"2006 Mac Pro Quad-Core CPUs/ATI 4870/2,1 BootRom/Lion Upgrades
There is my report about CPU upgrade for Mac Pro 2006 from two dual 2.66 GHz Intel Xeons X5150 to two Quad-Core E5345 2.33 GHz, G0 stepping. First of all, (w/upgraded CPUs) it works well - only one issue appeared is that system profiler did not recognize the new processors but it's ok. I've successfully updated Mac Boot ROM Firmware from MacPro1,1 to 2,1, so now it fully recognized.
(For those that missed earlier reports - Before OS X Lion (and before the 2,1 rom updater was available), Owners of 2006 Mac Pros (1,1) that upgraded to Quad-Core CPUs sometimes used AboutThisMac to correctly ID the CPUs, but it's not compatible w/10.7. Quad-Core CPUs in 2006 Mac Pros are correctly ID'd after the Mac Pro 1,1 to 2,1 rom updater-Mike)

Also I didn't have any kernel panics for two months, which I spent on testing stability. My Mac Pro also has 8 GB installed memory (2+2+1+1+1+1), which works perfectly. And an ATI Radeon HD 4870 and Apple Mac Pro RAID Card with raid working. All things are stable.
  PSU usually has a little over 250 Watts output, temperatures on cores about 35 degrees celsius. Pretty good I think. My next report will be about how to make your own/replace back-up battery for original Mac Pro RAID Card.
-Viktor D."

(For links to the previous posts on this topic (2006 Mac Pros w/Quad-Core CPUs/EFI Update to 2,1 bootrom/OS X Lion, KPs (or not)), see the archives page, Sat. news pages for the last 2 weeks. First post on 2,1 bootrom fixing KPs in Lion w/2006 Mac Pros w/Quad-Core CPUs was Sept. 19th news which has links to several later posts but not all.)
  

"Mac Pro 2,1 RAM
I have a real MacPro 2,1 8-core that has always been a PITA with RAM. When I got it with 4 GB of Apple RAM, I upgraded to 12 GB using the correct 4 x 2 GB FB-DIMM RAM from OWC and the Apple 4 x 1 GB; even after sending RAM back twice to OWC and changing both risers for new Apple parts it would commonly KP on start up when there was a mixture of 1 and 2 GB DIMMS. This went on thru 10.6 and we could never find a pattern to why it would do this. We tried every recommended Apple configuration and some others too and memtested all the RAM and nothing ever showed a hardware fail. Then LION appeared and we decided to max it out with 16 GB by adding another 4 x 2 GB instead of 4 x 1 GB and now it is rock steady. I guess this model is just really sensitive to different RAM sizes.
-Robert H."

• Final Cut Pro X for Final Cut Pro 7 Editors (Apple "white paper" PDF direct link)
• Operation: Phoenix Revival Part I (OWC SSD in early 2008 MacBook Pro) (PC Weenies)
• Little Snitch v2.4.3 ("iCloud ready")
• AirFoil 4.6 (w/fixed DVD playback in Lion and more. See release notes)
• Freeware VM VirtualBox 4.1.4 (see Change Log)
• Parallels Desktop 7 and VMware Fusion 4 reviewed (Ars)
• Parallels Desktop 7 review (Mw UK)
• Fusion 4 review (Mw UK)

• LED Cinema Display (24-inch, Late 2008): Intermittent flicker while connected to a Thunderbolt port (w/notes on firmware update)
• Final Cut Pro X for Final Cut Pro 7 Editors white paper (links to above PDF)
• Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, Compressor 4: Issues updating on the Mac App Store
• Final Cut Pro X: Training resources
• Xsan: Compatibility of SAN clients with Xsan and StorNext controllers

• Sprint commits to $20B order for 30M iPhones, WSJ says
• Adobe Releasing Flash Player 11, AIR 3 Tonight
• id Software aims to be all the 'Rage' (Rage release is Oct 4th)
• Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards honor innovation
• Firmware update v3.20 for Yamaha RX-A1000/RX-A2000/RX-A3000 Receivers available at Yamaha Canada support site (enter model number there - CA site d/l avoids USA site "easypass" login/acct rqmt). Per readme - This firmware includes (vs 3.16)
  1. Improves Rhapsody online music service connectivity (For USA model only)
  2. Improves USB audio file playback capability
  3. Improves DVI-HDMI conversion cable connectivity

