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Apple Mac Pro "Quad Core" 3.33 (2009/Nehalem) Specs

Identifiers: Early 2009 - BTO/CTO - MacPro4,1 - A1289 - 2314

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Apple Mac ProThe Mac Pro "Quad Core" 3.33 (Early 2009/Nehalem), technically is a "build-to-order" configuration of the Mac Pro "Quad Core" 2.66 (Early 2009/Nehalem), but also is documented as a separate model for reader convenience. Other than processor speed, these two models are identical.

The Mac Pro "Quad Core" 3.33 (Early 2009/Nehalem) is powered by one 3.33 GHz Quad Core 45-nm Xeon W3580 (Nehalem) processor with a dedicated 256k of level 2 cache for each core and 8 MB of "fully shared" level 3 cache.

By default, it was configured with 3 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM, a 640 GB (7200 RPM, 16 MB cache) 3Gb/s Serial ATA hard drive, an 18X dual-layer "SuperDrive" and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory.

Expansion includes two external 5.25" "optical" bays (one free by default), four internal 3.5" "cable-free, direct attach" hard drive bays (three free by default), and four PCIe 2.0 slots (one free PCIe 2.0 x16 slot and two free PCIe 2.0 x4 slots with the default single graphics card installed).

Ports include five USB 2.0 ports, four Firewire "800" ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and both a Mini DisplayPort and a dual-link DVI port, among others. Bluetooth 2.1+EDR is standard, AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) is optional.

Although the "Early 2009/Nehalem" models look practically the same externally as the "Early 2008" models, there are major technical differences. The 64-bit "Nehalem" architecture is substantially faster and supports "Hyper-Threading" -- which "allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core" (so MacOS X recognizes eight "virtual cores" on this model) -- and "Turbo Boost" -- which "automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload" (so if an application is only using one of the four cores it will automatically increase the speed of the core in use and turn off the unused cores).

It also replaces the frontside bus with a new "QuickPath Interconnect" (QPI) system described as a "bidrectional, point-to-point connection" that provides "quick access to the disk, I/O, and other Mac Pro subsystems".

Other changes include four PCIe 2.0 slots (instead of two PCIe and two PCIe 2.0 slots), four Firewire "800" ports (instead of two Firewire "400" and "800" ports), and a redesigned interior case with the processors and memory on a removable "tray".

Also see:

  • What are the differences between the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models?
  • What are the differences between the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models and the "Early 2008" Mac Pro models that they replaced?

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Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.


December 4, 2009* July 27, 2010*
1 (4 Cores) 64-Bit
10304 11475
2265 8690
2519 9942
2841 9436
592 2120
3.33 GHz Q. Core Xeon W3580
Details: The 64-bit 45-nm Xeon W3580 (Bloomfield/Nehalem) processor has four independent processor "cores" each with a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, 8 MB of "fully shared" level 3 cache, an integrated memory controller, and "a 128-bit SSE4 SIMD engine". It also supports "Hyper-Threading" -- which "allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core" (so Mac OS X recognizes eight total cores on this model, four real and four virtual) -- and "Turbo Boost" -- which "automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload" (so if an application is only using one of the four cores it will automatically increase the speed of the core in use and turn off the unused cores).

Also see: How much faster are the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro models than the "Early 2008" Mac Pro models?
3.6 GHz N/A
LGA 1366 Socket Integrated
4.8 GT/s* 3.33 GHz (Built-in)
EFI 64-Bit
32k/32k x4 256k (x4), 8 MB*
PC3-8500 DDR3 ECC 1066 MHz
Details: Uses "1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM" (PC3-8500) modules.

Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the "Early 2009/Nehalem" Mac Pro? How much RAM of what type does it support?
3 GB 48 GB*
Details: By default, 3 GB of RAM was installed as three 1 GB modules. One slot free.

*As originally shipped, Apple officially supported a maximum of 8 GB of RAM but third-parties discovered that the system could actually support 16 GB of RAM using four 4 GB memory modules. On December 4, 2009, Apple "officially" began supporting 16 GB of RAM as well. Shortly thereafter, third-parties determined that the system could, in fact, support 32 GB of RAM using four 8 GB modules. Finally, third-parties have been able to support 48 GB of RAM with three 16 GB modules.

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this Mac Pro.

In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells memory and other upgrades for this Mac Pro.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this Mac Pro.

