Mid-2010 Mac Pro 5,1 Major Power Issue

[unboludoalegre]

EFI done led is lit when you press the DIAG button (start with page 33 of the Technician Guide, you can get it here #19)?

Maybe you just have a bricked backplane…

Thanks for the reply Tsialex!
No efi done led, only 5v standby. Any hints for deeper tests? I cannot find the backplane over here (Argentina), and in case of importing another one I’m not really sure it will fix it. Thanks

 

[tsialex]

Thanks for the reply Tsialex!
No efi done led, only 5v standby. Any hints for deeper tests? I cannot find the backplane over here (Argentina), and in case of importing another one I’m not really sure it will fix it. Thanks

With no EFI DONE lit, maybe it's your SPI flash that corrupted and now you have a brick.

The first step is to remove it from the PCB and read it with a SPI flash programmer.

After dumping you can flash the generic MP51.fd to get it going until you reconstruct the BootROM.

 

[tsialex]

Thanks for the reply Tsialex!
No efi done led, only 5v standby. Any hints for deeper tests? I cannot find the backplane over here (Argentina), and in case of importing another one I’m not really sure it will fix it. Thanks

I posted on the BootROM thread my step-by-step to do remove the SPI flash and re-program it #928.

If you are handy, even needing to buy a Chinese shittty hot-air station like this one, will be cheaper than matt card needed to confirm the brick. Amazon has SPI flash programmers like ch341a for less than $10, MercadoLivre and AliExpress have both on the cheap too.

Btw, if you want to buy a ZIF adapter, you need the 20mm wide and not the 15mm wide. I bought it wrong two times, so I'm warning you to not do the same.

 

[unboludoalegre]

I posted on the BootROM thread my step-by-step to do remove the SPI flash and re-program it #928.

If you are handy, even needing to buy a Chinese shittty hot-air station like this one, will be cheaper than matt card needed to confirm the brick. Amazon has SPI flash programmers like ch341a for less than $10, MercadoLivre and AliExpress have both on the cheap too.

Btw, if you want to buy a ZIF adapter, you need the 20mm wide and not the 15mm wide. I bought it wrong two times, so I'm warning you to not do the same.

I’m trying to find someone with same equipment for parts testing so I can make sure te issue is in the logic board. If really is there will desolder eprom and make an eeprom programmer with some microcontroller (cheaper than buying one LOL).
In the next weeks I will update with news (good ones I hope)
Tanks a lot for your time and advices

 

[unboludoalegre]

Bad news, further inspections revealed the cause of the disease:
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[dosdude1]

Bad news, further inspections revealed the cause of the disease:
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Hey, no, that's good!!! Now I know what the issue on mine most likely is! I'll order a new Southbridge chipset, solder it on, and see what happens!

EDIT:

Looks like yours was exhibiting different symptoms from mine... I'll still try a new Southbridge anyways and see if that helps anything.

 

[unboludoalegre]

Hey, no, that's good!!! Now I know what the issue on mine most likely is! I'll order a new Southbridge chipset, solder it on, and see what happens!

EDIT:

Looks like yours was exhibiting different symptoms from mine... I'll still try a new Southbridge anyways and see if that helps anything.

Ordered new used board and just in case a southbridge chip from China. Probably could replace chipset and sell board so I can grab some bucks, this board is no available here. If you’re interested I’ll update this thread

 

[Macschrauber]

Guys, I have seen a picture of a backplane board where clearly electrolyt capacitors where leaking. Can be seen on the backside of the board. One is near an voltage regulator. 100uf/16 volts if I read them correctly.

The mid size smd types with a violet bar on it.

Worth a check.
[doublepost=1564238456][/doublepost]

 

[unboludoalegre]

I’m coming with some news:
Received a new used logicboard from usedmacs dot com, replaced it and it turns on. Turns on but doesn’t boot.
Fans at normal speed but no chime and black screen. Replaced memories, tried a oem Radeon 5770 and another cpu.
Diag button shows: psu_pwrok, 5v_stby, sys_pg, efi_done and gpu_ok. Basically all the leds soldered without the cpu overtemp ones.
On the daughtercard cpu led flashes for an instant at power on (like the overtemp ones) but nothing else.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[orph]

may be cheeper to buy a used working cmp than swaping out parts?

