Problem: very bad reception of the internal Bluetooth module
I like my Magic Apple Trackpad a lot. Very soon, I had to find out that the Magic Trackpad sometimes behaved very abnormal. After a cross-testing on a new MacBook Pro, it became clear that the problem is the internal Bluetooth module of my MacPro, which has reception issues (probably due to the aluminum casing and/or WLAN interference). The Magic Trackpad started stuttering from time to time. I think that the problem became worse after installing the Wireless ac Card. Sometimes the Magic Trackpad became nearly unsusable for some time.
After much Internet research as well as trial & error, the following two steps proved to be efficient in my case.
Mac Pro (Early 2008) Mods - Keeping a great Mac up to date
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Software: BootCamp on MacPros
Major limitation: BootCamp is that it regularly only runs on the primary system partition, but not on another drive. When switching my System SSD to the Third Party SATA controller, Bootcamp no longer boots. I still have to find out whether I can re-install Bootcamp on the system partition running on the SATA controller.
Modding #7: SATA3 (6GBit)
This card may be expensive, but it just rules:
CalDigit FASTA 6GU3Prohttp://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00IFHXIAY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
Main benefits:
- USB3 speeds rock (see also my entry on USB3)
- System boots from card (however this was rather tricky because you need power supply for your SSD; I finally succeeded by placing the SSD below the DVD drive in the empty cradle slot, where you can also find exactly ONE spare power supply; having the SATA cable from the internal connector of the card into the cradle has been very very tricky)
Minor drawbacks:
- powered USB3 hub provides very different results, in a nutshell, do not connect powerful USB3 gadgets, such as external drives, via the hub, but directly on the backside of the Mac, this is a bit tedious
- boot time became a bit longer because it takes the system a bit longer to find the boot drive, actual booting times are of course a breeze
CalDigit FASTA 6GU3Prohttp://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00IFHXIAY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
Main benefits:
- USB3 speeds rock (see also my entry on USB3)
- System boots from card (however this was rather tricky because you need power supply for your SSD; I finally succeeded by placing the SSD below the DVD drive in the empty cradle slot, where you can also find exactly ONE spare power supply; having the SATA cable from the internal connector of the card into the cradle has been very very tricky)
Minor drawbacks:
- powered USB3 hub provides very different results, in a nutshell, do not connect powerful USB3 gadgets, such as external drives, via the hub, but directly on the backside of the Mac, this is a bit tedious
- boot time became a bit longer because it takes the system a bit longer to find the boot drive, actual booting times are of course a breeze
Modding #5: USB3
In times of TB harddrives, USB2 is a no-go for backups. Also Firewire 800 becomes increasingly expensive when it comes to cheap external backup solutions, whereas performance would be so-so. So USB3 is the place to be for cheap backup solutions. After extensive research, I swallowed the price and went for the real one.
Replacement: Caldigit FASTA 6GU3 Pro (2x USB 3.0 + 2x eSATA)
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00IFHXIAY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Benefits/Drawbacks: I did not regret it for a second. USB performance is blazing:
- The USB3 interface easily reaches the max performance of my WD 3TB Green.
- My external 2.5 external 1 TB HD from Freecom peaks at 150 MB/s read and write, which is quite impressive for a small pocket HD; same goes for my external 1 TB WD Passport
(to be completed)
As reported by other users, the card does not work nicely with powered USB3-Hubs. Wile a USB Stick and USB2 devices seem to work on it, the above mentioned USB3 harddisks refuse to connect on the hub, so I need to directly connect them into the card. I can live with this minor drafback in light of the impressive performance that this card delivers.
Modding #4: WLAN ac
Original: Apple WLAN Module for MacPro Wireless n
Replacement: Asus PCE-AC68 PCIe WLAN Card
http://www.asus.com/Networking/PCEAC68/
The card works with Apple drivers because it uses the same WLAN chip as MacBookPros. Updating MacOSX to the latest version (Yosemite, as I write) is definitely preferable, but I have been on Mavericks when I installed this card, so Mavericks should provide the necessary drivers as well.
It is probably also necessary to remove the original WLAN module in your MacPro, and of course I did this simply because you do not want to have two WLAN cards installed. It was very easy. You find sufficient source of information via Google, just as these ones:
http://www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/apple-computers/mac-pro-wifi-2008-2012/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvGKfeuPH0
(both obviously for installing)
If the Mac still does not recognize the card (which was not the case with me), it might also be preferable to try another card slot.
