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Video card died after installing new RAM?!

apfhex

apfhex

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Aug 8, 2006
2,670
5
Northern California
I got some new RAM from OWC, installed it, and my Mac Pro (2006) now will not boot. The fans spin up and I hear the startup chime but the screen remains blank. The fans stay spinning at full blast and don't spin down like normal.

The first thing I tried was taking out the new RAM but this didn't fix it. Same problem.

I tried resetting the SMC by pressing the button on the motherboard.

I tried resetting the PRAM. No effect whatsoever.

Also tried booting from the restore discs but that did nothing either.

I am at a loss. I've installed RAM upgrades on all of my Macs and never a problem like this.

Update: I changed the name of this thread since it now appears my Mac Pro actually boots and operates normally, but there is no video at all, indicating a dead video card.
 
I haven't installed memory in any Mac system, but your first/easiest thing to try is to check all cables and cards to see if they came loose. Especially any connections from the Ram card to the rest of the system. If that doesn't work, unplug the cards and cables, one at a time, and reseat them. It sounds like something came unstuck.

Try going to the Apple support site, I'm sure someone else has done the same thing before, and asked there for help.

Good Luck, eh!
 
I've checked that everything is seated properly, inside and out.

I tried safe mode but same problem - there just isn't anything on the screen at all and the fans are spinning at full speed.

I also tried holding down option to get to the boot loader, as well as removing my other non-boot hard drives, both to no avail.
 
apfhex said:
I've checked that everything is seated properly, inside and out.

I tried safe mode but same problem - there just isn't anything on the screen at all and the fans are spinning at full speed.
Click to expand...

Try booting into single user and running fsck?

Did you unplug the machine from power for ~5 minutes?
 
iGary said:
Try booting into single user and running fsck?

Did you unplug the machine from power for ~5 minutes?
Click to expand...
Beyond the startup chime, nothing happens, no matter what keys I press. The keyboard does work though. I'm able to eject the CD tray and such.

I tried unplugging it for half a minute but perhaps I'll try leaving it unplugged for a lot longer.
 
tuffluffjimmy said:
Did you install the RAM correctly? Check the diagram on your computer...
Click to expand...
Did you read my original post? I tried removing the new RAM and putting the original back in how it came factory installed. 2x512MB on inner two slots of risers a and b. The way I had the new RAM installed was 2x2GB on Riser A and 4x512MB on Riser B.
 
apfhex said:
Did you read my original post? I tried removing the new RAM and putting the original back in how it came factory installed. 2x512MB on inner two slots of risers a and b. The way I had the new RAM installed was 2x2GB on Riser A and 4x512MB on Riser B.
Click to expand...

Did you make sure that it looks the same as the diagram? Maybe you just forgot the correct set up. It couldn't hurt to try.
 
apfhex said:
Beyond the startup chime, nothing happens, no matter what keys I press. The keyboard does work though. I'm able to eject the CD tray and such.

I tried unplugging it for half a minute but perhaps I'll try leaving it unplugged for a lot longer.
Click to expand...

By chance have you reset the Pram? I have performed this on the bench several times and this helped a few times.
 
Riser A1: 2GB
Riser A2: 2GB
Riser A3: 512MB
Riser A4: 512MB

Riser B1: 512
Riser B2: 512
Riser B3: Empty
Riser B4: Empty


they are the the 667Mhz models correct? even if they werent they should underclock but still could cause issues.

have you tried with just the new ram itself instead of the old?

make sure the riser cards click into place, give it a nice tug.

try the Apple Hardware Test disc?


hm...if its blank past the start up chime, could correleate to video somehow, which i dont know why? especially if you tried with the old working ram.
if you hear your hard drive accessing/seeking past the start up chime, you can possible narrow it down to something to do with the video.

hm...interesting.
 
I will try it with just the new RAM, and in the configuration you listed. However, there's shouldn't be a problem without the new RAM installed and just what came with the computer, unless something got damaged. This is how it came installed:

Riser A: 512MB
Riser A: 512MB
Riser A: none
Riser A: none

Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: none
Riser B: none

This is how I was going to have it configured:
Riser A: 2GB
Riser A: 2GB
Riser A: none
Riser A: none

Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 512MB

I will also add that Firewire Target Disk mode works. I can see all my hard drives on my Powerbook right now.
 
From what I understand, shouldn't it be done like this?

Riser A: 512MB
Riser A: 512MB
Riser A: 2GB
Riser A: Null

Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 2GB
Riser B: Null
 
apfhex said:
I will also add that Firewire Target Disk mode works. I can see all my hard drives on my Powerbook right now.
Click to expand...
But nothing on screen? I get the feeling its the x1900 they are flaky cards.

nakile said:
From what I understand, shouldn't it be done like this?

Riser A: 512MB
Riser A: 512MB
Riser A: 2GB
Riser A: Null

Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 512MB
Riser B: 2GB
Riser B: Null
Click to expand...
Nope
 
I bought new memory for my MBP a year ago. I had the same problem as you describe. We looked, analyzed, and did all the stuff you normally would. Come to find out the memory was seated right.
It felt like it was in correctly, but it wasn't. We took it out a few times and then the final time I felt a little extra snap and then it booted fine.
For what it is worth.
 
apfhex said:
Agreed, and I've already had it replaced once, but would that just be TOO much of a coincidence???
Click to expand...

I have heard of some people going through 3 to 4 of them. If you know someone who owns a mac pro try borrow their card.
 
trainguy77 said:
We understand the RAM is in the correct position. And by the way anyone following the video! DON'T follow his method. Putting computer components directly on carpet! Also the way he grabs the ram riser at first. :eek:
Click to expand...

i deff agree on his method being very wrong lol but i thought maybe it would help to visually see it. Also from what ive read about installing the ram your supposed to start with top then bottom then top then bottom installing matching pairs correct?
 
blownco said:
i deff agree on his method being very wrong lol but i thought maybe it would help to visually see it. Also from what ive read about installing the ram your supposed to start with top then bottom then top then bottom installing matching pairs correct?
Click to expand...

Yes but the other way around will work too.
 
blownco said:
i deff agree on his method being very wrong lol but i thought maybe it would help to visually see it. Also from what ive read about installing the ram your supposed to start with top then bottom then top then bottom installing matching pairs correct?
Click to expand...

The old Power Mac G5 was this way. Basically it was set up in mirror. Mine is setup with

A -
A -
A 256
A 512

B 512
B 256
B -
B -

However, the new Mac Pro is different, obviously.
 
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