Resolved 2008 MacPro Power Supply Fail?

[ColdCase]

Just want to double check before I order up a replacement power supply, as my symptoms don’t seem to exactly match others or the service manual. I just may be OCD, however.

The 2008 MacPro will not power up. No advanced warning, just refused to power up one day. I pulled the video card and hard drives just to see if it was a loading issue. The SMC has been reset.

The Power-on LED above the power button does not light up. The trickle power LED (2) lights up but no LED 8 (main power OK). When the power button is pressed, I hear a faint click from the power supply area and then another one a few seconds later.

From reading the tons of info on line, this could mean a short somewhere, a bad CPU, or bad connection, a failed power supply, or the logic board. I don’t see an obvious short or extraneous metal laying around, and there is little dust.


So, assuming I’ll end up needing a power supply, whats the current opinion on a buying power supply used ($100) vs new ($300). Any tips on US outlets that are better than others?

 

[OS6-OSX]

https://www.dvwarehouse.com/661-467...-for-Mac-Pro-Early-2008-614-0409-p-35735.html

http://www.macpartsonline.com/661-4...-mac-pro-2-8-3-0-3-2ghz-early-2008-a1186.html

https://www.macpartsdepot.com/614-0...MIovbO7teH2AIVCtVkCh29WAlKEAQYASABEgK49vD_BwE

 

[nigelbb]

https://www.dvwarehouse.com/661-467...-for-Mac-Pro-Early-2008-614-0409-p-35735.html

http://www.macpartsonline.com/661-4...-mac-pro-2-8-3-0-3-2ghz-early-2008-a1186.html

https://www.macpartsdepot.com/614-0...MIovbO7teH2AIVCtVkCh29WAlKEAQYASABEgK49vD_BwE

I glanced at those web pages. The first states that it's "refurbished". I suspect any refurbishment is just blowing the dust off & cleaning it. The others don't specify whether they are new or used. Is it even possible to find a new power supply for the 3,1 nowadays? I know when mine failed a few years ago I found it impossible to source new power supply in the UK.

BTW the 1,1 & 2,1 power supply (which can be found used at much lower cost) can also be used in a 3,1 provided you use the 3,1 wiring harness.

 

[z970]

I'd buy this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Supp...051042?hash=item3d319803a2:g:kVIAAOSw-xVZ6QNl

Between you and me, I wouldn't worry about the effects of new vs used. As long as it works perfectly, everything's OK.

 

[ColdCase]

Apparently a supplier makes up a batch in China now and then. There are a few still left over from the last batch, but not from the one linked above.

 

[z970]

Apparently a supplier makes up a batch in China now and then. There are a few still left over from the last batch, but not from the one linked above.

Just trying to help, man. I'd only worry about what works and ones pulled from working machines, not what some supplier in China does.

 

[ColdCase]

I didn't mean to insult,far from it. I was just adding the info provided to me about how can there be new power supplies still out there. I don't know how well these so called new power supplies work or if ,in fact, they are old power supplies with new caps. I appreciate your help. Thanks.

I was thinking that perhaps I could get 5 years out of a new one where I'd be replacing a used one with another used one every year. My thinking may be suspect, however

I orded up a used one from a local outfit.

 

[OS6-OSX]

.....and there is little dust.

I will probably get suspended for posting this pic again. A free shot is to remove it and blow it out.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+Pro+First+Generation+Power+Supply+Unit+Replacement/32222

 

[ColdCase]

Oh I did try blowing the dust out of the power supply.

 

[z970]

I didn't mean to insult,far from it. I was just adding the info provided to me about how can there be new power supplies still out there. I don't know how well these so called new power supplies work or if ,in fact, they are old power supplies with new caps. I appreciate your help. Thanks.

I was thinking that perhaps I could get 5 years out of a new one where I'd be replacing a used one with another used one every year. My thinking may be subject, however

I orded up a used one from a local outfit.

Don't worry about it. All in good conscience.

That's what I was sort of getting at. We don't know how well these Chinese knock-offs are built.

What?? No, dude... It's more like you're going to have to replace the third-party Chinese ones every year, whereas the original ones pulled from working machines should last you well over 5+ years.

I think it's good you got a used one. Same thing I and many other people here would have gotten. You won't be disappointed.

 

[ActionableMango]

I will probably get suspended for posting this pic again. A free shot is to remove it and blow it out.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+Pro+First+Generation+Power+Supply+Unit+Replacement/32222

View attachment 742032

I still don't think it is humanly possible to get a 2008 that clean. Shenanigans!

 

[z970]

I still don't think it is humanly possible to get a 2008 that clean. Shenanigans!

When I got mine, I had to take it outside, get a leaf blower, and blow this giant cloud of dust out from both sides. It was so big you wouldn't believe it. Afterwards, I brought it back inside and wet paper-toweled everything, including sticking a rubbing alcohol'd Q-tip in between the GPU fan fins. Been mostly working like a charm ever since.

 

[Morriss]

I had a similar problem, with one difference. My front panel LED was on. The MB LED 8 was off so I assumed I had a bad PSU. I went ahead and ordered a new one and installed it, only to find I still couldn't start up. As a last resort, I removed one ram riser to check if it was bad, even though I had no warning LED's lit. Sure enough it starts up. It turns out I had a bad ram riser. This is the second time I had to replace one. I ordered a replacement and it's been great since then.

 

[ColdCase]

Just to follow up, replaced power supply with a used one that resolved the issue.

You know, after blowing the dust out of the case it looks almost as clean as the OS6-OSX machine.

 

[z970]

Just to follow up, replaced power supply with a used one that resolved the issue.

You know, after blowing the dust out of the case it looks almost as clean as the OS6-OSX machine.

There you go.
[doublepost=1513460388][/doublepost]

I will probably get suspended for posting this pic again. A free shot is to remove it and blow it out.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+Pro+First+Generation+Power+Supply+Unit+Replacement/32222

View attachment 742032

Is the blue thing in the disc drive bay a PCIe fan? Where did you get it?

 

[OS6-OSX]

Is the blue thing in the disc drive bay a PCIe fan? Where did you get it?

Lots of places to get them https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...Vil5-Ch3sSQnkEAQYAiABEgJGGPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

PCIe slots are all filled, it's positioned to blow across all the cards in the slots

 

[z970]

Lots of places to get them https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...Vil5-Ch3sSQnkEAQYAiABEgJGGPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

PCIe slots are all filled, it's positioned to blow across all the cards in the slots

View attachment 742490

Cool. Do you find it quite useful?

 

[OS6-OSX]

Cool. Do you find it quite useful?

Did this years ago when I was running a 8800gt. If you know about the heat issues (soldering) you can see how it kept it cooler! It never failed during the years of use. Since two enemies of electronics are heat and dust I kept using the fan in addition to the MP's. The Quadro 4000 is known for running hot so the Vantec is Vantastic! How's that for a 50's commercial!