Mac Pro MA356LL/A Upgrades?

gbryant · gbryant #1 (**permalink**)

05-28-2011, 12:42 PM

I want to see the 'specific' upgrade options for my new (to me) Mac Pro.
Anyone know of a website that would be good for this?
All the websites I've visited so far have too many options for my tiny brain... I can't tell if I'm buying a part for a 2010 pro or mine... or does it matter?

Thanks.

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

05-28-2011, 01:30 PM

Perhaps if you told us exactly what you would like to upgrade on your Mac Pro one of our members who is familiar with the Pro could assist.

gbryant · gbryant #3 (**permalink**)

05-28-2011, 01:45 PM

first, an Airport card & blutooth card

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #4 (**permalink**)

05-28-2011, 07:04 PM

And what model Mac Pro is it? Go to About this Mac > More Info > Hardware and second line will say it is a Mac Pro 101, 2.1, 3.1 etc. Different models use different memory etc.

gbryant · gbryant #5 (**permalink**)

05-29-2011, 11:20 AM

mac pro 1.1

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #6 (**permalink**)

05-29-2011, 07:11 PM

Here is a link to OWC who offer lifetime guarantees with their memory, and believe me they do honor it all the way down here to Australia.

Mac Pro Memory

Also consider an SSD also from OWC, such as the Mercury Extreme. After that we can talk graphic cards and processor updates.

gbryant · gbryant #7 (**permalink**)

06-01-2011, 05:56 AM

This is what I have.... (well... arriving tomorrow)

Mac Pro 3 Ghz Dual Core , 1 gig memory, 250 gig hd, MA356LL/A

It is my first Mac, I bought it used from Teksavers , Austin, TX.

I'm from the pc world, but I like the macs interface and want to try it .... I just didn't want to invest $2500 into it.
Can I upgrade this? Do I need to? (other than more memory) It comes with Leopard 10.5 , I purchased Snow Leopard 10.6.3 to upgrade to.

As you can tell. I'm a pc guy drowning in Mac soup... throw me a line...

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #8 (**permalink**)

06-01-2011, 06:16 PM

Have heavily upgraded my 1.1 Mac Pro, but apart from boosting memory to say 4GB, there is nothing you need to do immediately. Optional things include the Bluetooth and Airport cards, SSD hard drive, and a faster more powerful graphics card. Also later you can install Quad Core processors if you wish to do so.

What is handy is a set of the original install discs that came with the machine, OS X.4.7 which includes Apple Hardware Test, a great trouble shooting utility. Also when you get the Snow Leopard discs, erase the drive and do a clean install so it is as you would like it.

Manuals are available online from Apple if they do not come with the Mac Pro. Just do a Google search 'Apple Manuals'.

http://support.apple.com/manuals/#desktopcomputers

Also this link contains handy reading:-

Apple Canada - Pro - Pro Tips

gbryant · gbryant #9 (**permalink**)

06-01-2011, 07:02 PM

Thank you Harry. I am planning on 4 or maybe 8 gig of memory, a ssd , it already has
(2) 3 ghz dual core processors. I am unsure which airport card to buy... I want wireless internet and blutooth.
I don't think it is arriving with the original discs, but I purchased a retail copy of Snow Leopard. Thank you for the links, I had already found the manuals.... but the second link is very helpful.

Greg

gbryant · gbryant #10 (**permalink**)

06-03-2011, 08:44 AM

Got my Mac Pro yesterday... pretty cool! I upgraded to Snow Leopard... breeze.
It's fast! Even with 1 gig... I'm looking to upgrade to a min of 4gig, any good deals out there? Also.... the apple SSD is $1200

Is there an alternative?

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #11 (**permalink**)

06-03-2011, 06:09 PM

Try OWC for memory from my earlier link. Today they have some memory for Mac Pro 1.1 on special so be quick. Do not buy an SSD from Apple. Suggest using say a 60GB SSD from OWC again, and the joy of a Mac Pro is you can install a 7200rpm backup drive in position 2,3 or 4 and use that for a lot of your storage.

gbryant · gbryant #12 (**permalink**)

06-08-2011, 08:45 PM

OK... I received my Airport card and blutooth card today.... installed them... now what? The software seems to know they are installed , but neither operate properly. The wireless card wants to connect to another computer... I want it to connect to my time machine...

pedropete · pedropete #13 (**permalink**)

06-08-2011, 11:04 PM

Smiley

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #14 (**permalink**)

06-08-2011, 11:14 PM

If you do a search of problems with Airport for our Mac Pros, there was a problem with the antenna cables being incorrectly identified.

http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/...t-1044884.html

gbryant · gbryant #15 (**permalink**)

06-09-2011, 07:56 AM

I finally found this...

http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/07...intel-mac-pro/

I did not know about the ant. wires....

Thanks Harry...

BTW: thank you to the hundreds of people who choose not to help....

