Mac Pro (3,1) keeps powering down

[pm-r]

I was surprised when I went to the link Lisa provided and saw the prices that are asked for a replacement PS.

Ditto.

And I can recall the Power Supplys for various Mac models and towers costing hundreds of dollars, yet the similar but not compatible PC power supplies just cost a fraction of the prices.




- Patrick
======

 

[pigoo3]

Yeah...those Mac Pro power supplies unfortunately ain't cheap. And if buying used...no guarantee it's any better than the one being replaced. But used is what I would buy anyways...since a new Mac Pro power supply is crazy-expensive (like close to $300)! CRAZY! lol

- Nick

 

[rman]

You try https://www.macpartsdepot.com/

 

[LEKOVISION]

Hi Everyone, so just wanted to give an update.


On Sept. 3rd, i started up in Safe Mode again, and used Tech Tool 6.0.3 to do a variety of tests. I left the computer on for a few days, as the tests were very thorough and lengthy. It took along time to do all of the tests, the surface scans of each of my 4 2TB Hard drives were the most time consuming.

My Mac Pro was on for almost 48 hours straight in Safe Mode, and never shut itself off.


Here are the results:

2018-09-05 4:08 PM

17 TESTS RUN.

All tests completed successfully.

• Memory Report
Memory Report ran 1 time, successfully.

• Surface Scan
Surface Scan ran 4 times, successfully.

• SMART
SMART ran 4 times, successfully.

• File Structures
File Structures ran 4 times, successfully.

• Video Memory
Video Memory ran 1 time, successfully.

• Volume Structures
Volume Structures ran 3 times, successfully.



I just tried to start it up now, and it powered down a few minutes into it's boot up. Tried again in Safe Mode, and same thing happened.


Tried each again another time, and powered down.


Just wanted to report my status. I just now unplugged all of my peripheral cables and tried, and it powered down again.


I'm now going to pull my E-Sata card and try again. If it continues to power down, then i'll start pulling my ram.


I'm also going to pull off the side panel and look for any red LED lights.


Will advise on my progress. Wish me luck!! lol.

 

[pm-r]

OK, Good Luck!!

OK?




- Patrick
======

 

[pigoo3]

Will advise on my progress. Wish me luck!! lol.

Don't forget to consider that the power supply may be the issue. The best way to test is to remove all unnecessary items from your Mac Pro in order to minimize the amount of power the Mac Pro needs to operate. This means:

- Only one internal hard drive.
- No extra installed cards.
- Lowest power possible video card installed.
- No peripheral devices.
- Maybe even as little installed RAM as possible.

I would also test with an internal HD that has been freshly erased & reformatted...and a "virgin" install of the OS on it. This way any OS/software issues can be eliminated as a possibility.

Good luck,

- Nick

p.s. But remember...even after all this...a weak power supply could be the issue.

 

[LEKOVISION]

Someone mentioned to look for flashing RED LED lights.

I just pulled my side panel off and did a power up.

There is a strip of 4 RED LED lights that lit up upon starting the computer on both RAM tray cards.

They also flashed as the computer shut itself off.

I took video of it. Is this a concern or normal for start up and shut down, to flash these red led lights?

I've tried to attach the video, but if it doesn't work, here is the download link for it (just in case):

https://ln.sync.com/dl/360589da0/nks9exu3-kvf2ia8q-pf637q5z-jt3w8h7i

 

[pigoo3]

Explanation of Mac Pro diagnostic LED's:

https://www.macrepaircentral.us/mac-pro-early-2008/diagnostic-leds.html

- Nick

 

[LEKOVISION]

UPDATE:


Ok, so i removed the 3 extra internal hard drives, leaving only my 1tb SSD main hard drive.


I removed my E-SATA card.


I also removed 6x of my 4gb ram cards and left the 2 remaining 1gb cards in the slot 1 & 2 on the bottom tray.


It booted up in regular mode and i could see my desktops on both monitors.


That lasted about 2 minutes, and then it shut down.


That is as bare bones as i could go, nothing else was plugged in other than the power supply cable, and my 2 monitor cables.


After all this (please refer to my last 3 posts), thoughts?


Is my power supply looking like the culprit after all of this, rather than overheating?

 

[pigoo3]

Ok, so i removed the 3 extra internal hard drives, leaving only my 1tb SSD main hard drive.

Has the remaining HD been freshly reformatted...and ONLY a fresh-virgin install of the OS on it?

I know this might be a pain in the butt to do...but it is a sure way to eliminate any OS/software issues.

It booted up in regular mode and i could see my desktops on both monitors.

How about only operating one monitor...two monitors requires more power draw from the video card. Also...do you have any other video cards you could use that might require less power?

That is as bare bones as i could go, nothing else was plugged in other than the power supply cable, and my 2 monitor cables.

More "bare-bones" is only running one monitor. Don't need 2 monitors to do this sort of testing.

Is my power supply looking like the culprit after all of this, rather than overheating?

Regarding over-heating:

- Have you given the inside of the computer a good cleaning with compressed air?...especially the heat sinks for the CPU's.
- Have you replaced the thermal compound for each CPU?
- If the video card has it's own heatsink...might want to replace the thermal compound on the video card as well.

If everything mentioned has been tried & done...and the computer still shuts down randomly...then the power supply seems more & more likely to be the issue.

- Nick

 

[chscag]

Is my power supply looking like the culprit after all of this, rather than overheating?

Sure looks like it.

