Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Mac Pro 3,1 Processor gone AWOL - help?!

What do you suggest?

  • I bite the bullet and call it a day with the old Mac

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I stick with it, and try and get the processors repaired/replaced

    Votes: 3 100.0%
  • Total voters
    3
batmandela

batmandela

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 28, 2008
10
1
Durban • Los Angeles
One of my processors has gone AWOL. What used to be an 8-core 3.2GHz Early 2008 Mac Pro now shows up in System profiler as a single processor Quad-Core Intel Xeon.

I have been unable to find a way to run the Apple Hardware Test (AHT) on my machine. I can't find the OSX Install DVD. Starting up with Option-D doesn't work...

I have considered taking apart the Mac and trying to reseat the faulty processor - as outlined here: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Replacing-Upgrading+Mac+Pro+Processors+(Early+2008)/17562
but I don't have the thermal grease.

The timing of this couldn't be worse: I have just ordered 16GB RAM to bump my old Mac up to 32GB. I have also ordered the Seritek 6G2+2 PCIe eSATA III card and two Samsung Evo 850 Pro 1TB drives. They arrive tomorrow.

I have no idea what happened to the processor - the last thing I did was move my existing Apogee Symphony 64 card from slot 2 to slot 3 to prepare for the Seritek card. It was only when I was running Logic Pro X and I brought up the CPU monitor that I realized I was only using 4 threads.

I'm at my wits end here - am hoping that one of you Mac gurus may be able to suggest something I could do to resuscitate my wayward processor. (In my heart, I don't believe that it has failed. Wishful thinking, perhaps.)

I am in South Africa - there is no easy access to reliable repair specialists. Or replacement parts.

I literally just made the decision to try and squeeze some more life out of my MP3,1 as opposed to buying a new McDustbin and figuring out a way to use my PCI cards with a Thunderbolt enclosure...

In effect, I feel like I just blew $2000 on new mag wheels for a car that was stolen while they were being delivered.

Any suggestions? (Please be gentle!)

Thanks.
 
What you need is Apple Service Diagnostics 3S123. This tool could give you some answers....

Check your PM.
 
bax2003 said:
What you need is Apple Service Diagnostics 3S123. This tool could give you some answers....

Check your PM.
Click to expand...

I ran the AHT - thanks - but the interesting thing is, that the test doesn't even acknowledge the missing processor. It just runs as if I had a single Xeon Quad-Core.

The sensors etc all seem to be functioning normally.

My Graphics card, interestingly, FAILS all the OpenGL tests. Not sure why - since the gfx all seem to be working correctly.

I have managed to get my hands on the Apple 3,1 Service manual - with detailed instructions on how to service the computer.

I have ordered a matching pair of replacement processors from eBay - will replace both processors on my own (yikes) and hopefully that will fix the problem.

I'm just annoyed that there doesn't seem to be any way of finding out if the missing processor is actually kaput - or if there is some other reason that it is not showing up... :(

Any one here have any other suggestions?

I appreciate your help.

Peace!
 
nekton1 said:
Thanks, but the zip file there is corrupted.
Click to expand...

I've found this 56.03 GB Magnet link on GitHub, with a compilation of all ASD packages from 2005 to 2013.

gist.github.com

ASD

GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.
gist.github.com gist.github.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back