 

[Kai.Def]

Hi all,

this afternoon my mid 2010 exhibited similar behaviour. 🙁 . I left it to sleep only to come back an hour later to a non responsive MP.

• Unplugged/replugged the power cord several times; nothing.

• Unplugged everything, removed the dvd bay, gpu, cpu tray, hdds- air dusted the whole system. Reconnected all & voila it started again. I tried running apples hardware test by holding D pressed; never got there. Checked the system; everything seemed fine. Shutdown to reboot to try apples hardware test again. Nothing 🙁 power button unresponsive.

• Suspected the psu but still not sure.

• I did notice that I used a single power cable for the rx280 instead of spreading it over the 2 ports; fearing that I may have damaged the logic board. I stuck the 5770 back in it.

• replaced the cmos battery. Nothing.

When I press the diagnostic button, the light is on see picture attached.

All that is attached to the system is, keyboard, mouse; Ethernet, gpu; hdd sata port 1; Monitor.

Just tried again after 3hrs; cold system; nothing. 🙁

Next step is to replace the psu with my 2009 one.

Anyone here any ideas?

 

[unboludoalegre]

Hi all,

this afternoon my mid 2010 exhibited similar behaviour. 🙁 . I left it to sleep only to come back an hour later to a non responsive MP.

• Unplugged/replugged the power cord several times; nothing.

• Unplugged everything, removed the dvd bay, gpu, cpu tray, hdds- air dusted the whole system. Reconnected all & voila it started again. I tried running apples hardware test by holding D pressed; never got there. Checked the system; everything seemed fine. Shutdown to reboot to try apples hardware test again. Nothing 🙁 power button unresponsive.

• Suspected the psu but still not sure.

• I did notice that I used a single power cable for the rx280 instead of spreading it over the 2 ports; fearing that I may have damaged the logic board. I stuck the 5770 back in it.

• replaced the cmos battery. Nothing.

When I press the diagnostic button, the light is on see picture attached.

All that is attached to the system is, keyboard, mouse; Ethernet, gpu; hdd sata port 1; Monitor.

Just tried again after 3hrs; cold system; nothing. 🙁

Next step is to replace the psu with my 2009 one.

Anyone here any ideas?

Hi!
A few weeks ago found this video that could help you tu test the psu:

In my case psu was fine.

Symptoms are the same that my cMP had. In my case was a misteriously blown southbridge (picture few posts up). I hope it’s not your case.

may be cheeper to buy a used working cmp than swaping out parts?

Probably in most cases that’s the smart way to go, but I get mine very cheap. With the costs of new logicboard and new cpu board (purchased today, logic board seller offered at a really good price the same I have dead that is no listed in site) is a few bucks under the average prize of same machine in online site (here we use mercadolibre, it’s like an eBay rip-off XD ).

Btw I’m still waiting s new southbridge chip to try to solder (5 bucks from china seemed fine to me to mess around with reballing) and maybe revive old board and sell it to recover some bucks. The only one here in Argentina that had that board asked for US$500 and I purchased the new one from US for about US$ 250 express shipping included.

 

[Kai.Def]

I swapped the psu’s nothing still 🙁

I am beginning to suspect that I may have damaged the logic board by not feeding the rx280 gpu sufficient power, not entirely sure but possible.

Another issue could be the power button /front panel being faulty.

Can’t really think of anything else.
As Tsialex suggested I have been referring to the Apple Technician Guide & still go by it. Definitely help & insightful.

Anyone else any ideas?

 

[tsialex]

I swapped the psu’s nothing still 🙁

I am beginning to suspect that I may have damaged the logic board by not feeding the rx280 gpu sufficient power, not entirely sure but possible.

