Mac Pro 2009 CPU Fans running at full speed

[ammoune78]

Hi, I have a Mac Pro 4.1, that had a faulty Logic Board. After I replaced it, and flashed it to 5.1. CPU Fans nowhere running at higher speed. Here's what i did, but the problem is still not resolved yet:
- Reset PRAM
- Reset NVRAM
- Reset SMC
- Changed the batterie
- Interchanged RAM slots
- Changed graphics card from GT 120 to HD 5770
- Reapplied Thermal Paste to both processors after cleaning them and the tray
- Downgraded the firmware to 4.1 original state
And I still hear this bad sound, guy's please, is there any thing to do to solve that problem?
What I remember, is, that the Logic Board is older revision than the Original faulty one.
Thanks

 

[skizzo]

Are you sure the SMC version matches both logic board and CPU tray? Is it possible you got 2009 and 2010/2012 model parts mixed? You can find this info in system report / hardware.

2009 SMC = 1.39f5
2010/2012 SMC = 1.39f11

 

[ammoune78]

Are you sure the SMC version matches both logic board and CPU tray? Is it possible you got 2009 and 2010/2012 model parts mixed? You can find this info in system report / hardware.

2009 SMC = 1.39f5
2010/2012 SMC = 1.39f11

Thanks,
Yes it’s 2009 1.39f5 SMC, updating the firmware to 5.1, always keep it under 1.39f5, for both System Board and CPU tray!
Also i forgot to say that, the restart doesn’t work, i absolutely have to shutdown the system and power it on, but restarting it instead, keep it in black screen with no keyboard light and no boot shim. BoosterA fan is always at 0 rpm on iStatmenu or MacFanControl even if it’s working.

 

[skizzo]

if you're saying the system (logic board) and CPU tray SMC are booth 2009 1.39f5 then further troubleshooting is unfortunately over my head.

To clarify further though, did this issue happen after you replaced the logic board, but BEFORE you flashed the replacement logic board to 5,1? Or AFTER you flashed the replacement logic board?

The bootrom to my knowledge shouldn't effect this but thought it might be helpful to provide those details. Normally when I see these sort of posts it is a lot of times someone putting 2010/2012 CPU tray in a 2009 system, or vise versa. So I hope some other posters can assist with troubleshooting. It sounds like you have some other underlying issues since you have also added you're having problems with a warm boot and black screens. Good luck!

 

[ammoune78]

if you're saying the system (logic board) and CPU tray SMC are booth 2009 1.39f5 then further troubleshooting is unfortunately over my head.

To clarify further though, did this issue happen after you replaced the logic board, but BEFORE you flashed the replacement logic board to 5,1? Or AFTER you flashed the replacement logic board?

The bootrom to my knowledge shouldn't effect this but thought it might be helpful to provide those details. Normally when I see these sort of posts it is a lot of times someone putting 2010/2012 CPU tray in a 2009 system, or vise versa. So I hope some other posters can assist with troubleshooting. It sounds like you have some other underlying issues since you have also added you're having problems with a warm boot and black screens. Good luck!

Thanks,
The problem of the black screen and the restart appeared on the first restart on the replacement board. Now for the BoosterA fan and noise, appeared after upgrading the replacement board firmware with the 5.1!

 

[tsialex]

Thanks,
Yes it’s 2009 1.39f5 SMC, updating the firmware to 5.1, always keep it under 1.39f5, for both System Board and CPU tray!
Also i forgot to say that, the restart doesn’t work, i absolutely have to shutdown the system and power it on, but restarting it instead, keep it in black screen with no keyboard light and no boot shim. BoosterA fan is always at 0 rpm on iStatmenu or MacFanControl even if it’s working.

You can try to eliminate BootROM problems. You can make a quick test:

• Dump your current BootROM with ROMTool, if you don't have it, read here #1783
• After you have your dump saved, put your Mac into Firmware Programming mode and flash with the generic MP51.fd. You can get it from Mojave installer (Content/Resources/Firmware folder).

After you flashed the generic MP51.fd firmware file to your Mac Pro you will loose all hardwareIDs, so if it works, you have to flash a reconstructed one to your Mac Pro. If not, just flash back your original BootROM dump.

 

[ammoune78]

You can try to eliminate BootROM problems. You can make a quick test:

• Dump your current BootROM with ROMTool, if you don't have it, read here #1783
• After you have your dump saved, put your Mac into Firmware Programming mode and flash with the generic MP51.fd. You can get it from Mojave installer (Content/Resources/Firmware folder).

