User profile for user: Gaunja
Gaunja Author
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MacPro Early 2008 Display/Video Card Problem

*Hello, I have a Dual Quad-Core 2.8Ghz MacPro (Early 2008) with the stock ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB Video Card. I believe I am having the exact same symptoms listed on the topic "Mac Pro 2008 Video Card Problem".*

*MacPro has been working fine. Until one day, I power it on and the display stays black. There is nothing you can do besides holding down the power button and rebooting the computer. I have tried to do this many times and the display will not come up. I have also tried resetting the VRAM and PRAM settings - still did not work. I have had my MacPro for about one year and a half. It is in very good condition (no damage/no liquid/no overheating). From time to time, you power on the computer and the display works! It is very random. I am scared to turn off the computer or put it to sleep as this can also trigger the problem.*

*I did not get the extended AppleCare (the MacPro itself already cost me about $3400!) I tested the Cinema Display and it is fine, therefore the problem is not coming from the display.*

*I went to the Apple Store and they kept my MacPro for one night. Called me the next day telling me it was going to cost me approximately $800 in order to fix this problem. They claimed that either my Bluetooth module or my Main Logic Board was causing the display not to show. I am out of warranty, and I think it is very expensive. I am doing my research online in order to try and find a cheaper solution. After reading the discussions and checking out some other websites. I have a few questions:*

*If I buy a NEW* ATI Radeon HD 2600 and install it in my MacPro - will it fix my problem?*
*OR - I also heard about the ATI Radeon HD 4870 - Is that graphic card compatible with my MacPro - will that resolve the problem?*

*Do you think I should give it a shot? Are there any other things I can try?*
*I am thinking that I should try to replace the graphic card first and see if that is causing the problem instead of replacing the Main Logic Board right away (which will cost me over $500)*

*Please let me know of any thoughts that come in mind. I really need some support. I am a college student studying Audio Engineering and I use my MacPro everyday on Pro Tools and Logic. This machine is my life.*

*Thank You,*


*Kevin C.*

MacPro 2x2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2 GB Ram - Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 2600 (Stock)

Posted on Nov 15, 2009 1:57 AM

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28 replies
User profile for user: MacKendrick
MacKendrick
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Nov 18, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Gaunja

I had the same problem with my early 2008 Mac Pro--my twin Dell S2409Ws began saying "no signal fro computer" and displaying "entering the power save mode" and then going black. Fortunately my son owns the exact same Mac Pro as mine. I swapped his ATI Radeon HD 2600 graphics card for mine and bingo, screens are up and all is well. I read many posts on various forums having to do with Dell monitors entering the power save mode and not waking up. There may be other reasons this can happen but if your Mac Pro starts having intermittent display problems that, at first, can be solve by rebooting my story suggests that your graphics card is sick and not long for this world.
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User profile for user: MacKendrick
MacKendrick
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Nov 18, 2009 1:02 PM in response to MacKendrick

An update to my last post--I removed my son's ATI Radeon HD 2600 graphics card and, before heading off to the Apple store to buy a new graphics card, reinstalled mine and fired up the computer. Bingo redux, the displays lit up. Reseating the card did the trick, at least for now. I was all ready to drop $349 on a ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB GDDR5 and watch it scream. Not for now.
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User profile for user: Gaunja
Gaunja Author
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Nov 22, 2009 7:29 PM in response to MacKendrick

Hello,

MacKendrick, thank you very much for your time and consideration. I realized after looking through some forums and discussions that it was my Graphic Card that was causing the problem. I am using an Apple Cinema 23-inch Display - not a Dell display. I purchased an Nvidia GeForce GT120 - 512MB (even though Apple claims this card is only compatible with Early 2009 Edition Mac Pros). I removed the stock ATI Radeon 2600 and replaced it with the Nvidia GeForce GT 120. It works like a charm. I was almost going to buy the ATI Radeon HD 4870 but I did not want to spend that much money. The Nvidia GeForce GT 120 cost me $149 + tax.

