Loud fans with Mac Pro after new processors

[martin86]

Hey everyone, I am dying to find a way with this issue.
I currently picked up my mac pro from the workshop where a new motherboard and processors were put it, i boosted it from a quad core 2.8 to a eight core 3.2ghz. I was happy about the change but when I fired it the fans went nuts and never quiet down - EVER and so loud i cannot even hear myself think.
I'v tried all the softwares for fan control, SMC reset and all but I keep telling myself that perhaps new fans would do the trick.
I don't have much around me when it comes to parts, I live on a small island in the pacific and they all tell me that new fans would not change anything.

Even though they are going at 2800-3000rpm when nothing goes on and I know fans that are quieter than that but works and fits for PC only.

The question is, are there any other types of fans (front fans that is) we could put in a mac pro?
Or is there another trick i missed?
Is the guy who represents APPLE REPAIR in my country is wrong when he says that i should not have done the processor upgrade and now I am stuck with this issue?….

I'll be happy with any guidance - Thanks in advance for the help

 

[chscag]

Whoever did the work for you (installed the new CPU and logic board) obviously did not calibrate the temperature sensors which control the fans. Take it back to them and tell them to properly calibrate the sensors so your fans operate the way they're supposed to.

 

[martin86]

Thanks for the quick reply.

SO despite the boost my mac has just received, the fans shouldn't behave like and still be normal right?

Because they do sound like when i'm exporting use composition from After Effects...

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks for the quick reply.

SO despite the boost my mac has just received, the fans shouldn't behave like and still be normal right?

Because they do sound like when i'm exporting use composition from After Effects...

A Mac Pro's fans shouldn't do that...especially if all the computer is doing is just sitting there, or checking e-mail, or writing a post on Mac-Forums.

Seems like the obviouse answer would be to take it back to the person who did the upgrade for you.

I would also suggest one more thing:

- Go to "Activity Monitor"
- click on the "CPU" tab
- select "All Process's" from the drop down menu at the top right of the Activity Monitor window.

What are your % User, % System, and % Idle numbers (bottom left corner)?

- Nick

 

[martin86]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/0r7o.png/

If this image can be seen here is a look at my activity monitor. I haven't tried any of the big softwares yet. Im just translating documents.

Plus the fans go nuts as soon as i turn it on, they roar really loud before the apple logo shows.

Here's another screenshot of fan speed

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/8xx1.png/

Hope the screenshots can be seen

 

[martin86]

User% varies from 4 to 9
System stays around the 4%
and Idle isn't below 90%

There is nothing happening and the really annoying part is having people here, telling me that's what it supposed to do, after spending 2000bucks, i'm supposed to have a steam machine in my office….

 

[dtravis7]

Who is telling you that is normal? It's not trust me. Something was done wrong and I believe it's calibration like was stated above!

 

[martin86]

Ok i just wanted to get different opinions because i knew these guys over here were off their heads (or meds).

Thanks for the quick reply guys

 

[pigoo3]

User% varies from 4 to 9
System stays around the 4%
and Idle isn't below 90%

Those numbers look fine. Was just exploring a possibility.

BTW...those fan speeds are not normal or fine. If you just spent $2000...go back to the person who did the upgrading...and ask them to fix it. If they cannot...then put a stop payment on that $2000 payment (hopefully you used a credit card).

And tell them to take out the new stuff...and put the old stuff back in.

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

I have been around the G5 Towers and Mac Pros and unless you are doing very intensive work they are shockingly quiet! So those people are just trying to get out of doing it right.

 

[pigoo3]

Just so you can say you did it...do a PRAM/NVRAM reset, and an SMC reset:

- About NVRAM and PRAM
- Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

HTH,

- Nick

 

[martin86]

I did SMC that i am sure but the PRAM reset never seems to work, when hold the four keys (and it's a wired keyboard, not wireless) i never get the second startup sound. However it does guide to a window where i can reinstall OSX.


As for the old stuff to be put back in, that will be hard because they all fried, logic board and processors. I was meaning to upgrade so i can get more speed with HD editing and After effects work.

And as for payment, this is where we're lucky to be in a small island, i can pay little but by little bit. So he hasn't got it all yet

I'd like to try a different fan or he could just try to re calibrate the heat sensors. If you know tutorials on that, i'd be happy to do it myself to save time and trouble...

 

[pigoo3]

And as for payment, this is where we're lucky to be in a small island, i can pay little but by little bit. So he hasn't got it all yet

If you want to...add your location to your profile. Sometimes when we know where you are located...we can try to "not suggest" solutions that may not apply to your geographic location.

As far as your Mac Pro being fried and doing the $2000 replacement/upgrade. Normally I would recommend against this. With Macintosh computers (and the cost of replacement parts)...many times it does not make financial sense to do what you did. It can usually be better just to sell the old computer for parts...and purchase a "new to you" used computer.

But this may not be easy for you to do at your location...and the cost of doing things may be different than in other geographical locations.

