July 2010 spec in 2008 case. What have I bought?

[plumpjack]

I purchased a fully boxed, ‘hardly used’ Mac Pro 2.4 Ghz (x2) July 2010 on eBay. Apart from a different OS from the one advertized [Snow Leopard instead of the advertized Lion] it seemed to have the right spec when I looked at ‘About this Mac’ in more detail [or from what I could tell being new to these things].

On closer examination, however, the model number on the box [A1289] didn’t correspond with the model number at the back of the case [A1186, a 2008 version I believe]. Neither is the serial number recognized by Everymac.com, though – importantly - I understand this website lists only U.S. models and mine is European [Ireland/UK].

To be honest I’m really not sure what I’ve bought. Is it a hack? Can 2008 models be upgraded to Westmere processors [which I’m assuming these are]? This isn’t the place to discuss consumer law but it wasn’t advertized as upgraded or a hack, certainly. I just need to satisfy myself what I've paid out good money for. It looks like a 2008 Mac in a 2010 box but the info says otherwise. I'm an inexperienced user by the way so please don't be overly technical if you can avoid it. Perhaps someone can deduce something from the following information:

Mac Pro 2.4_8CX/6X1G/1TB/5770/SD
Serial No. CK03403SH2P

These two serial numbers [above] are on BOTH the case and the box.

The EMC number [on the case only] is 2314-2. That too doesn’t seem to be recognized on Everymac unless I’ve missed something.

When I go into ‘More info’ under ‘About this Mac’ I get:

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro 5,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon:
Processor Speed: 2.4 Ghz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Number of Cores: 8
L2 Cache per core: 256 Kb
L3 Cache per processor: 12 mb
Memory: 6Gb
Processor Interconnect Speed: 5.86 GT/s
BOOT ROM version: MP51.007F.800
SMC Version [system]: 1.39 f11
SMC Version [processor tray]: 1.f11
Serial Number [system]: CK03403SH2P
Serial Number [processor tray]: J503101FWBHBA
Hardware UUID: 3025D5FF–9849–5AA9–80E0-91F15DA34377

Could someone – anyone! – shed a bit of light on this please?

 

[chscag]

I couldn't track it by serial number for some reason. The Apple data base keeps telling me that there is no such number. However, Mactracker lists your machine as follows:


Introduced July 2010
Discontinued June 2012
Model Identifier MacPro5,1
Model Number A1289
EMC 2314
Order Number MC250LL/A (Quad-Core), MC561LL/A (8-Core)
Initial Price $2,499 (2.8 GHz) $3,499 (two 2.4 GHz) $4,999 (two 2.66 GHz)
Support Status Supported
Weight and Dimensions 39.9 lbs. (Quad-Core) 41.2 lbs. (8-Core), 20.1" H x 8.1" W x 18.7" D
PROCESSOR

Processor Intel Xeon W3530, W3565, W3680, E5620, X5650, or X5670 ("Bloomfield, Westmere, Gulftown")
Processor Speed 2.8, 3.2, 3.33, two 2.4, two 2.66, or two 2.93 GHz
Architecture 64-bit
Number of Cores 4 or 6 per processor
Cache 8 MB (Quad-) 12 MB (8- and 12-Core) fully shared L3 per processor
System Bus Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) at 4.8 GT/s (Quad-core) 5.86 GT/s (8-core) 6.4 GT/s (12-core)
STORAGE AND MEDIA

Storage 1 or 2 TB (7200-rpm SATA) or 512 GB (SSD)
Media 18x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
PERIPHERALS

Peripherals Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Magic Mouse


Please note that this is from the US listings so it may be different for the European (UK) version of the machine.

 

[plumpjack]

I couldn't track it by serial number for some reason. The Apple data base keeps telling me that there is no such number. However, Mactracker lists your machine as follows:


Introduced July 2010
Discontinued June 2012
Model Identifier MacPro5,1
Model Number A1289
EMC 2314
Order Number MC250LL/A (Quad-Core), MC561LL/A (8-Core)
Initial Price $2,499 (2.8 GHz) $3,499 (two 2.4 GHz) $4,999 (two 2.66 GHz)
Support Status Supported
Weight and Dimensions 39.9 lbs. (Quad-Core) 41.2 lbs. (8-Core), 20.1" H x 8.1" W x 18.7" D
PROCESSOR