I am extremely surprised that the genius who diagnosed my Mac Pro at the Apple Store did not find my graphic card to be the cause of the problem. Just because I did not have the AppleCare plan and that my warranty was expired, I believe Apple wanted to charge me for a new Main Logic Board and a new Bluetooth Module just to make some extra money off of me. I am very disappointed. I do not see how my Main Logic Board or my Bluetooth Module could have caused this. After manually replacing my graphic card, my computer works flawlessly.
If I had done my repairs at the Apple Store, they would have charged me approximately $800 to install a new Main Logic Board and new Bluetooth Module only to find that I would still have had the same display problem as it was coming from the Graphic Card.

In the end, either Apple geniuses are incompetent and they didn't even realize the problem came from a broken Graphic Card OR they simply lied to me telling me the problem came from my Main Logic Board and that I needed to replace it. I was going to spend more than $800 to repair my MacPro when it cost me $149 to do it myself. This is ridiculous.
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User profile for user: MacKendrick
MacKendrick
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Dec 7, 2009 10:12 AM in response to Gaunja

Glad you solved your problem Gaunja. Here's an update on my own.

When last heard from I had diagnosed the failure of my displays to boot up to graphics card problem in my early 2008 Mac Pro with my stock ATI Radeon HD 2600 by swapping out the same card from my son's Mac Pro and seeing the displays boot up fine. Before heading off to the Apple store for a new card I reinstalled my suspect video card just to see what would happen. The displays booted up fine. Now, two weeks later, again no video display--black screens--no signal from the graphics card. I rebooted the computer several times to no avail and was, again, about to head off to the Apple store for a new card. This time "just to see what would happen" I moved the graphics card to another slot and bingo, the displays are up. What can be determined from my experience to date?

1. The graphics card is flirting with death. Like a patient unwilling to die, through a mysterious force, it rallies to live another day.
2. The slot the card came installed in is unreliable--it's dirty, there's a spec of dust in there, a contact has degraded after two years, or some other slot related fault. Note that, until the card failed for the first time, it had never been removed from it's slot, the computer was treated gently, and it operated in a very clean environment.

If anyone has another theory about what may be happening here please feel free. I fully expect the displays to go dark again at some point as my suspicions are that it's the card itself that is the problem. The two replacement cards I'm considering are the ATI Radeon HD 4870 or the Nividia Geo Force GT120. I've read that both work with the early Mac Pros. Some complain that the ATI card is noisy and expensive. Based of Gaunja's post and others I think the Nividia card will suit my needs, be quieter, and cost less. But, for now, my stock ATI Radeon 2600 lives!

Just one man's experience with the "Mac Pro display, black screen" problem.
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User profile for user: Gaunja
Gaunja Author
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Dec 11, 2009 2:09 AM in response to Gary P

MacKendrick,

Sorry for taking some time to answer...
I read your post 2-3 times and I understand what you tried to do. It's funny, I tried the exact same things you did (trying different PCI slots, trying different cards...etc).

I really believe the ATI Radeon HD 2600, after about a year, it slowly begins to die. The card begins by not waking the display when the computer sleeps, then not waking when the computer starts up. It has nothing to do with the PCI slots. Even though you mentioned there are dust particles in there, it's allright. The MacPro is well-designed and it does not accumulate a lot of dust. (Especially only after 1-2 years of usage).

Sometimes you're lucky, the card sends the "display information" to the monitor and you get a screen. Eventually, the card will completely die. I am telling you from experience. I was having the exact same symptoms.

- Now, in between the ATI Radeon HD 4870 or the NVidia GeForce GT 120, this is what I think: If you have the budget, and you watch a lot of movies on your computer, play a lot of games, use it for photography or film; you should get the ATI Radeon HD 4870.
If you are like me, you don't play a lot of games and do not use your computer for graphics processing, you are absolutely fine with the GT120.

The ATI Radeon HD4870 at the Apple Store retails at $349. The Nvidia GeForce is $149. That's a $200 difference.

It's been 2-3 weeks that I have been using the GT120 in my Early 2008 Edition Mac Pro. It works perfectly fine. I have no complaints. It is extremely quiet compared to the stock ATI Radeon HD 2600. The graphics are top notch, in my opinion.

Hope this helps,

Kevin C
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User profile for user: Gaunja
Gaunja Author
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Dec 11, 2009 2:14 AM in response to Gaunja

Oh and when/if you get the new graphic card, just to be safe, install it in a new slot that has never been used before. That's what I did.

