#2013 MAC PRO PROCESSOR UPGRADE UPGRADE#
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. 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. 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.