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

Mac Pro Hex - Long time to play the Apple Sound

E

Ethosik

Contributor
Original poster
Oct 21, 2009
8,151
7,132
Hey everyone,

I was wondering if it was normal for a Mac Pro to take about 5-10 seconds before it plays the Apple "dong" when it boots up? My Dell does the same, it takes about 5-10 seconds for the Dell boot screen to finish before going to the Windows boot screen.

Is there any way I can speed it up?
 
That's completely normal. The system has to check all your RAM, hard drives and other connected hardware such as extension cards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JeffPerrin
Transporteur said:
That's completely normal. The system has to check all your RAM, hard drives and other connected hardware such as extension cards.
Click to expand...

When I boot a similar spec iMac, it does this instantly. Is that because it is using more laptop parts?
 
xWhiplash said:
When I boot a similar spec iMac, it does this instantly. Is that because it is using more laptop parts?
Click to expand...

It may have less things connected to it. As Transporteur said above, it has to check all components before boot and Mac Pro is likely to have more of them (more RAM, HDs, PCIe cards etc).
 
On my DP system it can take up 15-20 seconds. I have all sleds and RAM slots full. I asked about this before and they said it was because of that.
 
long here as well. noticeably longer than a 2008 MP configures similarly.
 
Transporteur said:
That's completely normal. The system has to check all your RAM, hard drives and other connected hardware such as extension cards.
Click to expand...

xWhiplash said:
When I boot a similar spec iMac, it does this instantly. Is that because it is using more laptop parts?
Click to expand...

My Mac Pro with all PCIe slots, all 8 RAM slots, and 4 HDD bays filled takes a little while to give to boot chime. I noticed this as I added more and more things, so this ought to explain it.
 
Transporteur said:
That's completely normal. The system has to check all your RAM, hard drives and other connected hardware such as extension cards.
Click to expand...

Hi! Agree, but after having removed all SSD/HDD-s, without any periferal or extension in PCIe slot, is time to chime still 25 seconds. That's a Mac Pro 2010, 2x3.33 Ghz Xenon, 64 GB RAM, ATi HD5770. Otherwise works perfectly. Resetted many times, without effect. Of course can man live with that, but feels like something is wrong.
 
garako said:
Hi! Agree, but after having removed all SSD/HDD-s, without any periferal or extension in PCIe slot, is time to chime still 25 seconds. That's a Mac Pro 2010, 2x3.33 Ghz Xenon, 64 GB RAM, ATi HD5770. Otherwise works perfectly. Resetted many times, without effect. Of course can man live with that, but feels like something is wrong.
Click to expand...
Remove all RAM but one, check that your POST time will be faster. Mac Pro check all the hardware during POST. It's a workstation, this long pre boot process is done to give you reliability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bsbeamer
tsialex said:
Remove all RAM but one, check that your POST time will be faster. Mac Pro check all the hardware during POST. It's a workstation, this long pre boot process is done to give you reliability.
Click to expand...
Thank you for answer. Shure, it is a workstation, it takes time to check hardware. I've tried to remove RAM modules. Time reduced to 10-12 sec with 1 RAM module, longer and longer with more, finally 25 seconds! (My iMac chimes after 5 sec, - OK, it has one processor and 16 GB RAM.) Do you think, there is nothing to worry about? Mac Pro tested with Apple Service Diagnostic: everything is OK.
 
garako said:
Thank you for answer. Shure, it is a workstation, it takes time to check hardware. I've tried to remove RAM modules. Time reduced to 10-12 sec with 1 RAM module, longer and longer with more, finally 25 seconds! (My iMac chimes after 5 sec, - OK, it has one processor and 16 GB RAM.) Do you think, there is nothing to worry about? Mac Pro tested with Apple Service Diagnostic: everything is OK.
Click to expand...
It's totally standard boot time for a Mac Pro. If you have NVMe drives, you have double that time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bsbeamer and crjackson2134
Glad to hear it. But the time is _without_ any hard drive... What does it take so long?
 
garako said:
Glad to hear it. But the time is _without_ any hard drive... What does it take so long?
Click to expand...
Mac Pro firmware do those steps during post time, not in the correct order:

  • Check all memory controllers, two if you have a dual CPU, for RAM present.
  • Map all RAM, set the correct frequency (this sometimes requires a reset of NVRAM to work correctly).
  • Check all RAM for ECC errors.
  • Check all PCIe slots and all extenders/switches for PCIe cards, map all drives into PCIe slots.
  • Map and check all devices into Firewire and USB ports, map all drives.
  • Do a SMART check on the SATA/SAS and PCIe drives.
  • Initialise the Ethernet controllers.
This is what I remember, probably has more steps that I forgot.
 
tsialex said:
Mac Pro firmware do those steps during post time, not in the correct order:

  • Check all memory controllers, two if you have a dual CPU, for RAM present.
  • Map all RAM, set the correct frequency (this sometimes requires a reset of NVRAM to work correctly).
  • Check all RAM for ECC errors.
  • Check all PCIe slots and all extenders/switches for PCIe cards, map all drives into PCIe slots.
  • Map and check all devices into Firewire and USB ports, map all drives.
  • Do a SMART check on the SATA/SAS and PCIe drives.
  • Initialise the Ethernet controllers.
This is what I remember, probably has more steps that I forgot.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that is enough for today ;-) As I've written, the Apple Service Diagnostic program haven't found errors - except motherboard, cause there is no test for it. I'll do my best, return later.
 
garako said:
Thank you, that is enough for today ;-) As I've written, the Apple Service Diagnostic program haven't found errors - except motherboard, cause there is no test for it. I'll do my best, return later.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1547939532][/doublepost]Hi again,
to be clear: I've just bought this machine refurbished, has two month guarantee yet. It's a MacPro 5.1 (mid 2010), 2x3.33 GHz 6-core Xeon, 8x8 GB RAM, ATi 5770, 500 GB SSD, 1 TB HDD, Snow Leopard installed.