Replacement: Asus PCE-AC68 PCIe WLAN Card
http://www.asus.com/Networking/PCEAC68/
The card works with Apple drivers because it uses the same WLAN chip as MacBookPros. Updating MacOSX to the latest version (Yosemite, as I write) is definitely preferable, but I have been on Mavericks when I installed this card, so Mavericks should provide the necessary drivers as well.
It is probably also necessary to remove the original WLAN module in your MacPro, and of course I did this simply because you do not want to have two WLAN cards installed. It was very easy. You find sufficient source of information via Google, just as these ones:
http://www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/apple-computers/mac-pro-wifi-2008-2012/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvGKfeuPH0
(both obviously for installing)
If the Mac still does not recognize the card (which was not the case with me), it might also be preferable to try another card slot.
Modding #3: SSD
Original: conventional HD with 512 GB
Replacements (as of 2014):
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB Media (System Drive)
WDC WD30EZRX-00DC0B0 3 TB (Data Drive)
Upgrade Process: Plug'n'Play. The four internal HD SATA slots gave me much room for experimenting with different HD setups. I finally ended up with a rather large SSD for the system and a WD Green 3 TB for massive data and yet decent sounds/temperatures.
Trim Support: Out of the box, Trim support is only available for SSDs provided by Apple.
Update - as of Mavericks 10.10.4, Apple finally allows TRIM support for third party SSDs. Ars Technica provides for the instruction, and it just works:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/06/latest-os-x-update-allows-you-to-enable-trim-for-third-party-ssds/
So no further workarounds required. You might need to execute this command with every further OS X update, we will see.
With OSX 10.9.4, Chameleon TRIM Enabler no longer works easily, and TRIM must be activated manually. I can confirm the following solution as working (two Terminal commands):
sudo perl -pi -e 's|(^\x00{1,20})[^\x00]{9}(\x00{1,20}\x54)|$1\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00$2|sg' /System/Library/Extensions/IOAHCIFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/IOAHCIBlockStorage.kext/Contents/MacOS/IOAHCIBlockStorage
sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions/
Source: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/Chameleon_SSD_Optimizer.html#OSX_Trim_Commands
Then reboot the system, and TRIM support should be back again.
Benefit: Even with the SATA2 interface, the switch to SSD provided to be the single most important performance boost. This is not about benchmarks, it's about everyday usage. Booting time is ridiculously short. Startup times of the most frequently used apps improved significantly.
So even with the slower SATA2 interface, an upgrade of every MacPro to SSD for the system is highly recommended.
Be careful to check TRIM support with every single upgrade in the System Profiler, such as here:
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB:
Capacity: 500,11 GB (500.107.862.016 bytes)
Model: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB
Revision: EXT0BB6Q
Serial Number: S1DHNEADA18741V
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Medium Type: Solid State
TRIM Support: Yes
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Replacements (as of 2014):
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB Media (System Drive)
WDC WD30EZRX-00DC0B0 3 TB (Data Drive)
Upgrade Process: Plug'n'Play. The four internal HD SATA slots gave me much room for experimenting with different HD setups. I finally ended up with a rather large SSD for the system and a WD Green 3 TB for massive data and yet decent sounds/temperatures.
Trim Support: Out of the box, Trim support is only available for SSDs provided by Apple.
Update - as of Mavericks 10.10.4, Apple finally allows TRIM support for third party SSDs. Ars Technica provides for the instruction, and it just works:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/06/latest-os-x-update-allows-you-to-enable-trim-for-third-party-ssds/
So no further workarounds required. You might need to execute this command with every further OS X update, we will see.
With OSX 10.9.4, Chameleon TRIM Enabler no longer works easily, and TRIM must be activated manually. I can confirm the following solution as working (two Terminal commands):
sudo perl -pi -e 's|(^\x00{1,20})[^\x00]{9}(\x00{1,20}\x54)|$1\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00$2|sg' /System/Library/Extensions/IOAHCIFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/IOAHCIBlockStorage.kext/Contents/MacOS/IOAHCIBlockStorage
sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions/
Source: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/Chameleon_SSD_Optimizer.html#OSX_Trim_Commands
Then reboot the system, and TRIM support should be back again.
