PowerMac G5 Dual 2GHz freezes any time, boots sometimes with one processor

My beloved g5 died last month. But in my case there were no signals before it totaly did nothing at all. The only signal I can recall is that the fans sometimes spinned harder than normal the last 3 month. And then one morning it just didn't startup anymore. No video, only the startup chime, a short spinning sound of the harddrives and fans and then silence. Then the fans start spnning harder and harder untill at alarming speed.
I had the machine carefully checked by the best mac repairshop in town and they told me the logicboard is broken. Changing it for a new one is not worth it. I enjoyed my g5 for 5 years but because it was a big investment I am deeply dissapointed. With so many dying g5's there must be made a fault in the design of this series of macs. I lost confident in Apple

Have a look here,

http://pixelchimp.net/mac-death

http://forums.macworld.com/thread/103827?start=0&tstart=0

Another one bites the dust from Spain.

Powermac G5 Dualcore 2,3 Ghz (late 2005)

I have all the sintoms.

Count me in too. My mac will boot and depending on how long ago it was last powered on this affects how many processors will work for me. Sometimes I have to let it sit for 2 or 3 days before it will boot on both processors again. None of this makes sense I have spent hours and hours reading suggestions on how to fix it , spent hours following the suggestions, I even spent $55 to have Apple Service look at it.
How many people are out there with the same problem? judging by all the places I've been it's more than quite a few.
Obviously someone is looking at these posts because I see some posts have been edited by moderator.
Please APPLE do something for us!

In my experience, most issues with dead G5's fall into 2 groups: Pre-June 2004 models, 99% of the failures are the logic board (mostly memory controller issues, like the 3 blinks of death).
Post June 2004, most of the failures are related to processors.

2003 Macs with memory errors have to get the logic board replaced. There really is no way to fix the problem. Or try to get it started again (which make take many tries and may work 25-50% of the time), then leave it running. Without software updates, this could give you many more months of good service. After all you are running Mac OS X 😉

With June 2004 or later machines, here is what I found:
1. The Apple Hardware will rarely catch a processor problem, partially because it runs under open firmware, not the Mac OS. The processor test are also very slim...

2. With air-cooled Macs like the 1.8, 2.0 & 2.3Ghz machines, the 2nd processor often fails (the lower CPU) and the symptoms are freezing on startup with the Apple logo & rotating circle.
Test it by turning off the 2nd CPU using the open firmware command found in the beginning of this thread. Restart the machine and if the computer works well, keep it that way (1 cpu only) or buy a processor off Ebay (make sure that the model number matches EXACTLY).

If the top processor fails, you will get no startup at all (no sound) and typically no video. Then the turbo fans. This is the same with liquid-cooled systems.
If you are handy with taking the Mac apart, you could try swapping the processors (upper to lower, etc.). Restart. If it boots, you know which one is bad.
Keep in mind that G5's need to be calibrated so that the fan speed is normal instead of full-on. This can only be done via special Apple software that is available to Apple techs.

3. Liquid-cooled Macs like the (dual 2.5, 2.7 or Quad 2.5) typically fail with liquid cooling damage.
The machine may not boot at all, freeze during boot or freeze or shutdown after a few minutes to an hour.
This happens because the processors have thermal protection and will shut down if the processors get too hot. This often, but not always protect the processors.

If your liquid cooled G5 runs for a while, you can test this by installing the free iStat Pro widget and watch the temps. If the processors go above 82 degrees Celsius, the machine will go down.

If you have a liquid cooling leak, you can see that by looking at a few places. It's a green and POISONOUS liquid (dangerous for cats and dogs)! It will also attack the metal inside (not the aluminum)and look like corrosion on a car battery. This is typical on the metal cover above the power supply.

1. Look on the rear leg towards the left side (away from the door)
2. When removing the door, pull the front fan and look at the bottom of the processor. Also look at the back of the processor where the rear fans are. Any discoloration is a give away.
3. You can still have a liquid cooling leak even if you don't see it.

If you have a liquid cooling leak, there is little you can do. Without AppleCare, the costs for replacement are so high that they greatly exceed the value of the machine.
Best bet is to sell it on Ebay for parts...

The number one reason for liquid cooling damage is overheating the machine, by the way. This mostly happens when there is too much dust in the machine or the vents are blocked...

Hope this helps!