Another issue could be the power button /front panel being faulty.

Can’t really think of anything else.
As Tsialex suggested I have been referring to the Apple Technician Guide & still go by it. Definitely help & insightful.

Anyone else any ideas?

Test the suspected parts with your other Mac Pro. Start with the CPU tray, GPU, then go for the PSU.

Backplane PCIe boost power lines have resettable fuses, disconnect the PSU from the backplane and keep it off for at least two full days then try again. If then the backplane still don't work, time to buy a replacement backplane.

 

[northernmunky]

Exactly the same problem here, I just bought a used MacPro, its a 4,1 flashed to 5,1.
I started by running the Mojave bootrom update which went fine and i left it overnight installing Mojave (spinning disk still). When i woke up and went to check on it, it was powered off and the power button then did nothing at all.
Tried unplugging and replugging the power cable and the the CPU OVTMP lights flash red for an instant and then.. dead.
I've just ordered a new logic board, guess I'll have to chalk that one up.

 

[h9826790]

Exactly the same problem here, I just bought a used MacPro, its a 4,1 flashed to 5,1.
I started by running the Mojave bootrom update which went fine and i left it overnight installing Mojave (spinning disk still). When i woke up and went to check on it, it was powered off and the power button then did nothing at all.
Tried unplugging and replugging the power cable and the the CPU OVTMP lights flash red for an instant and then.. dead.
I've just ordered a new logic board, guess I'll have to chalk that one up.

Despite your cMP is not ops normal now, but that briefly flashed CPU OVTMP LED is normal (when you connect the cMP to a known good power source)

 

[00bb00]

Hi to all and sorry too for reviving old post.
I need some help fixing my Mac Pro that doesn't boot up anymore. I used to have it long time (months) in standby because I used it remotly for work when traveling. The problems started with random shut down but I tought was because overheating (even if I was doing nothing), but after a while it started to have some major problems: when I pressed power button some time it started normally but most of the time it keep restarting again and again and again and not be able to make OSX start (it was doing the normal start beep, shutting down by himself and restart, beep, shutting down and so on). Now after a while I used it like that he decided to not start anymore so I decided to clean and reset cpu thermal compound and what I got is that when I press power button there is no more beep and the mac pro does nothing at all just fans turning and nothing more.
I was reading around in forums and find our that could probably be the PSU and really hope is only that one. How can I check if it is that one giving problems? Here in Switzerland is not easy to find a replacement ore someone with same mac pro and now that my mac pro wont start up I barely remember if it was mid 2010? 4.1? 6 or 8 core, how can I find out my model :S
Anyway while attacched to power the led 5v seems fine when i press diag button (orange light)

Thank you

 

[flaubert]

...
I was reading around in forums and find our that could probably be the PSU and really hope is only that one. How can I check if it is that one giving problems? Here in Switzerland is not easy to find a replacement ore someone with same mac pro and now that my mac pro wont start up I barely remember if it was mid 2010? 4.1? 6 or 8 core, how can I find out my model :S
Anyway while attacched to power the led 5v seems fine when i press diag button (orange light)

Thank you

The back of the case should have some model identifiers, EMC code, or serial number that you can enter here to find out your model:

Lookup Mac Specs By Serial Number, Order, Model & EMC Number, Model ID @ EveryMac.com

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup - lookup Apple Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad specs by serial number, order number, model number, model ID, EMC number and more.

everymac.com

 

[00bb00]

The back of the case should have some model identifiers, EMC code, or serial number that you can enter here to find out your model:

Lookup Mac Specs By Serial Number, Order, Model & EMC Number, Model ID @ EveryMac.com

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup - lookup Apple Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad specs by serial number, order number, model number, model ID, EMC number and more.

everymac.com

thank you is a 4.1 Mac Pro 2009 8-core 2.26 Ghz that I upgraded to 5.1 8-core 3.4 Ghz.

