Hello,

I just found someone who's been selling his old Mac Pro from 2013 (trashcan style) for just 300. Is this worth buying? And how much would this thing be upgradable? The gpu doesn't seem to be good enough for most of todays standards, but I'l guess the cpu with 6-core and 3,5 and 32GB RAM would still be really useable.

I would be using the mac for graphic design, animation and video editing. At the moment I'm working on a macbook and a windows desktop pc at the same time (depending on which I'm in need). But I really like the fluidness of the macos system. Working in Final Cut Pro and Apple Motion is just different. Since I can't use these apps on windows I was thinking about buying a Mac Pro as well or maybe exchange it completely for the windows pc. My Windows has a i5-10400 and a rtx 3080. The i-5 isn't as powerful as the one in the Mac Pro, isn't it? So, would it be possible to use the rtx 3080 as a egpu on the Mac Pro? If it would work then maybe I could use bootcamp to switch between the two systems (macos/windows) and work with Mac Pro gpu while running macos and use the rtx 3080 while running windows. Could that work or is it just some stupid thought?;D

Best regards:)

Hey everyone! I recently took the plunge and bought a Late 2013 Mac Pro, and I wanted to share my experience upgrading it and setting up a dual-boot system. When I found this Mac Pro on eBay, the listing didn’t specify what graphics card it had. Based on the other specs, I decided to take a gamble—and for me, it really paid off. Here’s what I’ve done so far and how it’s working out:

What I Purchased:

Mac Pro (Late 2013):

• Specs:

  • Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 (12-Core)

  • 64GB RAM

  • 500GB SSD (original drive, now repurposed externally)

  • Dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs (what I lucked out with!)

• Price: $167.50 (+ shipping and tax = $194.15).

Upgrades:

1. Crucial P3 Plus 4TB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe SSD – $228.35

   • Installed internally with a Sintech NGFF M.2 NVMe SSD Adapter Card ($9.36).

2. Sintech USB 3.2 Type-C External SSD Case – $52.63

   • Repurposed the original 500GB SSD as external storage.

Total Investment:

$484.49

Setup:

I’ve configured a dual-boot system running:

• macOS Sequoia via OpenCore Legacy Patcher

• Windows 11

Windows Setup:

I started with Windows 10 via Boot Camp and used a workaround to upgrade to Windows 11.
There were a few hiccups at first (graphics and WiFi drivers were disabled), but after troubleshooting, everything works perfectly now.

macOS Setup:

With OpenCore Legacy Patcher, macOS Sequoia runs beautifully. It’s incredible how much life this OS breathes into older hardware.

Gaming Experience:

One of the best parts of this setup is being able to run games natively on Windows. I’ve been playing GTA V Online and Minecraft quite a bit recently.

I used to play Minecraft on my iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011), and this thing absolutely blows it out of the water in terms of performance. Having this setup has really made gaming more enjoyable and consistent.

Additional Tweaks:

1. MacsFanControl:

   • I’ve paid for the Pro version and typically run the fan at full blast (1900 RPM) to keep things as cool as possible.

   • While this keeps temperatures under control, it’s obviously not ideal for noise.

   • I’d love to hear from anyone who has a fan curve setup that’s more aggressive but doesn’t rely on full-speed operation all the time. If you’ve found the sweet spot for balancing cooling and noise, let me know!

2. Thunderbolt Display Setup:

   • As you can see in the picture, I’ve got an Apple Thunderbolt Display, which pairs perfectly with the Mac Pro.

   • After I get a larger desk (thanks to more room from a recent move), I’m planning to buy a second Thunderbolt Display to expand my workspace even further.

3. Cleaning:

   • I’ve cleaned the main fan, but I plan to do a full teardown and repaste soon. I’m curious to see if that improves cooling even more.

My Thoughts:

Yes, I could’ve just gone for a new Mac mini, especially with the Apple Silicon models crushing it in terms of performance. But for my workflow and personal preferences, the Mac Pro (Late 2013) feels like the right fit. Personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful computers ever made—its sleek, cylindrical design is a work of art to me. Of course, I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for me, the design is part of what makes this machine so special.

The upgrades have made it a super versatile machine—fast storage, dual OS options, and enough power to handle most tasks I throw at it. Plus, there’s just something about keeping this iconic design alive that makes it all worthwhile.

What I’d Like to Know:

1. Has anyone here done a full teardown and repaste? Any tips or advice?

2. Do you have recommended fan curves for MacsFanControl to keep things cool without running full blast all the time?

Let me know what you think, and I’d love to hear how others are upgrading or using their Mac Pros!