After you flashed the generic MP51.fd firmware file to your Mac Pro you will loose all hardwareIDs, so if it works, you have to flash a reconstructed one to your Mac Pro. If not, just flash back your original BootROM dump.

Thanks @tsialex , now for the second time i was trying to install High Sierra, just to see if the problem will disappear, put when i press shut down button, it doesn’t, it keeps the rounded circle and doesn’t shut down!
I’ll try your solution right now, and report back, hope it will work!
[doublepost=1539970951][/doublepost]Please how to put it in firmware programming mode, when flashing with Mojave’s one! This ROMTool can do it?

 

[ammoune78]

You can try to eliminate BootROM problems. You can make a quick test:

• Dump your current BootROM with ROMTool, if you don't have it, read here #1783
• After you have your dump saved, put your Mac into Firmware Programming mode and flash with the generic MP51.fd. You can get it from Mojave installer (Content/Resources/Firmware folder).

After you flashed the generic MP51.fd firmware file to your Mac Pro you will loose all hardwareIDs, so if it works, you have to flash a reconstructed one to your Mac Pro. If not, just flash back your original BootROM dump.

Please can i flash it without creating mojave usb installer?
Because no EFI GPU that support it!

 

[tsialex]

Please can i flash it without creating mojave usb installer?
Because no EFI GPU that support it!

Sent a PM.

 

[h9826790]

Are you sure logic was the only faulty parts. But not the partially faulty CPU tray fired the logic board etc?

Booster A zero RPM looks like the issue to me. Did you check the fan connector?

If you upgraded the CPU without delidded them, I won't be too surprised the fan connector is now broken and causing issue (AFAIK, you can't connect it properly without "breaking" them, if with the lidded CPU).

 

[ammoune78]

Are you sure logic was the only faulty parts. But not the partially faulty CPU tray fired the logic board etc?

Booster A zero RPM looks like the issue to me. Did you check the fan connector?

If you upgraded the CPU without delidded them, I won't be too surprised the fan connector is now broken and causing issue (AFAIK, you can't connect it properly without "breaking" them, if with the lidded CPU).

No, surely, it was working before upgrading to 5.1, but before upgrading, it doesn’t restart. I always have to shut down the Mac and power it on. Now after the update, BoosterA 0 rpm and noise appeared, even if the BoosterA fan is running and all other fans. I didn’t replaced yet the CPUs, but the existing ones are already delided!
The cpu fan problem appeared even before doing thermal paste, because i didn’t touched something, except replacing the backplane!

 

[ammoune78]

Now, i've found that if i unscrew 1/4 the CPU's Heatsink, no noise at all. But, again, BoosterA is at 0 Rpm and the CPUA is under 39°/38°, while CPUB is under 32° on idle. Hour a go, I've tried to install windows 10 Pro, in UEFI mode, after the Mac rebooted to continue the installation, it shutted down itself, tried after that to power it on, it doesn't. So i've taken the CPU-Tray, and i've found that the CPUA heatsink is hot, while the CPUB not.
I don't know what to do, now under High Sierra, cpu fans are running quietly, and here's a screenshot of iStat Sensors.

 

[tsialex]

Now, i've found that if i unscrew 1/4 the CPU's Heatsink, no noise at all. But, again, BoosterA is at 0 Rpm and the CPUA is under 39°/38°, while CPUB is under 32° on idle. Hour a go, I've tried to install windows 10 Pro, in UEFI mode, after the Mac rebooted to continue the installation, it shutted down itself, tried after that to power it on, it doesn't. So i've taken the CPU-Tray, and i've found that the CPUA heatsink is hot, while the CPUB not.
I don't know what to do, now under High Sierra, cpu fans are running quietly, and here's a screenshot of iStat Sensors.

View attachment 796893

Did you checked the heatsink fan connector? Some people break the tabs to install lidded Xeons.
[doublepost=1540064544][/doublepost]Don't install Windows in UEFI mode, is causing havoc. Boot from High Sierra, install via BootCamp and use Windows 1803 ISO.
[doublepost=1540064659][/doublepost]Btw, CPU-A is always some degrees hotter than CPU-B. Hot air from CPU-B is used to cool CPU-A, it's a wind tunnel system.