In Australia, site sponsor Upgradeable sells memory and other upgrades for this Mac Pro.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.
None 4
GeForce GT 120 GDDR3 SDRAM
Details: By default, a NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory was installed in a double-wide, 16-lane PCI Express 2.0 graphics slot. It has both a Mini DisplayPort and a dual-link DVI port. By custom configuration, this model also was available with as many as four NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics cards (for US$150/each after the first one) or an ATI Radeon HD 4870, also with 512 MB of GDDR5 memory, for an additional US$200.

Also see: What are the default graphics cards provided with each Mac Pro? What Mac Pro compatible video cards are available for purchase later? Which video cards have which ports?

In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the graphics card, power supply, and more for this Mac Pro.
512 MB 512 MB
Up to 8 Displays* 2560x1600*
Details: *With four video cards installed. By default, one NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 was installed and it can support two 30-inch displays. The default video card is capable of supporting digital resolutions up to 2560x1600 and analog resolutions up to 2048x1536.
Dual/Mirroring 2560x1600
Details: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 is capable of supporting two 30-inch displays with a resolution of 2560x1600 in either dual display or mirrored mode.

Also see: Apple Cinema Displays.
640 GB HDD 7200 RPM
Details: By default, this system shipped with a single 640 GB (7200 RPM, 16 MB cache) Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive.

Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drives in the Mac Pro models? How many drives of what type are supported?

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this Mac Pro.

In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this Mac Pro.

In Australia, site sponsor Upgradeable sells storage upgrades for this Mac Pro.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.
3.5" (25.4 mm) Serial ATA (3 Gb/s)
18X DL "SuperDrive" None
None Gigabit (x2)
Details: External Apple USB Modem offered for US$49. The system has "two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T [Gigabit] Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces with support for jumbo frames."
802.11a/b/g/n (Opt) 2.1+EDR
5 (2.0) 4 (800)
4 PCIe 2.0, AP* 4 3.5", 2 5.25"
Details: *This model has four full-length PCI Express (PCIe) 2.0 expansion slots, two x16 slots and two x4 slots. In the default configuration, one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot is occupied by the graphics card. Apple also reports that "all slots provide mechanical support for 16-lane cards" and there is a "300W combined maximum for all PCI Express slots."

AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) additionally could be installed at extra cost.

In the default configuration, one internal 3.5" bay is occupied by a hard drive and three are free, and one external 5.25" bay is occupied by a "SuperDrive" and the other is free.

Also see: How many PCI slots of what type are provided by each Mac Pro model? How do you install a PCIe card in the Mac Pro?

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of internal and external expansion options and hand-picked accessories ranging from internal PCIe cards to external storage, stands, keyboards, cables, adapters, and more for this Mac Pro.
Apple Aluminum KB Mighty Mouse
Tower Mac Pro
BTO/CTO Early 2009
A1289 (EMC 2314) MacPro4,1
Details: Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1289 Model Number, the 2314 EMC Number, and the MacPro4,1 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.
N/A N/A
X 10.5.6 (9G3553) X 10.11.6*
XP SP2 (32-Bit)* 8.1 (64-Bit)*
None Boot/Virtualization
Details: Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?

For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A.
20.1 x 8.1 x 18.7 39.9 lbs. (18.1 kg)
US$3699 US$300-US$450
Details: Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).

Photo Credit: Apple Computer.


Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.


2 None
Details: One Mini DisplayPort and one dual-link DVI port provided by the default NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics card. Supports dual display and mirroring modes. Can support as many as eight displays with four graphics cards installed.

Also see: What graphics cards are available for the Mac Pro? Which models have which ports?
None None*
None None
5 (2.0) 4 (800)
Details: This Mac Pro model has five USB 2.0 ports on the system (two on the front panel and three on the back) and four Firewire "800" ports (two on the front and two on the back). Apple also advertises that there are "two USB 2.0 ports on [the] included keyboard".
None 2 (RJ-45)
Details: No internal modem. External Apple USB modem offered for US$49. Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR are standard, AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) and a modem are optional.
None None
None 2
2 1
N/A None
1 N/A

Global original prices for the Mac Pro "Quad Core" 3.33 (2009/Nehalem) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North & South America

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N/A US$3699

Original Prices - Europe

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Original Prices - Asia

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Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

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If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.


Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Mac Pro models follow.



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