Thread: Mac Pro...Help Please

Put "mac forum" into a search and take your pick ("Now why didn't I think of that?"). I was on Mactalk for a short while, and found them to be a bunch of snobs (maybe delete the first "s") who could see no wrong with Macs. There is plenty wrong with Macs, just like PCs - just different things wrong.

I must say that Apple hardware is usually very good quality.

I tried to join macworld but have to wait till approved before I can post. No indication how long that will take.



DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

Ill try mac talk

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

Was a good machine in its day. To decipher the model code, it appears you have a 3.2GHz quad core Xeon CPU, Radeon HD 5870 graphics, and was originally a 1TB hard drive. SD just means SuperDrive which is Apples fancy way of naming a CD/DVD drive.

Those Radeon graphics were a bit flaky, I've got a 27 inch iMac of that era with display issues too. Not saying it's the problem in your case but it's a good place to start.Your best chance of getting some help is through AUSOM, see https://ausom.net.au/

Originally Posted by richmond68

Was a good machine in its day. To decipher the model code, it appears you have a 3.2GHz quad core Xeon CPU, Radeon HD 5870 graphics, and was originally a 1TB hard drive. SD just means SuperDrive which is Apples fancy way of naming a CD/DVD drive.

Those Radeon graphics were a bit flaky, I've got a 27 inch iMac of that era with display issues too. Not saying it's the problem in your case but it's a good place to start.Your best chance of getting some help is through AUSOM, see https://ausom.net.au/

Tried link but not sure where to go. Maybe taking me to different page as Im on my phone

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

Ok got it working now

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

Originally Posted by richmond68

best chance of getting some help is through AUSOM, see https://ausom.net.au/

Do I have to be a paid member to join their forum?

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

Yes you do.

G'day Dave

There's a few things you can do to see where the fault lies.
Do you have another computer monitor at home you can try plugging in
If that works, then you know the monitor needs replacing. ***you dont need to stick with a Mac monitor

If that doesn't work, then try a different DVI monitor cable.

Another option to try may be to use the Thunderbolt outputs
See the two outputs next to the DVI output on the graphics card
You can try a thunderbolt connection to the Mac monitor to see if that works. (thunderbolt cables are expensive though, maybe a last resort and a hail mary!!!)

The Black Box you refer to is the Graphics Card, if that is making noise, you can take it apart and blow out all the dust that have accumulated around the fan.

I would also stick in a different graphics card to see if anything would post....if it does then you know it's a graphics card issue and the card needs to be replaced.

Have fun with it

Thanks FilthyFil

Not sure about how to chanfe the graphics card but im sure YouTube might help.

What are the thunderbolt outputs?

The monitor works on another pc no issue.

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

Youtube's your friend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWs023QgvOU

**** As the video says, don't forget to press the little plastic lever on the motherboard to release the graphics card

The Thunderbolt outputs are next to where you plug your DVI (Digital Video Input) cable (located rear of the graphics card) you posted a pic of it on your original post.



If you get as far as inserting a different graphics card into the Mac to see if it is a graphics card issue.
Just be aware, Macs OS itself has limited support for different types of graphics cards, so be careful what you choose for a replacement.

Oh I was using the thunderbolt connection. The monitir does not havr the screw in plug.

It has since stsrted to work and the fan is not howlimg atm. Not game to turn it off as it may stop working again. Will try blowing it out with compressed air soon.

Not knowing anything anout these things I would not know what a good and compatible graphics card is.

Can i set another card in parallel and choose which ever one is working at the time?

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

If it started working, then I would say it may have been just been a loose connection

Happy days

I would probably avoid setting another card in there, Macs are picky and only have drivers for a range of graphics cards.

It may post, but when you log into the operating system, you may run into issues.

I only suggested putting in another card for fault finding purposes