usb port failing... what hardware component?

[QCassidy352]

The usb ports are failing (working erratically) on my SP 1.8 Ghz G5 tower. Does anyone know what hardware component is likely implicated here? And how expensive that component is to replace? :eek:

[w_parietti22]

The usb ports are failing (working erratically) on my SP 1.8 Ghz G5 tower. Does anyone know what hardware component is likely implicated here? And how expensive that component is to replace? :eek:

oooo.... thats no good. Probably needs a new logic board. :eek: (Not positive) If its not under Apple Care, the best thing to do is to get a USB 2.0 PCI card.

[QCassidy352]

oooo.... thats no good. Probably needs a new logic board. :eek: (Not positive) If its not under Apple Care, the best thing to do is to get a USB 2.0 PCI card.

new logic board?? :eek: Yeah... sucks to hear it, but that's what I was afraid it was. It's not under applecare anymore. :(

[screensaver400]

Is anything else on your system acting up?

Reason I ask is that if the logic board's USB controller is malfunctioning, other devices might be as well. And if more than one device isn't working, it may by cheaper to buy a new logic board than to replace every bad component via PCI.

[Counterfit]

is it the front port, or the rear?

[QCassidy352]

Yes, the hard drive is making bad noises as well. This is the computer that was smashed as recounted in this thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=147223). In addition to the physical damage, I'm now experiencing these performance issues.

It's both front and rear ports, but intermittently. The really strange thing is that the ports don't completely fail, most of the time. Like, I'll plug in my ipod shuffle (front port) and the computer will recognize it, but it will take 45 seconds to do so, and then 5 minutes to put one song on the shuffle. Or one port on my ACD (connected through the rear ports) will work while the other one will go out, and then they'll switch. Things like that. Clearly there's damage somewhere, but the symptoms are so weird that I don't know what to do.

[QCassidy352]

here are some pictures of the damage, just for your amusement. It seems like something really heavy was dropped on it.

[CanadaRAM]

Hmmm.. Someone a while back was considering selling a machine like this as "works fine just dented". Guess this goes to show that the internal works may indeed have their life shortened by extenal battering.

[screensaver400]

This is a long shot, but you might take a look inside and see if anything (aside from the dents) is obviously wrong. A partially severed wire, maybe; perhaps some sort of loose connection.

I've never spent time inside a Power Mac, though, so I could be totally off.

[QCassidy352]

a little update: since I reset the PRAM a few days ago, the problems have not returned. Is it possible that such a simple little action could have done it? Maybe it wasn't hardware at all?

[Demon Hunter]

Wow man your comps are having a lot of trouble lately! Give 'em a hug for me! :)

I've never seen a G5 take that kind of damage, that must have been a fricking heavy object.

I would open her up and check the condition, and then run the Extended Hardware Test.

[QCassidy352]

Yeah, they are. :-/ Kinda annoying, but what can I do.

One repair guy I talked to suggested that they lowered a forklift blade on it. That would do it.

Unfortunately, I can't do the hardware test because I got this second hand and the original owner had lost the hardware test cd! :-o