Processor Intel Xeon W3530, W3565, W3680, E5620, X5650, or X5670 ("Bloomfield, Westmere, Gulftown")
Processor Speed 2.8, 3.2, 3.33, two 2.4, two 2.66, or two 2.93 GHz
Architecture 64-bit
Number of Cores 4 or 6 per processor
Cache 8 MB (Quad-) 12 MB (8- and 12-Core) fully shared L3 per processor
System Bus Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) at 4.8 GT/s (Quad-core) 5.86 GT/s (8-core) 6.4 GT/s (12-core)
STORAGE AND MEDIA

Storage 1 or 2 TB (7200-rpm SATA) or 512 GB (SSD)
Media 18x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
PERIPHERALS

Peripherals Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Magic Mouse


Please note that this is from the US listings so it may be different for the European (UK) version of the machine.

Really appreciate this. Thank you. Unfortunately I still don't get why, if it was genuine, it would carry different model numbers on [a] the box - Model No. A1289 and the rear of the tower - Model No. A1186. Also the EMC Number on mine 2314-2. Doesn't this suggest something amiss? Can a 2008 Mac Pro be upgraded or hacked in some way to accommodate 2010 Westmere processors, thus making a 5,1 out of a 3,1 [or whatever the 2008 model was]? And how come the serial number doesn't register anywhere? It all seems very odd to me.

 

[chscag]

It does suggest that some "work" was done on the machine. Whether they swapped cases or revamped the inners is difficult to say. However, the machine identifies itself as a 5,1 and that's what matters. Here in the US you would have recourse through eBay for a refund since it seems you were not sold what was advertised.

 

[plumpjack]

It does suggest that some "work" was done on the machine. Whether they swapped cases or revamped the inners is difficult to say. However, the machine identifies itself as a 5,1 and that's what matters. Here in the US you would have recourse through eBay for a refund since it seems you were not sold what was advertised.

My appreciation once again. Although my understanding of these things is limited I'm told upgrading firmware on hacked machines, even upgrading the operating systems [say if I wanted to download Lion to replace the Snow Leopard it came with], can present problems. Should I expect difficulties in that department?

As to eBay you are correct. Here too they provide for refunds - but they assume buyers aren't stupid enough to reach agreements with sellers that ignore the BIN button and so leave the company in no position to help. In this case the buyer was indeed stupid, quite remarkably dim in fact. If cotton wool were brains he wouldn't have enough to make a tampon for a budgerigar. You're talking to him.

Isn't life grand?

 

[chscag]

I'm told upgrading firmware on hacked machines, even upgrading the operating systems [say if I wanted to download Lion to replace the Snow Leopard it came with], can present problems. Should I expect difficulties in that department?

You should be able to upgrade the version of OS X on that machine to Mountain Lion. (Lion is no longer available.) Apple computers will not accept a firmware update if it isn't for that particular machine. Actually Apple firmware updates are rare. In any event, I don't expect that you will have any difficulty. And if you're satisfied with the purchase, press on and enjoy it.

 

[plumpjack]

You should be able to upgrade the version of OS X on that machine to Mountain Lion. (Lion is no longer available.) Apple computers will not accept a firmware update if it isn't for that particular machine. Actually Apple firmware updates are rare. In any event, I don't expect that you will have any difficulty. And if you're satisfied with the purchase, press on and enjoy it.

So what are the implications if I have the innards of a 2010 and the body of a 2008? Problems, no?

 

[bobtomay]

Only problem I could think of would be if someone was mixing and matching from multiple machines to make one good working one and used too small a power supply in the mix. At a good price, I wouldn't be worried about the external case at all.

 

[plumpjack]

Only problem I could think of would be if someone was mixing and matching from multiple machines to make one good working one and used too small a power supply in the mix. At a good price, I wouldn't be worried about the external case at all.

Ah but that's the point isn't it? I paid a good-ish price for the genuine article [English pounds £1295 or $1967, a total that included about $150 delivery], but a not so good-ish price for what appears to be a hack that wasn't sold as such. I thought I was buying, and he was most certainly advertizing, the genuine article.

What's a realistic price for a hack with this spec by the way? I might try to negotiate a reduction.

Thanks again for your help

 

[harryb2448]

You appear to have purchased a 2008 3.1 Mac Pro with CPU's from the 2010 model. Quick way to tell for sure is via the memory installed. The 3.1 uses PC2-5300 modules, and the 5.1 much faster PC3-10600 modules, which also affects the system bus speed. Here in Australia 3.1 bring about the $1,000 mark, the 5.1 about $1600.

