mouson
Level 1 (12 points)
Desktops

Q: Mac will not accept Gigabit speed

Mac Mini (late 2009) 2.66GHz Intel Core 1 Duo

8GB 1067 MHz DDR3

OSX Yosemite 10.10.5

Network Interface NVIDIA MCP79-1

 

We recently upgraded our switch from a 100 to 1000

We have an ancient Mac Mini (pre 2009) a MacBook Pro of the same vintage

Several windows machines (Win7)

 

Only on one - my Mac as it happens - will the networking not recognise the 1000 setting

If in Preferences I set it to automatic it returns "cable unplugged" If I try manual at 1000 same thing

It will only work at manual 100 (obviously because if I go to auto it picks up the 1000 speed and then falls over).

 

I have tried all combinations for the cables and the connections with the Macs that work and all Macs save mine work so it isn't a matter of the cable (CAT5).

 

I have re-installed Yosemite - twice - once without wiping the disk once with - no change

 

I called Apple - they couldn't help other than to say upgrade to El Capitano which I don't want to do as that will almost certainly precipitate a cascade of other updates and everything I have works perfectly.  Anyway that isn't logical since all the other machines work.

 

Calling a Mac engineer costs just to speak to him and might cost more than a new motherboard (if spares exist).

 

I am 99% certain since the network interface works at 100 (and at 10) that the issue cannot be physical.

 

I would like to ask:

 

(1) Nonetheless and just in case are there any switches on the motherboard?

(2) Is there anywhere at all that I can obtain a fresh driver for the network interface?

(3) There is a site run by someone called "KSK" who claims to have a package that clears this specific problem: he offers a package "All in one Ethernet Solutions.zip" (apparently it works for Mac and something called Hackintosh) - has anyone downloaded this? Did it work? The site looks serious but his server has been under maintenance for the last 3 / 4 days...

(4) There is another site which offers a similar solution but as soon as I visited it and saw the images on the side bar I left! It didn't smell right!

(5) Finally is there anywhere I can buy a new motherboard (if all else fails).

 

Any help / advice appreciated

 

Jean

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 2:34 AM

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mouson

Q: Mac will not accept Gigabit speed

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  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Sep 12, 2016 3:00 AM in response to mouson
    Level 6 (9,260 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Sep 12, 2016 3:00 AM in response to mouson

    There are no switches on the logic board relating to the speed of the Ethernet port. Normally it should 'just work', it should even automatically work out if it needs to cross-over the connection e.g. if connecting two Macs directly.

     

    The most common cause I have seen for this type of problem is a cable problem. There are two possible issues here, a 100Mbps connection only needs four wires so if one of the other four wires is not properly connected then the cable will only work at 100Mbps. The second possibility is that Cat3 cable only works at 100Mbps, you need at least Cat5 cable in order to do 1000Mbps. So try either using a different wall socket one that you know works at 1Gbps when testing with another computer, and also try a different patch lead at both ends, i.e. the Mac end and the switch end. It maybe easier to move the MacBook to your Mac mini location to try the cables.

  • by mouson,

    mouson mouson Sep 12, 2016 3:06 AM in response to John Lockwood
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 3:06 AM in response to John Lockwood

    Thanks for the info on the logic board - it is what I expected.

    I believe have already tried everything on the cable front.

    Changed cables, used different sockets, used the same sockets on different machines.

    The MacBook Pro and the ancient Mac Mini work perfectly - mine doesn't!

    But I will try again following your advice.

    All cables are CAT5

    Jean

  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Sep 12, 2016 3:16 AM in response to mouson
    Level 6 (9,260 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Sep 12, 2016 3:16 AM in response to mouson

    I suppose another uncommon possibility might be that one of the 8 wires in the Mac mini Ethernet socket or from the socket to the logic board might be faulty, this would produce the same result as a faulty cable. Have a close look at the eight metal pins in the socket of the Mac mini.

     

    If this is the case then the only solutions would be either to replace the logic board, or to get a USB to Ethernet adapter.

     

    Note: USB2 is not really fast enough for 1Gbps, USB3.0 is fast enough, however your Mac only has USB2.

  • by mouson,

    mouson mouson Sep 12, 2016 3:28 AM in response to mouson
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 3:28 AM in response to mouson

    PS: Your comments made me think of one combination that I hadn't tried but now I can report with even more confidence that the cabling is 100% the fault lies with the Mac Mini - either software or hardware.

     

    If it is hardware then it most probably was a fault right from the start but who would ever be able to demonstrate that to Apple's satisfaction?  Our first network was 10, then about 6 years ago we went to 100 and since it automatically senses and adjusts it was only this March when we installed the gigabit switch that we uncovered the problem!

     

    Jean

  • by mouson,

    mouson mouson Sep 12, 2016 3:34 AM in response to John Lockwood
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 3:34 AM in response to John Lockwood

    I don't want to go down the USB route and as you point out it isn't really fast enough.  One thing I thought of was Firewire to Ethernet but nothing like that exists.

  • by dwbrecovery,

    dwbrecovery dwbrecovery Sep 12, 2016 5:11 AM in response to mouson
    Level 3 (532 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Sep 12, 2016 5:11 AM in response to mouson

    Hi mouson,

    - Click on Apple at top left -> About This Mac -> System Report -> Network.  Choose Ethernet.

    - Check lower window under  heading Ethernet:Media Subtype:   Should be 1000baseT?

    - if it isn't, try each of below checking back at whether the Ethernet Media Subtype changes.

     

    Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

     

    hope this helps

    Cheers, dwbrecovery

  • by mouson,

    mouson mouson Sep 12, 2016 5:21 AM in response to dwbrecovery
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 5:21 AM in response to dwbrecovery

    HI there and thanks,

    SMC - done that (forgot to mention in original post - sorry)

    NVRAM - ditto

    Safe Mode - ditto, but I will re-check this last because I cannot remember if I checked the speed.  (Probably did).

    Apple Support - I am afraid is charming but useless.

     

    Jean

  • by dwbrecovery,

    dwbrecovery dwbrecovery Sep 12, 2016 5:42 AM in response to mouson
    Level 3 (532 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Sep 12, 2016 5:42 AM in response to mouson

    Last thought is to check for physical damage / dirt in the ethernet port. 

  • by mouson,

    mouson mouson Sep 12, 2016 5:47 AM in response to dwbrecovery
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 5:47 AM in response to dwbrecovery

    Hi again; John Lockwood also suggested a close look at the pins in the ethernet socket.  I can now report that they all seem healthy - I applied a little light pressure on them they seem springy and responsive.  I also rebooted in SAFE mode but that made no difference.

     

    So no cable problem, no socket problem, SMC reset ditto NVRAM, SAFE mode no change.

     

    Out of options!   

  • by mouson,

    mouson mouson Sep 12, 2016 5:52 AM in response to mouson
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 5:52 AM in response to mouson

    Hi John

     

    Just to follow up as I am sure you've better things to do!

    Tried SAFE mode as per dwbrecovery's suggestions

    Had a good look at the ethernet port with magnifying glass and LED light - all good.

    Contacts in good condition.

     

    The chances of a dry solder joint are infinitesimal but I suppose there is always a chance.

    It is a bit of a sweat to open but even if I did there is zero chance of seeing anything physically.

     

    Stuck I suppose - at least it runs at 100!

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jean