 

[00bb00]

Hi to all and sorry too for reviving old post.
I need some help fixing my Mac Pro that doesn't boot up anymore. I used to have it long time (months) in standby because I used it remotly for work when traveling. The problems started with random shut down but I tought was because overheating (even if I was doing nothing), but after a while it started to have some major problems: when I pressed power button some time it started normally but most of the time it keep restarting again and again and again and not be able to make OSX start (it was doing the normal start beep, shutting down by himself and restart, beep, shutting down and so on). Now after a while I used it like that he decided to not start anymore so I decided to clean and reset cpu thermal compound and what I got is that when I press power button there is no more beep and the mac pro does nothing at all just fans turning and nothing more.
I was reading around in forums and find our that could probably be the PSU and really hope is only that one. How can I check if it is that one giving problems? Here in Switzerland is not easy to find a replacement so I have to find out the problem and buy from ebay.
Anyway while attacched to power the led 5v seems fine when i press diag button (orange light)

Thank you

I tested removing RAM and keep only slot 1&2 and setting it back and now on the diag leds I have some more lights on.. I really don't know what to do to find the problem if anyone could help in the process to find it out because I am not such a specialist and I just read forums and try what I find but nothing seems to work on my machine

 

[ljcarballo]

In principle forgive for the language since I do not speak English and I help myself with a translator. I have the same problem as the one who created this message, my mac pro 5.1 one day decided not to start, press the button and the yellow light comes on but it does not happen, I have looked at the epron of which "tsialex" speaks but with the only connected plate does not get power to pin 4 and 8, that epron must be powered from 2.7V to 3.6 and is fed by the mosfet of the first photograph (QE731) and the order to activate it is It gives the integrated of the second photograph (UE700), but for that integrated to work it is necessary that 12V enter and my problem is that I do not know where the pin 14 goes, which is what makes the 12 volts between the board, if Someone could help me, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Trail-Hawk]

I just recently acquired a Mid-2010 Mac Pro 5,1, and it is now having a major issue. When I initially got it (a few hours ago), it worked perfectly fine. However, after letting it sit awhile unattended (while I was in another room flashing an AMD Radeon HD 5870 graphics card I got for it), I come back to find it in the state you see it in these pictures... The Power LED is on, and both CPUA and CPUB Overtemp LEDs are lit red. There is no other activity whatsoever, no fans spinning, hard drive doesn't start, nothing. I then unplugged it, and plugged it back in, to find that it did this the instant I connected power to the machine's PSU. I tried jumping the SMC reset pads on the board, which also didn't do anything. It does not respond to the power button at all. I'm really at a loss here, so if anyone has any idea of what causes this issue, please let me know. This machine has a single 2.8GHz quad-core Xeon CPU (and single CPU board as well).

@dosdude I have the same issue exact. Did your new back plane solve the issue or was it the PSU. Be good to know what these two diag lights mean in this state. Tks.

 

[dosdude1]

@dosdude I have the same issue exact. Did your new back plane solve the issue or was it the PSU. Be good to know what these two diag lights mean in this state. Tks.

New backplane took care of it. Still have my original, though, and intend to try to fix it at some point.

 

[Habeb om]

Test the suspected parts with your other Mac Pro. Start with the CPU tray, GPU, then go for the PSU.

Backplane PCIe boost power lines have resettable fuses, disconnect the PSU from the backplane and keep it off for at least two full days then try again. If then the backplane still don't work, time to buy a replacement backplane.

Where is Backplane PCIe boost power lines resettable fuses, because I disconnected the PSU from the backplane and keep it off for at least two full days and try again and it works again and after about one hour it dead again

 

[bplein]

Where is Backplane PCIe boost power lines resettable fuses, because I disconnected the PSU from the backplane and keep it off for at least two full days and try again and it works again and after about one hour it dead again

Sounds like either the resettable fuses are no longer shutting off at the right amperage, OR you are drawing a lot of power and simply blowing the fuses. What do you have in your PCIe slots?