Striped screen when powering up

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Level 1

17 points

Striped screen when powering up

Hello,

Today I found myself in front of the screen shown in the pics below while trying to switch the Mac of my office on. Never seen anything like this before: I tried 2-3 times to turn it on with the same result. Obviously it never goes further than that.

The machine is in use for video editing purposes and at the moment of the failure was using Adobe Premiere on a partition with El Capitan OS. I was told that the screen started to show artefacts, then suddenly crashed.

I'm afraid it could be a graphic card failure. Anyone who had this experience before?

Thank you!

Luca

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Jul 7, 2016 10:36 AM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Jul 7, 2016 10:39 AM in response to lucaroveri

What model Mac Pro?

What graphics card(s) installed?

Have you tried another monitor and cable?

How is monitor connected?

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Answer 2

Jul 7, 2016 11:10 AM in response to lucaroveri

That is called a moiré pattern, like watered silk fabric.

It tells a very different story than a horizontal or vertical stripe.

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Answer 3

lucaroveri Author

Level 1

17 points

Jul 8, 2016 6:38 AM in response to lllaass

Hi lllaass,

Yes I have tried another monitor connected with Thunderbolt with same result. Also I tried the DVI O/P with no joy..

The monitor works properly when connected to a second machine, so it must be a hardware failure.

Regarding your other questions:

- Model is MacPro 2.4_8 CX, no A1289

- Graphic is ATI Radeon (I didn't manage to pull it out to see the model)

If you have any breakthrough that will be highly appreciated!]

Thanks

Luca

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Answer 4

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Jul 8, 2016 6:58 AM in response to lucaroveri

Do you get that screen when you try to boot up?

What exactly happens when yo try to boot?

Do you get the startup chime?

Does the Power light remain lit?

I suspect a failed graphics card. If that is the case:

User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards

http://www.macvidcards.com/index.html

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Answer 5

lucaroveri Author

Level 1

17 points

Jul 8, 2016 8:45 AM in response to lllaass

Hi,

That's the only screen I can see, nothing else happens and no startup chime.

Power light remains lit.

Other clues of today..

I swapped cards with another machine (Lion OS) and it still presents the issue but the startup chime gets repeated continuously until I force shut down.

Another machine card (similar ATI Radeon but not the same) on the El Capitan leaves a black screen, after the normal startup chime: but I suspect the card might be just too old for El Capitan.

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Answer 6

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Jul 14, 2016 6:10 AM in response to lucaroveri

The card could only be too old if it was from a 2006-2007 Mac pro since those are only 32 bit EFI. The 2008 and later are 64 bit EFI (that is why they can run later than Lion). A 32 bit card will not work in a 64 bit Mac and the other way around too.

Reset the SMC

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

What happens if you remove/disconnect all peripherals except power and monitor and try to start up?

Is Power light steady one?

Any diagnostic light lit when you open the side cover? You can run the Mac with side cover off with only concern is that internal cooling will not be as effective.

You may have a hardware problem other than a graphics card.

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Answer 7

lucaroveri Author

Level 1

17 points

Jul 14, 2016 6:13 AM in response to lllaass

Hello lllass,

Back to the office today, I made a second test swapping the ATI Radeon cards between two similar machines and finally I got one working with the oldest one. So I must suppose at this point that the newest just died.

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