Friday September 30, 2011

• MacBook Pro ExpressCard Reports page updated (re: Tempo Pro eSATA card)
• Another 2006 Mac Pro w/Quad-Core CPUs and KP's after Lion Upgrade (w/8GB or more RAM installed)
• OS X Lion: How to enable Kerberos authentication for shared printers (Apple)
• Mail: Troubleshooting sending and receiving email messages (OS X v10.6, OS X Lion) (Apple)
• Mac OS X: How to change your default email application or web browser (Apple)
• Mail unexpectedly quits when viewing certain messages (Apple)
• iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011): Video corruption or Mac stops responding while playing games (re: GPU Firmware Update in Aug.)
• iTunes Store: Which types of items can I buy in my country? (Apple)
• iOS: AirPrint 101 (Apple)
• eMac: Popping Sound Followed by No Video (Apple)
• eMac display makes a noise or shimmers when computer starts up or wakes up (Apple)
• FireFox 7.0.1 update
• StarCraft II Patch 1.4.1 (w/info)
• Primer on newer Hard Drive platter density impacts on performances
• Psychonauts gets Mac version, new patch, and a free app
• Samsung Gives Apple Proposal to End Australia Patent Dispute
• Google Joins Apple in Push for Tax Holiday
• $199 Amazon Fire tablet costs $209.63 to make, IHS estimates
• Major security flaw lets anyone bypass AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II security
• Micron Tech sees DRAM glut
• Microsoft Security Essentials signiture error flagged Chrome as malware
• Impressive Life Sized 'Gears of War' Lancer made from Legos
• New Free to Play on Steam - Iron Grip: Marauders
• 2011 Unity Awards Winners Revealed
• Free Portal 2 DLC ("Peer Review") will be released on Oct. 4th
• ID's Rage available Oct. 4th, pre-orders get upgrade
• Java, Adobe vulns blamed for most of Windows malware mayhem

• Early MacBook Pro (2,2) Owner report on Upgrades (WiFi card, SSD, Cooling)
• Review of 2011 Mac mini
• Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.3 (see change list)
• Apple wins key battle against Psystar over Mac clones (it's 2009 all over again)
• Apple tells education: no more boxed software (except Logic)
• 1Password 3.8.7
• VMware Fusion 4.0.2 (some 4.0.2 users reporting issues in Fusion's Forum)
• Apple Quietly Releases Fix for Flickering on 24in LED Cinema Display over Thunderbolt
• Sophos tackles new BlackHole RAT malware variant for OS X
• NuStand 360 Alum. Desk Stand for iPad and iPad 2
• Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs (Apple)
• Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch): Connection options for Thunderbolt Macs (Apple)
• iTunes Store: Where can I download and sync my purchases? (Apple)
• Final Cut Pro X: How to edit your project on a different computer (Apple)
• iPod nano (6th generation): How to use VoiceOver (Apple)
• iOS: Troubleshooting USB connection (Apple)
• iOS: If IMAP Mail folders are not visible (Apple)
• Using a POP account with multiple devices (Apple)
• Keynote '08: How to get the slide list of a Keynote Presentation using the Quick Look feature in OS X Leopard (Apple)
• Amazon vs. Apple: 'Fire'fight begins
• Leaked AMD roadmap hints at aggressive Trinity APU launch in Q1 2012
• Scammers pretend to be friendly office printers
• Cell networks hold customer data 'for years' for law enforcement use
• Amazon's Silk browser raises privacy, security eyebrows
• Review of Firefox 7.0
• New Steamplay (Mac/PC) Release - Fate of the World: Tipping Point, 20% off
• New Free to Play on Steam - Rise of Immortals

• Still More on 2006 Mac Pros w/Quad-Core CPUs, OS X Lion and Kernel Panics
• Apple Thunderbolt Display Teardown
• Mac OS X Lion Server (10.7.1) Review
• Cyberduck 4.1.3
• EDGE Update and free Extended DLC (Mac/PC steamplay)
• (Steam) Civilization V Mac (Big) Update Released
• Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime (Apple)
• OS X Lion: Mac OS X clients unable to bind to Active Directory read-only domain controllers (Apple)
• Lion Server: SSL certificates may not be migrated after upgrade from OS X Server v10.6.8 (Apple)
• Viewing videos in iPhoto '08 on OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard may need QuickTime 7 (Apple)
• How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac (Apple)
• Apple TV: Depending on my country, what content can I buy or rent from the iTunes Store? (Apple)
• iTunes Store: Movie rental frequently asked questions (FAQ) (Apple)
• iTunes Store: Film rental usage rights in Europe (Apple)
• Troubleshooting iPhone voicemail issues (Apple)
• Amazon Kindle Fire tablet: $199, 7-inch screen, ships Nov. 15
• Bezos Portrays Kindle Fire as Service, Not Tablet
• Autodesk Inc. intros "Autodesk Cloud" to design community
• (WoW) Explanation of 4.3 Balance Changes, Part One (battle.net)
• Amazon Silk: Bridging the gap between desktop and mobile web browsers
• Is 14nm the end of the road for silicon chips?
• SVS PB13-Ultra Subwoofer In-Depth Review

For links to previous news pages, see the Archives.