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,387 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	05-28-2011, 01:30 PM Perhaps if you told us exactly what you would like to upgrade on your Mac Pro one of our members who is familiar with the Pro could assist. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,265 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	05-28-2011, 07:04 PM And what model Mac Pro is it? Go to About this Mac > More Info > Hardware and second line will say it is a Mac Pro 101, 2.1, 3.1 etc. Different models use different memory etc. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,265 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	05-29-2011, 07:11 PM Here is a link to OWC who offer lifetime guarantees with their memory, and believe me they do honor it all the way down here to Australia. Mac Pro Memory Also consider an SSD also from OWC, such as the Mercury Extreme. After that we can talk graphic cards and processor updates. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,265 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	06-01-2011, 06:16 PM Have heavily upgraded my 1.1 Mac Pro, but apart from boosting memory to say 4GB, there is nothing you need to do immediately. Optional things include the Bluetooth and Airport cards, SSD hard drive, and a faster more powerful graphics card. Also later you can install Quad Core processors if you wish to do so. What is handy is a set of the original install discs that came with the machine, OS X.4.7 which includes Apple Hardware Test, a great trouble shooting utility. Also when you get the Snow Leopard discs, erase the drive and do a clean install so it is as you would like it. Manuals are available online from Apple if they do not come with the Mac Pro. Just do a Google search 'Apple Manuals'. http://support.apple.com/manuals/#desktopcomputers Also this link contains handy reading:- Apple Canada - Pro - Pro Tips *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,265 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	06-03-2011, 06:09 PM Try OWC for memory from my earlier link. Today they have some memory for Mac Pro 1.1 on special so be quick. Do not buy an SSD from Apple. Suggest using say a 60GB SSD from OWC again, and the joy of a Mac Pro is you can install a 7200rpm backup drive in position 2,3 or 4 and use that for a lot of your storage. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

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gbryant #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	05-28-2011, 12:42 PM I want to see the 'specific' upgrade options for my new (to me) Mac Pro. Anyone know of a website that would be good for this? All the websites I've visited so far have too many options for my tiny brain... I can't tell if I'm buying a part for a 2010 pro or mine... or does it matter? Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

gbryant #5 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	05-29-2011, 11:20 AM mac pro 1.1
	QUOTE Thanks

gbryant #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	06-01-2011, 05:56 AM This is what I have.... (well... arriving tomorrow) Mac Pro 3 Ghz Dual Core , 1 gig memory, 250 gig hd, MA356LL/A It is my first Mac, I bought it used from Teksavers , Austin, TX. I'm from the pc world, but I like the macs interface and want to try it .... I just didn't want to invest $2500 into it. Can I upgrade this? Do I need to? (other than more memory) It comes with Leopard 10.5 , I purchased Snow Leopard 10.6.3 to upgrade to. As you can tell. I'm a pc guy drowning in Mac soup... throw me a line...
	QUOTE Thanks

gbryant #9 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	06-01-2011, 07:02 PM Thank you Harry. I am planning on 4 or maybe 8 gig of memory, a ssd , it already has (2) 3 ghz dual core processors. I am unsure which airport card to buy... I want wireless internet and blutooth. I don't think it is arriving with the original discs, but I purchased a retail copy of Snow Leopard. Thank you for the links, I had already found the manuals.... but the second link is very helpful. Greg
	QUOTE Thanks

gbryant #10 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	06-03-2011, 08:44 AM Got my Mac Pro yesterday... pretty cool! I upgraded to Snow Leopard... breeze. It's fast! Even with 1 gig... I'm looking to upgrade to a min of 4gig, any good deals out there? Also.... the apple SSD is $1200 Is there an alternative?
	QUOTE Thanks

gbryant #12 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	06-08-2011, 08:45 PM OK... I received my Airport card and blutooth card today.... installed them... now what? The software seems to know they are installed , but neither operate properly. The wireless card wants to connect to another computer... I want it to connect to my time machine...
	QUOTE Thanks

pedropete #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 11, 2010 Location: Moved to Spain in 2000 after enforced early retirement and a bad divorce Posts: 154 Mac Specs: iMac24,iMac27,iMac21.5-i3,iPhone4-32gb,iTouch3.32gb,iPad1,Apple TV,iPodClassic160gbx2	06-08-2011, 11:04 PM Smiley Live each day as it comes - it may be your last !?
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,265 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	06-08-2011, 11:14 PM If you do a search of problems with Airport for our Mac Pros, there was a problem with the antenna cables being incorrectly identified. http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/...t-1044884.html *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

gbryant #15 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2011 Location: ks Posts: 29	06-09-2011, 07:56 AM I finally found this... http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/07...intel-mac-pro/ I did not know about the ant. wires.... Thanks Harry... BTW: thank you to the hundreds of people who choose not to help....
	QUOTE Thanks

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