 

[plumpjack]

You appear to have purchased a 2008 3.1 Mac Pro with CPU's from the 2010 model. Quick way to tell for sure is via the memory installed. The 3.1 uses PC2-5300 modules, and the 5.1 much faster PC3-10600 modules, which also affects the system bus speed. Here in Australia 3.1 bring about the $1,000 mark, the 5.1 about $1600.

Thanks for this. I'm not very knowledgeable unfortunately. Where do I find this information?

 

[plumpjack]

You appear to have purchased a 2008 3.1 Mac Pro with CPU's from the 2010 model. Quick way to tell for sure is via the memory installed. The 3.1 uses PC2-5300 modules, and the 5.1 much faster PC3-10600 modules, which also affects the system bus speed. Here in Australia 3.1 bring about the $1,000 mark, the 5.1 about $1600.

.....................Size.................Type......................Speed
DIMM 1.........1Gb.............. DDR3 ECC.............1066 Mhz

All listed vertically [DIMM 1 – 8, with 4 and 8 empty] all 1066 Mhz and all 1Gb.

Is this the information you meant? If it is, what does it mean exactly for the spec of this machine? I’d be ever so grateful if you could tell me as it appears to be critical from what you wrote earlier.

 

[bobtomay]

Those would be the PC3-10600, which means it is a 2010 system board.

 

[plumpjack]

Those would be the PC3-10600, which means it is a 2010 system board.

Many thanks bobtomay. I expect this is what they call a 'customised' machine then.

 

[chscag]

We knew it was the 2010 model because it identifies itself as 5,1. It can only do that according to the built in firmware. Enjoy your "new" Mac Pro.

 

[plumpjack]

We knew it was the 2010 model because it identifies itself as 5,1. It can only do that according to the built in firmware. Enjoy your "new" Mac Pro.

Thanks. I've had an estimate of current prices in Australia for a machine of this spec. Any idea how much it would fetch on the U.S. market? Earlier I gave what I paid in sterling and U.S. dollars, but I certainly got overcharged by Australian standards. It would be useful to know, however, even if it might be a false comparison in some ways. Everything is wildly expensive anyway over here these days.

 

[chscag]

Any idea how much it would fetch on the U.S. market?

Looks like it would cost anywhere from around $1060 to $1200 depending on overall condition. That's the average price from Mac2Sell.net.

 

[plumpjack]

Looks like it would cost anywhere from around $1060 to $1200 depending on overall condition. That's the average price from Mac2Sell.net.

Rest assured this is IMMACULATE. Pristine. It comes with iLife, software bundle, SL 10.6.4 installation disk, mouse, user manual and keyboard - all wrapped and sealed individually [even the keyboard]. Supposedly it was an unwanted gift from a wife to her husband for which he had virtually no use, so that it's been sitting in its box for three years, but who knows. Its condition cannot be faulted that's for sure. Judging by these prices, and assuming customized versions get treated as the real thing for pricing purposes, I reckon this being sold as what it is not has shafted me to the tune of between £500 - £600 [$750 - $900]. Enjoy my 'new' Mac? I will catch my breath at every keyboard stroke. But this is Easter, a time when a sense of what it's like to get crucified comes to mind more readily.....

 

[plumpjack]

I couldn't track it by serial number for some reason. The Apple data base keeps telling me that there is no such number.

Indeed. So how come the serial number from the box [the correct spec] matches the serial number from the inaccessible data strip at the back of the tower - which it does - when the box is for a 2010 model and the tower is from a 2008 model?

I don't get that. Even if they've 'manufactured' the information strip for the back of the tower, and managed to affix it professionally, why keep the tell-tale A1186 model number, which actually exposes the deception? I must be missing something here....

 

[techiesteve]

A quick check with GSX lists your Mac Pro as
Mac Pro (Mid 2010) CK03403SH2P MAC PRO 2.4_8CX/6X1G/1TB/5770/SD and estimated DOP 14/11/2011 with no service history. The MP S/N is held within the logic board, so the logic board and processors are certainly from a Mid 2010 model. From what I've read on this thread and guesswork, the Mid 2010 case may have been damaged and a case from a 2008 model was used to replace it. This certainly wouldn't have been undertaken by an AASP or Apple store. Can you supply the S/N on the rear of the 2008 case?