- Nick

 

[chscag]

I'd like to try a different fan or he could just try to re calibrate the heat sensors. If you know tutorials on that, i'd be happy to do it myself to save time and trouble...

I almost hate to tell you this... but only authorized Apple service repair centers can calibrate those temperature sensors. You need a service manual and the proper software to do the procedure. Do some Googling on the subject. I remember reading several posts on this in the Apple Community Support Forums several years back.

 

[martin86]

Well the thing is over here, everything is really expensive. It's a french island right of the east coast of Australia and all imports are taxed pretty high. I don't think there is any decent mac pro under 6000 bucks.
So he only charged me for the parts and $0 on setup, because he's a friend and he will require my skills too.
In other words i understand it may seem like an expansive upgrade but over here it's not, especially if i can pay bits by bits. Everything works fine but the fans that are running high for no reason.
And I'm place my bets on this heat sensor calibration. But I have to work to finish in the next 24hrs so i canon take it back just yet...

 

[martin86]

I almost hate to tell you this... but only authorized Apple service repair centers can calibrate those temperature sensors. You need a service manual and the proper software to do the procedure. Do some Googling on the subject. I remember reading several posts on this in the Apple Community Support Forums several years back.

That is a bummer, I was ready to get my hands dirty.

 

[pigoo3]

Well the thing is over here, everything is really expensive. It's a french island right of the east coast of Australia and all imports are taxed pretty high. I don't think there is any decent mac pro under 6000 bucks.

In other words i understand it may seem like an expansive upgrade but over here it's not, especially if i can pay bits by bits. Everything works fine but the fans that are running high for no reason.

This is why I suggested adding your location to your profile. Sometimes if someone is from a more isolated geographical location (at least isolated in terms of getting Macintosh/Apple help)...we can try to be as creative as possible with suggestions.

Not to be disrespectful to the folks of New Caledonia. But I'm guessing that there may not be that many "Macintosh/Apple" experts on the island. We as Macintosh users are in a big minority when it comes to computers...and on an island such as New Caledonia...Macintosh experts may be few and far between.

Given that the person that did your Mac Pro upgrade is telling you things that aren't true (that this fan thing is not a big deal & is normal)...I'm guessing he may not be an Macintosh expert...at least not in a world-wide sense (he may be a "New Caledonia Macintosh expert")!

Heck...who knows...how many of these Mac Pro cpu upgrades has he done? Can't be too many...since he didn't get this one right. Maybe he was learning for the first time on your computer!

Doing a cpu upgrade on a Mac Pro is NOT a common procedure...even in other countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. So even "experts" in these countries may not have done many (or any) of these upgrades on a Mac Pro.

I'm not sure what else to suggest...other than make sure that this person who did your upgrade is not fully paid before things are sorted out.

Good luck,

- Nick

 

[martin86]

This is why I suggested adding your location to your profile. Sometimes if someone is from a more isolated geographical location (at least isolated in terms of getting Macintosh/Apple help)...we can try to be as creative as possible with suggestions.

Not to be disrespectful to the folks of New Caledonia. But I'm guessing that there may not be that many "Macintosh/Apple" experts on the island. We as Macintosh users are in a big minority when it comes to computers...and on an island such as New Caledonia...Macintosh experts may be few and far between.

Given that the person that did your Mac Pro upgrade is telling you things that aren't true (that this fan thing is not a big deal & is normal)...I'm guessing he may not be an Macintosh expert...at least not in a world-wide sense (he may be a "New Caledonia Macintosh expert")!

Heck...who knows...how many of these Mac Pro cpu upgrades has he done? Can't be too many...since he didn't get this one right. Maybe he was learning for the first time on your computer!

Doing a cpu upgrade on a Mac Pro is NOT a common procedure...even in other countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. So even "experts" in these countries may not have done many (or any) of these upgrades on a Mac Pro.

I'm not sure what else to suggest...other than make sure that this person who did your upgrade is not fully paid before things are sorted out.

Good luck,

- Nick

Trust me you're not being disrespectful at all, there are lots of useless people out here. But thankfully the person who did the upgrade is no the person who thinks the fan issue is normal. He's is looking at this whole calibration thing right now and I trust he'll be ok. He does a lot of good work on lots of gear.
It was when i called the only apple repair store that they told the issue was ok and right there i lost my faith in them, plus they charge their price like crazy.

I'll let you know if the calibration pans out. Thanks for your help

 

[pigoo3]

But thankfully the person who did the upgrade is no the person who thinks the fan issue is normal.

I'll let you know if the calibration pans out. Thanks for your help

Sounds great...good deal. Glad to hear you have someone looking at it that you trust!

Looking forward to how things work out.

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

For what it is worth when I installed X5355 CPU's in Mac Pro got the jumbo jet fans roaring. Solution was simple. Under the heat sink is a small heat sensor plug which had come detached. Replaced and back to normal quiet Mac Pro.