MaryW
Level 6
(15,854 points)
Q: Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 4GB ram, Early 2008 problem
I was using TextWrangler to edit some files, Also having FireFox version 48.0 and Thunderbird open.
It just up and froze with a panic and spit out a log...I rebooted and all seemed fine. About an hour later it did it again. I took a little time out for a movie...then went back to work on the files...another panic I think.
Te first time it said it was, the second time it just would not let go and it being the kind that will not let you push the power button to shut down I had to unplug it...do not like doing that at all.
The reason for this drastic action is that it would not do the panic thing and reboot itself. INstead it put this see through screen overlay (no easy way to describe it). The were loads of little green dotted areas that flicker, then they changed to a half screen of flashing then return to the overlay that now was stripes of dotted areas. It just kept doing this over and over but would not let me access the desktop for nothing. Acted frozen but the flashing was still happening.
I finally got it to attempt a safe mode restart...still waiting for it to get done. The stripes were still there but from the safemode bar of progress I then got the gear type of progress. Its little lines ar about 3/4 way done and it is taking a longer than usual time but now most of those dotted areas are gone. Still apple start screen.
When I get booted totally, I am hoping, should I run disk utility? The only thing new that I did was run the AMD updater for my computers nvidia card. It was installed for a few months but then disappeared from the upper task bar (where clock is).
I have never had this type of kernel panic so know not what to do. Fortunately I just ran a backup yesterday.
If this is not in the right spot to ask then please move it to the right area.
Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 4GB ram, Early 2008
Eau Rouge
Level 4
(2,783 points)
It definitely sounds like it is the graphics card, it won't look physically different if it has failed. it may be exceptionally hot
to touch. The original spec 20008 Mac Pro card was the Radeon XT 2600, which at the point of purchase could be upgraded to the NVidea 8800 GT, which is what I bought. I learnt not long after purchase that this card had a reputation for failing, but i was lucky and got 7 years out of it before it failed. The card is very easy to replace just remember the clip behind it on the mother board. Please look at Grants link to cards for the 2006-2012 MacPros. There is quite a variety out there that can still be used with a 2008 (early) model. Try to get one that is specifically for a Mac so you get the boot screens when starting up ( more expensive though ). You can put some PC cards in, they will work fine but you will not get the boot screens, they can be bought 'flashed' for Mac, or 'flashed' after market to get those boot screens. Others here will give you better guidance.
I bought the Nvidia GT120 which came as standard on the 2009 MacPro model but works fine on the 2008. It was very cheap at only £80.00, and unused, still in an unsealed bag and in the Apple Graphics Upgrade box. It is a low end card
perhaps not suitable for gaming or video production but suits my needs, you can spend a fortune on cards so tread carefully.
If you have another Mac handy you could connect your MacPro to it by FireWire and start it in Target disc mode to check your drive(s) are alright, they should be. OS X Mountain Lion: Transfer files between two computers using target disk mode