Benefit: Even with the SATA2 interface, the switch to SSD provided to be the single most important performance boost. This is not about benchmarks, it's about everyday usage. Booting time is ridiculously short. Startup times of the most frequently used apps improved significantly.
So even with the slower SATA2 interface, an upgrade of every MacPro to SSD for the system is highly recommended.
Be careful to check TRIM support with every single upgrade in the System Profiler, such as here:
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB:
Capacity: 500,11 GB (500.107.862.016 bytes)
Model: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB
Revision: EXT0BB6Q
Serial Number: S1DHNEADA18741V
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Medium Type: Solid State
TRIM Support: Yes
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Modding #2: DVD -> RPC0
Original: OPTIARC DVD RW AD-7170A
Firmware Revision: 1.NC (modded)
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose File > Refresh Information
Upgrade Process: This was a rather tough one. RPC1 firmware was available for Macs on one of the notorious RPC1 forums. The search for a working version has been tedious, and as always the flashing process is nothing for the nervous ones. At the end, it went well.
Benefit: I am still getting DVDs from different regions, and being able to play them on an RPC1 drive is just great. RegionX still works on the last version of Mavericks.
Firmware Revision: 1.NC (modded)
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose File > Refresh Information
Upgrade Process: This was a rather tough one. RPC1 firmware was available for Macs on one of the notorious RPC1 forums. The search for a working version has been tedious, and as always the flashing process is nothing for the nervous ones. At the end, it went well.
Benefit: I am still getting DVDs from different regions, and being able to play them on an RPC1 drive is just great. RegionX still works on the last version of Mavericks.
Modding #1: Graphics Card
Original: ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256 MB RAM in double-wide 16-lane PCIe slot
This card is rather slow, but noisy at the same time.
Replacement: ATI Radeon HD 5770 Mac Edition
Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 5770
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 1024 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x68b8
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-C0160C-155
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.436
Displays:
S2231W:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Display Serial Number: 27540018
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6M
(I purchased it at Apple Store, where it is no longer available)
Upgrade Process: Plug'n'Play. The only risk I took here was that this card was not offered as an official upgrade for my MacPro Early 2008. I swiftly found several confirmations that my MacPro will work with this card. And it was easy, worked out of the box and survived every single OSX upgrade since then. So this upgrade was a no-brainer.
Benefit: Hard to tell, since I am no gamer. It was probably the right decision to make this rather massive upgrade on the GFX side.
This card is rather slow, but noisy at the same time.
Replacement: ATI Radeon HD 5770 Mac Edition
Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 5770
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 1024 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x68b8
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-C0160C-155
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.436
Displays:
S2231W:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Display Serial Number: 27540018
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6M
(I purchased it at Apple Store, where it is no longer available)
Upgrade Process: Plug'n'Play. The only risk I took here was that this card was not offered as an official upgrade for my MacPro Early 2008. I swiftly found several confirmations that my MacPro will work with this card. And it was easy, worked out of the box and survived every single OSX upgrade since then. So this upgrade was a no-brainer.
Benefit: Hard to tell, since I am no gamer. It was probably the right decision to make this rather massive upgrade on the GFX side.
The Basis - Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Here is the Mac Pro which I started modding back in 2009 until 2014:
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro3,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2,8 GHz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Number of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per Processor): 12 MB
Memory: 14 GB
Bus Speed: 1,6 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP31.006C.B05
SMC Version (system): 1.25f4
So it is an Early 2008 Mac Pro with 8 cores in 2 Xeon 2.8 processors.
http://lowendmac.com/2008/mac-pro-early-2008/ provides further useful information.
The system now runs OSX Mavericks 10.9.4 and will qualify for Yosemite.
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro3,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2,8 GHz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Number of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per Processor): 12 MB
Memory: 14 GB
Bus Speed: 1,6 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP31.006C.B05
SMC Version (system): 1.25f4
So it is an Early 2008 Mac Pro with 8 cores in 2 Xeon 2.8 processors.
http://lowendmac.com/2008/mac-pro-early-2008/ provides further useful information.
The system now runs OSX Mavericks 10.9.4 and will qualify for Yosemite.
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