Special 8 core Mac Pro requirements

As if the Mac Pro wasn’t fickle enough with it’s RAM needs (requiring the special heatsinks and all), the new 8 core version is even more fickle, requiring an entirely new set of part numbers for its RAM and hard drives. Thankfully the new numbers are backward compatible with the older quad core Mac Pros.

Apple kits compatible with all Mac Pro computers (quad-core and 8-core)

Part Number and description

• MA985, 1GB 667MHz DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x512MB
• MA986, 2GB 667MHz DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x1GB
• MA987, 4GB 667MHz DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x2GB
• MA988, 500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive for Mac pro
• MA989, 750GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive for Mac pro

Apple kits compatible only with quad-core Mac Pro computers

Part Number and description

• MA684, 1GB 667MHz DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x512MB
• MA685, 2GB 667MHz DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x1GB
• MA833, 4GB 667MHz DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x2GB
• MA690, 500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive for Mac pro
• MA851, 750GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive for Mac pro

Then again, I buy third party RAM and hard drives, so this wouldn’t have changed anything for me, even if I had the $4000 for one of the new machines. I like choosing the exact hard drive I want and saving money on both drives and RAM.