TRENDMASTER

Q: G5 Quad cannot install OS X - Red LED

I have a Power Mac G5 Quad.  It's the last model they made.

 

It has 9GB of ram.  4x2gb and 2x512mb.

 

Upon turning on the computer a red LED is on and then turns off.  A few seconds later it's back on and stays on.

 

Looking into this, it's a ram problem.  The led is labelled 'LED806.'  It's below the top 4 DIMM slots.

 

The computer will turn on, chime, and the screen is black for around 8 seconds before it goes to the gray screen.

 

-  If I just leave it, it will go to a 'happy mac' folder and stay there.  It's a clean hard drive so it wouldn't boot anyway.

 

-  If I boot the computer hold C with the Leopard disk in, it will go to the gray screen and stay there for sometime until it goes to kernal panic and says 'invalid memory access' etc.

 

-  If I boot holding option, it will go startup manager but stay there for a long time frozen.  Sometimes I can hit refresh and I see the Leopard disk.  I try to move forward but it freezes again.  Eventually it goes to kernal panic.

 

What puzzles me is this ram has always been used with the G5.  The 2gb sticks are the same model and so are the 512.  The G5 was running strong a few years ago with all this ram.

 

So is the ram dead or not?  Could it be something else?

 

I tried testing the ram.  1 stick at a time and got 2 beeps and the fans went LOUD.

 

I tried 2 at the same time in the the same slots 1-1 and it the computer would just do the stuff listed above.

 

Thanks

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), G5 Quadcore, 16gb ram, Custom GPU.

Posted on Jul 10, 2013 8:40 PM

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Q: G5 Quad cannot install OS X - Red LED

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 19, 2013 11:41 AM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Jul 19, 2013 11:41 AM in response to TRENDMASTER

    For safety I'd pull the RAM first, yes.

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Jul 20, 2013 3:09 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 20, 2013 3:09 PM in response to BDAqua

    BDAqua I did another update on Macrumors if you want to check it out.  The processor processor looks 100% fine I am awaiting a response there.

     

    Probably going to try the ram next.

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Jul 22, 2013 5:45 PM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 22, 2013 5:45 PM in response to TRENDMASTER

    bump

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 23, 2013 10:28 AM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Jul 23, 2013 10:28 AM in response to TRENDMASTER

    Tried the RAM yet?

     

    Got a link to the one on MacRumors? I think I had an account there a long time ago.

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Jul 23, 2013 1:47 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 23, 2013 1:47 PM in response to BDAqua

    I didn't because I disassembled everything.  I will again once it's back together.  I am awaiting some responses.

     

    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1608821

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 23, 2013 3:49 PM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Jul 23, 2013 3:49 PM in response to TRENDMASTER

    Whew... a bit like pulling teeth!

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Jul 27, 2013 5:09 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 27, 2013 5:09 PM in response to BDAqua

    Blow dryer didn't work, maybe not hot enough.  Please check my thread on Macrumors.

     

    I can't even run Apple Hardware Test to troubleshoot the ram.

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Jul 31, 2013 2:39 PM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 31, 2013 2:39 PM in response to TRENDMASTER

    Made an update on Macrumors.  Some pixelation on the screen trying hard drives.

  • by Skorpan,

    Skorpan Skorpan Aug 1, 2013 11:36 AM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 2 (375 points)
    Aug 1, 2013 11:36 AM in response to TRENDMASTER

    I have refurbished 2 G5 LCS machines, here's what I would do, start by:

     

    Replaing the RAM and hard drives, it's a cheap fix if it works.

     

    If the mac starts, the CPU is working, which means that if the RAM or the hard drives ar OK it either the PSU, LCS or the logic board issue.

     

    1 - PSU, overheats and turns off the mac, remove it clean out the dust.

    2 - LCS, leaked at O-rings, a very common problem, remove the LCS replace the O-rings and coolant.

    3 - Logic board, no real fix just get a new board.

     

    This is an old mac, the coolant has been working since 2005/6, the PSU is probably covered in dust and the logic board solder is old and tired.

     

    Hope his helps, good luck.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 1, 2013 11:37 AM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 1, 2013 11:37 AM in response to TRENDMASTER

    On the video problem, certainly some elictrical problem on the logic board for an HDD to affect he Video card.

     

    On SATA II drives, G5's will sometimes negotiate a SATA II drive down to SATA I if there's a SATA I drive in top slot HDD 0.

     

    If WD HDD, a jumper on pins 5 & 6 may help.

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Aug 1, 2013 12:12 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 1, 2013 12:12 PM in response to BDAqua

    The computer has started ever since I made this topic.  That is why my problem differs from others.  I never had a problem starting it up.

     

    I don't think it's the ram because...

     

    -  I tried all the ram in another computer and they work.

    -  I tried known working Kingston DDR2 in the G5.  It was higher mhz than the G5 ram but ram will down clock itself so it's all backwards compatiable.

     

    No one said anything about the PSU.  The computer does not turn itself off though.  The fans just go loud after a few minutes.

     

    I saw no leaks - you can see my disassembly at Macrumors.

     

    From what I read SATA 2 drives have no problems, just SATA 3.  I do not have any SATA 1 drives but I do have a jumper.  I have no empty hard drives to test right now.

     

    I think it's the logic board.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 1, 2013 1:48 PM in response to TRENDMASTER
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 1, 2013 1:48 PM in response to TRENDMASTER

    I think it's the logic board.

    That's what I've come to conclude so far.

  • by jb2008,

    jb2008 jb2008 Aug 8, 2013 6:06 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 8, 2013 6:06 PM in response to BDAqua

    unless you have intel processors the 10.6 osx will not load

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 9, 2013 12:25 AM in response to jb2008
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 9, 2013 12:25 AM in response to jb2008

    Hi jb, where did you see 10.6 here?

     

    Did I miss it?

  • by TRENDMASTER,

    TRENDMASTER TRENDMASTER Aug 11, 2013 7:18 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 11, 2013 7:18 PM in response to BDAqua

    I think he posted in the wrong topic.


    You guys got my hopes up by replying.  I thought you maybe thought of something I didn't...

     

    Would running Apple Service Diagnostic help in anyway or no?  I don't think I have that CD but it's worth a shot I suppose if I can get it.  I know you need to run it after putting in new CPU's, but I did reseat them.

     

    I still don't have a heat gun to try the ram sockets. 

     

    It's probably the logic board and if it that is the problem I have no money to get a new one right now.  Looks like they go for around $120-150 after shipping.

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