OWC Mac Pro CPU Upgrade Program Now Online for 2009 and 2010 Mac Pro

The OWC CPU Upgrade Program is now online. As tested in my 2010 Mac Pro review, I am running a 12-core 3.33GHz system, upgrade by OWC.

Key points:

1. Apple gets better CPU pricing than OWC can (Apple buys in huge quantities). If you want machine X, and Apple currently sells it, buy it that way to start; it will be less expensive.
2. CPU prices drop over time. For example, when the new 3.46GHz hexacore chip appears, it will push down the price of the existing 3.33GHz hexacore chip. Patience will save you money.
3. Upgrading from a single CPU is expensive: the CPUs themselves are very expensive parts, and an additional heat sink and other parts are required.

The most cost-efficient models to upgrade are the slowest models:

• 2009 2.66GHz 4-core;
• 2009 2.26GHz 8-core;
• 2010 2.4GHz 8-core.

CPU speed is not the only issue, see the MPG Pro Workstation.