One Mad Son
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Q: Beep and failed start up Mac Pro 1,1

I have a Mac Pro 1,1 that I added additional RAM (from OWC) to when I upgraded to Snow Leopard 2 years ago so that I could run ProTools 9.  Total RAM is 7 GB.  pair of 512 and 6 1 GB. 

 

I've begun having an issue where upon pressing the power button I get a loud beep and no power.  However, it usually starts up fine if I try it two or three times.  I have noticed once that when I checked the info it only reported 6GB of Memory.  And then on a subsequent start up, back to 7GB.  And sometimes it starts up with no beep at all.  There is a red flash inside the computer that coincides with the beep.

 

I ran Rember and it said all my memory was good.

 

I also took out and reseated all the RAM.   And advice on how to fix this?

 

On a separate note, I'm very interested in keeping this machine operating on Snow Leopard with ProTools 9 for as long as I can.  Ideally another 3-5 years.  Any advice on things I should do to insure this? 

 

I have cloned my drive and have a bootable FW 800 external drive.

 

thanks

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Jul 16, 2013 9:46 AM

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One Mad Son

Q: Beep and failed start up Mac Pro 1,1

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  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Jul 16, 2013 10:09 AM in response to One Mad Son
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 10:09 AM in response to One Mad Son

    Check out KB Article: 

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547 

    1 beep = no RAM installed

    2 beeps = incompatible RAM types

    3 beeps = no good banks

    4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)

    5 beeps = processor is not usable

     

    ====================

     

    Mac OS X (10.6.3)

    Use Software Update or the OS 10.6.8 combo update to update your OS.  Also, update everything SU has to offer for your computer.  When done, repair permissions and restart your computer.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • by Kurt Lang,Helpful

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jul 16, 2013 10:43 AM in response to One Mad Son
    Level 8 (37,958 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 16, 2013 10:43 AM in response to One Mad Son
    I have noticed once that when I checked the info it only reported 6GB of Memory.  And then on a subsequent start up, back to 7GB.

     

    Rember (or other such testing utilities) don't always catch bad RAM. Even if you run it for hours.

     

    From the results of a 1 GB difference, my first thought would be that one of the 1 GB sticks is bad, or one of the 512 MB sticks is. Since the two 512 sticks are paired, you would still see a failure of 1 GB.

     

    Secondly (mind you, I'm taking best guesses here), that the Mac sometimes tells you there's no RAM installed (one beep) I would suspect the RAM in slot zero. Which I would bet are the two original 512 MB sticks. Slot zero fails the check, so the firmware never sees the rest and reports no RAM installed.

     

    I would try removing the two 512 MB sticks first. Be sure to move two of the 1 GB sticks into their position since RAM has to be installed in sequence from slots 0 - 4 (or however many banks there are). You can't leave slot zero open and then start at one.

  • by One Mad Son,

    One Mad Son One Mad Son Jul 16, 2013 11:42 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 11:42 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    I had a hunch it was the 512s.  Makes sense.  I'll test this out. 

     

    If this is true, any advice on what to replace them with?  The machine was running fine with the 7GB.  I think I filled all the slots with 1GBs last time because it was a cheap and sufficient solution.

  • by Kurt Lang,Helpful

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jul 16, 2013 12:36 PM in response to One Mad Son
    Level 8 (37,958 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 16, 2013 12:36 PM in response to One Mad Son

    Other World Computing and Crucial are both excellent places to purchase RAM. They have a lifetime guarantee on any RAM you buy from them. They both have RAM purchasing steps you follow through to get the correct RAM for your Mac. I believe you can also call either of them to order.

     

    I've used RAM from both. The only reason I buy from one rather than the other at any given time simply depends on who's selling what I need for less.

     

    Expect RAM for an older model to be more than what you paid at the time for the other 6 GB you put in.

  • by One Mad Son,

    One Mad Son One Mad Son Jul 16, 2013 1:11 PM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 16, 2013 1:11 PM in response to Kurt Lang

    It does appear to have been the 512s.  It wouldn't start with them alone and is fine when they are gone and the other 6 GB is in place.  I got my RAM from OWC last time and see they still sell options for this machine. 

     

     

    Any thoughts on installing a SSD drive in this machine?  I'm really hoping to keep it stable and running for as long as possible.  I've read some articles recommending this.  I don't need the speed, just want to keep this thing humming on Snow Leopard for as long as I can.

     

    thanks

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jul 16, 2013 1:35 PM in response to One Mad Son
    Level 8 (37,958 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 16, 2013 1:35 PM in response to One Mad Son

    Any thoughts on installing a SSD drive in this machine?

    They're certainly faster than a typical hard drive, but they do cost a lot more per MB. Might want to check with the folks at OWC and see what they think about an SSD for a 1,1 Mac Pro. That is, would you see enough throughput to justify the cost over a hard drive.