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Ati Radeon HD 4870 out of order?

Hi folks,


im using a mac pro 1.1 with an ati radeon hd 4870 since aprox. one year without troubles.

since two weeks i habve the problem, that when i start the machine the fan of the graphik card is very loud, the power led is blinking and there is no starting at all. First i thought it would be the ram/ or riser cards. Then i installed the old graphik card (Nvida Model no P345 that one came with the computer) - and everything was ok. so i think the problem is NOT the ram. (am i right?).

My Problem FCP X is not working with this card (too slow)


Did anybody have the same trouble with that graphic card? is the gpu out of order? please help


This is my first post in any forum concerning computer-problems. sorry for my bad english, i´m german


thanks for your answers (which i long for)

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 25, 2013 1:34 PM

Reply
12 replies

Jun 26, 2013 10:41 AM in response to edhs74

Although your graphics card may still not be working properly, the symptom you described has NOTHING to do with the graphics card.


Those flashes say there is not enough WORKING RAM to start up Mac OS X. If different RAM also produces the same symptoms, that RAM is not working either.


This article describes the tones (identical to the flashes) in the Intel iMac and later Macs:


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2538

iMac (Mid 2007) and later models: About startup tones


A subtle twist is that each PAIR has to have TWO working members -- if either one of the pair is not working, the pair cannot be used.

Jun 26, 2013 11:13 AM in response to The hatter

ATI Radeon 5770

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A

2x2GB FBDIMM DDR2 667MHz @ $32


Those 512s fail. They are 7 yrs old. They were not as well engineered at what is being made and sold now, in the last year. These I use (1,1 8x2GB) are not just fine they are great (run 10-15*C colder)


You should use Temperature Monitor to see what thermal and other sensors report, fan speeds, temps of DIMMs (over 70*C is not good contrary to early reports).


Jun 26, 2013 12:43 PM in response to The hatter

Ok i put out the riser card with the 2x512mb dimms

- same problem


i bought a nvidia 8800 gt and installed it:


on the first run i couldn´t see anything (nor on output 1 neither on output 2


so i installed the small gpu in slot one, connected to the monitor and installed the 8800 gt in slot 4 (because of the pci lane 8x)

then i started with monitor on the geforce 7300 (small gpu) and after having picture i switched the monitor to the 8800 gt - it worked

after restarting there was the problem that i had to shut down the computer while booting. no boot-up possible.


then i put out the 8800gt and booted only with the 7300 and everything is ok


Summary: Only the 7300 is working the 8800gt not and the 4870 not


then ran AHT and there is an error: "4MOT/40000002:IO

no issues about the ram (i testet twice first with only one riser card, second with both)

the long aht is doing while i write these lines


Does anybody have a clue?


thanks to all that answered and will answer (;-)))


AH POWER LED IS NOT BLINKING ANYMORE SINCE I INSTALLED THE 8800 GT THE FIRST TIME!

Jun 26, 2013 2:43 PM in response to edhs74

Open Is NOT how FBDIMMs are properly cooled though.


When opening the case, after use, wait 10 minutes to allow FBDIMMs to gradually cool.


Where or why aren't you using a good utility to monitor sensor readings and temps so you have real temps, not a guess that "open is best"


Boosting the fans (3 of 4) to 900 rpm has been used for 6.5 yrs to improve air flow and cooling.


The newer FBDIMMs run 15*C cooler.


8800's fail

7300GT is poor card, handy for emergency, a 5770 would be a stronger card and works fine


I said to take out the 512s as they add heat, can fail easily, are not giving your quad channel configuration symmetrical memory performance - and cheap to upgrade ($32).


Right now troubleshooting by playing musical chairs to find the culprit is fine but not a real solution.

Jun 27, 2013 12:33 AM in response to The hatter

ok i see

ill have to check the temperatures with the tool you gave me the link - thanks for that.

which temperatures are ok?


i put out the 2x512 mb so i have 8gb memory now


the aht test told me nothing about fail dimms.


i dont want to put extra money in that computer now so buying a 5770 is not an option for now

(i want the new mac pro and severel months before launching i dont want to spend money for the old one)


is the only thing i have to replace the dimms? or is there an other possibilty concerning the 4870


by the way i have mac osx 10.7.5 installed - could this be the problem? - an update from 10.7.4?


why isnt the 8800 gt or the 4870 even recognized, when installed? is there a possibility to manage that so i could flash them again?


thanks for your inputs

Jun 27, 2013 4:59 AM in response to edhs74

You can't know without swapping parts


I mentioned already or in tons of other threads what temps for FBDIMMs to look for. Under 70*C


AHT does not mean they are good, only that the things it looks at


Yes 10.7.5 works better on newer and does not work well if at all on older ATI card.


8800's fail. Google for 'baking 8800' and youtube for how to take apart and prepare for 10-15 min @ 350*


You could have a solid system for yourself or someone else. you could buy time to wait out the first release or two of 10.9 and the first silicon production, which have ALWAYS had one or more gottchas.


Some put 8-core 5355s, PCIe SSDs, RAM is cheap today.


Go visit MacVidCards on ebay if you think there is something cheaper, but they aren't that much less than the $249

Ati Radeon HD 4870 out of order?

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