G5 startup light flashes 3 times then after a pause flashes 3 times etc.

Remove and reinsert all of the computer's RAM.

(53296)

Hi Donald,

Can you count the beeps or flashes?

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

In addition to the beeps, on some computers the power LED will flash a corresponding number of times plus one. The LED will repeat the sequence after approximately a 5-second pause. The tones are only played once.

Note: In this case, a flash is considered to be 1/4 second or 250 ms or greater in length.

With regards to your particular machine, the following holds on flashes:

• 2 Flashes: No RAM is installed or detected.
• 3 Flashes: Incompatible RAM types are installed.
• 4 Flashes: No RAM banks passed memory testing.
• 5 Flashes: No good boot images are detected in the boot ROM (and/or there is a bad
sys config block).
• 6 Flashes: The processor is not usable.

One stick is possibly corrupted or just, as an earlier post, needs to be reseated. If reseating does not do the trick, then you have to start removing pairs until you eliminate the bad stick.

Strange as it sounds, try heating the area around the RAM slots with a Hair Dryer for 3-5 minutes, see if it boots then.

Donald Mckelvey wrote:

The startup light gives 3 quick flashes and then dims for about 3 seconds and then 3 quick flashes and repeats this.

Just for grins, remove all RAM and try to power up and see if you get the two-flash response. If not, then there is a real puzzle here, as something strange is going on. If you do get two flashes, then that is helpful in that it indicates that the RAM detection firmware seems to be somewhat working anyway.

BDAqua is also on a good track, as we have been seeing some socket problems in these machines as well.

Wow. I have been having the EXACT same problems as the threadstarter. About 2 weeks ago it froze, and from tips i read here in the forums, tried switching around my RAM sticks. For a while it worked. Then i broke off one of the end snap-in bracket holders. So now i lost an entire row (two, technically) of available RAM. Anyhow, it still would perform random starts each time i switched RAMs around. Then 4 days ago it just plain would NOT start up at all. The stupid little three flashes taunting me.

So i ran up to the local Target, bought me a hair dryer. Toasted up the area around the RAM brackets and whaddya know!!! It WORKED! What planet am i on when a nine dollar Conair Salon Series can repair a $3,000 PowerMac. I dunno, but i'll take it!

My only follow up question would be: Is this just a cheesy temporary fix? Should i expect it to NOT boot after my next shutdown? Should i plan to have my hair-dryer in my studio now and expect to need to warm it up every time now? (In other words, can i return the hair-dryer or should i hang on to it? )

Thanks again... you guys are geniuses!!!

Is this just a cheesy temporary fix?

Cheesy or not, a board re-flow is the only other option.

Should i plan to have my hair-dryer in my studio now and expect to need to warm it up every time now? (In other words, can i return the hair-dryer or should i hang on to it? )

Keep the hair dryer, or better yet, leave the G5 running.
The continual heating and cooling of the memory slot/logic board connections is what is breaking the solder connections.
Keeping the machine hot is better.

Thanks mplaster, as jmac says just keep it running, Sleep may or may not work, but your G5's days are limited. 😟

I am in the same boat. Dual 1.8 G5 which has been a dream until today. Won't boot and I get the same 3 blinks of the light, then dim. Repeat. I have remove and reset all of the ram and re-loaded it and nothing. I am about to get the hair dryer. If this does not work, what is the next step? Is it repairable? does this generally mean that the sockets are bad, and they CAN be replaced or are we looking at something new that needs to be done?

I know I'm asking you all to diagnose something, but I need to be informed in dealing with my explanation to my wife as to why I spend more money. Unfortunately the local store I deal with, Mac Haven, whom I trust, charges $125 just to diagnose it. So, is it time for a new Mac?

Hi Ultrabeaker, and a warm welcome to the forums! 🙂

If this does not work, what is the next step?

A very few have been able to skip the 1st pair, (inner pair), of sockets & get it to work.

Is it repairable?

There's one place in Germany that has had success repairing/reflowing them.

does this generally mean that the sockets are bad, and they CAN be replaced or are we looking at something new that needs to be done?

It generally means that the new at that time Lead free Solder has lost connections inside the 5 layer Logic board around the RAM slots due to expansion & contraction.

So, is it time for a new Mac?

Likely so, the bottom Mac these days can beat our top of the Line Macs from yesteryear.

Totally wacky. Same 3 blinks. Bought a new imac. Was ready to discard G5 but when I opened it up to take some cards out I said to myself "This is a beautiful computer." Then I found this thread, got out the hair dryer and VOILA!!!! Working great!! For how long is the question, I guess. My wife's happy to ditch the G4 for the G5. Thanks BDAqua!!!

Hi moraine music, and a warm welcome to the forums! 🙂

Great to hear, thanks! 🙂

Just Sleep it & it may run for a long time! 🙂

I just recently reflowed the U3 memory controller chip 0n a 2.5 GHz with a heat gun and some solder flux, took three tries but I think I got it finally. 🙂