Skip to main content

Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement

What you need

  1. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Outer Case: step 1, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Outer Case: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Slide the lock switch to the right, to the unlocked position.

  2. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • Lift the outer case straight up off the Mac Pro.

    • It may help to push down on the center of the fan while lifting the case up.

  3. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Fan Assembly: step 3, image 1 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Fan Assembly: step 3, image 2 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Fan Assembly: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Remove five 5.1 mm T10 Torx screws from around the outer perimeter of the fan assembly.

  4. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • The fan assembly is attached to the rest of the computer by two cables on the IO board side.

    • Tilt the assembly up away from the IO board.

    • Do not try to remove the fan assembly yet, as it is still attached by two cables.

  5. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • While supporting the fan assembly with one hand, loosen the two T8 captive screws in the fan cable bracket.

    • These screws are captive in the Mac Pro. Do not try to remove these screws from your Mac Pro.

  6. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Use a pair of tweezers to pull the fan cable bracket away from the fan assembly.

  7. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the fan assembly ribbon cable from the IO board.

  8. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the fan assembly antenna cable from the IO board.

    • Remove the fan assembly from the Mac Pro.

  9. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Lower Case: step 9, image 1 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Lower Case: step 9, image 2 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Lower Case: step 9, image 3 of 3
    • Flip the Mac Pro upside down, 180 degrees.

    • Remove five 5.1 mm T10 Torx screws from the outer perimeter of the lower case.

  10. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Carefully lift the lower case up and remove it from the Mac Pro.

  11. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Interconnect Board: step 11, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Interconnect Board: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger and a twisting motion to gently separate one side of the graphics card data connection.

  12. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3
    • Gently separate the other side as well.

    • Flip the connector up and out of the way of the graphics card.

    • Repeat this procedure on the other graphics card.

  13. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 6.0 mm T8 Torx screws securing the interconnect board to the heat sink.

  14. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 3 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 14, image 3 of 3
    • Gently walk the interconnect board straight up off the logic board's slot connection.

    • It is recommended to lift one side and then the other.

    • Do not try to remove the interconnect board from the Mac Pro yet, as it is still connected to the IO board.

  15. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Flip the interconnect board up and over, exposing the IO board data cable.

    • Use the same sort of twisting and spreading motion with the flat end of a spudger to separate one side of the IO board data cable.

  16. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to separate the other side of the IO board data cable.

    • Bend the cable out of the way and remove the interconnect board from the Mac Pro.

  17. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Power Supply Assembly: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Flip the Mac Pro back over and set it gently on a flat surface.

    • We recommend laying the Mac Pro on the corner of the heat sink and the two standoff screw posts that attach to the interconnect board.

  18. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the two 3.6 mm T5 Torx screws from the sides of the power supply cage (one on each side).

  19. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the power supply cage from the top of the power supply.

    • By removing this cage, you are exposing internal components of the power supply. Be very careful not to touch any of the power supply components or circuitry.

    • Be careful not to drop any screws or tools into the power supply, as this may damage the power supply.

  20. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four 5.5 mm T8 Torx screws securing the power supply assembly to the Mac Pro.

  21. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the power supply assembly from the Mac Pro.

  22. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, Logic Board: step 22, image 1 of 1
    • Remove two 5.5 mm T8 Torx screws.

  23. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1
    • Remove four 12.8 mm T10 Torx screws from the CPU heat sink bracket.

    • Remove only the outer four of the eight screws.

  24. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2
    • At this point, the logic board is held onto the heat sink by thermal compound.

    • You may need to gently pry with a spudger to separate the logic board from the heat sink.

    • Be very careful not to bend and break the logic board.

    • Remove the logic board from the heat sink.

  25. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the inner four 12.8 mm T10 Torx screws from the CPU heat sink bracket.

    • Remove the CPU heat sink bracket.

  26. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the second heat sink bracket.

  27. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 2 Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 2
    • Lift and remove the logic board from the CPU and bracket.

    • During reassembly, be sure to clean off and replace the thermal compound on the CPU.

    • We have a thermal paste guide that makes replacing the thermal compound easy.

  28. Mac Pro Late 2013 CPU Replacement, CPU: step 28, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the CPU from the CPU bracket.

    • CPU remains.

    • During reassembly, be sure to clean off and replace the thermal compound on the CPU.

    • We have a thermal paste guide that makes replacing the thermal compound easy.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

82 other people completed this guide.

45 Comments

So this means I can buy the smallest Mac Pro now and upgrade the CPU in a few years, right? I like you guys! :)

Ben - Reply

Yes, Ben, you could. 2nd hand CpU's are available on eBay, Amazon and various companies. Review suitability of your proposed CPU that it will fit the socket FCLGA2011, and pay attention to voltage. ECC support, and TDP. Switching CPU isn't an easy task and it has risks replacing it.

aramis -

Hi Ben, I found an interesting website with more info regarding CPU upgrade:

https://blog.macsales.com/22230-owcs-mac...

from

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/archives/dec1...

aramis -

I just replaced the cheapest 4-core version with the 12 core 2697v2.

This saved me around $700 + i can sell the 4 core.

Christer Jonsson - Reply

Can you please provide some benchmarks, i wish to do the same, but need to see if doing this myself creates any problems

Habib Kalia -

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 24

Past 7 Days: 217

Past 30 Days: 1,020

All Time: 69,748