Firmware Hack Transforms 2009 Mac Pro into 2010 Model

Users who own a 2009 Apple Mac Pro, but don't want to shell out the money to upgrade to a 2010 model, can now rejoice, as a recently documented firmware hack enables these machines to support up to 12 processing cores as well as higher memory speeds.

This is possible since both desktops use the same hardware internally, as Apple settled with just changing the firmware in the 2010 Mac Pro in order to support Intel's, back then new, six-core Westmere Xeon CPUs.

However, this functionality can be back-ported to the 2009 model which can be transformed into a 2010 Mac Pro, if the quad-core CPUs available in the machine are swapped with six-core Xeon models.

This firmware swap works since both Nehalem and Westmere-EP Xeon processors use the same socket and motherboard logic.

Single socket machines can use Intel's W-series Xeon processors, while dual-socket desktops require dual-QPI enabled chips, which include the Xeon E5600 and X5600-series models.

Even if a CPU upgrade doesn't rank too high up on your to do list, the new firmware could also bring some nice improvements to the system as it unlocks support for 1333MHz DRAM and can also channel audio signals through the mini-DisplayPort connectors on the installed GPUs.

The upgrade procedure is described in detail on the netkas forum, a community that is dedicated to hackintoshers and system tweakers.

Before installing the new 2010 Mac Pro firmware, one has to be aware of a few caveats such as the fact that this procedure will void your AppleCare warranty and that it would also render your original system install discs useless as System Profiler will identify the system as a MacPro 5.1.

The firmware upgrade tool has a way to revert back to the 2009 Mac Pro FW, but this may not work all the machines. (via ArsTechnica)