Wolfman

"above 82 degrees Celsius, the machine will go down. " yes but... what is considered normal temperature? (g5 dual 2.5 june 04 model)
I have seen quite a range. Everyone says if it's too hot it will shut down but how do you know before it shuts down. Both processors are up today and I have 65 and 62 C on istat
after looking at the post on failing pumps it really looks like the damage or plugging is hidden unless it's a blatant leak or you take the whole machine apart.
Apple care or not this is a real issue. Macs are supposed to last longer that's why we pay so much for them. And most of us aren't handy enough to rip it down and replace parts on our own so it's not a cheap fix. Plus if you do replace parts how long before it leaks again?

Marie,
"Normal temperatures" are hard to tell as they depend on the model. The Dual 2.5ghz machines were the first liquid cooled ones and had the highest incidence rate of cooling failures. The 2.7 had 2 versions of the Delphi system and 1 Panasonic one and were better to great.

But I have seen many 2.7ghz machines run at about 70 degrees as a normal temp. before kicking the fan speed up.
A 2.5 typically run between 50-63 degrees as operating temperature if I recall.
If the intake fans run around/below 500 rpm, the system considers the temperature of the processors normal.
Here is a quick test to check to cooling system and upper-level operating temps:
Go to the http://apple.com/trailers website and launch a movie trailer; select to play it in HD: 720p or higher. This will launch the Quicktime player.
Go to the View menu and select "Loop"
Run the movie an launch the iStat widget while playing the movie. Let it run; this will put some load on your system - see how the fans rev up and the processor to top at a certain temperature...
You will see what the system considers the high temp.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you on the longevity of Macs. I also expect them to last very long as well but the problem is the G5 chip has always run very hot and the high-end Macs were pushing that speed/temperature barrier AND used an immature cooling system.

In short, unless you are really handy in repairs, you have no real options for a 2.5Ghz machine. If it breaks, it may not be worth fixing 😟

Wolfman

I sent my Powermac G5 Dual Core 2.3Ghz to the Technical Service. After 2 weeks they tell me it is the processor.

They ask me 1000 euros to fix it.

I said NO. I will sell my Powermac in eBay in pieces...

I am writing now from a Macbook Pro 13" brand new. Very happy with it.

It's ironic to come across this thread, nearly a year after it began and find it on the first page. I purchased my dual 2.0 G5 in January of 2004, factory refurbished, at a significant discount. It was perfect out of the box, not a scratch and it's run flawlessly through 2 memory, 2 hard drive(s) and 2 video card upgrades. Until last week.

I started getting random freezes. The mouse pointer still moves but the computer won't do or respond to anything else, including a force quit or restart command. Using a hard reboot, sometimes I can make it past the logon screen, sometimes it freezes and the fans kick in. Letting it sit overnight I can get about 10 minutes of solid use.

I have two bootable hard drives installed and I get the same behavior from either. And it's been almost a year since the last hardware upgrade and months since the last software update. I'm going to open it up tonight and give it a good cleaning. But judging by what others have written, I'm guessing it's either the logic board or the processor(s). And considering the price to fix either, and considering this machine is 5 & 1/2 years old, I doubt it's worth the cost to have it repaired.

My needs have changed and I question the need for a new Mac Pro. And with the current state of the economy, a $2500 machine is quite a luxury.

Anyway, add me to the 'list'. It's a bit distasteful that a second had Mac SE which I bought used in 1989 still boots up and functions and G5 hardware, ~5 years old, seems to be dropping like bicks.

It's ironic to come across this thread, nearly a year after it began and find it on the first page. I purchased my dual 2.0 G5 in January of 2004, factory refurbished, at a significant discount. It was perfect out of the box, not a scratch and it's run flawlessly through 2 memory, 2 hard drive(s) and 2 video card upgrades. Until last week.

I started getting random freezes. The mouse pointer still moves but the computer won't do or respond to anything else, including a force quit or restart command. Using a hard reboot, sometimes I can make it past the logon screen, sometimes it freezes and the fans kick in. Letting it sit overnight I can get about 10 minutes of solid use.

I have two bootable hard drives installed and I get the same behavior from either. And it's been almost a year since the last hardware upgrade and months since the last software update. I'm going to open it up tonight and give it a good cleaning. But judging by what others have written, I'm guessing it's either the logic board or the processor(s). And considering the price to fix either, and considering this machine is 5 & 1/2 years old, I doubt it's worth the cost to have it repaired.

My needs have changed and I question the need for a new Mac Pro. And with the current state of the economy, a $2500 machine is quite a luxury.

