G5 powermac 2ghz wont start problem

[Jags]

Hi all,
I have a G5 power mac 2ghz (purchased in 06) and it currently wont start (u push the start button it clicks and the lights on the motherboard do the following led806 flashes red and goes out sys_led flashes green and goes out and the light above the start button flashes blue and goes out led805 stays on and is red and led801 stays on and is amber) it had been having issues prior to this with freezing up and fans going flat can any one tell me what this means and how I might work out what is wrong with the machine I think it might be the ram but I am just guessing.
motherboard is stamped
2005
820-1628-A

 

[harryb2448]

Sounds much like a power supply.

As a suggestion don't outlay too much for repair and consider putting our hard earned towards an Intel model at least.

 

[Jags]

thanks for the info I bet its hard as **** to remove too lol

 

[Jags]

I agree with looking at upgrades can this old case take the intel board? and if I went intel will my old software work? but if your right and its just a power supply I will just replace that is there anyway to prove its the power supply ?

 

[baggss]

Can the case take an Intel board? Possibly, but I'm not sure what the point is here. Face it, the G5 is an old machine and all of the G5 towers had issues. My Quad had similar issues to yours and I never figured out what the cause was. Wasn't a coolant leak, wasn't the power supply but in the end it became un-usable.

As for software, the answer is some might, most won't. PPC support was dropped with 10.6 and you can't really even run it in emulation anymore on newer Macs. Time to come to the 21st century.

 

[Jags]

what ticks me the most is the big dollars apple ask for the products and there no better than a pc a computer like a g5 should work for ever and parts/software should be available I know I am having a whinge but I feel rather ripped off atm that my $3,000 dollar machine is as good as a boat anchor and my $1k odd of software is useless so over the 6 years that is $666 per year (interesting that it comes out at that number) sorry apple I will go pc for the next round.

 

[harryb2448]

Forever? For goodness sake don't invest in a Dell.

 

[pigoo3]

what ticks me the most is the big dollars apple ask for the products and there no better than a pc a computer like a g5 should work for ever and parts/software should be available I know I am having a whinge but I feel rather ripped off atm that my $3,000 dollar machine is as good as a boat anchor and my $1k odd of software is useless so over the 6 years that is $666 per year (interesting that it comes out at that number) sorry apple I will go pc for the next round.

I'm not sure where all of this discontent is coming from?? But if you think that a 7-9 year old 2.0ghz dual processor Powermac G5 is worth anywhere near $3000...you are SORELY mistaken!!!

Go check e-Bay. 1.8-2.0hz Powermac G5's are selling everyday for around $100-$150 (many in the lower end of that range).

If you're still in love with Powermac G5's (or simply need one due to the software you have)...just buy another one from e-Bay...and pop your old hard drive into it...problem solved!!!

This is probably/actually a lot cheaper than just trying to purchase a replacement power supply...and going thru the disassembly hassle of replacing it!

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

Forever? For goodness sake don't invest in a Dell.

A Dell with Windows 8's wonder DESKTOP interface that everyone is praising!

I can show you Dells that age that are dead. Blown motherboard with caps all bulging and leaking and bad power supplies. This was a $2000 Dell Optiplex Workstation. Seen many in that state.

I agree with Nick, just get another used on Ebay. Might be cheaper than the parts you need.

Also search the manual here for Diagnostic LED's.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21536787/...ad-2-5-Dual-2-0-2-3-Ghz-Service-Repair-Manual

 

[pigoo3]

Here's a dual 1.8ghz Powermac G5 on e-Bay for $90 bucks "Buy It Now". It's a bit thin on ram (may be able to swap ram from the non-working PM G5)...there's some pricey shipping.

Apple Power Mac PowerMac G5 Dual 1 8GHZ1GB 80GB OSX Leopard 10 5 8 | eBay

But if someone looks hard enough...sometimes a unit can be found near enough to avoid the shipping. Or just look for another unit with less or free shipping.

- Nick

 

[Jags]

ok guys yeah I know I had a rant but I poked around a bit more got it to kinda fire up the fans are going and I get 3 beeps then the fans go into high speed mode and nothing more happens are the 3 beebs ram as I first though the problem might be

 

[Jags]

got it to start up properly
ok here is what u do pull the machine half apart then u press the start button a million times and that little reset button on the MB half as many times even try another graphics card till you finally work out its just a ram issue now I just hope I can still get that ram type I am feeling rather relived right now thanks for all the comments the best advice I think was try ebay if all else fails good to know some cheap ones out there and no I don't think its worth 3k that's what I payed originally.

 

[Jags]

But while u are all here do u guys shut down each night or just leave them on in sleep mode ??

 

[baggss]

But while u are all here do u guys shut down each night or just leave them on in sleep mode ??

Neither really. My display sleeps after an hour, Screen saver kicks on after 5 min or so. Other than that I never sleep my machine., any of them. Never have.

Glad you got your G5 working. Really though, it's just a matter of time. As I said before, nearly every G5 model made had issues due to CPU heat and Apple never really got it under control. You should really start considering the best way to move off the G5 and off the PPC software and move to something newer. PPC is dead and it's not coming back. Ride the machine as long as you can but be ready when the next big speed bump comes along. If you're not, well, then it's you're own fault.