same thing as me... I started to smile Let the build begin!!!!

[aqua-mac]

Newtech,

Yes BBS would be the way to go, but I was not aware you could find the cd unless you were an Apple tech. Is it available as a download? I think the latest versions allow you to enter a serial only if there is not one there already, so nagal should be OK.

[newtech]

Personally I have looked high and low and under many rocks for BBS without success, but that doesn't mean it isn't out there in the wild somewhere. The one shot version is the only one distributed to AASP's, the unlimited one is closely guarded by Apple as it can have potential for horrible abuse.

Technically the MLB S/N is not the system S/N or else it would be embedded already. The system S/N is the one on the case sticker.

[gramarye]

What does "BBS" mean in these terms?

[newtech]

BBS = Blank Board Serializer, a utility that flashes a serial number into the flashEEPROM on service part/refurbished motherboards. Some rare applications will not run on a machine that does not have a hardware serial number in ROM. Also Apple tracks warranty satus by system serial number.

Anytime a logic board is swapped out by an AASP the new board SHOULD be flashed to match with the S/N on the case/enclosure and have new MAC address labels applied to match the MAC address on the boards ethernet controller.

[Harloe]

Hey nagal, so how have you actually been recognised as a Mac Pro now? Via just using official Apple parts or did you have to do any flashing to anything? Also do you have a link to some Dual Core Xeons? I only want a 4 core machine, preferably a UK site.

Thanks man! We should start a Mac Pro blog to help fellow builders =]

[nagal]

BBS would be ideal but Text Edit works in a pinch. I wonder if I take it into my local Apple repair place if they will flash the serial number for me? Something tells me I doubt it For SystemProfiler I had to use the key "System Sal#" instead of "System Serial#". That is the serial # from the case and it is a good one with Apple too as I found that out when I called them when trying to figure out how to force flash the EFI. Of course, if I took my Mac Pro into an Apple Store I am sure some eyebrows would be raised.






Kimosabe, the only "hack" I had to do to get my system recognized as a Mac Pro was to use an actually release Mac Pro logic board


I am thinking of doing a fresh re-install of Leopard so it will say "michael-whiteheads-MacPro2,1"" instead of "michael-whiteheads-m43adp11". Yes if you haven't figured it out, little things like that drive me nuts!

[Korrupted]

Or just change your Computer Name under Sharing.

[nagal]

Or just change your Computer Name under Sharing.

oh sweet! I did not know it was going to be that EASY. Of course I am still an OS X noob.

[Korrupted]

Yup. =3

[Harloe]

Yay thanks Nagal, do you know what Dual Core Xeons I am going to need? I don't want to end up buying the wrong ones =[

[newtech]

Kimosabe, dual core Xeons are 51xx and 52xx, stick with the 51xx as 52xx may not work.

Dual core Xeons

E5110 1.6 GHz ( 1066 MHz FSB BSEL mod to 2.0 GHz )

E5120 1.86 GHz ( 1066 MHz FSB BSEL mod to 2.33 GHz )

E5130 2 GHz

E5140 2.33 GHz

E5148 2.33 GHz ( low power, lower TDP vs E5140 )

E5150 2.66 GHz

E5160 3.0 GHz

If you have a choice go with SLAxx over SL9xx sSpec.


http://www.pcbuyit.co.uk/dept.asp?dept%5Fi...FSB+%26+1333FSB

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B...281&sr=1-20

[Harloe]

Thanks Nagal! But damn they sure are pricey =O I was hoping for like 2.66GHz and they're over £200 each. Hmm.. looks like I'm gonna have to get eBaying... lol