Anyway, add me to the 'list'. It's a bit distasteful that a second had Mac SE which I bought used in 1989 still boots up and functions and G5 hardware, ~5 years old, seems to be dropping like bicks.

I started getting random freezes. The mouse pointer still moves but the computer won't do or respond to anything else, including a force quit or restart command. Using a hard reboot, sometimes I can make it past the logon screen, sometimes it freezes and the fans kick in. Letting it sit overnight I can get about 10 minutes of solid use.

I started seeing the exact same, with the advent of Leopard, and it still can happen. But it was most notable around 10.5.0 - 5.3.

Every and any OS update can stress memory, including video, and a good idea to zero and format a drive - with a new OS, with a new drive, and probably 1-2x a year; run Memtest; and definitely run SuperDuper and Disk Warrior.

but - USB cables are notorious for being poor electrical devices and often implicated. Same only slightly less so, for FW cables (and devices).

I started seeing the exact same, with the advent of Leopard, and it still can happen. But it was most notable around 10.5.0 - 5.3.
Every and any OS update can stress memory, including video, and a good idea to zero and format a drive - with a new OS, with a new drive, and probably 1-2x a year; run Memtest; and definitely run SuperDuper and Disk Warrior.
but - USB cables are notorious for being poor electrical devices and often implicated. Same only slightly less so, for FW cables (and devices).

Hmmm, no I didn't experience any of that after upgrading to Leopard. Although I only upgraded when it was around the .3 release. As a precaution, last night I disconnected everything, pulled the fans, the hard drives, the memory and made sure everything was clean. The inside wasn't a disaster but it had been a good 6 months since I had done this. I also pulled the video card and reinstalled the original ATI 9600 card that came with it. I hooked up only the display and keyboard and turned it on. It booted fine and ran normally for about 20 minutes. And then it simply froze, completely locked up except for the mouse movement. I then booted from the original install CD and it also froze about 2 minutes into the disk check process.

I'm pretty good about routine software maintenance and I back up once per week. I actually use SuperDuper and keep a second internal hard drive as a bootable clone--in my opinion more useful and practical than Time Machine, unless you have constant regrets about retrieving things you deleted.

So now I have to decide if I want to buy a new Mac Pro or perhaps an iMac (and figure out a way to connect one of my SATA drives). Or if I should send the G5 in for repair. I just hate to spend $600+ on a machine that's creeping up on 6 years, knowing that in a few months from now I could be in the same boat again. If business wasn't down 25% the decision would be a lot easier. :/

Just a side note, I've always thought that reformatting a drive and doing a clean install on a machine was a good idea in theory but unnecessary overkill that in the real world is simply a time consuming headache with few tangible benefits unless your current profile had serious issues before the upgrade. I've personally owned 9 Macs since 1989 and have helped maintain at least triple that number for family and friends over the years. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say I've been through hundreds of updates from System 4 right through Leopard. And I have yet to see a software install through the upgrade option go seriously awry on a properly maintained machine. (OS 7.5.3 doesn't count). I've taken the trouble (precaution) to do it a few times on machines that had iffy behavior (pre OS X days) but to do it every time, one would have to be a masochist, IMO. But I agree in the sense that performing a clean install helps eliminate the guessing and unknown factor if you run into problems.

Message was edited by: Quickling

Well, I talked to an Apple Support tech about 3 days ago about this G5 problem. He was very nice. I told him all about the G5 problems for about an hour or so.
He could do nothing for me and he wished he could do more than just write a complaint file. Apple has just given up on us all. Like a fart in the wind and they moved on... To get more money. I've been a Mac user for years and have told countless other about how great they are. Not anymore.

Just for the record, my G5 was diagnosed with a bag logic board. Although, I suspected that would be the result.

In the meantime, I took the plunge and ordered a new Mac Pro Quad Core Xenon. I'm a bit sore that an otherwise healthy machine was turned into scrap, but I hope the Mac Pro turns out to be as trouble free for the next 5.5 years. While the G5 lasted, it was rock solid. But I couldn't see putting out the $500+ to repair such an old machine, knowing that the replacement logic board (or processor) could go again within a short time.

I did something similar to yyou, but i went for a Macbook pro 13". I am using it with the Cinema Display 20" that i used with the dead Powermac G5. I am also using its keyboard so i only spent 1000 euros in the new computer. The same amount they asked for fixing the old Powermac G5.

I am a macintel user too now...