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

Quadra 840AV

W

wait3264

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 21, 2007
10
0
PA
I have an old Quadra 840AV that belonged to my father. I would like to get it running for sentimental reasons. I tried booting it up tonight and got no display. I think it is the video card. At boot, the monitor beeps. All the lights are green and you can hear the hard drive spin up. And upon shutdown the display on the monitor flashes. I have everything that ever came with the machine. This was our main computer for years. I would be willing to put a little money into it. I am somewhat computer savvy and feel comfortable going inside the box. I did open it up and used canned air to blow out dust. since it had been sitting so long.
I would appreciate any help any one can give me.
Thanks, Kay
 
I had the same issue with my Quadra 605 many years ago. A new PRAM battery fixed the problem. I'm sure CanadaRAM's got it right.
 
the only thing that prevents me from making my own server from an older mac is power consumption, i really dont want to justify spending, say, another $10 on my electric bill just for serving music etc.

Do really older macs, like this Quadra, suck that much juice?
 
Sdashiki said:
the only thing that prevents me from making my own server from an older mac is power consumption, i really dont want to justify spending, say, another $10 on my electric bill just for serving music etc.

Do really older macs, like this Quadra, suck that much juice?
Click to expand...

hmm what would be really awesome would be using an old powerbook g3 or something... AND run it via solar panel :D
 
i know that a Performa 475, LC 475, LC 476, Quadra 605 are the same machines. i think those only take up around 60w if that. the 840AV has more hardware so it might take a bit more power. i know newer systems can take around 150w and up.

i know the Performa 475 or other equivalent if it has a dead Pram battery it can be made to boot up if you turn it on and off and back on quickly. i am not sure if the 840AV has softpower (AKA power key on the KB) or a rocker switch or button on the case. it might work or might not.
 
Quadra 840

I replaced the battery, still no output on the screen. The machine still beeps when booting up. Any other suggestions? Can I hook up another monitor? Must it be an Apple monitor?
Thanks, Kay
 
Right after you boot it try holding down Command Option P R (zapping PRAM), it should reboot. I know you've replaced the battery but sometimes those Old Macs still take a little convincing (and sometimes the NOS batteries are dead. Run through that a couple of times. If you still have no joy
then try Command-Option-A-V.

Other than that check that everything is put together right (that case design is not repair friendly and it is easy to lose a screw or not get something tight). Likely trouble spots are the video card/duaghtercard to main board, RAM and VRAM. Pull, check for corrosion on the contacts, and reseat. Have any drives that used to be on the machine been removed? You may want to check Termination and SCSI IDs (not to mention cable connections). Last resort you might try a Motherboard reset.

You can use another monitor, the only issue would be coming up with a Mac->VGA adapter (~$10) and setting the switches on the adapter.

Best of Luck.
 
Quadra 840 AV

Bob,
Good News, I am able to get my machine to boot, and things seem to work although I just did a cursory check. But I don't know for sure what is making it boot, which keystroke combination. Also it doesn't boot right away. I have tried in the evening and nothing happens right away but if I leave it on, it is up and running in the morning. Do you know why. Next time I will try and see how long it is taking. Thanks, Kay
 
Does it sit doing nothing for a matter of minutes, or hours ? Do fans and disks turn on too ?

When I turn on my namesake it takes about 20+ seconds before it starts to chug along with booting up. It started doing this after I maxed out the memory, and this is normal. It does some kind of screen off POST before giving you display.
 
Quadra 840AV

It takes hours to boot. I can hear things starting up right away inside. And I do get what I assume to be some kind of POST beep. I replaced the PRAM battery. I used the two key combinations recommended in a previous post, but I am not sure which is actually making it boot if at all. One thing I noticed, if I turn the monitor side to side on its base, it will beep. Kay
 
Sounds like you may have either a bad monitor, or DB 15 output on the logic board of the system.

There should be no POST beep on the 840av. Just a startup chime, or a chime of death (indicating a hardware issue). I would try removing some of, or swapping memory cards into separate slots, check other connections (including the processor) and rebooting. If you have a volt meter, I would also check to see if you have a good PRAM battery.
 
Quadra 840AV

My Mac seems to be booting better. It now boots up right away some of the time. Hopefully it will continue. I have some old games on it I would like to play. Kay
 
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