Q: Mac Pro (late 2013) Graphic Issues

Wow.  That's too bad.  Apple is trying to blame it on Avid without really telling me what the problem is because they don't support 3rd party software.  But I was recently warned that Apple blames everyone else but their own products when something goes wrong with a Mac Pro.  I guess I don't blame them, but it just makes it more difficult to justify spending thousands of dollars on products that don't really work properly.  Who knows?  They may be right.  I'm going to take it into the Apple Store tonight and hopefully leave it there for a more detailed diagnostic, but I'm basically in the middle of an album project restarting my computer on a regular basis because of some unknown difficulty that is identical to the one that has spawned this series of posts on this forum.

I've been using Apple products for over 25 years, but I can't really see justifying buying a $10K computer with the risk that it might not work and the company that makes it blaming someone else.

just got back my machine from Apple Lab.

they replaced the Gfx cards with no charge. (wow!)

problem started since bought it brand new.

after 1 year of gr8 suffering (urgent restarts, damaged work, waste of time, and losing money)

..it seems that the problem solved.

not satisfied at all.  embarrassing for Apple!!

i'll be back..

Just go back to the store.

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this note was posted in 9to5mac on 6 february 2016:  https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/screen-shot-2016-02-06-at-12-01-34-p m.png?w=1000&h=436

in it, apple acknowledges problems that some of us have had from the day the late 2013 apple pro was introduced.  Unfortunately apple has set up a replacement program only for mac pros produced between february 8 and april 11 2015.  The status quo  is maintained for the rest of us.

Since I am tired of both the absence of response from the "genius" at apple and of my computer going to never never land I wonder:

(1)   where can I get a graphics card to replace the original defective one and

(2)   can a user replace the card easily?

N.B.  I am so disappointed with apple!!!

I wonder:

(1)   where can I get a graphics card to replace the original defective one and

(2)   can a user replace the card easily?

The graphics cards used in these Macs are proprietary. There are no aftermarket cards of any Brand that use these form factors. Also, the two cards are NOT interchangeable with each other.

Since these models have been out for a while, there may be some used cards available from third party "junkyard" operators.

Replacing these high-performance graphics cards is complicated, and requires the proper use of thermal compound. Several of the graphics card components and the VRAMs are pressed against the central cooling core with screw clamps, thermal paste, and thermal pads of the correct thickness.

I am also perplexed by this. After my 2nd unit had it's first visit to the Genius Bar and was blessed as "nothing wrong" and then it started exhibiting the same issues AGAIN, I opted to make an appointment and have a DISCUSSION, rather than disassemble my workstation and only be told the same thing a second time. That discussion yielded the response of, "maybe you should contact Apple Care directly" and that's when I started working with the engineering team in Austin directly, otherwise I would have probably fallen into this same endless loop. This is really a sad situation and the frustrating factor in all of this is that it calls the technical abilities of Apple's power users into question. We all invested into this top tier of equipment as power users (which was not cheap), and we each should be met with the same level of technical understand & capabilities from the Genius Bar as well. The outcome we are all experiencing is totally random and erratic as the Mac Pro's performance ..... just saying.

My recommendation is to record a video of the problem and then go to the apple genius, show them the problem.... your setup and so on. I have to say that when I got my first mac pro on Jan 20 of this year it had an issue more than just the graphics problem. It had a very fast flash drive faster than the second unit I exchange it with, but the first unit had el capitan install, the second unit had mavericks. So meaning that they have no idea of the problem maybe or they want to see and test that if I continue to have the problem that they have given me two different machine assemble in different years. All I have to say the second unit is much more stable and is not doing the things that the first is doing still I have till Feb 19 to return the second unit if I am not satisfied.

Thanks Grant.  Will not try any change

Thanks Switch900.  The problem is that the "Genius" at my local Genius bar (quotes are explicit) want to reproduce a random problem and will not accept any other evidence.

Does anybody at apple read these posts?

no none of the apple read this post, but I definitely think you should call apple support your paying for apple care if you have any that is a right you need to explain that the machine is not working properly.... I know for sure that my first unit was not acting normal it was very finicky, I highly recommend showing them the problem if they don't listen to your request at the Genius, you could try another apple retail store. If you are in New York city you have many apple store around the 5 boro area...

INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED ! spend all my money on the purchase of a Mac pro to up my game as a music producer ....in the two months that I've owned the machine all I've experienced is terrible instability and constant" hanging " I've had to cancel numerous jobs , lost hours and hours of valuable time and money trying to "fix" the problem....but what's worse is the embarrassment I've had to endure in front of my valued clients. I've now spend 3 days at the Istore with the overworked but very helpful technical crew....they couldn't fix it so now it's been sent off to the repair centre(5 days of work lost) ). After "googling" this morning I find many more people with the same problem (seems to be GPU related)  if this is the case it will no doubt cost a lot to fix. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and in case my words have incorrectly come across as a "major gripe" session, I would prefer it if you would read as a cry for help from a customer who really expected a lot more from Apple. I Feel your pain Mike. This is an excerpt from a letter I drafted to Apple this last week .All the best. Ralph Martin

Can I ask you a question?  Are you using a 4K monitor and/or CLA effects by Waves by any chance?

Metapunk,

Neither.  I use an LG ultrawide screen connected to the MacPro through thunderbolt.  Hope this helps.

Sorry, I was directing this to guitarsos.  I'm going to try again.  Can I ask you a question guitarsos?  Are you using a 4K monitor and/or CLA effects by Waves by any chance?  I have an issue with certain effects that overload the processor if I adjust them during playback.  I was trying to rule out some possible conflicts with certain plug ins.

Hi Metapunk...no I'm not using a 4K monitor...I'm using two Samsung 2232gw's with mini display port -DVI converters and I'm using the Waves 7 bundle (which I believe includes CLA) however the machine would hang even with logic closed...while doing a fresh install at the istore it hung and could not complete , it was then decided to send it for further investigation, I've just read that Apple have identified a gpu problem in the late 2013 Mac pro's and are changing certain of the graphics cards....I'm just praying that I fall into this category as I am actually the second owner...thanks for your interest