Also, I kept the defective ATI Radeon HD 2600 and tried it on another MacPro, it doesn't even work after 5-6 reboots. On a completely different machine.
This proves that the card simply dies after some time you start getting the symptoms.
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User profile for user: bpkm
bpkm
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Dec 14, 2009 10:58 PM in response to Gaunja

Just to throw in my 2 cents worth. I too have this problem with the video card. I have burned out 2 cards in less than a year. My service plan has been paying for it 100%. But based on what I have a read from everyone here, I am encouraged to think its the cards that are the problem- poor quality or run to hot and burn out, and not the computer. HMMMMM seems like we should be posting this issue on an ATI site for them to take note of....maybe a recall. BK
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User profile for user: DPArt
DPArt
User level: Level 3
604 points

Dec 16, 2009 2:24 AM in response to Gaunja

In the PC world, the 2600 is an "entry level" card.

They are worth about $20 used.

FWIW, the Mac version uses a better fan than the bone stock PC ones. Our fan uses 4 wires for better speed control.

HOWEVER..there are PC versions with Dual Slot coolers that are both quieter and more effective.

My point being, they probably sold a multiple of Apple sales to PC world. If there is a problem with 2600, you should find reports aplenty in PC forums. Add your voice to these where you find them.

We did not get the best version of this card, we also didn't get the worst one.

Since we paid $150+ for them, we are asking more. But ATI never meant for this to be a "serious" video card.

PC folks just toss these away when they die, like a used up set of tires on a car.
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User profile for user: Mactana
Mactana
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Dec 22, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Gaunja

First, let me thank you all for the free therapy-- it's always strangely comforting to know that others have experienced the same failure/trouble.

I have an Early 2008 Mac Pro (received 08/08/08) as well, and I thought the $200 upgrade to the Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT unnecessary at that time. I guess that makes the Nvidia GT 120 replacement a bargain at $150 now.

I found it interesting that the first problems first starting showing just after the warranty expired (I made the mistake of not purchasing AppleCare). At first, I would get an intermittent blue screen lasting 1sec - 3sec, and there would be about a sequence of 5 blue screens before function would return to normal. On three occasions, the blue screen appeared, and the desktop restarted (resetting/quitting all applications, losing all windows/work). Since the desktop restart coincided with the use of Microsoft Office for Mac 2004, I attributed it to Excel or Word. Then, I started to experience the problem where the computer would not wake from sleep. Then, on this last Monday, the computer would boot, but with no video signal. Both Dell monitors work perfectly with my MBP, and I can access the MP from the MBP. A near-certain diagnosis of "bad video card" was then rendered, and now supported from posts like these.

The new GT 120 should be here tomorrow and hopefully I will experience the same fix as you all have. I will be delighted to be rid of the intermittent blue screen. If that doesn't go away, then I'll still blame Microsoft for that. I still maintain that the Mac Pro is one of the best-built computers on the planet, and that the problems I have had (two Seagate Barracuda 1TB pieces of crap with firmware issues that killed my iTunes library twice) and now this ATI video card are due to the fact that Apple can't design and build everything they ship...
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User profile for user: PaulWW
PaulWW
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Dec 23, 2009 2:57 AM in response to Gaunja

Does anyone know is its OK to have more than one graphics card in a MacPro?

The one inside mine is an HD2600 XT (I think) installed when I bought the MacPro.

It has failed intermittently over the last few weeks and Apple have now sent me a replacement card. I would like to put the new one next to the old one to test everything first but not sure if thats OK.

Thanks
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User profile for user: databaze
databaze
User level: Level 1
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Dec 25, 2009 4:19 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Mine just died yesterday, merry xmas to me 😟 it was working fine until then and now, got no video on my early 2008 2.8 dual quad core 3.1 mac pro at all.
Now, i need to get a new card, but i work with audio, not video, so i do not want to spend $500 on a video card.

Will the NVidia GeForce GT 120 work with my 8 core plug n play, or will i need to install drivers? I ask because i got no way (that i know of) to get video out of it without a new card.

I also need to get two monitors out of the card, can i do this with an adapter?

this is the one i saw at apple store: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC002ZM/A

thanks for all your help.
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MacPro Early 2008 Display/Video Card Problem

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