 

[ammoune78]

Did you checked the heatsink fan connector? Some people break the tabs to install lidded Xeons.
[doublepost=1540064544][/doublepost]Don't install Windows in UEFI mode, is causing havoc. Boot from High Sierra, install via BootCamp and use Windows 1803 ISO.
[doublepost=1540064659][/doublepost]Btw, CPU-A is always some degrees hotter than CPU-B. Hot air from CPU-B is used to cool CPU-A, it's a wind tunnel system.

Yes i've checked them, in a meanwhile where i've said, that I'll redo thermal paste, they are ok, and the fan is running, it's only showing 0 rpm as you've seen in the screenshot!

 

[tsialex]

Yes i've checked them, in a meanwhile where i've said, that I'll redo thermal paste, they are ok, and the fan is running, it's only showing 0 rpm as you've seen in the screenshot!

Did you tried to invert the heatsinks?

 

[ammoune78]

Did you tried to invert the heatsinks?

It doesn't want, because the stickers that will be on the power management capacitors on both heatsinks aren't the same, CPUB is longer than CPUA. It will not do a problem, because i've found to try it, but the stickers stopped me. Maybe I should, to know if the problem is CPUA heatsink?

 

[tsialex]

It doesn't want, because the stickers that will be on the power management capacitors on both heatsinks aren't the same, CPUB is longer than CPUA. It will not do a problem, because i've found to try it, but the stickers stopped me. Maybe I should, to know if the problem is CPUA heatsink?

Yes, try it. Mine had the same thermal pad sizes.

 

[ammoune78]

Ok

 

[ammoune78]

Hi again guy's,
I have a Mac Pro (Mid 2010) tower, i've replaced it's single processor tray with a dual one. Now few weeks ago, the SMC version (Processor Tray) doesn't show up in about this Mac, and all fans goes crazy, since the time i restarted that machine from Windows to boot into MacOS drive! Of course the BoosterA and BoosterB are at 0 rpm, and a RED_LED are illuminated on the Processors Tray.
Should i replace the tray again, knowing that it was quiet on Windows 10, until i restarted to MacOS drive?
Is there a trick to flash the Processor Tray with another SMC, that have the same version?
Thanks.

 

[tsialex]

Hi again guy's,
I have a Mac Pro (Mid 2010) tower, i've replaced it's single processor tray with a dual one. Now few weeks ago, the SMC version (Processor Tray) doesn't show up in about this Mac, and all fans goes crazy, since the time i restarted that machine from Windows to boot into MacOS drive! Of course the BoosterA and BoosterB are at 0 rpm, and a RED_LED are illuminated on the Processors Tray.
Should i replace the tray again, knowing that it was quiet on Windows 10, until i restarted to MacOS drive?
Is there a trick to flash the Processor Tray with another SMC, that have the same version?
Thanks.

The SMC micro-controller is update able, but Apple never released any updates nor the original files. Only Apple can write, update or change anything with the SMC, it's a secure micro-controller.

10 years and no one could reverse engineer it.

So, the answer is no, you can't flash/update/re-write the SMC.

 

[ammoune78]

The SMC micro-controller is update able, but Apple never released any updates nor the original files. Only Apple can write, update or change anything with the SMC, it's a secure micro-controller.

10 years and no one could reverse engineer it.

So, the answer is no, you can't flash/update/re-write the SMC.

Is there any thing to do for the fans and get up the SMC Version to come back and shows again in the about this mac?

 

[bsbeamer]

Believe that is usually an early warning sign of a failing board.

 

[ammoune78]

Believe that is usually an early warning sign of a failing board.

KINDA looking for an Hackintosh machine is the best thing i can do. Moving from Hackintosh to Macintosh isn't the good thing i did hhh. Now two Mac Pro's with the same problem, and the CPU tray cost the same price of an complete 4th or 6th generation intel PC build.

 

[tsialex]

Is there any thing to do for the fans and get up the SMC Version to come back and shows again in the about this mac?

Trays don't have jumpers, don't have configurable components, don't have anything user replaceable.

 

[ammoune78]

Trays don't have jumpers, don't have configurable components, don't have anything user replaceable.

I've seen somewhere, here, in the forum, that a user desoldered the SMC chip of the tray and flashed the corrupted
1.39f11 file with a working one from a working tray or maybe changed the 4.1 SMC file with the 5.1 one! But i don't remember the topic!