Well,
Im back on the waiting list... Got my Apple UK 15/6 order on 23/8 to find that it suffers from the random sleep problem.
CPU Die A and B were reaching temperatures of up to 97c in massive spikes completely unrelated to processor load or RAM usage (it happened under heavy load a few times, and under no load at all [and I mean just one user logged in - no apps or user processes running, apart from Temperature Monitor] a few times.
Normal CPU Die A and B temperature levels remained between 55 - 75c
All other temperatures remained normal throughout these CPU spikes.
As of today it was classed as DOA (not without a struggle). Interestingly the second Apple support fella (the first sent me away after doing a PMU reset to see if it worked) remarked that he had a liquid cooled computer and the temps stayed around 40c, I pointed out that the 2.5 G5 was also liquid cooled, and he stumbled over his words and said 'no I mean a proper liquid cooled computer", I replied with "what, a PC?" and he said "yes"...
You know that feeling when you realise you just wasted the last 30 minutes? Yeah, me too...
He told me to take it to my local Apple Repair place to get it fixed. I didnt argue and got off the line with him ASAP and called back today (Apple Support #3) and demanded that it was picked up and replaced with a new unit.
So, now I await a call from a company called 'AMSYS' who will apparently replace my G5. Im a little worried about this to be honest as the Apple Support lady couldnt give me any straight answer as to why Apple weren't shipping me a new machine themselves. Perhaps AMSYS took over picking up machines from DHL in the UK? Who knows...
My theories as to what is wrong with my G5 are that either there are random spikes in power supply to the CPUs, heating them quicker than the cooling system can cool them - up to that golden number of 97c when the machine shuts itself down. Or that there is some sort of lapse in the liquid cooling system every so often that creates these spikes in temperature as the fans make no real difference alone as they are trying to cool the liquid.
Of course theory #2 is hard to prove because we dont know what the liquid cooling is doing whereas you can hear when the fans spin up. The signal that the sleep is going to happen is the fans spinning up to full belt, and if you watch the temperature graph you see an initial spike, then a small dip as the fans kick in to control the heat, then another spike which shuts off the machine. This all happens in around 5 seconds. When the machine is woken up (say, 5 seconds later) the CPU temps are right back down at 50c.
Anyway, enough of my rambling. If you have these problems, dont be fobbed off with the repairs. Keep calling and demand something be done. I read a handy tip over at the Apple Discussion Boards - If a machine develops a fault within 14 days of delivery, and the customer has made 3 or more calls to Support without a resolution to their problem, then their machine can be classed as DOA, and they are entitled to a replacement.
Remember though, you have to push them or they will make it your problem. And also, my personal advice is that if you dont feel you are getting anywhere with a particular Rep, thank them, hang up, and call again and speak to someone else explaining that you weren't happy with the service.
Cheers.
