MP 6,1 Mac Pro Trashcan won't power on

[naujoks]

My trashcan won't turn on anymore. Out of the blue.
Only the lights at the back come on, but nothing at all happens when I press the power button.
This is already the second trashcan I have that has the same symptom.
When it happened with the first machine I owned, I actually had another working machine that I could use to replace the power supply. In fact, I swapped every swappable part (CPU, RAM, graphics card, top board, bottom board) and nothing would change so the fault had to be on the mainboard. I was never able to pinpoint the problem though.
So what now? Is that problem becoming more frequent?
Any ideas what I could try this time? I don't have a second machine to swap parts anymore.

 

[macsound1]

Since there's lights on the back panel, atleast you know it has power.
Have you tried running a hardware test?
Unplug everything except the keyboard and display and hold D at startup.

 

[naujoks]

I have everyting unplugged. I tried holding D, but the computer doesn't even get to a stage where that could have an effect. It's not booting at all.

 

[th0masp]

It has diagnostics on the mainboard: https://logi.wiki/index.php/Mac_Pro_6,1_Trash_Can_Late_2013_Diagnostic_LEDs

There's a pretty in-depth Apple document for repair technicians working on this type of machine somewhere on these forums - I've seen it linked in multiple places. Maybe somebody can dig up the name/link.

 

[krakman]

I experienced this phenomenon several times with my Mac Pro 2013.

Firstly one of the GPU boards was replaced, then the other GPU board failed and finally something on the CPU board failed.

Best solution is to throw the trashcan in the bin and get a Mac mini M4 Pro.

 

[th0masp]

I experienced this phenomenon several times with my Mac Pro 2013.

Firstly one of the GPU boards was replaced, then the other GPU board failed and finally something on the CPU board failed.

Best solution is to throw the trashcan in the bin and get a Mac mini M4 Pro.

Since posting in this thread mine is now showing the exact same symptoms. Also totally out of the blue. Sent to sleep one evening, completely dead the next morning.

I figured the culprit had to be the power supply but reading this it may be some hardware failure that gets caught by the system before it can even spin up the fan and power external devices....?

Anyway I'm going to follow your advice except for the disposal method for the old hardware: it's gone onto the shelf for its afterlife: prop up some books.

 

[naujoks]

No no, that can't be it.
For me, the Trashcan is an oldtimer now that I want to have in working condition, just like The Cube, the Sunflower Mac etc.
It's never been about having it in working condition because I use it as my daily driver.

 

[th0masp]

No no, that can't be it.
For me, the Trashcan is an oldtimer now that I want to have in working condition, just like The Cube, the Sunflower Mac etc.
It's never been about having it in working condition because I use it as my daily driver.

So are you checking regularly then if your oldtimers are still able to power up? Sounds like a lot of work, not to mention having to keep compatible screens and input devices around.

I think mine now does in style what the Trashcan always has done best: look the part. Ordered a Mini to replace it and moved on.