Dmitry, and everyone - really sorry to have been so long with an update but I've been busy with my full-time and also a big freelance video. Here's some stuff I want to share on the full-tilt fan issue I'm experiencing with my 2010 Mac Pro, Model Identifier MacPro5,1 (2.8 GHz Quad core):
I first need to admit that for anyone reading this thresad, you have to imagine the discomfort of what a Mac Pro sounds like hwne the fans are truning at their fastest speed - it's unerving and loud, and I say unerving because of all the Mac Pro's I've worked with for years and years either at Disney or now for Vail Resorts, to finally have purchased my own and have this happen... well, kinda a bummer - I really appreciate my Mac Pro and I hate that it's not working properly. (ok so enough of my feely side, but just to those of you who may not be experiencing this, have compassion).
Apple, through a series of support calls over a year! I'm not kidding and it's a long story, but they graciously sent a guy out to my home! It was crazy, and the van that pulled into my driveway had ladders on top and I'm not recalling the company name but he was a kind of Corporate IT rescue-type, "where's the fire".
He did in fact replace the motherboard, and to be honest, instead of feeling secure and relieved, I felt nervous and could not get a grip on the way he gutted my coveted Mac Pro all over my studio floor (which is carpeted) I was asking as politely as possible if he didn't need any kind of grounding or whatever. Also, in order to get to the motherboard, he removed pretty much everything except.... no he removed everything.
My initial issue revolved around the Bluetooth not being recognized, and when I say not recognized I mean it didn't show up in my System Profiler, and so I couldn't use my mouse (the one the Mac Pro shipped with) and there were some other issues such as my CalDigit Raid often wasn't recognized upon bootup, etc.
I had tried everything, but to get back to this thread, everything was back to normal until about one month ago. I booted up, and the fans kicked into high and stayed there. I have since figured something out: I disconnected everything and basically cleaned it but it was not dirty or dusty but regardless, I was just desparate to get it back to normal. After putting everything back; 5770 video card, RAID controller card, etc. it was back to normal, but I had no idea why. It was shocking to hear it quiet again. Then it came back AGAIN!
I opened it and this time I realized that it isn't the fan that seats the PCIe cards that spins up to full, but the front and rear fans. I noticed the PCIe fan (has the button the allows the shroud to slide back to access the PCIe cards) wasn't spinning at all. I again removed everything and figured out that the connection below the PCIe fan was loose. I was much more careful to replace the fan over the connection, but you can't really see the connection once you re-install that fan. I did my best to seat it and then I put the screws back in and again, it worked normally and as I write this novel to all of you, I am sorry to say that my fans are wailing away aty full-tilt. I am going to assume (since I do not really completely understand what is the true issue) that the connection to my PCIe fan is intermittent and each time I gently place my Mac Pro on its side and clean it and put it back together, I must be establishing a good contact to that fan but it eventually gets loose.
I know that a lot of production trailers have racks of Mac Pro's that are racked sideways and maybe I should try setting my Mac Pro on its' side instead of upright and maybe gravity would help the connection. Not sure. I suppose I could look into buying a new fan. It connects to the aluminum above the processor compartment and it is self-contained - black molded connection makes contact to the motherboard that runs up and down the left side (across from the side that opens). Fan monitoring apps do not make a difference, but I was grateful for the suggestions. At this point I am certain I am not hurting anything (possibly shortening the life of my fans) but it is really hard to edit with the noise - it's really unbearable. I hope any of this is useful to you guys.
