Heikki Lindholm

Q: Working on the G5 quad liquid cooling system

I have a G5 quad with the one pump Delphi LCS ("version 1"). I'm guessing the LCS is clogged because when the machine sits idle (even in reduced CPU setting, which cuts the GHz in half), the fans and the pump slowly, over several hours, go to full speed. Temperatures of CPU B, particularly the second core, shoot to near 100C when loading the CPUs. ASD 2.6.3 usually passes, but sometimes ends in checkstop and overtemp. A local mac service center, which I had the machine checked at (in hopes of getting free repairs because of a leak), said it's fine.

 

As a simple first measure, I tried replacing the thermal paste on the CPUs, with little effect. The LCS didn't seem to be leaking or corroded anywhere, but when handling it, it sometimes made a bubbling noise, so, there's probably air in there. I thought I'd take the LCS apart next, but before that I have some questions which I hope someone can answer.

 

Which one, the upper or lower, is CPU A and which is B? I've read the machine runs on one CPU just fine, but which one?

 

If I switch the CPUs the other way around and later switch back, does something in the nvram reset so that thermal calibration needs to be run? I'd rather not run it as it seems to have mixed success.

 

What material/size are the CPU block O-rings on this system?

 

If I use a vacuum pump on the service valve (I gather it's of the "r134a high" type(?)), what would be a safe level of vacuum? Has anyone tried using the manual brake kits, or car cooling system refill kits that use compressed air and venturi valves, on the LCS?

 

I suppose I'm just going to try attaching a hose as a reservoir to the service valve and fill through that first, but if that doesn't bring satisfactory results, I'll level-up to some sort of vacuum method.

PowerMac

Posted on Sep 17, 2011 11:59 PM

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Q: Working on the G5 quad liquid cooling system

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  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 8:12 AM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 8:12 AM in response to G5Lover

    G5Lover wrote:

     

    …So how's your G5 running these days? Any heat or fan issues yet?

     

    Don't want to jinx myself—so knock on wood—but, aside from the badly damaged cage during shipping, I really lucked out with this machine in that regard.  I just checked the Hardware Monitor menu bar drop-down menu and here's what I saw:

     

    Picture 2.png

    Outdoors temperature just day before yesterday reached 112ºF (44ºC).

     

    Compare that to May 1, 2012:

     

    Hdwr_Mon_2012_05_01.png

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 11:00 AM in response to Ramón G Castañeda
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    Jun 10, 2013 11:00 AM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

    Ramón,

     

    Regarding your first screen shot; If those core temps. are at idle, with a normal ambient temp of 72º F where the machine is located, I would say that  50ºC - 58ºC is a bit high for a machine at idle or with minimal processes going. However If the ambient temp where the machine is located was 112º F, then I would say that's pretty normal.

     

    Your second screen shot is  normal at idle, with normal ambient temp of 72º f at the machine location.

     

    While I was on here typing this up, I did a quick screen shot of my current core temps. Ambient temp where my machine sits is 75ºF right now.

    quickshot.png

  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 11:28 AM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 11:28 AM in response to G5Lover

    Thank you for your input and for the screen shot. 

     

    I'll keep an eye on those temperatures.

     

    This evening I'll unpack the Mac Pro, and another adventure begins.

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 12:28 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda
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    Jun 10, 2013 12:28 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

    Ramón G Castañeda wrote:

     

     

    This evening I'll unpack the Mac Pro, and another adventure begins.

    Which model Mac Pro did you get? Id be curious to hear how the task speed compares to your G5!

  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 1:02 PM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 1:02 PM in response to G5Lover

    G5Lover wrote:


    …Which model Mac Pro did you get?…

     

     

    The only one I could afford. 

     

    The big desktop Mac Pro 1,1 2.66 GHz Quad Core (looks just like the G5 Quad on the outside except it has two SuperDrives) is going to replace my dinky Snow Leopard 10.6.8 Mac Book on which I run Adobe Photoshop 13.0.5 and ACR 8.1 exclusively.  That laptop I had rescued from the trash, literally; so the budget for its replacement was fittingly tight.  It was not free like the Mac Book, but it was indeed very inexpensive.  The G5 Quad cannot run Photoshop CS6, as it requires an Intel CPU and Snow Leopard at least.

     

    The old Mac Pro is sure to beat the performance of the Mac Book, hands down.  The Mac Book is maxed out at 4 GB of RAM, of which applications only see 3 GB.  The Mac Pro comes with 13 GB of RAM, and I'm bringing it up to 16 GB in the next few days, then eventually decide whether it makes any sense to max it out at 32 GB or not.

     

    By means of a simple USB switch box, I share my keyboard, mouse and tablet, as well as my dual, side-by-side, high-end, 22" CRT monitors, between the Snow Leopard System and my G5 Quad running Tiger, which I most certainly plan to keep as my main working machine, as I have a huge bundle invested in software and SCSI hardware that will not run on the Mac Pro.  The Mac Pro will use the very same peripherals in the same manner and in the exact same location.

     

    Anyway, I'll most likely be asking questions about this new old machine in the Mac Pro forum.

  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 1:06 PM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 1:06 PM in response to G5Lover

    Please note I edited my last post in order to correct Photoshop CS to read Photoshop CS6.  Edits are not broadcast by email.

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 1:29 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda
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    Jun 10, 2013 1:29 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

    Ramón G Castañeda wrote:

     

    Please note I edited my last post in order to correct Photoshop CS to read Photoshop CS6.  Edits are not broadcast by email.