 

[LEKOVISION]

Has the remaining HD been freshly reformatted...and ONLY a fresh-virgin install of the OS on it?

I know this might be a pain in the butt to do...but it is a sure way to eliminate any OS/software issues.

No, and i won't go through that hassle. I'd rather take that chance at buying a replacement part to see if it will work first. If it is not the solution, i'll make sure I have a return option.

How about only operating one monitor...two monitors requires more power draw from the video card. Also...do you have any other video cards you could use that might require less power?

More "bare-bones" is only running one monitor. Don't need 2 monitors to do this sort of testing.

I will try this!

Regarding over-heating:

- Have you given the inside of the computer a good cleaning with compressed air?...especially the heat sinks for the CPU's.

Yes, thoroughly.

- Have you replaced the thermal compound for each CPU?
- If the video card has it's own heatsink...might want to replace the thermal compound on the video card as well.

To be honest, i'm not familiar with where or what the Heat sink looks like, as well as that compound and where i'd find it. Believe it or not, i have googled trying to find any youtube videos detailing this, and can not find it. I've fortunately not had to deal with this before, so knowing where the heat sink is was never needed. Any helpful suggestions as to where this is, what it looks like, or youtube links, would be GREATLY appreciated.

If everything mentioned has been tried & done...and the computer still shuts down randomly...then the power supply seems more & more likely to be the issue.

- Nick

Your input is greatly appreciated Nick. Thank you. (as well as everyone else who has taken the time to contribute to my thread thus far.

 

[LEKOVISION]

UPDATE:

I tried with only one monitor plugged in, and tried both ports, and each time my Mac Pro shut down within minutes, before my actual desktop would appear.

 

[pigoo3]

I and others have been suggesting just about every possible thing to try before needed to spend money ordering a part. The power supply may very well be the problem...thus doing all the other stuff suggested may not be necessary. If you absolutely knew that over-heating was the issue...then replacing the thermal compound might be something to try...but this is a VERY involved and somewhat delicate procedure on a 1st gen. Mac Pro...and you do need some special tools.

If you're willing to purchase & replace the power supply (with a return option)...you might be better off doing this first.

- Nick

 

[lclev]

I would try the power supply first but if this is an issue of dried out thermal paste replacing that is a very delicate process - as Nick stated. I have had to replace thermal paste on a couple of Macbooks - which is not that hard at all compared to a Mac Pro. But they both would do random shutdowns and once I replaced the paste the shutdowns stopped. I have a 2009 Macbook that is still running a lighting program every Sunday with no issues after having replaced the thermal paste.

Youtube.com has a lot of videos showing CPU replacement on a Mac Pro. The process of replacing the thermal paste would include a lot of the same steps. Here is an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TDEQK5IXlc

Lisa

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks for the link Lisa. Pictures/videos always worth a 1000 word's.

I've replaced the thermal paste on a few 1st gen. Mac Pro's...and it's definitely a delicate process...and a little bit of a pain in the butt to even get access to the massive CPU heatsinks to remove them...and you need a REALLY long allen wrench which is shown in the video.

Here's the ifixit.com procedure for the same project (replace CPU's on 1st gen. Mac Pro)...which involves the application of the thermal paste.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Replacing-Upgrading+Mac+Pro+Processors+(Early+2008)/17562

Similar to what you mentioned Lisa about replaced the thermal paste on some MacBooks...I've done it on some older iMac's as well that had discrete video hardware. After replacing the thermal paste...the random lockups stopped.

- Nick

 

[LEKOVISION]

THANK YOU for this ifixit link....amazingly helpful!!

Thanks for the link Lisa. Pictures/videos always worth a 1000 word's.

I've replaced the thermal paste on a few 1st gen. Mac Pro's...and it's definitely a delicate process...and a little bit of a pain in the butt to even get access to the massive CPU heatsinks to remove them...and you need a REALLY long allen wrench which is shown in the video.

Here's the ifixit.com procedure for the same project (replace CPU's on 1st gen. Mac Pro)...which involves the application of the thermal paste.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Replacing-Upgrading+Mac+Pro+Processors+(Early+2008)/17562

Similar to what you mentioned Lisa about replaced the thermal paste on some MacBooks...I've done it on some older iMac's as well that had discrete video hardware. After replacing the thermal paste...the random lockups stopped.

- Nick

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you for this link too Lisa!!!

I would try the power supply first but if this is an issue of dried out thermal paste replacing that is a very delicate process - as Nick stated. I have had to replace thermal paste on a couple of Macbooks - which is not that hard at all compared to a Mac Pro. But they both would do random shutdowns and once I replaced the paste the shutdowns stopped. I have a 2009 Macbook that is still running a lighting program every Sunday with no issues after having replaced the thermal paste.

Youtube.com has a lot of videos showing CPU replacement on a Mac Pro. The process of replacing the thermal paste would include a lot of the same steps. Here is an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TDEQK5IXlc

Lisa

- - - Updated - - -

UPDATE:

Well, i tried powering up my 3,1 yesterday, and it powered down twice about 20 seconds into boot up. I then started it up in Safe Mode, and it was on for hours with no problems. I ran EtreCheck and have the results. Not sure if anyone will be able to understand the results for this program? If so, let me know and i can post the pdf.


Anyways, i'm in the process of pulling out the heat sink and fans, and tomorrow will go buy some Arctic Silver 5 paste and apply it to the heat sink. Hopefully this helps, but if not, then it'll be a Power Supply replacement.

 

[ferrarr]

You can post the EtreCheck report, we've used them in the past.