Hard Drive Problems Mac Pro a1186, Help!

[328ifun]

Just ordered a replacement power supply for $100.00 not too bad.

Nick what Quad CPU do you recommend?

I will be running it with a 9600GT, 2gb 650gtx, the OS will be on aSDD, 2x Mech drives Raid 0, and 2tb drive for storage.

I think that should be sufficient for awhile.

Any other recommendations?

 

[harryb2448]

Have you lashed out on the 9600GT?

9600 GT on my Mac Pro - MacRumors Forums


Really think you would be better served using a Mac Pro card such as an ATI Radeon 5870 or similar.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Apple-M...GB-DVI-PCIe-Video-Graphics-Card-/251472274684

 

[pigoo3]

Just ordered a replacement power supply for $100.00 not too bad.

Yes…that's not too bad for a Mac Pro power supply. I think that I've seen them closer to $140-$150 (of course you want this used Mac Pro PS to be better than the used one you already have. Also keep in mind that stock 1st gen. Mac Pro's are selling for $250-$300. So a replacement PS for $100 is a good chunk of that.

Nick what Quad CPU do you recommend?

There are basically two choices (assuming you currently have 2 x 2.66ghz dual-core cpu's…4 cores total). Either two 2.66ghz quad core x5355 cpu's…or two 3.0ghz quad core x5365 cpu's (8-cores total in either case).

The x5355's are selling for about $40-$50/pair…the x5365's are selling for about $90-$100/pair. So your choice depending on your budget. I think that the 3.0ghz cpu's give about a 12-15% performance boost.

I will be running it with a 9600GT, 2gb 650gtx, the OS will be on aSDD, 2x Mech drives Raid 0, and 2tb drive for storage.

I think that should be sufficient for awhile.

Any other recommendations?

- Why so many videos cards? How many monitors do you plan on running?
- How much ram does it have? You could upgrade the ram if it doesn't have much.
- I think that we were talking about OS 10.6 on this computer. You could install 10.7.

* Nick

 

[johnodd4]

Can i give you a heads up!!!

check the power supply connecting a graphics card should not kill a mac

 

[328ifun]

Just hooked a Multi Meter up to the Mac Pro. I got I got 12.10/12v and 4.0/5v on the Sata Hard Drive rails and the Molex connectors.

 

[328ifun]

Just did some more tests here. Took the Optical Drive out so I could open it with the button on the front of it. I could get it to open once, all the other times I tried it wouldn't open. I guess the PS isn't suppling enough voltage.

After unhooking the Optical Drive and testing the 5v rail, I only got 1.6v. Before hooking the Optical Drive up I had 4v. Something fishy going on here for sure.

 

[328ifun]

/
So what do you guys think? Think im heading the right direction with this problem

 

[pigoo3]

You had the computer operating fine at one point…so it's probably not the logic board. About the only thing left to try is the power supply.

- Nick

 

[328ifun]

The only thing I could think of was that somehow a particular portion of the Logic Board was damaged like the sections pertaining to the power distribution/sata connections for peripheal devices; Hard Drives, Optical Drives, etc. Because unlike a PC the current is routed through the Motherboard then to the Hard Drives/Optical devices, it appears. Where as a PC the power is directly connected to the Device from the Power Supply.

But usually if a Logic Board fails, it fails altogether and is unusuable. Which is not my case but I am unfamilar with Macs and this particular motherboard. And I am unsure whether the above scenario is even possible.

 

[pigoo3]

Look at it this way…you have around 4 options to move forward with this DIY repair project:

1. Replace the logic board (way way too expensive).
2. Replace the power supply (sort of expensive but maybe doable).
3. Do nothing (and the computer remains as it is).
4. Throw the computer in the trash.

When doing DIY repairs we don't always have "perfect information". At some point if it makes financial sense…you gotta start swapping parts & see what happens.

- Nick

p.s. If someone knew enough about power supplies…I guess the PS could be repaired (if someone knew enough about PS's…and where to get parts)…and if the PS is the problem.

 

[328ifun]

I found a guy about 2.5 hours away with the same model mac pro as mine. Hes asking $180 for it. So if worse comes to worst and the PS doesnt fix it then I may just go pick it up.

 

[pigoo3]

Sounds like a plan. That's the "good and the bad" now. A whole working computer (this model) can be had for just a bit more than what a replacement (usually used) power supply costs.

And of course with two units…you got all sorts of extra parts!!

- Nick

 

[328ifun]

PSU is expected to arrive tomorrow. I will keep everyone updated on the installation and the end result.

 

[328ifun]

Pigoo, I foudn a guy with a 8 core 3.0 ghz 2008 mac pro. Will those CPUS be compatible with my 2006?

 

[pigoo3]

Pigoo, I foudn a guy with a 8 core 3.0 ghz 2008 mac pro. Will those CPUS be compatible with my 2006?

If it's a Mac Pro 3,1…no.

On the other hand…if this is a Mac Pro 3,1…if it is working 100%...and you were going to get it. It's a better model than the 2006 Mac Pro we've been discussing in this thread.

- Nick

 

[328ifun]

I know its a newer and better computer but I'm not really interested in restoring it. Guy said it was missing memory/memory board was not working correctly.

He said the processors that are in it are E5462 2.8's not sure if these will work with the mac pro 1,1?

 

[pigoo3]

He said the processors that are in it are E5462 2.8's not sure if these will work with the mac pro 1,1?

Answered that above. Since it's a Mac Pro 3,1…no.

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

I wanted to mention to be careful how much is being spent on getting this Mac Pro running. I'm seeing a lot of things mentioned in this thread to get this computer going correctly.

I'm not sure how much has been spent already…and how much is planned to be spent. What you don't want to happen is…spending more to get it running than a 100% working unit is currently selling for.

- Nick

 

[328ifun]

Yup, just tried the second Power Supply and still the same result. Logic Board must be fried.

Not sure which route im going to take from here...

 

[pigoo3]

Yup, just tried the second Power Supply and still the same result. Logic Board must be fried.

Not sure which route im going to take from here...

Sorry to hear that!

What I'm confused about is. It sounded like the computer was working ok before the extra video cards were installed (assuming this is a correct assumption). Then the extra video cards were installed…the special power wiring done…and then the computer didn't work ok.

I may have mentioned this earlier. But logically 1 of 2 things should or could have occurred:

1. Undoing the extra video card "stuff" should have returned the computer to it's previous working state.
2. The extra video cards + DIY wiring…could have done something unpredicted that damaged the computer.

- Nick

p.s. I'm not sure what you want to try next. But if it were my computer…it would be eBay time for both the computer & the power supply (time to cut the losses both financially & emotionally).