MacPro 5,1 (Quad Core)Early 2010: Does not start up

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MacPro 5,1 (Quad Core)Early 2010: Does not start up

Friends,

Hope all is well.

Six weeks back, during heavy lightening and thunderstorms, the display of the mac, started distorting and going all crazy.

I gathered it was a graphics card issue (from what i gathered from the forums), and replaced the card.

The system worked fine after that , but around the third week, the system would not start up.

Pressing the start button, resulted in neither the LED light turning on nor the starting chime.

Going through various online forums, i gathered it could either be an issue with the SMPS or of the motherboard.

I took it to a local tech, and he tells me that the SMPS is alright.

I now intend to have the system looked at by a professional.

My query is: if there is an issue with the motherboard, can it be replaced?

I have seen videos of the 'cores' being upgraded..but no videos of the motherboard( of a 2010 MacPro) being replaced.

It would be helpful, if anyone could guide me through this.

MacPro 5,1 2.8Ghz , Quad Core 16 gb ram

OSX Msvericks.

Thanks

Dinesh

Posted on Nov 2, 2017 9:50 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,855 points

Nov 2, 2017 10:38 AM in response to d_veliath

Do not replace anything expensive before you test or replace the 3Volt, non-recharging Coin cell battery on the mainboard behind the Graphics card slot.

The approved method for debugging is to remove EVERYTHING in a slot -- all PCIe card including the graphics cards, all drives, all RAM DIMMs, and attempt to get the chime OR a blinking power light.

Three blinks says CPU is working, but "not enough working RAM to start up".

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Answer 2

Nov 6, 2017 7:43 AM in response to d_veliath

Power supplies are not routinely serviced, they are generally repaired by replacement.

There may be used power supplies available with a modest warranty, from Macs that died from different causes.

There are technicians who love to repair power supplies, but they would generally require a circuit diagram before diving in, and Apple does not make their circuit diagrams available.

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Answer 3

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2017 3:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant, Thanks for the reply.

The authorized Mac seller over at my area, turned my request for repairs down , stating that it was an older model.

However, they were kind enough to recommend another Tech center.

So the system is now with them.

Will keep this forum updated.

dinesh

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Answer 4

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2017 3:42 AM in response to d_veliath

Friends,

Hope all is well.

I was contacted by the authorized tech support.

They tell me , that the issue ('most probably') is with the SMPS.

IF that is the case,is there any way to differentiate, between an SMPS issue and a motherboard issue ?

thanks

dinesh

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Answer 5

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 8, 2017 6:08 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you Grant, you have been very helpful.

A final doubt: the MPN given on the SMPS is 614-0455.

Is this number important?

I ask because, most of the SMPS that are for sale have the MPN as 614-0454.

Another thing, how do i find the EEE code of the smps?

( i have also asked the folks at dv warehouse the same question...but i though i'd get your perspective too)

This is what is written as the specs:

FS8001

Customer Id: 291H

Apple P/N :614-0455

AC Input: 100-240V /50-60 Hz , 12-5A

DC ouput: 12.2V -79 A...... 5Vsb 5A

Total 980 W Max

then in bar code: FZ05103LAP8B

regards

dinesh

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Answer 6

Nov 8, 2017 6:17 AM in response to d_veliath

I do not know the answers to your questions.

Apple is free to make changes to assembly part numbers at any time. Sometimes the changes have no impact (e.g., the color of the sticker on which the numbers are written might change, which could change the part number). At other times, a component change inside might make the newer version run cooler or last longer.

Some sellers on eBay know NOTHING about what they are selling. Others have a lot of information on hand, and may blurt out differences in their ads, (e.g., this unit is the later series with the improved thermistor, or this unit also fits the 2009 model.)

It sounds like nonsense, but if you read their eBay ads carefully, sometimes the information you need to make a decision is sitting right out in the open.

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Answer 7

Nov 8, 2017 7:10 AM in response to d_veliath

I do not intend to purchase it from Ebay.

I was not suggesting you purchase from ebay. When I was trying to equip a school with rebuilt computers (when they had none) I found some of the seller information surprisingly helpful.

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Answer 8

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 9, 2017 4:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant:

The tech had called me today.

They are still confused as to whether the issue is with the SMPS or with the mother board.

They tell me, that when the power button is pressed, a green light on the mother board, momentarily turns on .(the system itself is still off). However, further pressing of the button is futile, as nothing happens.

Once the main cable is disconnected form the power, and then reconnected, and the power button is pressed, again the green light momentarily flickers.

The thing is, over here there isn't a spare SMPS for me to confirm whether the issue is with the motherboard or SMPS.

I don't want to order an SMPS and find that the whole exercise was futile.

Could any one help me make sense out of this.?

dinesh

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Answer 9

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2017 7:17 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant.

I confirmed with them... they tell me the battery is fine.

There seems to be no output from the SMPS.

Is it possible to service the SMPS?..

or is buying a new one, the only way to go?

dinesh

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Answer 10

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2017 9:46 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant:

.

Any sellers, that you would recommend, for getting an SMPS at a modest price?

( there are plenty of them on Ebay...but i though i'd get you opinion)

dinesh

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Answer 11

Nov 6, 2017 9:52 AM in response to d_veliath

https://www.dvwarehouse.com/Mac-Pro-Power-Supply-c-4884.html

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Answer 12

d_veliath Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 8, 2017 6:42 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

ok.. will keep you updated.

I do not intend to purchase it from Ebay.

Am waiting for the reply from dv warehouse

dinesh

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Answer 13

Nov 6, 2017 7:17 AM in response to d_veliath

Motherboard issues are extremely rare in these Macs, except for problems with the Northbridge chip losing its mounting pins and getting wiggly. This causes wonky, unexplained and unrelated series of kernel panics, not the symptoms you describe.

Also, there are two different boards one might call the motherboard. One is on the slide-out shelf on the bottom of the cabinet, housing the processor(s) and RAM DIMMs, and the other is the backplane board that contains the PCIe slots. Neither has been troublesome.

Be sure they check that non-recharging coin cell battery before committing to any expensive replacements. It should measure 3 volts in your hand.

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