After removing all SSD/HDD-s and peripherals (except bluetooth keyboard and mouse) is time to chime 12 sec with only 1 RAM module installed, and 25 seconds with all the 8. Boot ROM version is up to date: MP51.007F.B03.

In the beginning there was some problem with RAM modules not always recognized of the system, and red light from memory diagnostic LED-s. After having RAM modules removed and reseated many times is there no longer such a problem. Unfortunately is there no way to boot in Apple Hardware Test, neither on-line AHT. Though Apple Service Diagnostics found no hardware errors. Otherwise works Mac like a charm. I just wonder, why it takes 25 seconds while iMac chimes after 5 secs, and other Mac Pro users report time to chime about 7-10 seconds. I will be reassured, if you think, that's normal - and no worry about hardware error.
 
garako said:
[doublepost=1547939532][/doublepost]Hi again,
to be clear: I've just bought this machine refurbished, has two month guarantee yet. It's a MacPro 5.1 (mid 2010), 2x3.33 GHz 6-core Xeon, 8x8 GB RAM, ATi 5770, 500 GB SSD, 1 TB HDD, Snow Leopard installed.

After removing all SSD/HDD-s and peripherals (except bluetooth keyboard and mouse) is time to chime 12 sec with only 1 RAM module installed, and 25 seconds with all the 8. Boot ROM version is up to date: MP51.007F.B03.

In the beginning there was some problem with RAM modules not always recognized of the system, and red light from memory diagnostic LED-s. After having RAM modules removed and reseated many times is there no longer such a problem. Unfortunately is there no way to boot in Apple Hardware Test, neither on-line AHT. Though Apple Service Diagnostics found no hardware errors. Otherwise works Mac like a charm. I just wonder, why it takes 25 seconds while iMac chimes after 5 secs, and other Mac Pro users report time to chime about 7-10 seconds. I will be reassured, if you think, that's normal - and no worry about hardware error.
Click to expand...

It's Normal.

These aren't the droids you are looking for. Please, move along.
 
garako said:
[doublepost=1547939532][/doublepost]Hi again,
to be clear: I've just bought this machine refurbished, has two month guarantee yet. It's a MacPro 5.1 (mid 2010), 2x3.33 GHz 6-core Xeon, 8x8 GB RAM, ATi 5770, 500 GB SSD, 1 TB HDD, Snow Leopard installed.

After removing all SSD/HDD-s and peripherals (except bluetooth keyboard and mouse) is time to chime 12 sec with only 1 RAM module installed, and 25 seconds with all the 8. Boot ROM version is up to date: MP51.007F.B03.

In the beginning there was some problem with RAM modules not always recognized of the system, and red light from memory diagnostic LED-s. After having RAM modules removed and reseated many times is there no longer such a problem. Unfortunately is there no way to boot in Apple Hardware Test, neither on-line AHT. Though Apple Service Diagnostics found no hardware errors. Otherwise works Mac like a charm. I just wonder, why it takes 25 seconds while iMac chimes after 5 secs, and other Mac Pro users report time to chime about 7-10 seconds. I will be reassured, if you think, that's normal - and no worry about hardware error.
Click to expand...
It’s a workstation, I explained why takes so long to boot. 25 seconds is a fast POST time for a Mac Pro.

A iMac can’t have multiple memory controllers, ECC, NUMA, PCIe switches or multiple GPUs. Mac Pro firmware checks all things, present or not before booting.

Btw, MP51.007F.B03 is the original firmware from 2010 and there are SEVEN firmware updates past it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crjackson2134 and handheldgames
No thanks. I won't upgrade my OS, Snow Leopard is perfect for me. I have a multiboot system, and being adherent to SL, there is no way to upgrade, I think so. I need both boot screen and SL. As for firmware update, Apple Support consider MP51.007F.B03 to be up to date (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518#macpro). Any suggestion is yet appreciated.
 
garako said:
No thanks. I won't upgrade my OS, Snow Leopard is perfect for me. I have a multiboot system, and being adherent to SL, there is no way to upgrade, I think so. I need both boot screen and SL. As for firmware update, Apple Support consider MP51.007F.B03 to be up to date (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518#macpro). Any suggestion is yet appreciated.
Click to expand...
Screen Shot 2019-01-20 at 12.31.25.png

[doublepost=1547995977][/doublepost]This first post MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave have all the steps needed to upgrade your firmware. Please note that is a two step, the first one from your original firmware to MP51.0089.B00 then the second from MP51.0089.B00 to 140.0.0.0.0.

Even if you don't want to upgrade to Mojave or don't have a METAL GPU to do the upgrade, do the first part and upgrade to MP51.0089.B00. This firmware have the Spectre/Meltdown microcode updates.
 
Last edited:
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