Mac Pro kernel panic, RAM does not seem to be problem
My Mac Pro (late 2006) now has kernel panics at startup. Problem first happened while computer was in sleep mode, a second kernel panic happened about 10-15 minutes after reboot the first time. Now it happens at startup every time. Zapped PRAM multiple times to no effect. Tested original 10.4 install disk, as well as 10.5 and 10.6 upgrade disks with all external connections removed and from a cold boot. The 10.4 disk causes the kernel panic every time. The 10.5 and 10.6 disks do too, if the C or D key is depressed. The upgrade disks will hang in a gray screen (10.6) or pale blue screen (10.5) with no keys depressed--computer keeps running but fails to boot. Also tested the RAM (4 X 512 MB) in different combinations of one pair in the top riser board (and switched risers, and removed lower board completely). All resulted in kernel panics. Next option?
Mac Pro 2006,
Mac OS X (10.4.11),
stock memory, two extra HDs
To anyone finding this thread in the future looking for help on a similar problem, the CNet forums Mac section gave me the correct advise: replace the video card. The stock GeForce 7300 was causing the kernel panics. I replaced it with a Radeon HD 3870, from eBay, and everything went back to normal operation. (I did also have to upgrade my OS for the new card to work properly.)