    So I'm still using PS CS in the 10.4.11 OS on my G5. I'm wondering if that old of a version even has the capablility to use my G5 processor quad cores?… Or, if it only uses one processor core. Do you know?

     

    I do remember, long ago I downloaded some duel processor Adobe CS add on for it when I use to use it on my old G4 duel processor.

  • by nospoonzz,

    nospoonzz nospoonzz Jun 10, 2013 1:43 PM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 1:43 PM in response to G5Lover

    Thanks again. It did help. Just finished adding a "T" fitting and changed the distilled water only for a coolant /distilled water blend. This process of removing the cpu's and cooling assembly went a lot faster the second time around. I used GM Dexcool. I think it seems to being doing more than I expected. Lowered my temps another 4 degrees celcius at idle. I have a iMac 21" Latest edition. But I spend more time on my Power Mac G5 Quad. It is still so capable. A great machine.

  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 1:44 PM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 1:44 PM in response to G5Lover

    PS CS1 (8.x) is so old that it is only a distant memory to me.  Since Photoshop is my digital darkroom, any version  prior to CS6 is no longer remotely acceptable.  If you don't have at least ACR 7.x, you're leaving a lot of image quality on the table.  The rendering in ACR 7.x is so demonstrably and hugely superior to all earlier versions.

     

    No wonder your G5 Quad runs cool! 

     

    That's why I've been using the MacBook just for ACR in Photoshop 13.0.5 (CS6) and then take the images to CS4 for final processing and printing.

     

    You seem to be obsessed with duels.  Those were outlawed in the last millennium, regardless of weapons chosen.  You mean dual processors. 

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 1:56 PM in response to nospoonzz
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    Jun 10, 2013 1:56 PM in response to nospoonzz

    nospoonzz wrote:

     

    Thanks again. It did help. Just finished adding a "T" fitting and changed the distilled water only for a coolant /distilled water blend.

    Glad to see you added some coolant. Curious tho, what made you decide on that particular automotive brand?

     

    The"T" fitting will really help with future flush projects. Would you mind sharing a photo of the type of fitting you used and where you located it on your LCS? That would be of great help to others.

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 2:16 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda
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    Jun 10, 2013 2:16 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

    I don't use PS CS on my raw captures. I use Nikon's Capture NX which allows me to open and process the raw .NEF (Nikon Electronic Files-AKA, RAW FILES) I also have Adobe's Digital Negative Converter (DNG) which allows me to save my raw Nikon captures as .DNG files instead, (if I want) which can also be opened raw in PS CS if need be. However I agree with you completely that my version of PS CS has very limited tools to work on raw files. So I use Capture NX for this instead. It has some awesome features that I really like.

     

    Capture NX has some great tools that PS doesn't have and is specifically for editing NEF files in their native Nikon format. I still use PS to make other basic file alterations in the end then save a Tiff file of that version separately. That's pretty much my workflow. Both Capture NX and PS CS are on my G5 so I don't have the kludge of having to switch machines to edit raw files and non-raw files.

     

    I don't really think that my machine is running cool just because I have an older version of PS. That's too funny!

  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 6:03 PM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 6:03 PM in response to G5Lover

    Switching machines takes less than two seconds.  No biggie.

     

    I've even contemplated adding a more capable USB switch box to add a Windoze machine to the setup—not!  Just kidding. 

     

    Nikon makes some fine cameras, indeed some of the very best in the world.  But the company has delusions of adequacy when it comes to writing software.  I am familiar with Capture NX, even though I don't own a Nikon digital camera.  (Yes, I still shoot some film, mostly middle format.)

     

    Anyway, this has gone way off topic.  Let's get back on track now.  My apologies to forum members.

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 9:09 PM in response to Heikki Lindholm
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    Jun 10, 2013 9:09 PM in response to Heikki Lindholm

    UPDATE:

    The flush-'N-fill of my G5 quad (dueling) dual Delphi pump LCS on 5/20/13 is still keeping things cool. I did a stress test today with ambient room temp at 75ºF. I loaded the processors up with some heavy DVD processing and burning tasks and the hottest I could get any core diode temp was 151ºF/66ºC and it would only stay that warm for a few seconds then stabilize at 135ºF/55.2ºC during heavy processing. The fans did ramp up though to help keep things cool. I had the performance setting in System Preferences set to "Highest" during this test. Normally, I keep my processor performance setting set at "Automatic." The machine uses less energy that way.

     

    Why is it that as I get older, my spelling gets worser.

  • by Ramón G Castañeda,

    Ramón G Castañeda Ramón G Castañeda Jun 10, 2013 9:29 PM in response to G5Lover
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    Jun 10, 2013 9:29 PM in response to G5Lover

    G5Lover wrote:

     

    …I had the performance setting in System Preferences set to "Highest" during this test. Normally, I keep my processor performance setting set at "Automatic."

     

    Are you on Leopard maybe?  I don't see those options in my Tiger system.

     

    (I'm too lazy to boot off my optional Leopard OS right now.  )

     

    Picture 1.png

     

     

    Picture 2.png

  • by G5Lover,

    G5Lover G5Lover Jun 10, 2013 10:33 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda
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    Jun 10, 2013 10:33 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

    Ramón G Castañeda wrote:

     

     

    Are you on Leopard maybe?  I don't see those options in my Tiger system.

     

    (I'm too lazy to boot off my optional Leopard OS right now.  )

    Ramón,

     

    YES. I'm in TIGER. I should have provided more detail.

     

    Your on the right path tho. Go to Sys Preferences, choose Energy Saver, then click the "Options" button. In the dialog box where it says "Processor Performance" choose your option of "Automatic," "Highest," or "Reduced."

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